Training while on prohormone cycle.

I posted this thread in the training section, but am also posting it here for some replies from the ph gurus...
i wanted some advice on the way ppl train while on ph for mass/bulk. i have been reading that gents tend to go up in weight real slow (on purpose), but just add more reps when they feel they are getting stronger, because the joints and muscle cant keep up with the weight they would be putting on the bar. when they reach like rep 15 or so they add more weight and repeat. untill pct then they just add weight...
i have usually just gone up in weight and stayed at the same reps (8 to 10) which has worked for me, but it seems other ways would be better and more effective. last cycle it seemed i got real strong, real fast and just kept slapping on plates, but had my shoulders grinding for months after...even with joint supps.
let me know what you think or do for cycle and pct..thanks

The idea for me of slowing building up weights makes sense.
 
You always need to have good form, and also good tempo. Plus a very good spotter helps.
 
I tend to increase reps when on cycle, and then up the weights. I tend to make the biggest increases in weight during PCT. I will lower my reps but up the weights. Always works for me.

Training on cycle
 
Once you get half way into the cycle I would recommend avoiding the temptation to add any weight to the bar regardless of whether you feel you can. Instead if and where strength occurs on cycle from this point instead perform additional reps or even an extra set if the reps become to high.
Then when you start PCT you should drop the volume and increase the weight performing more like a strength range of reps/sets 5x5, 8x3, even 3x5. The reason for this is that when you come off cycle you no longer have a steroid pumping around the system giving you artificial muscle building benefits. Also you have zero natural testosterone from having shut down due to use of the steroid and worse still you have elevated estrogen levels. This all gears towards fat storage and muscle loss and the reality in the weights room is you will struggle to maintain any of the lifts you finished on and with the previously mentioned hormonal issues coupled with lifting less your body will ditch a lot of that new muscle you gained. Our body’s are finely tuned machines that are built for survival and are primarily focussed on keeping us warm and attempting to use as little energy as possible. Therefore muscle is a luxury item and a ‘new’ load of muscle fibre developed in a very short space of time from the cycle require you to give the body a reason to keep them, now if you cannot lift as much or for as long etc it has no reason to do so.
However, by having not bumped the weight at the end you should be able to slap extra plates on come PCT from what you had been using and in doing this you are challenging that new muscle as it is having to lift a weight it has never done so before, and this gives the signals to the body that it needs this muscle to survive should it come across a huge load again.

thanks for the reply, i think thats a good way to go about it, but do you think changing your reps will (mess) with your goals? like mass versus cut because the reps would be higher or it doesnt really matter because of the weight youll be adding anyways.
i find i get most gains around 8-12 anyways.
Also.. will nolva help libido in pct or will i suffer till after im all the way off?

jw, just saw your reply...
sounds good... thank you gents for the reply as they are very helpful. i now see exactly why it is better to do this. i have always lost a little to much in pct after a great cycle because of this reason i believe.
i would lift so heavy that by the time i hit pct i had topped out my strength and then slowly started going back down to normal by the end of pct...not good.
again a nolva question..does nolva help with libido and does nolva help shed any new bf i would have put on during bulk cycle..sorry for all the questions, i should know this by now.

gymfean


thanks for the reply, i think thats a good way to go about it, but do you think changing your reps will (mess) with your goals? like mass versus cut because the reps would be higher or it doesnt really matter because of the weight youll be adding anyways.
i find i get most gains around 8-12 anyways.
Also.. will nolva help libido in pct or will i suffer till after im all the way off?

 
You need to think of PCT a part of the cycle and arguably the most important part as go wrong here and you have wasted all time and £ with the cycle itself. The body reacts to stimulus, reps and weight used are just numbers to determine intensity - yes different percentage loads will have more of an impact on one type of fibre than another and serve better towards one goal but the important thing is to always be training intensely.
 
If you normally train around the 8-12 rep mark then I would continue going into cycle and increase weights till you reach the half way point and make this the last weight increase - aiming for loads to bring you down to the 8 rep region. If you for the remainder of the cycle find yourself capable of hitting 12 reps on all sets then look at either adding another set or better still reduce your resting time in between the sets as this in turn will up the intensity too and make each subsequent set tougher then it would have been before. Just avoid adding weight as it really does work to then whack the weight on the bar and push for strength come PCT with heavy load low volume stuff.
 
Nolva for many has a negative effect on libido - one of the reasons stacking Nolva with a test booster is popular.

Ok thanks, I do plan on doing it that way now. When pct hits I will drop reps and add weight.
All ur advice is appreciated...

I do have a nat test booster also for pct, lets hope im good to go for the wife...

jw's post makes sense, but I always go balls to the wall, whether on cycle or not and on cycle when strength is up, its difficult not to push to the max on every rep :(

many good suggestions here.. I would add that before run a PH you must know the best routine for you..
 
I mean that every body is different, different muscle fiber composition for each single muscle and different composition react to different type of training.
 
If you have a good routine that works, stick with it.

Some excellent info in this thread.

Vibora.. haha i like to do the same, but i want some extra strength for pct...
Brave..thanks i will try and stick with the routine i have now, just add more reps and sets with the extra strength..i think i react to little higher reps anyways..
 
this has been alot of help..thanks for replies

good advice above off the lads ^
 
it's difficult to not up the weight whilst 'on' after all that's why we train isn't it? to get better & stronger!
 
so i always try to slow the rep down & increase the time under load you'll find that this will fatigue the muscle as much as upping the weight. this works for a while then like Vibora says it's difficult not to hit it hard - just listen to your body don't f*uck the whole cycle injuring yourself by going too heavy too soon - keep strict form & above all enjoy the cycle - good luck keep us posted

I train by myself in my garage so have not got a spotter and find it difficult to up the weights too much because I'm on my own, I think these threads r awesome ad I'm def gonna follow the plan, I think I understand it......I'm benching 80kg 3 8x3, wen I run my ph, do the same, but an extra set, and web that's too easy, mayb up it 10kg, not too much tho cos when u come off the ph ur body won't cope with the weight without the Ph???? So when u do cum off ur body can still lift the weights u did b4?? Correct?

@focus28 - slowly increase the reps & if need be do an extra set, slow the rep down & control the weight. You can always do drop sets or supersets to get the muscle fatigue, stay in the 8-12 rep range.
 
Then when you finish your cycle do heavier weight but less reps 4-6 to keep the strength gains.

Any of you guys just train max weight throughout? Like in the singles to triples rep range?

braveand


many good suggestions here.. I would add that before run a PH you must know the best routine for you..

I mean that every body is different, different muscle fiber composition for each single muscle and different composition react to different type of training.

If you have a good routine that works, stick with it.

This really is the "KEY" IMO, I have been training for 40+ years at home in my own gym, and it has taken years to get the right "training regime" for myself.
Age ( I am 63) and recovery are related , and I train a four day split, monday/wednesday/friday/monday.
The split consists : Chest Brachialis /  Back Traps /  Arms/   Legs Deads and Delts.
Rep range 10/15. Combinations for as many muscle groups as I can manage, only using One isolation per body part.
I need recovery time.
Through PCT I will try 8 reps per set pushing to failure. 
At the end of PCT ( after my 75mg/day Halovol-V cycle and Nolva 20/20/10/10 +D AA) I intend to use 6 bromo @ 150mg 3 weeks/ 100mg 2 weeks/ 50 mg 1 week.

revans1


Any of you guys just train max weight throughout? Like in the singles to triples rep range?

 
I like to use Layne Norton's PHAT routine, 2 days power, 3 days hypertrophy.
 
On my last cycle I did reverse pyramid on the power days, so max 3 reps, rest, take 10% off and do 4 reps, rest, 10% off and 5 reps etc.
 
That's as far as I would push it tbh, unless you're specifically training for strength, only doing singles to triples is not the best option.