Reaching Natural Potential

[kirk3624]

I continously read one should reach his natural potential before starting AS. My question or confustion is in the case of two pro BB's. I know they are completely different entities from a genetic standpoint however....

Arnold won MR. O at age 21. Hence, he must (let me know if I'm wrong here) have started AS around 19-20 or before. Do you guys think he exhausted his Natural Potential? And if you think he did not, would he have been even more dominant than he was? Same with Jay or any other relatively young star.

I am 20 and debating beginning. Diet has been in check and I see slow and steady gains. I feel AS familiarity/knowledge is there also. Should I wait until these gains cease entirely or is there a point were one should say the rate of this progress is not acceptable.

Thanks to all.

[1buffsob]

Most of the members here recommend everyone should try to reach their natural potential before aas use, but the fact is, many of us started at what may now be considered too young or too small. There is a potential risk of starting too young, but that decision ultimately needs to come from you. Do the potential gains outweigh the potential (and possibly permanent) harm that you may encounter from starting too young?

You seem to be well educated kirk3624. Unless you plan on competing with Jay and Ronnie in the next couple of years, I'll be the responsible one and tell you that you should wait (albeit, I didn't). But if you decide to start, we'll give you all the advice we can.

Best of luck Kirk.

1buffsob

[kirk3624]

Most of the members here recommend everyone should try to reach their natural potential before aas use, but the fact is, many of us started at what may now be considered too young or too small. There is a potential risk of starting too young, but that decision ultimately needs to come from you. Do the potential gains outweigh the potential (and possibly permanent) harm that you may encounter from starting too young?

You seem to be well educated kirk3624. Unless you plan on competing with Jay and Ronnie in the next couple of years, I'll be the responsible one and tell you that you should wait (albeit, I didn't). But if you decide to start, we'll give you all the advice we can.

Best of luck Kirk.

1buffsob

Thanks for the response. I guess this is a difficult question since there is no obvious right or wrong answer.

Can anyone compare the health risks to something that I can comprehend easier such as smoking, drinking etc (see publicy always). If I did start at 20 my preventative measures and post cycle would be on point.

[Jnrmrplymouth]

You are in the same boat as I was mate. I was 19 and wanted to juice. So I looked into it and spent a year researching and deciding whether to start my first cycle and I did. Ive been clean now for 6 weeks off my first cycle.....I gained about 25-30% strength on average on my lifts and dropped about 10% (when I came off the gear) strength but now my strength is going up again.........so I dont regret it.

To answer your question.........no jay cutler and arnold were not at their natural potential. Alot of guys will tell you that you are too young and that you should wait to reach your natural potential. I agree but only 50%. I think one should build a solid base before juicing. If you weigh 150lbs and bench a plate a side then no you are not ready as that isnt a good base to start gear on.

My opinion..............if you have been training for 4-5 years, have knowledge on training, diet and bodybuilding in general then I would seriously consider starting a cycle. It depends on the individual. I mean you could be gaining 2lbs a month at the moment so I would say dont do gear, but then again you may strugle to gain size and strength (hardly no gains at all) even on a high calorie diet.

I remember when I juiced for the first time (4 months ago). My diet was good, I was 210lbs at 5ft 9, benching 225x6. My strength didnt go up at all for a while and I wanted to compete in my first show. Those 2 things combined made me decide to juice. Do I regret it..........no. I made some good gains from my cycle and kept most of them. I lost a bit of water weight and about 10% strength and now im gaining nicely again.

It was just what I needed to break through a plateu. It worked and im happier more than ever. Post your stats and diet and ill make any suggestions.

[kirk3624]

You are in the same boat as I was mate. I was 19 and wanted to juice. So I looked into it and spent a year researching and deciding whether to start my first cycle and I did. Ive been clean now for 6 weeks off my first cycle.....I gained about 25-30% strength on average on my lifts and dropped about 10% (when I came off the gear) strength but now my strength is going up again.........so I dont regret it.

To answer your question.........no jay cutler and arnold were not at their natural potential. Alot of guys will tell you that you are too young and that you should wait to reach your natural potential. I agree but only 50%. I think one should build a solid base before juicing. If you weigh 150lbs and bench a plate a side then no you are not ready as that isnt a good base to start gear on.

My opinion..............if you have been training for 4-5 years, have knowledge on training, diet and bodybuilding in general then I would seriously consider starting a cycle. It depends on the individual. I mean you could be gaining 2lbs a month at the moment so I would say dont do gear, but then again you may strugle to gain size and strength (hardly no gains at all) even on a high calorie diet.

I remember when I juiced for the first time (4 months ago). My diet was good, I was 210lbs at 5ft 9, benching 225x6. My strength didnt go up at all for a while and I wanted to compete in my first show. Those 2 things combined made me decide to juice. Do I regret it..........no. I made some good gains from my cycle and kept most of them. I lost a bit of water weight and about 10% strength and now im gaining nicely again.

It was just what I needed to break through a plateu. It worked and im happier more than ever. Post your stats and diet and ill make any suggestions.

That is some good insight. As far as stats and diet:
5'8", 186 lbs, Low bodyfat (around 10 by caliper test)
I eat AT LEAST 6 meals a day with a good Protien/Carb/Fat ratio

I do still make gains, its just they are slowing down tremendously. Alot of guys say after one cycle its harder to gain down the road. Do you disagree? You blasted through a plateau and gain great naturally now?

[kirk3624]

Off to the gym. Will definitely check back later though.

[1buffsob]

After a cycle, it may be harder to make gains down the road. You definately won't be making the type of gains you had been while on cycle, but if your diet is check, you should still be progressing.

Kirk, you seem to know what you're doing. Based on your stats and the fact that you're trying to make this decision by researching and asking questions, I think you're ahead of the game. I'm confident you'll make the right decision

1buffsob

[primetime1]

glad to see some is doin homework and puttin the time in before just hoppin on a cycle, kirk it sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders so im sure youll make the right choice as well.
as for makin progress down the road after your 1st go, like buff said, diet and trainin will be key to that. but im sure after one go youll like it so much (gains and goals wise) that another one wont be outa the question.

[1buffsob]

glad to see some is doin homework and puttin the time in before just hoppin on a cycle, kirk it sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders so im sure youll make the right choice as well.
as for makin progress down the road after your 1st go, like buff said, diet and trainin will be key to that. but im sure after one go youll like it so much (gains and goals wise) that another one wont be outa the question.

Once you POP, the fun don't stop.

[primetime1]

aint that the truth!!!

[kirk3624]

aint that the truth!!!

Yeah thats the last thing I want though, to become dependent upon AS to make gains always.

Still one question though: Can anyone compare the health risks of minimal AS usage to that of smoking or drinking?

Lets say on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the most harmful) smoking is a 10 and drinking is a 6. Where (in your opinion would AS usage be? I mean damn, it is perscribed by doctors for HRT.

Thanks again for the responses fellows. Anyone else feel opinionated?

[45acp]

Dont do it.

Im 31, and i started as at 21. I was not at my natural limit- honestly i wasnt even close. After busting my ass in the gym for 3 years and only gaining 20 lbs. in that time, i decided to run a cycle. It took 3 years to gain 20lbs, and then took 10 weeks on as to gain 35lbs. I kept almost 30lbs of that. From 21 to about 26 i did 2 cycles a year- in the end i was 80lbs. heavier than when i started and lower in BF. Wait, what is my point? I dunno, i dont regret a damn thing...

[Joeblo21]

IMO it would be hard to pin a numerical value relative to other things like smoking and drinking compared to AAS use, just becuase some many things are dependant. If you do everything right (cycle plan, supps, PCT) it could be as low as 2-3, if you do more wrong you could be up around 6-7. Again, it would be really hard to pin it since everyone reacts differently, Good luck Kirk.
Cheers,
Joe

[kirk3624]

Dont do it.

Im 31, and i started as at 21. I was not at my natural limit- honestly i wasnt even close. After busting my ass in the gym for 3 years and only gaining 20 lbs. in that time, i decided to run a cycle. It took 3 years to gain 20lbs, and then took 10 weeks on as to gain 35lbs. I kept almost 30lbs of that. From 21 to about 26 i did 2 cycles a year- in the end i was 80lbs. heavier than when i started and lower in BF. Wait, what is my point? I dunno, i dont regret a damn thing...

I think 21 will be my starting age also. BTW those are pretty impressive results.

[kirk3624]

IMO it would be hard to pin a numerical value relative to other things like smoking and drinking compared to AAS use, just becuase some many things are dependant. If you do everything right (cycle plan, supps, PCT) it could be as low as 2-3, if you do more wrong you could be up around 6-7. Again, it would be really hard to pin it since everyone reacts differently, Good luck Kirk.
Cheers,
Joe

Awesome response man. Just what I was looking for.

I think I am going to wait about 6 months until I turn 21 and do the recommended Test E only cycle for 10-12 weeks.

Thanks again.

[ludakris9]

I would say to wait a while bro. Keep up on your diet and hitting the gym. If you decide to wait to take gear you could take whey!

[primetime1]

regardless of what you plan to do bro, if you keep your diet and trainin in check then you will make gains, and when you feel you are not makin gains anymore then you can consider aas as a way to break the platue (sp) but as i said before above. after you see the results of one cycle and how you feel while on, it really becomes a goal orientated supplement to your work outs ( not dependency as i feel thats abuse) but rather use correct cycles for what ever you goal is along with a correct diet and trainnin regimine for your goals. i will say this, in my own opinion, that i hate to come off cuz i feel so damn good while on, but i alway do since i dont want to risk health issues, and i get bloodwork done before and after to evalute my healther (strongly suggested if you decied to go on). so with that added i hope you can take it for what ever its worth.. there is a big difference between use and abuse, and i dont want you to think i, or others on here with a good head on our shoulders abuse this stuff cuz thats only asking for problems. im sure you will understand what im talkin about when you actaully make a run of a cycle and feel the difference.

[Jnrmrplymouth]

That is some good insight. As far as stats and diet:
5'8", 186 lbs, Low bodyfat (around 10 by caliper test)
I eat AT LEAST 6 meals a day with a good Protien/Carb/Fat ratio

I do still make gains, its just they are slowing down tremendously. Alot of guys say after one cycle its harder to gain down the road. Do you disagree? You blasted through a plateau and gain great naturally now?

I understand everything you are saying........ive been there lol. I spent nearly a year on internet boards learning and getting advice and asking all the questions you are asking (and more) and in the end it was me who had to decide. For every guy thats says do it there will be a guy that says dont do it. Guys will say wait till your 25.........would these same guys go up to jay cutler and say 'jay you should have waited till you were 25 until you juiced' (he juiced at 18 and was winning pro shows by the time he was 25).

To answer your question, no I dont think its harder to gain down the road. I have been off nearly 7 weeks I think and im just starting to make gains again. People seem to think that once you start then thats it, there is no going back. This is......bollux. I am clean off gear and I feel great. I dont think to myself 'oh I need to be back on'. You have to have a professional attitude if you want to do gear. You need to accept the highs and the lows. I have done this. There are guys in my gym that do a cycle, then do PCT and then jump back on a cycle. This is an unprofessional attitude.

My advice is to train natural for another 6 months. Get your eating habits perfectly in order and your training. Do a bit more research on everything. Different types of gear, needle sizes, side effects, PCT etc etc, then do a nice 12 weeker of test @ 500mgs a week.

I still beleive that diet is the most important factor in bodybuilding pure and simple.

[timtim]

you can continue to grow and improve your physique after every cycle. most people lose interest and dedication when they come off. i find myself training so much harder off cycle then on because off cycle everything counts but on cycle you have room to move around and make a few mistakes. if you are 100% dedicated without gear you should stay the same when you start it.