Expectations of a cycle

[Marsoc]

0.5lbs a week is no pipe dream, in fact that's on the low range for most lifters. Yes you can only go so far with how much you can gain naturally after some years, at that point I can see where aas would benefit those who want to get bigger/than what genetics will allow.

You do not need aas to build meaningful strength and size if you train and diet correctly.

Pretty sure one Def can't gain .5lbs of pure muscle a week. One is lucky to gain probably 5-10 lbs in a year of solid work. I mean I'm not fat by any means. I have a six pack but I went from 165-215lbs in 4 months. Sure it's not pure muscle , I say Im around 13.5% bf ..but at 165 I was deathly underweight from drugs

[Richard Cabeza]

This pretty much sums it up, then what's the point? I have to keep using to keep my gains? I can build naturally with proper training and diet and not sacrifice anything but perhaps a little more time to retain what I've gained. On a solid bulk, meaning regimented training program and diet, most people can add at least 0.5lbs+ of muscle a week.... on a 6 month bulk that's potentially 13-15lbs. of muscle a year. So why bother doing aas?

I started working out 2 years ago and was a skinny rat and thought aas what I needed to help me get big, did a cycle and got a little bigger, but then went away post cycle. I was clued out on my first cycle, some dude at the gym said do this and that, but no PCT so thought that's why. A year later my second cycle, got much bigger, a little better informed and went on PCT when the cycle was over. After PCT.... Gone again. So no matter what unless you're constantly cycling will you go back to pretty much the same size as when you started, any gains you would likely still have won't be from aas, but likely from the continued diet and training.

I really thought aas was the way to boost size and strength, but it's only temporary...

So why do you you guys do it? Just build naturally and it stays forever.

I think you're confused, aas allows you to get bigger than being natural, just because you get a certain size naturally doesn't mean you'll forever keep those gains you'll still need to eat and train properly the same as you would on steroids the only variable missing is the steroids so why not continue steroids if you're going to continue eating and training anyway? Naturally you'll only get to a certain point and thats it, steroids are for guys who got there and want to move beyond that point its that simple,.... its not a one time thing, just like being fit its a lifestyle choice and the way to take it to the next lexel

[jjsevens]

Pretty sure one Def can't gain .5lbs of pure muscle a week. One is lucky to gain probably 5-10 lbs in a year of solid work. I mean I'm not fat by any means. I have a six pack but I went from 165-215lbs in 4 months. Sure it's not pure muscle , I say Im around 13.5% bf ..but at 165 I was deathly underweight from drugs

Yes you can, I did as well as many other lifters I've met, it's all diet, I continue to add weight to the scale and visible size in the mirror while maintaining a steady BF‰ because I'm not visibly getting fatter. I've narrowed my diet down to a science through trial and error over these 2 years and let me tell you if you're dedicated and count your calories and your macros it can be done.

The only time where you will struggle to maintain size and strength is on a cut, if it's too fast, too soon, it can impact your gains because you're not eating as much. This spring will be my first cut without AA'S, and let me say I did look fucking great! So we'll see just now much I'll lose, but I doubt it will be much because it's going to be a slow controlled cut, I may not reach the lower bf% I'm trying to achieve but at least I'll know how far I can go without losing what I put on during my bulk.

Don't know if there's any stickies on the subject that I raised but maybe there should be one for noobs thinking about starting a cycle, that after proper dieting and training for a few years if you're stalling and feel that AAS is the last resort and feel that this is what they want to get that much bigger than go for it. Otherwise don't, you can build naturally before you have to turn to AAS. I myself was mislead, told it's the greatest thing when I should have educated myself first by coming here and talking to experienced guys like yourselves, you guys shared a lot and made some great points.

Thankyou all for the valuable information.

[jjsevens]

I think you're confused, aas allows you to get bigger than being natural, just because you get a certain size naturally doesn't mean you'll forever keep those gains you'll still need to eat and train properly the same as you would on steroids the only variable missing is the steroids so why not continue steroids if you're going to continue eating and training anyway? Naturally you'll only get to a certain point and thats it, steroids are for guys who got there and want to move beyond that point its that simple,.... its not a one time thing, just like being fit its a lifestyle choice and the way to take it to the next lexel

Totally understand that, and what I was hoping to have answered in my post, that it's not a one time thing, which I was hoping it would be, and thought. So for me, it's just not worth the potential long term risks/side effects just to go beyond what my body can achieve naturally.

However I am still up to try other ways that can help in my progress, but will save those questions for another post.

Thanks again guys, much appreciated.

[Couchlock]

Yes you can, I did as well as many other lifters I've met, it's all diet, I continue to add weight to the scale and visible size in the mirror while maintaining a steady BF‰ because I'm not visibly getting fatter. I've narrowed my diet down to a science through trial and error over these 2 years and let me tell you if you're dedicated and count your calories and your macros it can be done.

The only time where you will struggle to maintain size and strength is on a cut, if it's too fast, too soon, it can impact your gains because you're not eating as much. This spring will be my first cut without AA'S, and let me say I did look fucking great! So we'll see just now much I'll lose, but I doubt it will be much because it's going to be a slow controlled cut, I may not reach the lower bf% I'm trying to achieve but at least I'll know how far I can go without losing what I put on during my bulk.

Don't know if there's any stickies on the subject that I raised but maybe there should be one for noobs thinking about starting a cycle, that after proper dieting and training for a few years if you're stalling and feel that AAS is the last resort and feel that this is what they want to get that much bigger than go for it. Otherwise don't, you can build naturally before you have to turn to AAS. I myself was mislead, told it's the greatest thing when I should have educated myself first by coming here and talking to experienced guys like yourselves, you guys shared a lot and made some great points.

Thankyou all for the valuable information.

Again those are beginner gains you cannot steadily increase a half a pound per week over a 25-year. Lifting career if that was the case there be plenty of men upwards in the 350-pound mark

Come on man be realistic 52 weeks in a year half pound per week 26 pounds per year. 4 years over a hundred pounds of easily obtained muscle pipe dream

[jjsevens]

Again those are beginner gains you cannot steadily increase a half a pound per week over a 25-year. Lifting career if that was the case there be plenty of men upwards in the 350-pound mark

Come on man be realistic 52 weeks in a year half pound per week 26 pounds per year. 4 years over a hundred pounds of easily obtained muscle pipe dream

Yes we covered that already. You can steadily increase a significant amount of muscle over a 2-4 years, after that yes it tapers off, at that point if you've stalled and aren't progressing the way you used to, then one might want to start AAS to get past what their body can naturally produce. Please do you're homework before commenting, 0.5lbs a week is on the low scale, this is not a number I just magically made up. Some can gain up to 1-2lbs. but really depends on a number of factors, which is why I stated the average. Look it up.

[The Deadlifting Dog]

That's an exaggerated number. If you reread what I said, you can only go so far, eventually that number drops, genetics will allow you to build to a certain point.

I started working out 2 years ago, I've put on 20lbs. of muscle and that was through trial and error, had I started with the knowledge I have now I'd be further ahead.

I expect to add another 10-15lbs in the next year. It's unlikely in year 4 or 5 that I'll be able to add anymore than that, but wouldn't want to at that point, I'll be happy with size and strength at that point, not looking for the bodybuilder look.

10-15lbs in the next year is .19-.29 lbs per week.
That is far from .5lbs per week.

What are your stats?

[Couchlock]

This pretty much sums it up, then what's the point? I have to keep using to keep my gains? I can build naturally with proper training and diet and not sacrifice anything but perhaps a little more time to retain what I've gained. On a solid bulk, meaning regimented training program and diet, most people can add at least 0.5lbs+ of muscle a week.... on a 6 month bulk that's potentially 13-15lbs. of muscle a year. So why bother doing aas?

I started working out 2 years ago and was a skinny rat and thought aas what I needed to help me get big, did a cycle and got a little bigger, but then went away post cycle. I was clued out on my first cycle, some dude at the gym said do this and that, but no PCT so thought that's why. A year later my second cycle, got much bigger, a little better informed and went on PCT when the cycle was over. After PCT.... Gone again. So no matter what unless you're constantly cycling will you go back to pretty much the same size as when you started, any gains you would likely still have won't be from aas, but likely from the continued diet and training.

I really thought aas was the way to boost size and strength, but it's only temporary...

So why do you you guys do it? Just build naturally and it stays forever.

You started working out 2 years ago, with no muscle, this is why your expert opinion says you can gain 25 lbs a year.

And now you say 1-2 lbs even. That's 52 to 100lbs a year.

SHUT THE FUCK UP KID.

also this will be your first cut without aas?

So you been using for 2 years. At a young age.

Your about as sharp as a bowling ball

[jjsevens]

10-15lbs in the next year is .19-.29 lbs per week.
That is far from .5lbs per week.

What are your stats?

Sorry in my original post where I stated the 0.5 a week was on 6 month bulk, I've never bulked longer than that so who knows.

[jjsevens]

You started working out 2 years ago, with no muscle, this is why your expert opinion says you can gain 25 lbs a year.

And now you say 1-2 lbs even. That's 52 to 100lbs a year.

SHUT THE FUCK UP KID.

also this will be your first cut without aas?

So you been using for 2 years. At a young age.

Your about as sharp as a bowling ball

Hey sorry if I offended you in some way, but no need to get all bent out of shape. I'm actually 40 years old, but ok lol. How did you figure my age is beyond me. But yes I've cycled twice in 2 years. I've been called worse, so thank you.

[The Deadlifting Dog]

Probably been asked before I'm sure but need know.

I'm on the fence about another cycle given my last 2 cycles werent managed properly, didn't educate myself before taking what I did/didn't take and wasn't happy with the results post cycle.

So my question is, if I follow a proper cycle, including PCT, what can I expect to maintain in terms of size and strength gains once it's all said and done?

You may disagree but....

One would be lucky to keep 8-10 lbs of muscle after a 12-14 week cycle.

One would be lucky to put on 4 lbs of muscle in the same time naturally.

[jjsevens]

You may disagree but....

One would be lucky to keep 8-10 lbs of muscle after a 12-14 week cycle.

One would be lucky to put on 4 lbs of muscle in the same time naturally.

Don't disagree at all on your first point, on the second I'm just speaking from my experience so far and backed up data from many sources. I am considered a new lifter, so my natural gains have been great and am happy with my progress. In a few years it's going to taper off, but I'll never lose what I've gained because I'll never stop training and eating healthy. As mentioned in a previous post, I'm not looking for the bodybuilder look, just want to look as good as my body has to offer, I'll be happy with that.