Building a Base

[BenHadasack]

I've been doing a lot of research on steroids recently and have decided I'm probably too young to be messing with them (23). I've researched a lot and gotten mixed opinions but I'm not trying to go pro and I value my health and in that case the general consensus seems to be that it's best to wait until 25.

I've also heard it's important to "build a base" before starting AAS so for the next two years that's what I plan on doing. Here are my current stats:

Age: 23
Height 6'2"
Weight: 200lbs
Bf: not sure, would guess mid/high teens I can see ab sidewalls and center line but top abs not fully visible.

Training Exp: I started training about 2 years ago when I was 225 fat. I cut down to 175lbs with diet, weights, and lots of cardio. Then I got into a relationship and slacked off a bit on diet. I still lifted but not as much. Ended up about 185lbs at roughly 15%. about 8 months ago I got serious again and started SS. Ate a ton (4-5k cals a day) and increased strength but also massively increased bf% in the process. I bulked for 5 months and ended up 225 over 20% bf with the following lifts:

Squat 280lbs x1 (knees got messed up from bad form had to drop weight and build back up from there)
Bench 255lbs x1
Dead 405lbs x1

After that I decided to cut, which I've been doing for ~3 months just by reducing calories gradually (I'm at 2500/day now) and adding in cardio (20-40 minutes a day plus rock climbing 2-3 days a week) and continuing to lift heavy. Now I'm back down to 200lbs and I haven't lost much strength if any.

My plans for building a base are to continue this cut until I get to 10% bf. Hopefully 4 more months or so and then go on a clean bulk for about a year, trying to increase my strength while staying around 10%. Then I plan to diet down as far as possible for ~6 months and maybe even do a natural show. After that I feel like I should be ready to hop on gear.

Does this sound like a good plan for building a base? I always hear the term thrown around but no one ever explains it. Any tips are appreciated.

[Bulkn]

Welcome, good to see you want to do things the right way!
If you havent already, go to the nutrition section and learn as much as you can about your diet!
A proper cut shouldnt take that long, 8-10 weeks get down to 10 or 12% then do a lean/clean bulk to add some mass! Might want to start weighing all your food so you can adjust calories accordingly if you are gaining too much fat.
Good Luck!

[BenHadasack]

Thanks for the reply. What do you mean a proper cut shouldn't take that long? I've been losing 1-2lbs a week but I prob need to get down to 185 or so to be at 10%. That's 15 lbs which is like 2-4 months right?

[songdog]

Keep up the good work bro.But remember this(women make you weak)For the simple reason they can alter a good routine if you let them.Hell my B1tch dragged me off this weekend and I missed a few meals.I ended up eating trash.She is lucky I didnt hook her for that stunt lol