What Nobody Tells You About Coming OFF Cycle...

[RS Rudy]

Everyone talks about the gains... the strength... the confidence on cycle.

But nobody really talks about what happens AFTER.

Not just PCT protocols and bloodwork... I mean the real stuff

Mood swings / feeling off
Libido going up... then crashing
Strength dropping and messing with your head
That weird "flat" feeling in the gym
Motivation taking a hit

A lot of guys experience it but don't say much about it.

So let's hear it

What actually hit you the hardest when you came off?
And what helped you deal with it?

No filter, real experiences only

 

[Wiseguy]

I am on TRT now so it doesn't count but back in the day, strength and Libido was the only two issues I encountered.

 

[Uzisuicide]

I come off for six weeks a year around the holiday season with a normal PCT everyone here does. It's at the point where I don't really like who I am when 'off'. But that would probably change if my off time were longer. I mostly use long esters so four weeks is strictly just coming off with little time to rebound.
Less aggressive, much lower sex drive, weight loss are the big three for me. Winter is the best time to come off because you're covered up with clothes and coats/jackets where I live. No depression of anything I just like being 'on'. The first two or three weeks back I'm like: "damn I'm glad that's over."

 

[Bigjape34]

I look at it like a willpower thing and a challenge. I tell myself suck it up. It’s temporary im still gunna fuck eat train sleep and act like a fickinf animal

 

[lottalead]

Everyone talks about the gains... the strength... the confidence on cycle.

But nobody really talks about what happens AFTER.

Not just PCT protocols and bloodwork... I mean the real stuff

Mood swings / feeling off
Libido going up... then crashing
Strength dropping and messing with your head
That weird "flat" feeling in the gym
Motivation taking a hit

A lot of guys experience it but don't say much about it.

So let's hear it

What actually hit you the hardest when you came off?
And what helped you deal with it?

No filter, real experiences only

the only "real" cycle with more than i few things my only coming off side was i wanted to sleep forever! i think because of the physical work i did it helped a ton --after that i just did shorter cycles several times a year --usually test and anadrol---mostly experimenting for ten years---with a ton of success!

 

[Meetketchup]

Coming off a growth cycle where you're in a large surplus isn't that bad as you still have plenty of fuel coming in. It's coming off a brutal cut cycle or post show, when you not only don't have the gear but have little food during your clean out/recomp phase.

 

[RS Rudy]

Everyone talks about the gains... the strength... the confidence on cycle.

But nobody really talks about what happens AFTER.

Not just PCT protocols and bloodwork... I mean the real stuff

Mood swings / feeling off
Libido going up... then crashing
Strength dropping and messing with your head
That weird "flat" feeling in the gym
Motivation taking a hit

A lot of guys experience it but don't say much about it.

So let's hear it

What actually hit you the hardest when you came off?
And what helped you deal with it?

No filter, real experiences only

LET’S MAKE THIS THREAD USEFUL FOR EVERYONE

Bros, coming off cycle is one of those topics people don't talk about enough.
But honestly, this is where real experience matters.

Mood, libido, strength drop, motivation, feeling flat, recovery...
Most guys go through something, but not everyone says it out loud.

So please share your experience and advice here.
It matters for all of us - especially the guys who are still learning.

What helped you the most when coming off?
What mistake would you tell others to avoid?
What hit you harder than expected?

Small bonus to make it interesting:
The comment with the most LIKES by May 11 will get $200 store credit.

So drop your real experience, give advice and like the comments you agree with.
Let's turn this into a thread that actually helps people.

 

[Bigjape34]

LET’S MAKE THIS THREAD USEFUL FOR EVERYONE

Bros, coming off cycle is one of those topics people don't talk about enough.
But honestly, this is where real experience matters.

Mood, libido, strength drop, motivation, feeling flat, recovery...
Most guys go through something, but not everyone says it out loud.

So please share your experience and advice here.
It matters for all of us - especially the guys who are still learning.

What helped you the most when coming off?
What mistake would you tell others to avoid?
What hit you harder than expected?

Small bonus to make it interesting:
The comment with the most LIKES by May 11 will get $200 store credit.

So drop your real experience, give advice and like the comments you agree with.
Let's turn this into a thread that actually helps people.

For me first time I ever came off I became lethargic. Less motivated and didn’t pct correctly once I started blasting and cruising I’d start
To notice stronger and recovery dip after 2-3 weeks energy a little as well. But I made sure I knew a s was aware kf what was coming to mentally prepare myself and I tell myself to go jjst as hard to make sure I keep and reap the benefits of the hard work I made during and to make my transition easier when I get back on

 

[RS Rudy]

For me first time I ever came off I became lethargic. Less motivated and didn’t pct correctly once I started blasting and cruising I’d start
To notice stronger and recovery dip after 2-3 weeks energy a little as well. But I made sure I knew a s was aware kf what was coming to mentally prepare myself and I tell myself to go jjst as hard to make sure I keep and reap the benefits of the hard work I made during and to make my transition easier when I get back on

The mental side is probably the part most guys don't prepare for enough. Energy dips, strength drops a bit, motivation gets weird... but if you expect it and keep pushing, the transition is way easier.

Good advice right there

 

[Glycomann]

My advice is base your ego on more than your physique. I cycled on and off well into my 50s and was able to recover my test levels. I didn't feel great during the off periods but so fucking what. Is a little discomfort and shitty pumps for 3-4 months that big a fucking deal? Do you really think anyone gives a fuck if you look flat and smaller for 3-4 months? But now most of you are fucked because you didn't come off for years and now your nads are grizzle.

 

[WED]

When I drop test down I usually just get tired and need to take some afternoon naps. Lasts for 2-3 weeks until my body stabilizes. Deflate a little, but usually can still make progress in the gym and strength mostly stays around

 

[zwhit]

My advice is base your ego on more than your physique. I cycled on and off well into my 50s and was able to recover my test levels. I didn't feel great during the off periods but so fucking what. Is a little discomfort and shitty pumps for 3-4 months that big a fucking deal? Do you really think anyone gives a fuck if you look flat and smaller for 3-4 months? But now most of you are fucked because you didn't come off for years and now your nads are grizzle.

At least we're not as miserable as it seems you are in every post. Maybe you should get back on

 

[RP_2023]

Everyone talks about the gains... the strength... the confidence on cycle.

But nobody really talks about what happens AFTER.

Not just PCT protocols and bloodwork... I mean the real stuff

Mood swings / feeling off
Libido going up... then crashing
Strength dropping and messing with your head
That weird "flat" feeling in the gym
Motivation taking a hit

A lot of guys experience it but don't say much about it.

So let's hear it

What actually hit you the hardest when you came off?
And what helped you deal with it?

No filter, real experiences only

Just don’t come off totally… been on in one capacity or another since 2021!

 

[Meetketchup]

Before coming off have a goal. Based on that goal plan everything as much as possible such as a new split, exercises, volume, frequency etc along with new macros on where you currently are and what that next goal is. You make it a challenge to keep strength as high as humanly possible and motivation matching what you were feeling on cycle. You obviously aren't physiological the same, but psychologically you can make up a good amount for it. Keep intensity super high with slightly less volume for recovery.

Keep food on the cleaner side as it will be less temptation to add unwanted calories. Some guys thrive better sticking to a diet off cycle than on. The more serious you take it, the better the results.

Sleep. Even more important than when on cycle as you need the extra recovery. Engage in activities you enjoy that are somewhat active and keep you motivated to keep doing. Continue doing cardio! It will enhance recovery for bloods faster than without.

Stay as stress free as possible. With stress comes cortisol. More cortisol and the harder it is to stay lean.

Keep GH up. We want to maximize the partitioning of calories to stay lean.

Drop as low as you can drug wise if cruising, TRT or completely. None of this 300mg a week stuff. Drop to a lower level and really clean out. Keep it only test. TRT plus is a bunch of nonsense. lol

Monitor your progress the way you do as on cycle if that is weekly pics, weighing in, etc so you can be objective in what is happening. Some people drop all that and in 4-6 weeks take measurements and are like "wtf happened?" Staying on top of it weekly allows us to catch weight gain/body composition changes right away.

Lastly, don't be the guy who stays on cycle all year round. You'd be surprised how many do that. You get one body. Don't fuck it up.

Hope this helps at least someone.