Hypothetical

[GTOne]

Quick scenario:

What happens if you cycle and you do not change anything else you are doing? For example, you are in good shape, training is on point, diet is on point (at a maintenance level), and you cycle (insert whatever compound you would like).

What I am getting at is, would you still gain lean body mass? I always hear you have to be running at a surplus, caloricly, in order to build muscle... Is this true even if you add AAS?

I know, optimally, you should raise your calorie intake (if it is a bulking cycle), but just curious as to what would happen in this scenario...

Very interested in everyone's opinions / experiences...

[MercyDog]

Most people are going to tell you you have to eat like a monster to gain muscle mass. I never had to.

[Shurik]

Thats an interesting question. It would make sense that you would get leaned out a little bit, but I'm not really sure cause I never did it like that. Lets see what others say from experience.

[Mammon]

you will still benefit but wont have optimal results imo..

[MMArmour]

my roommate tried that exact thing. ran a cycle of test (legit) and lifted as he would regularly, ate as he would regularly. His strength increased (we cycled at the same time together, on the same compound, etc) but he gained almost NOTHING. I gained 23lbs in 8 weeks. he gained 5. You have to create a surplus of nutrition and calories in order to build mass. cant build a house without some wood.

[Ernst]

AAS increases protein synthesis. So I guess you would still gain a little bit of weight just to lose it afterwards since you would need more calories to maintain the gains. Sounds like a waste of time and money...

Granted this is hypothetical. I have never used AAS with anything but the intention of gaining, and have tried to maintain a good caloric surplus. Studies of AAS maintaining or increasing weight on cancer/aids wasting patients that I saw didn't include their full diet plans.

[bahrianite]

i think that while one is considering cycling he should raise his calories above maintainance!!because the muscle needs food to grow,if you only give it enough to maintain,then thats what its gonna do!!

[Bossman]

AAS increases protein synthesis. So I guess you would still gain a little bit of weight just to lose it afterwards since you would need more calories to maintain the gains. Sounds like a waste of time and money...

Granted this is hypothetical. I have never used AAS with anything but the intention of gaining, and have tried to maintain a good caloric surplus. Studies of AAS maintaining or increasing weight on cancer/aids wasting patients that I saw didn't include their full diet plans.

I agree^^^

Gains would probably be minimal but there would be some benefit. But why???

[Immortal Soldier]

Quick scenario:

What happens if you cycle and you do not change anything else you are doing? For example, you are in good shape, training is on point, diet is on point (at a maintenance level), and you cycle (insert whatever compound you would like).

What I am getting at is, would you still gain lean body mass? I always hear you have to be running at a surplus, caloricly, in order to build muscle... Is this true even if you add AAS?

I know, optimally, you should raise your calorie intake (if it is a bulking cycle), but just curious as to what would happen in this scenario...

Very interested in everyone's opinions / experiences...

Why would you pay that much money to not capitalize on your results?

It's not like what you have to do is hard, you just have to eat quality amount of food in the surplus range.

It's not like you have to kill your dog or something. You just have to eat the right amount of foods more, not that hard.

[T_Own]

I agree^^^

Gains would probably be minimal but there would be some benefit. But why???

yeah i agree with that too...

[GTOne]

This is good stuff and opinions and agree with most everything above. I was really just interested in the results. I would not, or am not considering it, but rather trying to understand the science piece.

So... If you would not gain much, would you lose fat, would you get better definition? Take people who do cutting cycles with fairly large dosages of AAS. Theoretically, they are working with a calorie deficit. Is this just to keep muscle while losing fat? They cannot gain anything, right?

I appreciate the experience on this board... Always trying to learn more...

[Dinosaur]

i wan to know why waste your time and money and stick ur self up for every other day, if you dont care about results or looks.

get some vitamins with creatine than and your good to go.
my cheap opinion.

[GTOne]

i wan to know why waste your time and money and stick ur self up for every other day, if you dont care about results or looks.

get some vitamins with creatine than and your good to go.
my cheap opinion.

OK. I think some are misunderstanding me. I am not suggesting this is the way to go. I think everyone agrees you have to add calories to really get the results. Again, I was just interested in what would happen if this were the situation. It just helps me, maybe, better understand...

I am experienced with cycles, and always upped the calories with good results. I guess my question really comes from seeing peolple take large dosages while cutting. What is the real benefit to this? I also read about some on just maintenance cycles. Again, what is the benefit?

Thanks all

[jimmyinkedup]

i think your bf would drop slightly and youd gain some lean body mass(muscle) and be horny as hell... weight prob wouldnt change much (loss of fat = to gain in muscle or close to it)

[Dinosaur]

OK. I think some are misunderstanding me. I am not suggesting this is the way to go. I think everyone agrees you have to add calories to really get the results. Again, I was just interested in what would happen if this were the situation. It just helps me, maybe, better understand...

I am experienced with cycles, and always upped the calories with good results. I guess my question really comes from seeing peolple take large dosages while cutting. What is the real benefit to this? I also read about some on just maintenance cycles. Again, what is the benefit?

Thanks all

just to clarify my comment was not directed to you.
just commenting on what u said.

[GTOne]

just to clarify my comment was not directed to you.
just commenting on what u said.

gotcha. understood. thanks for the reply...

[Bossman]

OK. I think some are misunderstanding me. I am not suggesting this is the way to go. I think everyone agrees you have to add calories to really get the results. Again, I was just interested in what would happen if this were the situation. It just helps me, maybe, better understand...

I am experienced with cycles, and always upped the calories with good results. I guess my question really comes from seeing peolple take large dosages while cutting. What is the real benefit to this? I also read about some on just maintenance cycles. Again, what is the benefit?

Thanks all

When cutting to a very low bf% (>5%), the AAS helps to maintain muscle mass and other compounds are used to harden the muscle and in some cases add vascularity. Even when on AAS, you can expect to lose some muscle mass while dieting to the extreme level necessary for competition.