What is the purpose of time off between cycles?

[SomeLiveForTheBill]

Let me preface by saying I'm not doubting time off between cycles is important, but I'm trying to understand what happens physiologically during this time. At 31 years old, I just completed my first ever cycle. I was running 600 mg a week of test prop for about 10 weeks and 100 mg ED Var for about 8 weeks. I just finished a 30 day PCT of clomid and nolva per recommendations on this site.

As of now, I have lost some gains, but my overall feel is OK. I didn't experience any noticeable shrinkage during cycle and I ran HCG for the last 6 weeks of the test cycle. My question is at this point (being off cycle completely), what am I waiting for and what am I achieving before my next cycle? Let's say I had bloodwork done in a month and everything came back in line with my previous bloodwork, would it be safe to assume my body has recovered? Am I letting my receptors rest during this time too? Starting a cycle in a month would do what?

[Matt]

Simple answer is your body needs time to recover and settle back into its original state...

[dec11]

it wouldnt be called cycling without an off period

[nelly]

Like he asked. What if your bloodwork comes back normal, does this mean your body is fully recovered? or more time is needed?

[crazy_rocks]

Like he asked. What if your bloodwork comes back normal, does this mean your body is fully recovered? or more time is needed?

if you do that there is a possible chance in not being all you can be in the future. if you keep doing it you will not be all you can be.

you need not only to return to your natural state but stay there. thats the ultimate pct after pct.

[crazy_rocks]

thats also why body builders from the 70's are messed up. many didnt really come off or come off long enough.

[gymnerd]

If you had blood work done yes thats OK. I would say either time on + PCT = time off unless you get blood work done. I would say get it 6 wks after pct see where you stand.

DO NOT get it right after PCT as your body will be giving off false reading because your test levels will be elevated from pct meds and will not be a good indicicator of where you really stand.

[jla1986]

I have a good friend that is a high ranking bodybuilder and even is a paid athlete. I asked him about some cycle advice and if he did the 10 weeks and how long he was off for. He told me that in 10 weeks he was just getting warmed up and that he would be off maybe 3 weeks out of the year.

[Matt]

^^ Most pro bbers will be on all year....

[dmk327]

I doubt pro bodybuilders are on all year. There has to be some ceiling to gains obtained when on any cycle

[Matt]

^^ You can doubt what you want mate, its a fact...

[jla1986]

From what he told me is that he would just change the dose around and switch to different drugs.

[Matt]

From what he told me is that he would just change the dose around and switch to different drugs.

I know a number that do that, some criuse on 1000mgs of test between cycles then add other compounds depending on their goal at the time....

[gymnerd]

I know a number that do that, some criuse on 1000mgs of test between cycles then add other compounds depending on their goal at the time....

Yep, heard same thing. Just keep switching up compounds to keep gains going and they really dont have any planed out cycles as such just run what they can get at the time etc.

[Kouga53]

Wow that seems like an overload to be on all year but I guess I just havent gotten to that level yet. Kinda scares me.

[jla1986]

Im trying to go pro one day and as I dig deeper into everything it does start getting scary.