Lowering Calories on PCT, Discuss.

[IBdmfkr]

When coming off a clean bulking diet, say 5000+calories/day I've always heard it is ideal to keep similar calories as to hold off catabolism, but would it be detrimental to drop calories (say 500/wk) to just above maintainance, 3800-4200?
I've tried this before but dropped calories too quickly resulting in major muscle loss, I'd like to do it again but don't know if it'd be more beneficial to wait until natural hormone levels are back to normal. As things are looking now I will continue with a high calorie diet as I'm paranoid of losing newly acquired LBM.

Any input appreciated, personal experiences etc wanted?!?

[1buffsob]

I went just above maintainence after last cycle and lost about 2lbs and very little strength. There are many variables, but I feel body type also has a lot to do with it. I am a huge endomorph, and gains (fat or muscle) are very easy for me to hold on to. My training partner is more of an ecto. He went to just above his maintainance and lost considerably more.

You could play it safe and keep the cals high to prevent any muscle loss, but you run the risk of putting on a good amount of fat. Just my .02

1buffsob

[mwolffey]

Yea id say if you are an ecto to raise calories more than you had when bulking, but id say if your are an endo or meso this might be somewhat acceptable

[stocky121]

in pct you body is in a very catabolic state. I would take in as much calories and protein in this time frame. why not use the most anabolic substance knowen to man food?

i would just start to reduce and cut calories after pct

[IBdmfkr]

That's what I was thinking, but like to hear input and personal experiences from others.

Deff not going to drop below 4K, that's for sure. Trying proviron, aromasin + nolva with PCT as well this time, so we'll see how things go. This will be the first time not running the popular Clomid/nolva stack.

Other opinions? Hard to get the older guys to comment since most are on HRT lol.. Ex. Rodge, Johnny, Pinn etc..

[stocky121]

That's what I was thinking, but like to hear input and personal experiences from others.

Deff not going to drop below 4K, that's for sure. Trying proviron, aromasin + nolva with PCT as well this time, so we'll see how things go. This will be the first time not running the popular Clomid/nolva stack.

Other opinions? Hard to get the older guys to comment since most are on HRT lol.. Ex. Rodge, Johnny, Pinn etc..

are you taking anything else while in pct hgh/slin/igf1 ??

[Liftnainez]

bump.. would also like to learn more on this issue..

[D7M]

personally, if I don't keep my cals up in pct I feel major losses.

[IBdmfkr]

are you taking anything else while in pct hgh/slin/igf1 ??

Yes, GH 5IU/day 6on1off and slin PWO, lifting EOD.

[Giants11]

Also depends on how fast one recovers and what else they are taking. I find that I can get away with a little above maintainance with Clen, and some cortisol reducing supps. And I've been just fine.

[IBdmfkr]

What cortisol supps do you recommend giants?

[1buffsob]

Yes, GH 5IU/day 6on1off and slin PWO, lifting EOD.

That will definately help.

1buffsob

[Giants11]

What cortisol supps do you recommend giants?

Lean Xtreme by Designers Supplements.

[DirtyDog7]

I'd like to hear more about this! I just got done with a bulking cycle and I put on 10lbs of muscle. I still have 20lbs of fat to lose. What's the quickest way to start losing fat again? How long should I wait to get back on my cutting diet?

[IBdmfkr]

I'd wait until PCT is finished and hormone levels are stabilized. Until then I suggest keeping as clean as possible high calorie diet.

[DirtyDog7]

Thank you, I was just going to switch back to my cutting diet, right off the bat.

If I bulked on 4000 calories per day
And my maintenance calories are 3000 per day
And I my cutting diet is at 2200 calories per day

Where should my calories be, until I stabilize?

[IBdmfkr]

If I were doing your diet, I'd try and get as close to 4000K as possible, very clean foods (chicken, lean beef, turkey, fish etc.... brown rice, wholewheats/grains, good complex carbs) Very little sugars, low sodium and lose sat fats.
After PCT is finished and you have bloodwork done, then you are ok to drop calories because you're no longer in such a catabolic state.

What I'm experimenting with is going from a super-high calorie diet (say 5-6K calories) and dropping to around 4-4500 slowly because of possible fatgain w/PCT and because I'm very tired of taking in so many calories for such a longer period of time. 8meals consisting of around 600-800 calories gets old quick.

[DirtyDog7]

What I'm experimenting with is going from a super-high calorie diet (say 5-6K calories) and dropping to around 4-4500 slowly because of possible fatgain w/PCT and because I'm very tired of taking in so many calories for such a longer period of time. 8meals consisting of around 600-800 calories gets old quick.

Thank you for the info.

I didn't mean to sidetrack your thread. So has anyone had any luck reducing calories "slowly" during pct?

[IBdmfkr]

I tried it after last cycle but it was a complete failure, the weight fell off of me faster than I would ever have expected. By the time I ramped back up it was too late. Be very careful trying to reduce calories when your hormones are still in limbo, it can be very frustrating and put you way behind.
I'll not do it again, just wanted to hear others experiences and thoughts on it.

[DirtyDog7]

How much muscle do you think you put on and how much of that muscle do you think you lost by reducing your calories too soon?

[IBdmfkr]

I put on 22lbs and have held 18 one week into PCT. I will not drop my calories as I don't want to lose weight. I am around 10% and I see no reason to try and cut so soon. I feel I will keep around 15lbs from this cycle and stay around 205-208 until I finish PCT. We'll see.

[DirtyDog7]

Do you take any cortisol blockers during you pct, like the one below? Or any other supplements that are suppose to help you keep your gains?

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[novastepp]

I put on 22lbs and have held 18 one week into PCT. I will not drop my calories as I don't want to lose weight. I am around 10% and I see no reason to try and cut so soon. I feel I will keep around 15lbs from this cycle and stay around 205-208 until I finish PCT. We'll see.

good luck man, keep up the cals and the hard earned gains!

[IBdmfkr]

I eat a lot of food. I take very few supps as I believe most are a waste of money, solids foods make me grow, supps make me poop.

Thx Nova, I think I'll actually gain a few lbs during PCT if all goes right. So far so good.
Btw added in creatine CEE, see how it works as I've heard good things. (Nark/BigK)