Chark's 1st Cycle

[NCC1968]

......... I’ll keep same diet and be ok with strength loss and a different look.

You mean same foods or same calories?
I'd think without the Test and loss of strength meaning less weight lifted that you would want to taper down or risk gaining fat.

I think we all dread the end of the first cycle......

[Chark]

You mean same foods or same calories?
I'd think without the Test and loss of strength meaning less weight lifted that you would want to taper down or risk gaining fat.

I think we all dread the end of the first cycle......

Same everything. Everything I’ve seen advised here for first cycle is to keep in a calorie surplus through PCT as you need to give your body a reason to hold onto, acclimate to, maintain and keep the muscle you added. If I start putting on too much bad weight I can dial it back some.

[Gallowmere]

Same everything. Everything I’ve seen advised here for first cycle is to keep in a calorie surplus through PCT as you need to give your body a reason to hold onto, acclimate to, maintain and keep the muscle you added. If I start putting on too much bad weight I can dial it back some.

This is very true. Stripping back kcals too quickly at the end of a cycle is a massive contributor to “lost muh gains bruh”. Some falloff in body composition is to be expected as everything seeks it’s new balancing point. It’s most prevalent in guys who PCT vs. B&C or TRT, because even with the best structured PCT plan, you’re going to have a notable period of time where your hormones are just in the shitter, as things take a while to boot back up.
Hell, I’m a TRT patient who’s chronic levels are in the 900+ range, and I still do exactly what you described.

Mike Israetel has done a very good job of explaining the physiological reasonings behind dramatic tissue loss during post-bulk/cycle times. Essentially, most of that lean tissue you’ve built is mortgaged, and your body will happily let that shit go if not given a reason (and the fuel) to hold on to it. You need to stabilize, maintain, ‘pay your mortgage’ for a few months before even considering shedding weight.

This is a large part of why my current setup is as follows:
3 month cycle with aim of gain weight
3 month maintain on TRT
3 month cycle with aim of cut weight
3 month maintain or VERY slight surplus on TRT
Repeat

[GearHeaded]

Same everything. Everything I’ve seen advised here for first cycle is to keep in a calorie surplus through PCT as you need to give your body a reason to hold onto, acclimate to, maintain and keep the muscle you added. If I start putting on too much bad weight I can dial it back some.

I agree with Gallow . your actually better off accepting "bad weight" as long as you can accept and acclimate to your gains, then you are not putting on bad weight yet chance losing gains. your full time job during PCT is going to be lifting heavy and eating even heavier. Plenty of carbs!

your going to lose the super compensation effect of elevated glycogen stores that come from elevated androgen and estrogen levels. so you'll likely lose at least 5 pounds right off the bat and lose that hard fullness you get while on cycle. but that doesn't mean your losing actual muscle tissue as long as you give your body all it needs to hang onto and acclimate to that tissue.

[NCC1968]

Same everything. Everything I’ve seen advised here for first cycle is to keep in a calorie surplus through PCT as you need to give your body a reason to hold onto, acclimate to, maintain and keep the muscle you added. If I start putting on too much bad weight I can dial it back some.

I'm timing my cycle so that part of my PCT period is during when I visit my mom. I'll have no trouble eating enough

I think it makes sense anyway as I know I can cut off the fat pretty easily and should attempt to minimize my muscle losses.