Is Being OFF all that bad????????? The mindset behind running LOOOOONNNNGGG "cycles"

[RoNiN]

I`m with you,16-20wks works great for me.

Same here. So far my best results came from a 20 week course of moderate amounts of test /deca. I'm currently in my 5th week since everything cleared out and my streangth levels are about 90-95% what they were at my peak while ON and as for size , i'm actually leaner and more muscluer now. Don't ask my why i can't really explain it since i should be fatter and skinnier but that is the case.

The only thing i can attribute it to is good clean diet and good training that is not much different from what i was doing when i was on. Plus high quality creatine , glutimine and vitamins.

 

[Nathan]

I usually stay on for less than half the year..a bulk cycle...12 weeks, and 2 smaller cut cycles.

Shut up Nancy pants.

I think it is all personal preference. I also think though that with the amount of gear competitors are using today it's hard to adequately keep up without a fair bit of gear as well, unless you have been lifting for a long damn time and have great genetics and even then it's tricky. I've tried a 16 week cycle once and didn't really like it though my gear was pretty much shit. I've tried 7 weeks and 8 weeks on my first two cycles and they worked very well. I'm like 11-12 weeks now though. I find though that for me, "off" time is somewhat harder since I am so prone to water retention. I always lose about 8 lbs coming off at least and it's mainly water. So, my joints start hurting even with MSM and I look and feel smaller. I'm getting better though. Don't judge damn you. BigAragorn: You gonna train with me over Christmas bitch?

 

[mvmaxx]

LOL that avatar fits you oh so well! ROFLMAO

 

[Latamier]

[Any more thoughts....those who advocate short use chime in please. More fuel to the fire as well--> Do those who cycle longer take in to account any health issues or the idea of body adaptation to gear use over longer periods? What are your takes on it? [/B][/QUOTE]

As far as body adaptation goes, I personally dont believe in it. Every cycle I have done has felt like the first. On very rare ocasion will I ever have to use more than 750mg of test per week. Unlike some of those that frontload first and then shoot a gram or more. My longer cycles are usually due to the fact that I have come to really enjoy the benifits of HGH, and dont believe that it is worth a damn to use it on a short cycle. As I said before, all my lab work is normal post cycle, and I would like to contribute that to the fact that I dont use rediculous ammounts of anabolics. I am in this for the long run, and Bigaragorn I truly hope that you get all the benefits and enjoyment that I have. Steroids have truly changed my life. If not for them I would be literally crippeled and in constant pain from injuries that I could not have recovered from.

 

[bigAragorn]

Shut up Nancy pants.

I think it is all personal preference. I also think though that with the amount of gear competitors are using today it's hard to adequately keep up without a fair bit of gear as well, unless you have been lifting for a long damn time and have great genetics and even then it's tricky. I've tried a 16 week cycle once and didn't really like it though my gear was pretty much shit. I've tried 7 weeks and 8 weeks on my first two cycles and they worked very well. I'm like 11-12 weeks now though. I find though that for me, "off" time is somewhat harder since I am so prone to water retention. I always lose about 8 lbs coming off at least and it's mainly water. So, my joints start hurting even with MSM and I look and feel smaller. I'm getting better though. Don't judge damn you. BigAragorn: You gonna train with me over Christmas bitch?

Definitely bro.....we'll go to the pulse and mac up any of the bitches that may be still around for the holidays......oh yeah baby you like my deadlift form oh yeah LOL

 

[bigAragorn]

[As far as body adaptation goes, I personally dont believe in it. Every cycle I have done has felt like the first. On very rare ocasion will I ever have to use more than 750mg of test per week. Unlike some of those that frontload first and then shoot a gram or more. My longer cycles are usually due to the fact that I have come to really enjoy the benifits of HGH, and dont believe that it is worth a damn to use it on a short cycle. As I said before, all my lab work is normal post cycle, and I would like to contribute that to the fact that I dont use rediculous ammounts of anabolics. I am in this for the long run, and Bigaragorn I truly hope that you get all the benefits and enjoyment that I have. Steroids have truly changed my life. If not for them I would be literally crippeled and in constant pain from injuries that I could not have recovered from.

yeah im kinda up in the air when it comes to body adaptation. On one hand it is why I chose to start with low doses over relatively shorter time spans (10-12 weeks) so that when i hit my fifth cycle i wont have to use 2 grams of gear a week. But there are always guys like you that come around and can shed some light on the other side of the coin.

On another note i hope i get the same benefits you have had

 

[bigAragorn]

Im currently finishing up my second cycle and i must say i am looking forward to post cycle recovery. I get real pumped up and enjoy working towards keeping my gains. Then i started thinking.......i have read alot about some of you intending to run "cycles" in which the duration is almost as long as a year. NOw this is not directed at everyone and i am certainly not judging here.

Looking for an open minded discussion. Isnt the point of being on gear solely to help push through plateaus? When i came off my first cycle i worked my ass off to keep the gains i had made and then for 3 months pushed through and even gained about 5 pounds of lean mass.

I guess i am wondering where the mindset of being on that long comes from. Anyone who has done so chime in with your pros and cons and your reasons for electing to run or to have run a longer cycle.

Looking back i made a few mistakes on that second cycle and because of that, have postponed my third cycle as i am still recovering from that 12 weeks of fina that took alot outta me. Anyone with changes of opinion or anythig to add almost 6 months later????

 

[Johnny Cut]

what were your mistakes

 

[bigAragorn]

what were your mistakes

definately stayed on fina too long. And i didnt stick to my original plan. I believe (i dont have my journal next to me) i intended to run 8 weeks of fina and finish with 4 weeks of dbol all while doing test throughout--> instead I dipped into my stock ( which included extra winny fina and test ) and upped my test dosage at like week 7 and added winny in like the 3rd week for 3 weeks and then ran the fina for 4 extra weeks.

Note to the wise--> NEVER EVER dip into your stock that youve saved up as you can run outta gear pretty quickly. Id say stick with your plan and see it through.....i'll never make that mistake again.

 

[bigAragorn]

I flat out don't want my body or mind to think being ON is the norm and being clean is bad.

good point. In order to do that i am of the opinion that one must be on less than they are off. Seems simple but throughout this thread i hear otherwise. I mean look at this statement....

Originally posted by me2dammnit:

"actually it has been proven in many studies that 6 motnhs straight use of gear gets the same "recovery phase" as a 12 week cycle.

Once you pass that 8-12 week period, you might as well stay on longer."