+ 33 I'VE JUST FINISHED MY CYCLE..NOW WHAT?
You've just finished your cycle. It's been 3 weeks since your last injection, and your PCT is well under way. NOW what? You've already dropped a few pounds. Your bench has gone down by 10%, and you don't have that Superman feeling you had 2 months earlier. Your arms look smaller, and you aren't getting the compliments at work that were pouring in by the hour before. Your brain is telling you to wait another 6 weeks before you cycle again, but your heart and ego are screaming for another round. You've got plenty of gear stashed, and every morning when you reach for the coffee, there it is in the kitchen cupboard just staring at you...calling out, saying..."Hey buddy, I can end all of this misery right now. Just shoot me, and you'll be king again, and all the people who have been disrespecting you will get fadded into Oblivion."
Tempting isn't it?
But right now is the time to plan and lay the groundwork for the next cycle. AND..more importantly, it's the time to heal. After months of brutal, gut-busting workouts that have taken an incredible toll on your joints, and muscles that have grown familiar with the the patern of training you've used, you NEED this time off.
The first thing you need to do, is get as far away from the gym as possible for at least a week---preferably 10 days. I usually take 2 weeks off. That means no gym..NOTHING. No weights, no cardio, no You Tube vids of bodybuilders. Take your mind as far away from lifting as you can get it. So naturally, that also means no strict diet. Order pizza. Eat doughnuts. And watch yourself shrink. Yep, I said watch yourself shrink.
"But Goth...why would you tell me to do that? I'm trying to get buff...not blubbber."
That's right, and by taking this time off from everything to do with bodybuilding/fitness, you will prime your mind for a cycle far more effective. Without a mental and physical layoff, you are going to burn out. Trust me, I've been there.
After a week of beer, pizza, and porn, it's time to get back in the gym...but that doesn't mean to jump right back into heavy weight and super-high intensity. Doing that is only going to fry you before you start your next cycle. After I get back in the gym, I like to train at about 70% intentisity. There's no way for me to tell you what "70% intensity" is, but generally, you want to use weights that you can fairly easily do for 20 reps, yet keep the reps at only around 15. Take each set to only a slight burn. You need this type of training in order to condition the muscles and joints. I prefer to use a lot of machines and cable work during this time, saving the heavy bar work for the coming cycle when the grear is in full circulation. This is also a good time to work on the things that you probably neglect during season, like rotator cuff work, abs, stretching, and neck work.
After a few weeks of light training (conditioning), you're ready for cycle prep. The week your cycle starts, make sure you've taken in a lot of carbs and protien in preparation for your cycle frontloading. If you don't know how to properly frontload, then you need to research it. But GENERALLY, you're going to be pinning a double dose your first week, and you need to make sure you have adequate nutritional support already in place.
Lastly...DON'T WORRY about your time off cycle. That "size" you're losing is mostly just a little water (unless you're a pill-muncher who thinks oral-only cycles actually work--in which case you're fucked). Relax and trust in the fact that you'll be back on your next cycle far bigger and stronger than if you had just jumped right back on.
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best post ever
U can skip the pizza part lol
I enjoyed reading this...I'm on day 8 of PCT and not due to lack of motivation, but a vicious stomach virus, I haven't worked out in a week. Hell, I haven't eaten a meal since Monday (today is Friday) without shitting or puking it out. I lost basically everything I gained and then some (judging by the mirror). I am well aware that once I start lifting again, and eating, that I will regain alot of the weight, but lets be honest, everything I gained strength wise will be real hard to recover without going back on. I just said to my friend I was gonna stop my PCT and go back on ASAP but he talked me out of it, and then I read this post.
So until my PLANNED date to start my next cycle, I will follow this advice, and do so with the mindset that my next cycle will be insane, and that I will be stronger then ever before I know it! Thanks for the advice, helped me on a shitty day/week.
whats going on guys! im new to this a few friends told me about this site/forum and said its great for advice and for soild info on products im from ny so I hope to meet good people and get soild info when I need!! im gonna post this in some other forums as well!
AnonWelcome bro, definitely a great sight to learn and research . Read the rules and feel free to ask for educated help . If you have questions search through the forums chances are someone has answered it Lots of experienced users willing to help us out and prevent us from harming ourselves as long as we show that we have done our homework and wanna do things the right way .
great info
zschlitz1wow, wait to sum up and anwser all my fears and thoughts and give me an exuse to eat fatty foods! great write up!
Another good thread....loving this forum already!
Thanks guys!
Zach
Im a little over a week into my 1st pct right now. Lost about 3lbs, but my arms do look smaller :( A bad snow storm here has had me stranded at the house for the better part of a week but its finally clearing and I will get back in the gym tonight. I was basically forced to take this route. I couldnt even make it to the store so ive literally eaten everything in the house. All that shit that sits in the back of the pantry forever is now gone lol.
Thanks, this is exactly where Im at. A little extended cuz I tweaked my shoulder tho. Putting off my next cycle for a bit to learn and do it right.
Nice to read this older post but to know I'm pretty knowledgeable cause this is almost the exact steps I take between cycles.
Me too. I am about to start a cycle of test c 500mg/ week. I plan on frontloading with 1 gram but how many weeks should i do this for? Ive heard one, but i usually do 1 gram the first two weeks. Advice greatly appreciated. Hoorah
I can't give you advice cause I am unsure. I only have ran Lady Var. Kodiakgurrl can help you I am sure.
I don't get it. Why come off? Doctors prescribe TRT dosed to dudes year round, why not drop down and cruise. Why put your hormones through a rollercoaster on PCT? Shit's poison. Why take a step backwards after taking two forwards?
And don't give me the "you need to let your body recover" BS. I've been on for 2 years, no PCT, only TRT breaks. My levels are fine. My gf is preggo (so my balls are working, for all you haters). While you guys are shriveling away on your Pussy Cat Treatment, I'm fuckin blowing up.
What do you shoot?
I have a feeling Eroids is not for you. Maybe come back again when/if you grow up. Or maybe when you realize how bad you fucked yourself and need help...
Age 24 and TRT already! No thanks. I'll wait till my balls give out before I start cruizing.
Haha...I read this to my wife and she asked "did you write that" Awesome to read this bro!!
Right on Goth!!
that's why I just order "as needed" , that is when im ready to begin my cycle, cause I cant get myself do jump on this whole patience band wagon thing. Id have to grab the vial on wk 2 or 3 after post cycle. But very good read, good to know Im not the only one who takes a couple wks off after cycle. thought I always feel like im such a slacker
Well this is great info from experienced people. I am waiting for my gear to come in for my very first run. I will probably lay off my start to prepare more of a game plan for a complete cycle. Great post and responces from all!
Make sure you get a legit source for pct lined up. You do not want gyno trust me. Get plenty of clomid and/or nolvadex/ arimidex etc... but also dont over do the dose. Depending on your age, you only need 3 to 4 mgs of test or whatever youre using. I always use test.
superwillpersonally.. i dont see the point in coming off cycle, you loose all you've gained. blast and cruise is my personal choice,
i cruise to get my bp, lipids, hormones back to a equilibrium... after a good time cruising im back blasting.
just make sure you get your bloods done, keep yourself in check and enjoy growing and not shrinking.
How often you get bloods done pal ?
Ur a twit mate, If you ever plan on having kids u need to let ur natural test flow again! Eventually ull convert to estrogen quicker than ur body can use the test.....come off and it will have its full potential in ur bod........atleast run hcg for ur nuts and if u keep jabbing without a break thats as long if not longer than u were on cyc or ur pecs will be sore tits soon.
I post long but this one of reasons why I love Eroids go different place'sand on forums and get that motivation u need fuck a self help tape lol SIC read bro really
Thank u for this I will have to read this everyday because I just came off an I want to jump back on so bad I feel like just going some where an pick up so much test an tren an dboi right now I feel like it's calling me I feel I lost so much people at the gym keep asking me if I'm doing cardio it's killing me like wtf no I am not ..I want to feel like superman right now :/ I don't know what to do
Boxjumpi like pizza. tell me more
great read, but i have a few questions. i thought during pct you were supposed to do everything the same as you would during your cycle(diet, workouts). I was planning to take my rest week after pct, when im all leveled out so that i wouldnt lose too much except for water weight. is this still fine to do? or is it better to take rest week during pct?
Johnny the Bullnice work bud.
PericlesI am going to both agree, and disagree w/ 7 gothic. I agree that yes, your training volume, frequency, and intensity must be adjusted. However it is critically important to keep training in order to maintain your size and strength.
Here is what I recommend. BTW, I have been running gear for 21 years and am a former competitive NPC bodybuilding champ.
As a general rule, I do a LOT of cardio. I am old, 51, but can still go 25 minutes of hit cardio (Muay Thai/boxing...been doing MMA before it was called MMA, lol) and can grapple for the same amount of time.
One of the main benefits of gear, is that I can lift w/ very high intensity for an hour and 20 minutes, and then do hit cardio. On the 3 days a week I don't lift, I do abs and 30 minutes huffing on the treadmill.
W/out gear, I am done by the time I do my last set.
So, I stop all cardio. I still lift 4 days a week, but cut drop sets, forced reps, etc. I go hard, right to failure, but that is it. I cut back on volume, and try to only train 1 hour a day (4 days a week).
Just as important, I make sure to get lots of rest. If I did not get a good nights sleep, I will take an extra day off. If I dread going to the gym (which is never) I take a day off.
Finally, during this period I am more strict about my diet. On my last cycle (5 weeks since last shot of test) I was eating like a pig. I hit 230 lbs (I am not a very big framed guy). I have cleaned my diet up, but the crazy thing is I am still 226 lbs. I ran HCG and started SERMs 3 weeks ago. I feel pretty darn good. Also, I will cruise for 2-3 weeks of trt levels (200 mgs a week) of text after I have completed the cycle. For example, if I was running Mast/test/anavar I will drop the var, 7 days later, drop the mast. then drop test dose down from 500 mgs to trt.
Now one thing in my case, if I drop serms, my test will go waaaay down. So, I am down to 50 mgs of clomid and 20 of nolva.
I agree,
Would like to what cycles u run mate,
PM me if get time
Thanks
Spot on... maybe it's less applicable for the younger crowd I'm not sure... but for old farts like me there needs to be continuous exercise and lots of rest in between.
That was interesting , I learning a lot off just a short reading
AnonFrom my experience u dont have to loose size or strength afyer PCT ive been 7weeks off finished PCT in 4weeks. I lost endurance i dont recover like before but the strength in my bench is still da same its all in the pct and thinking more than just your sex hormones u have more hormones in ur body of whack when u come off pct.
Good stuff, puts my mind at ease now that im off, ive a few cycle down but i never front loaded ill considered it after some research..
That was one of the best reads I have seen on here in a while!
Geeze. Never though of this...thanks for the post. Good stuff.
Good advise sir!! This is sure to help me and no doubt many others, judging by the amount of replys.
I'll be defo taking this onboard when the time comes.
Im sure lots want to jump straight back on, I'll have that dilemma to come, but will handle that better with great advise like this.
Very good text. Thanks!
Great read. I have 5 weeks left, and have been looking for some advice like this.
Nice, thanks
I've read this post so many times I almost know it by heart. its helped me mentally prepare for PCT and beyond.
+1 but I'm not sure I even can +1 anyone lol
And Its funny how many people that dont lift much before they "find the nector of the gods' get buff off the gas come off and never get back into the gym again! This info is for committed lifters cause The hardest thing to do is train when ur shrinking lol
Great post!
I woke up saying damn I only have a handful of weeks left now what do i do. How am I going to change.. I loved how you worded this. This is awesome ! Thank you ! Wise words !
good stuff! i am at the end of my first cycle and i plan to use this info.
thanks gothic (i might print this and tape it to the inside of my box of gear)
Awesome ill be using this
AnonYou know... even if a guy doesn't adhere 100% to this post, its still an excellent post. If someone just uses 80% of this information its still full of win.
ahahaha so true