Off Cycle...Your approach???

[nygiants]

Just finished up a 14 week sus/dbol/winny cycle. I know the typical approach is time on = time off. As expected, I am starting to see a decline now. Its been just about a month since my last shot.

In the past I would try to train just as hard, if not harder then when on to sustain my gains and eat just as clean.

Talking to a buddy of mine in the gym, who is a long time gear user, told me to continue to eat clean, keep up the morning cardio but reduce my training intensity. Not just the amount of weight, but the amount of sets and reps....pretty drastically.

For example, I was training chest for 90 minutes....6 or 7 exercises....4 to 5 sets each while on. He says to do 4 sets in total for chest...8-10 reps per set (with a weight that is considered to failure)

something like this:

warm up on flat bench
set 1 on flat bench - 8-10 reps of 225lb
set 2 on incline - 8-10 reps of 225lb
set 3 on decline - 8-10 reps of 225lb
set 4 on cables - 8-10 reps of flys

done with chest

then follow the same methodology for all other body parts.....

Basically cutting down a 90 minute workout to a 15 minute workout......Purely Maintenance.....What do you think?

Also, what other things do you guys do..not do, while off cycle.......

 

[whitemahon]

Going lower volume is a good idea while off. I'd lower the reps & increase the weight tho. . . Keep your CNS used to the heavy weight.

 

[cobracock1979]

good thread

bump for more answers

 

[perryscoon]

You're buddy is right. There is no point in killing yourself in the gym off cycle. You're not going to make any gains. Just do maintenance and stay lean. Take creatine off cycle to keep your weight up.

 

[John McLane]

Just finished up a 14 week sus/dbol/winny cycle. I know the typical approach is time on = time off. As expected, I am starting to see a decline now. Its been just about a month since my last shot.

In the past I would try to train just as hard, if not harder then when on to sustain my gains and eat just as clean.

Talking to a buddy of mine in the gym, who is a long time gear user, told me to continue to eat clean, keep up the morning cardio but reduce my training intensity. Not just the amount of weight, but the amount of sets and reps....pretty drastically.

For example, I was training chest for 90 minutes....6 or 7 exercises....4 to 5 sets each while on. He says to do 4 sets in total for chest...8-10 reps per set (with a weight that is considered to failure)

something like this:

warm up on flat bench
set 1 on flat bench - 8-10 reps of 225lb
set 2 on incline - 8-10 reps of 225lb
set 3 on decline - 8-10 reps of 225lb
set 4 on cables - 8-10 reps of flys

done with chest

then follow the same methodology for all other body parts.....

Basically cutting down a 90 minute workout to a 15 minute workout......Purely Maintenance.....What do you think?

Also, what other things do you guys do..not do, while off cycle.......

I would not reduce intensity....I think that would be a major error....just reduce the volume.....

 

[Chocolate_Thunder]

I would seriously consider not doing am cardio for a while. I lost a lot of my gains that way. Dumb to say the least.

Increase protein intake, less reps and sets. 20-30 min cardio max per day for the first 30 days. After that it will all depend upon what your body wants to keep.