Keeping gains after stopping?

[oldbull]

Based on the shit I see online, any strength I gained while using steroids will vanish upon cessation. However, I am inclined to think that’s propaganda because the same sources say my nuts will shrink to the size of pebbles and they’ve stayed normal. So, I’d rather ask the folks who know firsthand than rely on typical medical boogeyman shit.

I’ve been using 250 mg of test cyp a week for a month and plan to stop after the first ampule, so probably five more injections.

It’s only elevated my sex drive nominally, which was the main motivator in starting, and I have not seen any increase in mood or energy or even body hair. However, the strength gains have been impressive.

I don’t want my body to get too dependent on this stuff (the potential testicle shrinkage scares me) so I plan to stay off as long at least as long as I was on. I haven’t noticed any weird side effects like tits or acne or emotionality and want to keep it that way.

If I’d seen a big boost in libido, I might have been tempted to just keep going, but basically the only thing it’s helping is my weightlifting. That’s fine, but I am already big and strong enough to perform the physical tasks I need and deter people from fucking with me, so I am in not in a huge hurry to get huge.

Can I expect to keep the strength gains once I stop? They’ve been impressive to me (adding weight or reps each week) but probably not impressive by the standards of guys on here who are stacking all kinds of shit and benching 10,000 pounds.

What has been folks’ experience in general with keeping strength gains while off-cycle?

 

[samgraves82]

Based on the shit I see online, any strength I gained while using steroids will vanish upon cessation. However, I am inclined to think that’s propaganda because the same sources say my nuts will shrink to the size of pebbles and they’ve stayed normal. So, I’d rather ask the folks who know firsthand than rely on typical medical boogeyman shit.

I’ve been using 250 mg of test cyp a week for a month and plan to stop after the first ampule, so probably five more injections.

It’s only elevated my sex drive nominally, which was the main motivator in starting, and I have not seen any increase in mood or energy or even body hair. However, the strength gains have been impressive.

I don’t want my body to get too dependent on this stuff (the potential testicle shrinkage scares me) so I plan to stay off as long at least as long as I was on. I haven’t noticed any weird side effects like tits or acne or emotionality and want to keep it that way.

If I’d seen a big boost in libido, I might have been tempted to just keep going, but basically the only thing it’s helping is my weightlifting. That’s fine, but I am already big and strong enough to perform the physical tasks I need and deter people from fucking with me, so I am in not in a huge hurry to get huge.

Can I expect to keep the strength gains once I stop? They’ve been impressive to me (adding weight or reps each week) but probably not impressive by the standards of guys on here who are stacking all kinds of shit and benching 10,000 pounds.

What has been folks’ experience in general with keeping strength gains while off-cycle?

First off, If you keep doing things the same ur strength should keep moving. 2nd, id get myself tested cause libido shouldve been very noticable if gear was legit unless it levels were really high naturally before starting

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[Anadrolburrito]

Been on trt 4 years and my nuts are fine. I supplement with hcg and Clomid when I want bigger balls.

 

[302]

Been on trt 4 years and my nuts are fine. I supplement with hcg and Clomid when I want bigger balls.

What’s your Clomid protocol?

 

[Anadrolburrito]

What’s your Clomid protocol?

Based on blood work but 25mg +.2 adex ed.

I don’t take it ed anymore for fear of vision and bone density issues but I supplement quite heavily to counter the two.

Typically with take eod but sometimes give myself a break if I’m getting joint pain.

I’ve got another full panel coming up and will post bloods and try to remember to tag you.

 

[Fat Mike01]

First off, If you keep doing things the same ur strength should keep moving. 2nd, id get myself tested cause libido shouldve been very noticable if gear was legit unless it levels were really high naturally before starting

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Sam , Alot of guys try test to boost libido. Hell even when im 2000 plus ng levels, libido doesnt increase. Even when all bloods are in check. Psychological factors and a few others impact libido which no amount of test will fix. Guys that had 3-400 test levels naturally go onto TRT and raise levels to high normal Still dont do squat. See it all the time on multiple boards
PT-141 is the only magical drug that gives you instant libido

 

[samgraves82]

Sam , Alot of guys try test to boost libido. Hell even when im 2000 plus ng levels, libido doesnt increase. Even when all bloods are in check. Psychological factors and a few others impact libido which no amount of test will fix. Guys that had 3-400 test levels naturally go onto TRT and raise levels to high normal Still dont do squat. See it all the time on multiple boards
PT-141 is the only magical drug that gives you instant libido

I agree on the mental part. If ur worried about it all the time, you'll have problems regardless. As far as the rest, assuming bloods are in order, I never seen somebody in person not get a libido boost in the begonn/first cycle or starting trt. Not saying it doesn't happen, I just never seen it in person outside the Internet.

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[Anadrolburrito]

It took a long time to see a libido increase but at 200 /week my sex is slightly increased. At 500mg/wk I’d suck a fart outta my wife’s butt, and when on DHB I’d fuck every 700lb whale in sight

 

[Fat Mike01]

It took a long time to see a libido increase but at 200 /week my sex is slightly increased. At 500mg/wk I’d suck a fart outta my wife’s butt, and when on DHB I’d fuck every 700lb whale in sight

dam, ruthless man

 

[Astro95]

You may lose a bit of strength depending what all you’re using, should stay about the same strength if you continue to train and diet as you were on cycle. Size wise you may lose a little fullness, but shouldn’t lose gains.

 

[Glycomann]

You will shrink and get soft for a while. Then, if your system recovers, you will bounce back and level out close to your genetic limit. You may look odd depending how and where your gains are. You could end up looking like Shrek.

 

[MindlessWork]

Once I stopped gear I find that I start losing strength noticeably about 6-8 weeks after the last pin.

 

[Glycomann]

I went off for 10 years at one point from mid 30s to mid 40s. It took a year to recover. My upper body never got as strong as when I was using AAS but was probably within 90% on most lifts. Some lifts got a little better like weighted dips. My legs actually got stronger but we are talking about another 10 years in the gym after use. I never looked as good as when using. It was not easy to stay lean. Also, I trained natural from when I was a kid like 15 years old to 27. I was not that big. I was just under 180 lbs and a grappler. That alone makes you strong. Plus I was weight training 4-5 times a week and working a labor job. So, even naturally, i recovered exceptionally well from training and physical work. I was benching 300 lbs, dead lifting 500 and military push pressing 250 lbs from the rack.

So I had a base before using AAS. Bottom line, it matters what you were before you used AAS. It also matters how well your endocrine system recovers from AAS use/abuse. It also matters if you continue to train. Probably also matters how well you recover from physical activity naturally.

 

[Meetketchup]

You keep the intensity and consistency up while being 100% accurate on your plan. Depending on what cycle you are coming off (wet vs dry) of should hold the majority of your gains. You almost have to treat the post cycle period as anal as a prep. Otherwise, if you slack in food, training, sleep...you'll lose a good amount.

 

[Wiseguy]

So many factors. I see guy in trt and still strong and pretty much maintained and others after several monster cycles lose gains and strength. Intensity, more rest and diet plays key role. Personally I never been able to keep all the strength but still maintaining a good physique:
It will definitely vary from person to person:

 

[oldbull]

So basically, it sounds like “it depends.” I guess we’ll see. Though I am stronger than I was when I started, I am still below my genetic limit — I was lifting more a decade ago without any added testosterone or anything else. I am curious to see what happens, since part of me thinks it doesn’t make sense the muscle would just disappear. Then again, I am no expert.

As for the libido — yeah, it’s only a slight boost so far. I discussed it with the wife finally and she thinks it’s got to do with my prostate considering I have to pee all the time but then have a hard time getting started when I do. Fuck it, I may end up asking a doctor about it since I’ve tried everything else. Not sure I can face the humiliation (a bit different in person versus anonymously online) but I guess we’ll see if I work up the nerve….

 

[StadaCody]

Based on the shit I see online, any strength I gained while using steroids will vanish upon cessation. However, I am inclined to think that’s propaganda because the same sources say my nuts will shrink to the size of pebbles and they’ve stayed normal. So, I’d rather ask the folks who know firsthand than rely on typical medical boogeyman shit.

I’ve been using 250 mg of test cyp a week for a month and plan to stop after the first ampule, so probably five more injections.

It’s only elevated my sex drive nominally, which was the main motivator in starting, and I have not seen any increase in mood or energy or even body hair. However, the strength gains have been impressive.

I don’t want my body to get too dependent on this stuff (the potential testicle shrinkage scares me) so I plan to stay off as long at least as long as I was on. I haven’t noticed any weird side effects like tits or acne or emotionality and want to keep it that way.

If I’d seen a big boost in libido, I might have been tempted to just keep going, but basically the only thing it’s helping is my weightlifting. That’s fine, but I am already big and strong enough to perform the physical tasks I need and deter people from fucking with me, so I am in not in a huge hurry to get huge.

Can I expect to keep the strength gains once I stop? They’ve been impressive to me (adding weight or reps each week) but probably not impressive by the standards of guys on here who are stacking all kinds of shit and benching 10,000 pounds.

What has been folks’ experience in general with keeping strength gains while off-cycle?

Stay on the food, train like you’re still on, mentally and physically and you should keep gains. Only will loose fullness really

 

[oldbull]

Stay on the food, train like you’re still on, mentally and physically and you should keep gains. Only will loose fullness really

That’s another weird thing, I can’t say I see much more fullness, but then I never did even as a younger guy. I think it’s because I got a big beer belly type of body, where any slight gradations in muscle aren’t all that noticeable with this fleshy beach ball strapped to my mid-section. I’m not fat anywhere else, though, just this fucking sack of fat protruding from my stomach, lol. I don’t particularly care, though.

 

[Glycomann]

That’s another weird thing, I can’t say I see much more fullness, but then I never did even as a younger guy. I think it’s because I got a big beer belly type of body, where any slight gradations in muscle aren’t all that noticeable with this fleshy beach ball strapped to my mid-section. I’m not fat anywhere else, though, just this fucking sack of fat protruding from my stomach, lol. I don’t particularly care, though.

That's diet, training and discipline right there. You should be tracking your nutrition and eating as close to the earth as possible. And, alcohol is rough on gains, recovery and should be limited. These things are important natural or enhanced and especially bad when enhanced. Having that much body fat is serious disadvantage. You will convert testosterone to estrogen much more than if you were lean. As a natural, obese people generally have lower test levels and many lab test as hypogonadal. Whatever you end up doing, the best move you can make is get your training and nutrition under control and get that fat off.

 

[oldbull]

That's diet, training and discipline right there. You should be tracking your nutrition and eating as close to the earth as possible. And, alcohol is rough on gains, recovery and should be limited. These things are important natural or enhanced and especially bad when enhanced. Having that much body fat is serious disadvantage. You will convert testosterone to estrogen much more than if you were lean. As a natural, obese people generally have lower test levels and many lab test as hypogonadal. Whatever you end up doing, the best move you can make is get your training and nutrition under control and get that fat off.

I appreciate the advice but I’ve had this spare tire forever and it’s part of my “look” at this point, along with sweat-stained tank tops, homemade tattoos and jeans with a rip in the ass crack. I’d be betraying my style if I got slimmer and dressed better or washed more often, lol. I only sleep every other day and subsist on whatever is cheap at the Grocery Outlet. My priorities are probably quite divergent from most folks on this forum, but you’re nice guys for responding to my dumb questions.

 

[Glycomann]

I appreciate the advice but I’ve had this spare tire forever and it’s part of my “look” at this point, along with sweat-stained tank tops, homemade tattoos and jeans with a rip in the ass crack. I’d be betraying my style if I got slimmer and dressed better or washed more often, lol. I only sleep every other day and subsist on whatever is cheap at the Grocery Outlet. My priorities are probably quite divergent from most folks on this forum, but you’re nice guys for responding to my dumb questions.

Then buy a Harley, wear a bandana and eat at Burger King with the Gang... wait I think they went out of business. Maybe McDonalds is the place to be. You shouldn't do steroids. Bodybuilding is a journey of self improvement in diet, training, self discipline and healthy living. You have some things to figure out before you commit to the path you should be on.

 

[Sirchon]

The fattest I ever was was off-cycle. I generally will lose my drive with the exogenous help.

 

[oldbull]

Then buy a Harley, wear a bandana and eat at Burger King with the Gang... wait I think they went out of business. Maybe McDonalds is the place to be. You shouldn't do steroids. Bodybuilding is a journey of self improvement in diet, training, self discipline and healthy living. You have some things to figure out before you commit to the path you should be on.

I’ve been lifting weights since I was a teenager, over a quarter century ago. Not everyone needs to be a zero-body-fat model specimen to enjoy the benefits of being stronger. I’ve spent my life as a fat strong guy rather than a fat weak guy. What is wrong with that?

 

[oldbull]

The fattest I ever was was off-cycle. I generally will lose my drive with the exogenous help.

Yeah, I had a tummy even when I was at my peak strength, benching 375 lb. I like to eat whatever I want and not worry about calories. I’ve been with the same woman for a quarter century as well. Watching my diet and shit just isn’t for me, but I don’t want to give the impression that I am like a pile of blubber. More your standard overweight manual laborer type body. The world is crawling with them.

 

[Matt88]

So basically, it sounds like “it depends.” I guess we’ll see. Though I am stronger than I was when I started, I am still below my genetic limit — I was lifting more a decade ago without any added testosterone or anything else. I am curious to see what happens, since part of me thinks it doesn’t make sense the muscle would just disappear. Then again, I am no expert.

As for the libido — yeah, it’s only a slight boost so far. I discussed it with the wife finally and she thinks it’s got to do with my prostate considering I have to pee all the time but then have a hard time getting started when I do. Fuck it, I may end up asking a doctor about it since I’ve tried everything else. Not sure I can face the humiliation (a bit different in person versus anonymously online) but I guess we’ll see if I work up the nerve….

In regards to your libido. Are you on any antidepressant medications or any other medications for that matter?

The answer may be in the medicine cabinet.

Have you any lab work done? Like a PSA for prostate for example.

 

[oldbull]

In regards to your libido. Are you on any antidepressant medications or any other medications for that matter?

The answer may be in the medicine cabinet.

Have you any lab work done? Like a PSA for prostate for example.

No medication other than amphetamine but the libido is shitty whether I’m on it or not. No lab work but my wife thinks it might be prostate because I keep peeing all the time but have trouble getting started when I do. Also, coming off decades of heavy boozing. It could be any number of things but I don’t like doctors. I might bite the bullet, though, if I can face the shame of talking about it. A little different in person than anonymously online.

 

[Matt88]

No medication other than amphetamine but the libido is shitty whether I’m on it or not. No lab work but my wife thinks it might be prostate because I keep peeing all the time but have trouble getting started when I do. Also, coming off decades of heavy boozing. It could be any number of things but I don’t like doctors. I might bite the bullet, though, if I can face the shame of talking about it. A little different in person than anonymously online.

The amphetamine is likely the cause. It causes vasoconstriction which lowers blood supply to your penis, prostate and all that down there. It's probably behind your prostate trouble as well. Also long term use can lower libido.

Using an amphetamine occasionally generally increases libido but long term use can lead to what i just stated above.

Just bc the drug isn't on board doesn't mean this all goes back to normal because the long term use has a cumulative effect which lingers on even when you aren't "on" the drug.

 

[Anadrolburrito]

I had pretty significant prostate problems from long term adderall use. Went away after ceasing.

 

[oldbull]

Ugh. I forgot to mention the daily kratom use, too. Are you guys saying I can’t just continue drinking and drugging into middle age with no consequences? Fucking hell. Lol.

 

[Dadabolic]

Ugh. I forgot to mention the daily kratom use, too. Are you guys saying I can’t just continue drinking and drugging into middle age with no consequences? Fucking hell. Lol.

You try daily cialis? 5mg a day helped my prostate and pissing issues.
Warning though, the leg muscle pain sucks for a couple weeks