To keep your gains, do you have to keep on cycling?

[LoneTree]

After you gain your targetted mass with roids, can you maintain them by working out naturally or you have to keep on cycling from time to time?

 

[azul]

After you gain your targetted mass with roids, can you maintain them by working out naturally or you have to keep on cycling from time to time?

If you know what you're doing, both training and nutrition-wise, I'd say that it's quite possible to keep your muscle, and even grow, unless you're already huuuuge.

 

[ericahls]

Sorry Bro,

Over time you will lose most of what you gained through steroid use. Most of the muscle that was built with steroids cannot be maintained naturally no matter how good your diet and or training is.

Testosterone creates an environment in our body in which this muscle growth can take place, even on a reduced calorie diet. In the absence of this extra testosterone the environment obviously isn't as favorable and your body will then began the process of returning itself to homeostasis (the process that maintains balance or equilibrium of an organism's internal environment
).

Anybody that tells you differently is just kidding themselves. I'm not saying that you'll turn into a fat slob or become a 6 pound weakling. But if you have illusions of maintaining that rockhard physique you have created using steroids, you will be sorely disappointed.

Remember, our bodies are not concerned with us being buff. The more muscle we have, the more energy is required for us to stay alive and from our bodies perspective that's just plain inefficient.

 

[glennds]

i have been off cycle 8 weeks after putting on about 10 lbs from a 15 weeks cycle of test/tren/eq. this may not sound like a huge amount but my goal was not to be massive. i have lost one or two lbs (varies from day to day) since being on.

one of the pluses about being on cycle is you get into some good eating and lifting habits to maximize your gains. if you maintain those habits when your cycle ends there is a good chance you will keep a lot of your gains. just because you made some terrific gains in your cycle does not mean they will magically stay if you revert to bad and lazy habits.

 

[theoak01]

I believe if your not past your genetic limit you can keep most gains with proper training and diet,but if you make yourself say 50lbs more then your body is meant to hold,then its a pipe dream thinking you will keep it when you come off

 

[Ulter]

I know several people who kept a good portion of their gains from their first and only cycle. But most won't. I think it comes down to the question of how far past your genetic limit did the steroids take you. If you cycled once you were at or near your genetic limit then you most likely will need the steroids in you to hold your gains past that limit.

 

[Joe Stenson]

I think it comes down to the question of how far past your genetic limit did the steroids take you. If you cycled once you were at or near your genetic limit then you most likely will need the steroids in you to hold your gains past that limit.

Exactly. I don't think there's much room for debate here. You can basically keep anything gained up to your genetic potential (or at least close to it), and anything over and above that you'd lose.

If someone could come up with a valid argument as to why you could not keep gains made BELOW your genetic potential, I would be interested in hearing it.

 

[Stacemranger]

Sorry Bro,

Over time you will lose most of what you gained through steroid use. Most of the muscle that was built with steroids cannot be maintained naturally no matter how good your diet and or training is.

Testosterone creates an environment in our body in which this muscle growth can take place, even on a reduced calorie diet. In the absence of this extra testosterone the environment obviously isn't as favorable and your body will then began the process of returning itself to homeostasis (the process that maintains balance or equilibrium of an organism's internal environment
).

Anybody that tells you differently is just kidding themselves. I'm not saying that you'll turn into a fat slob or become a 6 pound weakling. But if you have illusions of maintaining that rockhard physique you have created using steroids, you will be sorely disappointed.

Remember, our bodies are not concerned with us being buff. The more muscle we have, the more energy is required for us to stay alive and from our bodies perspective that's just plain inefficient.

Even if not past the genetic limit? Don't you think you could keep a good portion of the gains if you were not over your limit with the right excersize and training habits in place?

 

[anticure]

If you arent up to your limit there is no reason why you wouldnt be able to keep it, it is just like if you put in the hard work to get to your genetic limit without a cycle... It would be hard to argue otherwise

 

[slat1]

Sorry Bro,

Over time you will lose most of what you gained through steroid use. Most of the muscle that was built with steroids cannot be maintained naturally no matter how good your diet and or training is.

Testosterone creates an environment in our body in which this muscle growth can take place, even on a reduced calorie diet. In the absence of this extra testosterone the environment obviously isn't as favorable and your body will then began the process of returning itself to homeostasis (the process that maintains balance or equilibrium of an organism's internal environment
).

Anybody that tells you differently is just kidding themselves. I'm not saying that you'll turn into a fat slob or become a 6 pound weakling. But if you have illusions of maintaining that rockhard physique you have created using steroids, you will be sorely disappointed.

Remember, our bodies are not concerned with us being buff. The more muscle we have, the more energy is required for us to stay alive and from our bodies perspective that's just plain inefficient.

Great post as usual.
Interestingly, this year I have decided to have a 7 point bf test done every month to track my progress. What I have noticed is that when I stop cycling I only lose a few pounds. Yet, with further review, I found that my lean body mass had dropped a bit and my body fat had risen a bit. So the scale showed me to be close to the same on as well as off. The body fat test told another story.
That said I do believe that given time after coming off I could get my body back to its peak state on cycle. It would take a lot more effort in the gym and probably a bit more food consumption. I believe that my body does not process the nutrients I put in it as efficiently when off as it does while on. So by increasing my food intake with a clean diet and keeping my workouts spot on I believe in a few months, with dedicated work, I could get back to where I was.
That said, it should also be noted that I do not use a lot of AAS. Most here know that I am a minimalist with AAS. I am also a strong supporter of hcg/clomid use. Those factors are the primary reason why I believe its possible for me to reach these goals.