new power lifter here

**hawk14dl** · 11-08-2013, 09:42 AM

Hey guys. New guy here. I've been lifting for about a year and a half now. Majority of the time I was following a friends routine, that managed to get me through the newbie gains. After stalling hard i switched to the 5/3/1 program. I'm back to making steady gains, although I've recently re aggravated a lower back injury that's preventing me from heavy squats or dl's

Anyways, I'm a natural lifter and I've been curious about aas. I've seen Alot of the talk on this forum surrounds size gains and muscle tone/ hardness. I'm curious, how does aas use affect powerlifters, and how do your cycles differ from the body builders?

Also, should a cycle only be started in order to bust through a plateau? Or cana cycle enable a powerlifter to lift heavy more often then normal to accelerate gains? Do the strength gains disappear after a cycle like the size gains in body builders?

**OnTheSauce** · 11-09-2013, 04:21 PM

I keep my strength except from dbol .

**kelkel** · 11-09-2013, 05:37 PM

Welcome Hawk. Post your questions in the appropriate forum for answers. This is just for intro's.

That being said, welcome again!

**hawk14dl** · 11-10-2013, 02:13 PM

Thank you for the direction, but ive already posted an intro. This does have questions directed toward powerlifters.

**songdog** · 11-10-2013, 04:34 PM

We got some PLs here so if you ever have a problem just ask.And the 5x5 is also a good routine.

**TheChosen1** · 02-26-2014, 03:37 PM

Welcome to the board, bro, and the Wicked Wide World of Powerlifting.

**John Andrew** · 02-27-2014, 03:56 AM

Hi mate,
Train hard , decide what weight division you are lifting in and what you must achieve. It took me 26 years before I even competed. Won most comps I entered at age 50, I always lifted natural.

Now I use steroids due to injuries, I am 58. Squat 230kg, Dead 250kg or more, Bench 145 or more. At 59 this year my next goal is the world masters.

I have tried so many routines, main thing is to do the really hard work. It takes years to get strong. Look on here there are dozens of routines, Some written by the best in the world. If you want to be one of us then join a federation and start! Its a wonderful life.

Good Luck John

**DontTaseMeBro** · 02-27-2014, 10:34 AM

welcome. There is a lot of good information here. Yes - powerlifters also use AAS. If done properly, the strength gains (like size gains) can be maintained. There are a lot of helpful vets with decades of knowledge and experience. Read up for a while and good luck.