A successful training and workout schedule requires consistency and persistence, but it’s also important to work through different levels and stages of challenges. The body can adapt very easily to continuous use of a given supplement and will gradually build up a resistance. Overcoming this hurdle often involves cycling your diet and supplements, such as nitric oxide (NO) boosters, so your body can make the most of each supplement combination.

Why Cycling Works

As you introduce new activities and processes into your routine, your body may react immediately to a shift, and require increasing amounts of time and support for recovery. At this level, NO supplements can be introduced with immediate results. The next stage is adaptation, when the body becomes used to the effects and begins to adjust. This is followed by a notable resistance, when you’ll find you need a lot more of the supplement to get the same effect as before. The final stage is familiarization, where the body becomes used to the change and adapts completely; at this stage, it can become difficult to experience any effects at all.

Instead of reaching the final stages of resistance and familiarization with NO supplementation, you want to challenge your body to stay in the adaptation stage, constantly encouraging growth and benefiting from the effects of supplementation instead.

Cycling Recommendations for Leading NO Boosters
The recommended cycle for NO boosters varies depending on body type, level of activity, and overall health. Bodybuilders and trainers have devised a standard cycle that works for most athletes and ongoing users, but results do vary by individual. Adjusting your NO supplements will depend largely on your reaction to certain levels at each stage. Some starting points for specific products may be:

BSN’s NO-Xplode and Nitrix

BSN NO-Xplode contains powerful ingredients that work best on a cyclical basis: 12 weeks on and four weeks off is recommended for this NO booster, you can stack it with BSN Nitrix and Cellmass for increased effects.

Nutrex’s Niox
Nutrex’s Niox doesn’t necessarily need to be cycled, you can stack it with creatine and other NO boosters for ongoing effects. However, you can vary the levels of Niox to get a different response over a training period.

MHP’s Anadrox Pump & Burn and TRAC
MHP’s Anadrox Pump & Burn produces results after daily supplementation of four capsules in the morning, and four capsules in the afternoon (possibly before a workout). Adapting to this supplement will lead to no pump during the workout, and it may mean you should take two to four weeks off from it.

TRAC is a creatine supplement that can increase energy levels and stimulate dopamine, adrenaline, and norepinephrine. The time-released formula provides a quick burst of energy, and the addition of arginine makes this an especially powerful supplement. Weight and strength gains are impressive, especially after the first few weeks and months. However, cycling TRAC can produce ongoing effects in the long term. A cycle of 12 weeks on and four weeks off should work well for most bodybuilders and other athletes.

Pinnacle’s NoX2
NoX2 from Pinnacle also provides positive effects with a cycle of 12 weeks on and four weeks off. It can provide considerable strength and muscle gains during the first three months, and the body can rest for a month before pushing onward to the next level with supplementation.

Is It Dangerous Not to Cycle?
Potential dangers do exist if you follow a nutrition and exercise program without cycling. The first is adaptation and familiarization, where supplements have little or no effect on the system. This can take a few months or years to develop, but adapting in this way can make it very difficult to reach higher goals, and you may even experience withdrawal if you don’t maintain a certain level of supplements. NO boosters in particular can lose their initial effects after just a few months of use.

Avoiding this pitfall is simple by adopting a cycling routine; your body will be challenged to make use of variable supplements and nutrition sources, and grow accordingly. In most cases, the cycle of 12 weeks on and four weeks off will offer significant muscle and strength gains.

—Sabah Karimi