First powerlift meet, need cycle advice

[The Deadlifting Dog]

another bit of info...

I try to compete every 6 months.
I weigh 222 in the off season.

I cruise at around 80-140mgs of test for 3 months.
I then take 500-600 test for 4 weeks.
I then take 400 test and 200 tren for 4 weeks.
I then take 200 test and 300 tren for 2 weeks.
I then take 200 test and 400 tren for the last 2 weeks.
The 2nd to last week I take 10mg of halo a day.
The last week I take 20mg of halo a day.
Meet day I take 40mg of halo.

Early in the cycle I might get as heavy as 230lbs.
By meet week I will weigh 225lbs.

I don't take deca because I took deca once (I was also taking tren) and something rather embarassing happened. (It wasn't ED.)
Never took deca again.

[Cuz]

could be a long post...

first question comes down to how much you weigh.
You want to compete at 220 and you are already lean.
Cutting more than 10lbs will be difficult for you and hamper your meet.

So...
If you are under 220lbs right now you can afford drugs like dbol or anadrol.
they will blow your weight and strength up...

If you are already 230lbs then you can't afford to take those drugs...

So I ask, how much do you weigh now?

If you are around 220lbs now... I would recommend taking as much test as you can handle without ballooning up your weight.
take some deca for your joints.
and of course take some tren...

I would imagine something like 600 test, 400 deca, 200-300 tren...
as you get a month out I would drop the test to say 300-400, drop the deca totally, and up the tren to the point that you are almost put into jail...
two weeks out i would start with 10mg of halo a day. Balkan was legit when I tried.
one week out up to 20mg of halo a day.
meet day, pray, and take 40mg of halo, 10mg first thing in the morning, and 10mg before each lift (squat, bench, deads)

The reason you cut your doses of test and deca is you want to be close to 220. you will lose strength if you have to cut 10lbs for the meet.

If you are under 220 right now, say 210, then you can take dbol and such early in your cycle and you probably can keep your test high up until the meet.
still take halo.

Note: I have never tried mast but I am sure it wouldn't hurt. that being said, I don't know any powerlifters that have taken it.

Much more important than the drugs is your training and your attempt selection.
Film squats from the side.
never squat high.
who cares if you can rep 500 if you can't squat 500 to depth.
at least two months before the meet start training all your bench presses paused.
I am assuming you have done touch and go your whole life.
All deads should be dead stop. Never touch and go.

Open light, the general rule of thumb is to open where you can hit and easy triple.
especially since this is your first meet, open light on squats.
you may think you are hitting depth but I can guarantee that you probably have been squatting high your whole life.

Also, at you strength level and age...

I would pull your last heavy deadlift 2 weeks out.. your last heavy squat 1.5 weeks out... your last heavy bench 1 week out...

I could go on for hours...

You are going to love it.
Careful with the halo.

another bit of info...

I try to compete every 6 months.
I weigh 222 in the off season.

I cruise at around 80-140mgs of test for 3 months.
I then take 500-600 test for 4 weeks.
I then take 400 test and 200 tren for 4 weeks.
I then take 200 test and 300 tren for 2 weeks.
I then take 200 test and 400 tren for the last 2 weeks.
The 2nd to last week I take 10mg of halo a day.
The last week I take 20mg of halo a day.
Meet day I take 40mg of halo.

Early in the cycle I might get as heavy as 230lbs.
By meet week I will weigh 225lbs.

I don't take deca because I took deca once (I was also taking tren) and something rather embarassing happened. (It wasn't ED.)
Never took deca again.

Thanks for your time and valuable info DD, i weigh 217 right now on trt and just casually eating not really trying to gain or lose at this point. My goal was to come in at 219 lean as possible and thats why i opted with the tren it curbs my appetite but i never taken over 300mg and that was like only a couple weeks the went to 200mg for a couple weeks I also never stacked anything with tren so I mean with tren and test and other drugs 235 would probably be easy if i stick to the cycle. Ive never competed at anything so i have abandoned a few cycles and also tapered off but I believe something to actually work towards will definitely help me.
So 217 right now, trt. Wont cycle until i meet with my hrt doc the 19th. Also will have to donate some blood.

Never done halo dont even know if my source has it, heard it was very toxic that’s why I’ve stayed away.
The last cycle you laid out is probably what im gonna do i think i can handle that no problem and put up some good numbers. Anxious to get started.

Should i max pre cycle and train at 80%? 90%? Of max?

[charger69]

Thanks for your time and valuable info DD, i weigh 217 right now on trt and just casually eating not really trying to gain or lose at this point. My goal was to come in at 219 lean as possible and thats why i opted with the tren it curbs my appetite but i never taken over 300mg and that was like only a couple weeks the went to 200mg for a couple weeks I also never stacked anything with tren so I mean with tren and test and other drugs 235 would probably be easy if i stick to the cycle. Ive never competed at anything so i have abandoned a few cycles and also tapered off but I believe something to actually work towards will definitely help me.
So 217 right now, trt. Wont cycle until i meet with my hrt doc the 19th. Also will have to donate some blood.

Never done halo dont even know if my source has it, heard it was very toxic that’s why I’ve stayed away.
The last cycle you laid out is probably what im gonna do i think i can handle that no problem and put up some good numbers. Anxious to get started.

Should i max pre cycle and train at 80%? 90%? Of max?

I was like you with Halo. You want to see some messed up liver readings do bloods with halo. LOL
You are only taking it for 2 weeks and not a high dose- you will be fine. 40 is pushing it high IMO.
Don’t forget your NAC.


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[The Deadlifting Dog]

40mg is high.
I only do it one day at that dose.

If concerned Cuz can just take 10mg for 2 weeks and 20mgs meet day.

I also know of people who just take 10mg only on the day they work out during final meet prep and then 20-40mg on meet day.

I can only vouch for how I’ve done it. (Twice.)

[The Deadlifting Dog]

Should i max pre cycle and train at 80%? 90%? Of max?

I'll try not to be too long...
And this is what works for me... I am 50 and you are 35 I believe so you probably can up the volume a bit.

Most powerlifters can bench more often then squat. And they can squat more often then deadlift.
(I will not address sumo deadlift or super high arch benchers. If you are either of these then let me know.)

Today I am going to address bench.
I never do a 1 rep max in the gym.
To put it in perspective, I have benched 420 in a meet and have many times benched 400+ in a meet.
The most I have ever benched in the gym is 385.
Save it for the platform.
Maxing is risky and taxing. Leave your ego at the door.
I also try to never miss a rep.
Many people thinking that getting strong is about grinding reps and getting spotted.
Getting strong is about good quality repeatable reps under a moderate to heavy load say 80-90%

Your ass should never come off the bench. Your feet should never move.

During the begining of meet prep (the first month or two out of a three month cycle)...
I generally bench about 3 times every 7-9 days.
I will have a volume day, a heavy day, and a speed/recovery day.

I am assuming you can bench about 400.
Volume day would be around 300x5x5 followed by 4 sets of 8-12 rep chest flies, cable flies, or something similar followed by LIGHT side/rear delts and rotator cuff exercises.
Heavy day would be around 360x1 then 330x3x3 followed by 4 sets of 8-12 rep chest flies, cable flies, or something similar followed by LIGHT side/rear delts and rotator cuff exercises.
Recovery day would be CG bench 290x3repsx8sets followed by 4 sets of 8-12 rep chest flies, cable flies, or something similar followed by LIGHT side/rear delts and rotator cuff exercises.

BB bench is not the best chest exercise nor the safest exercise out there but it is how we are judged.
Chest flies are for pec health and some safe volume.
Side/rear delts and RC are for shoulder health. DO NOT NEGLECT THESE
Close grip bench to a powerlifter is about 1" in from you regular bench width.
If you are shoulder dominant then change CG bench to wide grip bench. (about 1" wider than your normal grip)

All bench reps should be paused.
Drop weight if you are going to fail.
Recovery day reps should be explosive.
Every subsequent workout you can bump up weight about 5lbs. (If you made it through your 5x5 with all good quality reps then your next 5x5 bump it up 5lbs.)

Being younger than me you may be able to throw in some tricep work, or a little more BB type work. Weighted dips work great for me. Other powerlifters like incline bench. It depends if you are arm dominant or shoulder dominant.

I would have you follow this basic program until you are about 5 weeks out.
At that point you change your speed CG to speed normal grip.
You would drop your volume day and change it to a heavy double and a 3x3.
Your heavy day would change to a heavy single and a 2repsx3sets.
Your volume on flies would decrease. Your volume on delts and RC would decrease.

You would try to hit your opener and just under your 2nd attempt 1week out.

Hope this helps.

I am sure to tweak this a bit.

[Cuz]

I'll try not to be too long...
And this is what works for me... I am 50 and you are 35 I believe so you probably can up the volume a bit.

Most powerlifters can bench more often then squat. And they can squat more often then deadlift.
(I will not address sumo deadlift or super high arch benchers. If you are either of these then let me know.)

Today I am going to address bench.
I never do a 1 rep max in the gym.
To put it in perspective, I have benched 420 in a meet and have many times benched 400+ in a meet.
The most I have ever benched in the gym is 385.
Save it for the platform.
Maxing is risky and taxing. Leave your ego at the door.
I also try to never miss a rep.
Many people thinking that getting strong is about grinding reps and getting spotted.
Getting strong is about good quality repeatable reps under a moderate to heavy load say 80-90%

Your ass should never come off the bench. Your feet should never move.

During the begining of meet prep (the first month or two out of a three month cycle)...
I generally bench about 3 times every 7-9 days.
I will have a volume day, a heavy day, and a speed/recovery day.

I am assuming you can bench about 400.
Volume day would be around 300x5x5 followed by 4 sets of 8-12 rep chest flies, cable flies, or something similar followed by LIGHT side/rear delts and rotator cuff exercises.
Heavy day would be around 360x1 then 330x3x3 followed by 4 sets of 8-12 rep chest flies, cable flies, or something similar followed by LIGHT side/rear delts and rotator cuff exercises.
Recovery day would be CG bench 290x3repsx8sets followed by 4 sets of 8-12 rep chest flies, cable flies, or something similar followed by LIGHT side/rear delts and rotator cuff exercises.

BB bench is not the best chest exercise nor the safest exercise out there but it is how we are judged.
Chest flies are for pec health and some safe volume.
Side/rear delts and RC are for shoulder health. DO NOT NEGLECT THESE
Close grip bench to a powerlifter is about 1" in from you regular bench width.
If you are shoulder dominant then change CG bench to wide grip bench. (about 1" wider than your normal grip)

All bench reps should be paused.
Drop weight if you are going to fail.
Recovery day reps should be explosive.
Every subsequent workout you can bump up weight about 5lbs. (If you made it through your 5x5 with all good quality reps then your next 5x5 bump it up 5lbs.)

Being younger than me you may be able to throw in some tricep work, or a little more BB type work. Weighted dips work great for me. Other powerlifters like incline bench. It depends if you are arm dominant or shoulder dominant.

I would have you follow this basic program until you are about 5 weeks out.
At that point you change your speed CG to speed normal grip.
You would drop your volume day and change it to a heavy double and a 3x3.
Your heavy day would change to a heavy single and a 2repsx3sets.
Your volume on flies would decrease. Your volume on delts and RC would decrease.

You would try to hit your opener and just under your 2nd attempt 1week out.

Hope this helps.

I am sure to tweak this a bit.

Very informative and thank you for sharing the wealth of knowledge. What jumps out at me is you never maxed out in the gym and for me this will be hard to do as i tend to do this alot with singles and doubles. Not alot but i do perform this. With that said i will focus my heavy days on adding reps and gradually moving up weight until i hit a triple. So next week i will find my 3 rep max on my heavy day and with full second pause benching the may be failry low at 365x3 . 420 my first meet would amazing for me and i would be very happy with that but realistically probably 400 unless of course these miracle drugs we take add 40lbs to my BP.

Thats a pretty easy to follow layout i will ease into that immediately

[SampsonandDelilah]

another bit of info...

I try to compete every 6 months.
I weigh 222 in the off season.

I cruise at around 80-140mgs of test for 3 months.
I then take 500-600 test for 4 weeks.
I then take 400 test and 200 tren for 4 weeks.
I then take 200 test and 300 tren for 2 weeks.
I then take 200 test and 400 tren for the last 2 weeks.
The 2nd to last week I take 10mg of halo a day.
The last week I take 20mg of halo a day.
Meet day I take 40mg of halo.

Early in the cycle I might get as heavy as 230lbs.
By meet week I will weigh 225lbs.

I don't take deca because I took deca once (I was also taking tren) and something rather embarassing happened. (It wasn't ED.)
Never took deca again.

Dying to know...I can’t be the only one!

[The Deadlifting Dog]

Dying to know...I can’t be the only one!

Was my first bout of gyno.
I get gyno now whenever I run tren.

But I also lactated. Scared the shit out of me.

[SampsonandDelilah]

Was my first bout of gyno.
I get gyno now whenever I run tren.

But I also lactated. Scared the shit out of me.

I’d be terrified too...