Keepable strength gains

[NXG+]

For one reason or another, I can only run maybe one cycle per year, probably for around 10wks. I want mainly strength out of my cycles although a few lbs of lbm is always handy.

What do you guys think the best tactic is to maintain long term strength gains? Is it even worth doing? I am thinking longish cycles of fairly low dose test and var for example:

Wks 1 - 10: 500mg prop or eth pw
Wks 1 - 6: 60mg var ed

With hcg and appropraite PCT does anyone think that will be a sucessful way of doing it?

Stats: PL'er, 5'6, 187lbs, 27 yrs, 15% bf, carb cycling diet, 1 previous cycle - 400mg prop pw

Thanks all.

 

[sonicwaste]

more mass=long term strength

 

[KeepinMyGains]

What do you guys think the best tactic is to maintain long term strength gains?

I know it's what you do not want to hear but staying in the gym on a weekly basis week in and week out yearly. You would be surprised how fast you can loose strength if you missed a few weeks and came back.

 

[moya]

I know it's what you do not want to hear but staying in the gym on a weekly basis week in and week out yearly. You would be surprised how fast you can loose strength if you missed a few weeks and came back.

...im not so sure i can completely agree with this...
...as far as PLing goes... when i take a week or two (not much more) break, i often come back stronger and break plateaus...
...this may be an individual variable for different people though...


...as far as the cycle... i am looking at running somthing similar... similar goals... i started a threak a week ago on PL cycles and didnt get much feedback... but var looks promising for getting stronger in the same weight class...

 

[NXG+]

I know it's what you do not want to hear but staying in the gym on a weekly basis week in and week out yearly. You would be surprised how fast you can loose strength if you missed a few weeks and came back.

Thanks for the response.

This is something I already have down. I havn't missed a training session in years. I bust my ass week in week out year in year out. Consistency in my training and diet is not a problem.

I'm just wondering if running an annual cycle like the one i posted will give me any extra on top of my training, in terms of long term gains?

Thanks to everyone whos posted so far.

 

[sonicwaste]

Thanks for the response.

This is something I already have down. I havn't missed a training session in years. I bust my ass week in week out year in year out. Consistency in my training and diet is not a problem.

I'm just wondering if running an annual cycle like the one i posted will give me any extra on top of my training, in terms of long term gains?

Thanks to everyone whos posted so far.

That's a good way to burnout though. Happened to me. I was so strict on myself day in day out even when I was just maintaining. I finally got tired, burnt out and left the game for 5 years. Now I am back with a new approach.

Taking time off has been key for me taking my physique, diet, and training to the next level.

If you are on for a short period of time, like an 8-10 week cycle... You obviously don't want to miss a day or fold on your diet and training.

And I only suggest time off when you have been operating at 100% in both training and diet for long periods of time. If you have established the discipline and will power to operate at 100% at will, then time off will absolutely help you.

Like Moya, I too have been able to break through plateaus by taking time off... Both in getting shredded and getting bigger.

I'll tell a short story. On my current cut cycle I was stagnate at 12%bf... Just couldn't shred it out. My diet was 100% but I was worn thin from 2 a day cardio plus a workout. I literally was burnt out. Could barely lift, and could barely walk on the treadmill. Then I went on 2 weeks vacation to the beach and chilled. Didn't lift... I did do pushups, dips, crunches, and pull ups. Maintained light HIIT cardio on the beach every other day... And I ate like a normal person. I was still on cycle Test/Winny. Also supplementing with r-ala, cla, sesapure, and T3. Took a break from the stims. I maintained my weight and bf% through my 2 week break. Came back refreshed and back on 100% on my diet and training. I returned stronger lift wise, was able to sustain cardio like normal... And I shredded down to 9% in 3 weeks.

I'm about to take another vacation and do the same... When I come back I'll be ready to make it down to 7%... Then I'll use the rebound to bulk a bit at the end of my cycle.

I believe fully in taking breaks to shock the body and get refreshed. The method doesn't work if you are competing and on the last stretch of your time bounded shred out... But works for most other things.

And to reinforce what I said before... Long term strength comes mostly from increasing and sustaining the mass needed to lift the weight.

 

[NXG+]

That's a good way to burnout though. Happened to me. I was so strict on myself day in day out even when I was just maintaining. I finally got tired, burnt out and left the game for 5 years. Now I am back with a new approach.

Taking time off has been key for me taking my physique, diet, and training to the next level.

If you are on for a short period of time, like an 8-10 week cycle... You obviously don't want to miss a day or fold on your diet and training.

And I only suggest time off when you have been operating at 100% in both training and diet for long periods of time. If you have established the discipline and will power to operate at 100% at will, then time off will absolutely help you.

Like Moya, I too have been able to break through plateaus by taking time off... Both in getting shredded and getting bigger.

I'll tell a short story. On my current cut cycle I was stagnate at 12%bf... Just couldn't shred it out. My diet was 100% but I was worn thin from 2 a day cardio plus a workout. I literally was burnt out. Could barely lift, and could barely walk on the treadmill. Then I went on 2 weeks vacation to the beach and chilled. Didn't lift... I did do pushups, dips, crunches, and pull ups. Maintained light HIIT cardio on the beach every other day... And I ate like a normal person. I was still on cycle Test/Winny. Also supplementing with r-ala, cla, sesapure, and T3. Took a break from the stims. I maintained my weight and bf% through my 2 week break. Came back refreshed and back on 100% on my diet and training. I returned stronger lift wise, was able to sustain cardio like normal... And I shredded down to 9% in 3 weeks.

I'm about to take another vacation and do the same... When I come back I'll be ready to make it down to 7%... Then I'll use the rebound to bulk a bit at the end of my cycle.

I believe fully in taking breaks to shock the body and get refreshed. The method doesn't work if you are competing and on the last stretch of your time bounded shred out... But works for most other things.

And to reinforce what I said before... Long term strength comes mostly from increasing and sustaining the mass needed to lift the weight.

Thanks for the imput bud, I totally get what you're saying.

I should have explained myself better in my last post - I train hard, but smart. I have rest weeks, deloads, easier weeks etc. built into my training routines.

I have the odd cheat days in my diets.

In terms of gaining mass, i do not want to move up a weight class, so while i am totally into a bit of recomp - gaining a few lbs of lbm and losing a few of fat - I dont want or need to gain a huge amount of weight.

I do however want to continue gaining strength, and if i can accelerate this process with one carefully planned AAS cycle per year then all the better. Having done some more reading it seems primo might be better suited for this???

Thanks again.

 

[sonicwaste]

What sport do you compete it?

Seems the best thing for you to do would be to drop some body fat. You could actually move down weight class. You could be roughly 172lbs at 8% body fat... If you really want to stay in your weight class, you could shred down to 172lbs then hit a bulker to bring you back up in to the 180's... You'd be leaner, bigger, and stronger by the time you make it back in to the 180lbs area.

 

[ALIN]

For one reason or another, I can only run maybe one cycle per year, probably for around 10wks. I want mainly strength out of my cycles although a few lbs of lbm is always handy.

What do you guys think the best tactic is to maintain long term strength gains? Is it even worth doing? I am thinking longish cycles of fairly low dose test and var for example:

Wks 1 - 10: 500mg prop or eth pw
Wks 1 - 6: 60mg var ed

With hcg and appropraite PCT does anyone think that will be a sucessful way of doing it?

Stats: PL'er, 5'6, 187lbs, 27 yrs, 15% bf, carb cycling diet, 1 previous cycle - 400mg prop pw

Thanks all.

I would run the ANAVAR for the same lenght as the testosterone,,10 weeks. For even greater increase of strength gains run CREATINE with your ANAVAR.

 

[NXG+]

What sport do you compete it?

Seems the best thing for you to do would be to drop some body fat. You could actually move down weight class. You could be roughly 172lbs at 8% body fat... If you really want to stay in your weight class, you could shred down to 172lbs then hit a bulker to bring you back up in to the 180's... You'd be leaner, bigger, and stronger by the time you make it back in to the 180lbs area.

PL.

The problem with that way is that for quite a long time, my equipment (squat suit/bench shirt) wont fit me!

 

[NXG+]

I would run the ANAVAR for the same lenght as the testosterone,,10 weeks. For even greater increase of strength gains run CREATINE with your ANAVAR.

Ok, thanks.

The only reason I had the Var down for a shorter run is I read it is quite harsh on the lipid profile...