Retain strength after using

[setian]

If I were to only do one 10-12 week cycle of test E followed by a proper PCT and never did steroids again would I keep these gains from using this stuff? Of coarse I would still be eating lots and lifting heavy like I always have been.

Just curious on how permanent or temporary gains can be. I am really only concerned in strength gains for powerlifting. Added size is fine though.
__________________________________________________
Age: 31
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 230
BF%: 12
Cycle Exp: none
PCT Knowledge: some
Training Exp: 16
Diet: 5-6 meals a day

[big_ron]

hmm... i (personally) think you would be able to keep SOME of the gains for a period of time
also depending on how far you reached naturally.

my belief is that you need to keep cycling...depending on your goals, but the gains would diminish after some time

[Bossman]

You will eventually lose the gains. How long it take depends on how well you eat and train after your cycle.

[terraj]

I don't know about that ^^

So I did a few cycles in my 20s after a couple of natty years, stopped training at 30, did not train for next 7 years, started training again 18 months ago and had a lot muscle return...more size then I ever had when I was natty...

[nwjt]

I understand that steroids cause muscle weight gain in the form of water, which is related to the strength gains. But if you do a cycle and you cause muscles to grow (as in cell division) why would the muscles atrophy if you continue to train afterwards? I can see devolumization and strength dropping but the muscle you built I would think should stay and you will be stronger than you were originall before the cycle.

[stevey_6t9]

i dont see why you would lose the gains if your diet and training is above par and your not relying on AAS to maintain the muscle mass due to exceeding your natural genetic limit.

[*RAGE*]

You can keep most of your gains if you are dedicated to the gym and your diet..

you will lose some as we all do...

I have learned over the years that it is not so much the gear but the food you put in your body...

my two cents

[thenextcutler]

only two ways to lose gains...

a) you cycled so hard you har way more muscle than you can maintain naturally... not likely after one cycle

or

b) you suck at life (by which of course I mean your diet and training suck) and in regards to diet/training... remember that if you go back to the level you used to do then your body wil go back to the way it was, aka rule of reversibility

[thenextcutler]

almost forgot...

c) if you don't come off properly you can go catabolic with low test for an extended period and wind up losing mass

[Bossman]

I don't know about that ^^

So I did a few cycles in my 20s after a couple of natty years, stopped training at 30, did not train for next 7 years, started training again 18 months ago and had a lot muscle return...more size then I ever had when I was natty...

Im guessing you never maxed out naturally before you started using AAS. I didn't start until late in life so a different story here. Muscle memory is very real. Ive taken some breaks over the years and the mass comes back pretty quick.

[Bonaparte]

You could keep part of the strength gains (maybe half) for several years at least due to CNS adaptation even without gaining or keeping any extra muscle mass. CNS adaptation is everything for powerlifting.

[thenextcutler]

You could keep part of the strength gains (maybe half) for several years at least due to CNS adaptation even without gaining or keeping any extra muscle mass. CNS adaptation is everything for powerlifting.

Is this why guys half my size can lift over twice as much?

[Bonaparte]

Is this why guys half my size can lift over twice as much?

Yeah.
A number of AAS will give you huge strength gains without much increase in weight or size (obviously diet-dependent). Nearly all will increase strength to some degree, even in a caloric deficit (cutting).
You will even keep a good chunk of this strength increase once you come off, depending on what compound used and how you continue to train.