diet and diet monitoring on an aas cycle.

**gonnagethuge** · 02-27-2012, 05:32 PM

I've been trying to do a bit of research into aas before i consider running a cycle sometime down the line.

My question to forum members is how should the use of an aas cycle affect your diet? I am very familiar with the types of food to eat, macros, tdee (katch mcardle) etc however i have no idea how the use of aas would influence this. I note that protein synthesis is greatly increase on aas however does this generally mean that protein should be increased over and above the amount that would normally be used on a standard (non aas) lean bulk cycle? (generally 300-500 surplus)

I have been reading on various websites recommendations that anywhere between 4000-5000 cals per day is required on an aas cycle! is this true? I can only imagine that a lot of fat would be heaped on if this amount of food were to be consumed. I have also read that one should eat from the outset the calories that would be required to sustain the body type of their final goal - any thoughts on this?

Please note that i am not suggesting that i am ready for an aas cycle as of yet, i'm simply just doing the research so that i'm in a good position to start when i do decide to go ahead with it and i would like for my diet to be as good as it could be and for gains to be as clean as possible. I am pretty confident that i can achieve this in terms of food sources but pretty clueless at the minute when it comes to overall calories that would need to be consumed and how often to monitor,

**gonnagethuge** · 02-28-2012, 06:57 AM

Anyone?

Or should i assume that all those suggesting upwards of 4000 cals per day are correct and this is a stupid question lol.

**--->>405<<---** · 02-28-2012, 07:28 AM

cals per day depends on LBM..IMO the same rules of dieting apply when running a cycle.. u may benefit more from ur food due to aas but theyre not a free ticket to eat a ton of food over and above standard bulking principles.. some may get away with more than others just like they do naturally.. if ur tdee is 3000cals.. id eat 3500 on a cycle.. maybe 3750.. but then be prepared to accumulate some fat..

**Back In Black** · 02-28-2012, 07:42 AM

Yes you should up your protein some on cycle. As 405 says total cals depends on goals and stats. 4000 cals may be necessary for some, 3000 may be all it takes for others. Any excess of calories (after muscle gain) will either be excreted or stored as fat.

In PCT you will also need to up your macro's again to try and keep the gains you have made.

**gonnagethuge** · 02-28-2012, 11:59 AM

Thanks guys.

So basically its still the same game of reviewing tdee and shooting above this to gain muscle however gains may come quicker using aas therefore more monitoring and adjustments to diet may be necessary?

Also what youre saying on pct stem - does this suggest that the calories which are sustaining a body in its form on aas may be insufficient to sustain that same body without. Ie a 200lb man on aas requires less calories to maintain that weight than rhe same man without?

Sorry if i sound stupid. Just tryi g to understand. Its easy to find info about aas and cyckes but less easy to find info on how to monitor and optimise a diet for clean gains on cycle.

sorry if i sound stupid. Just truing ti underatand

**gonnagethuge** · 02-28-2012, 11:59 AM

Damn phone typos! Lol.

**Back In Black** · 02-28-2012, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by gonnagethuge

Thanks guys.

So basically its still the same game of reviewing tdee and shooting above this to gain muscle however gains may come quicker using aas therefore more monitoring and adjustments to diet may be necessary?

Yep, as body composition changes it's a constant state of redefining cals and macro's to suit.

Also what youre saying on pct stem - does this suggest that the calories which are sustaining a body in its form on aas may be insufficient to sustain that same body without. Ie a 200lb man on aas requires less calories to maintain that weight than rhe same man without?

When 'on' the AAS are assisting with utilising the carbs and protein at an accelerated rate, if you like. When you come off you need to make allowances for them not being in your system, that means more food and less cardio.

You then, after pct, need to redefine your maintenance calories and macro split again.

Sorry if i sound stupid. Just tryi g to understand. Its easy to find info about aas and cyckes but less easy to find info on how to monitor and optimise a diet for clean gains on cycle.

sorry if i sound stupid. Just truing ti underatand

And dude, there are no stupid questions. (actually there are, but you didn't ask any!)

**gonnagethuge** · 02-28-2012, 05:34 PM

Thanks man, i think that makes a bit more sense to me now. Essentially more calories are put to use when on therefore a lesser amount of calories overall would be needed to achieve a desired lean body mass when on as opposed to natural? So when one begins pct there are no longer enough calories utilised effectively in sustaining that physique without the assistance of aas therefore there is a requirement to increase calories in order for the required amount of calories to be put to use?

Its probably only necessary for me to realise that the diet should be constantly monitored however i do like to try and understand how it works.

**--->>405<<---** · 02-28-2012, 05:35 PM

LOL ^^ good revision SteM LOL ..

**gonnagethuge** · 02-29-2012, 02:36 PM

Lol.

Have both you guys ran aas cycles yeah?

This would be my first when i do decide to do it. However most people would have me believe that i am too light to do it at just under 140lbs (<10%). However i have noticed through reading a few threads on this site that some guys around similar weights have done it. Any thoughts? I have a bit of training experience and like to think i have a decent diet. I started a log on my progress a month or so ago but felt like nobody was really too interested ( i think 405 did give some advice though) so i kind of stopped logging lol.

**--->>405<<---** · 02-29-2012, 03:41 PM

no ggh i havent cycled yet.. since starting this cut i did get on trt and have been on about 3 or 4 months now.. def helping alot

i do plan on maybe trying some kind of cycle possibly this fall once i am more dialed in .. maybe bumping up test and adding deca .. from wat i heard that makes a good combo for us TRT'ers

as far as ur situation goes i think alot of it depends on ur age and ur training experience as well as how far uve managed to get naturally not to mention ur knowledge of steroids , pct etc...

**Back In Black** · 02-29-2012, 04:37 PM

And me, not for a long time. I hope to in the future but I have other things to address first! You are right though, it pays to be well informed before you start. Anything!

**gonnagethuge** · 02-29-2012, 06:03 PM

Thanks guys. I appreciate you passing me your advice.

As for me, i'm nearly 28 so quite old. Been training under 2 years on and off but mostly on for a while now. It seems to be quite difficult for me to gain lean weight, I'm also a total ecto. I'm aiming to gain about another 5 lbs lbm naturally and hopefully in that time i'll have learned a bit more about aas.