How do retired bodybuilders maintain strength and size during retirement

[big_lech]

I've noticed that many bodybuilders who have retired manage to maintain a significant amount of size and strength after coming off AAS, transitioning to HRT protocols, and reducing their daily food intake. Does anyone have any tips for achieving this? I've reached a point in my life where I can't afford to stay up late eating 5-6 meals a day, and I've lost the drive to continue blasting and cruising. I’d prefer to stick with a healthy HRT protocol.

For those who have retired from the bodybuilding lifestyle (eating fewer meals per day and transitioning from blasting AAS to a healthy HRT regimen), what tips or tricks do you have for maintaining strength and size?

 

[Swifto]

They dont.

They continue to have a level of muscle mass as granite dense muscle build over decades sticks with regular training and diet and TRT.

Kai Greene, Dennis Wolfe, Dexter, Jay, Ramy, Phil Heath are not comparable to their previous sizes but all well muscled individuals. They also have elite level genetics.

 

[M@NU]

most do not go back to true HRT, this also makes a difference.
you can hold a lot of muscle on 300-500mg of test. And this is where most stay after retiring (at least from the few ive heard talk about it).

 

[big_lech]

most do not go back to true HRT, this also makes a difference.
you can hold a lot of muscle on 300-500mg of test. And this is where most stay after retiring (at least from the few ive heard talk about it)

Aren’t they still eating a lot of meals / calories throughout the day though?

 

[big_lech]

Because they never come off and are still blasting gear

That is kind of what I was assuming as well hahaha

 

[Brock456]

They don’t.

You see guys like Dexter? He downsized a lot. Guy Cisterino.
Even Cbum is starting to albeit some of it bc of injury.
Dennis Wolf is a lot smaller, Jay Cutler.

 

[big_lech]

They don’t.

You see guys like Dexter? He downsized a lot. Guy Cisterino.
Even Cbum is starting to albeit some of it bc of injury.
Dennis Wolf is a lot smaller, Jay Cutler.

I mean they’re still bigger than the average person

 

[luki7788]

none of the guys who still retain a fair amount of size are on real TRT/HRT

period

 

[traininsane11]

Outside of the genetic elite I don’t think
It’s remotely possible.

Pleeeeenty of average guys go at this 100% blasting gear like no tomorrow, never missing a meal or workout and look “okay” if you never managed to get huge at 100% it sure isn’t happening at 50%

But in reality if you step your gear down to a true trt, eat sensibly IE around maintainence and continue working out you’ll just be a smaller version of your current self

 

[bbxtreme]

Read @b-boy log on here. That’s how they do it.

 

[headtrainer]

none of the guys who still retain a fair amount of size are on real TRT/HRT

period

Exactly!

 

[Alzadosghost]

They don’t. Unless they keep doing tons of gear. Simple. Look at the 80s guys now. Most you can’t even tell they ever trained.

 

[alfresco]

They don’t. Unless they keep doing tons of gear. Simple. Look at the 80s guys now. Most you can’t even tell they ever trained.

Just saw something on Shawn Ray or was it Kevin or Dexter? Regardless, they were a shadow of there former selves. Dennis Wolf looks great though. And Jay too but Dennis appears to be holding on to more. Anyway, what others, most, are saying, essentially you are only as big as your dose.

 

[Biggerp73]

Humanofort, duck eggs, and grapefruit

 

[buck]

From what they seem to say. They are still eating more then most, they have kept training, and from the TRT they say they are using, which is often more then most Dr's prescribe, they seem to have good genetics as their T levels are higher then others would be on the same dose. From what some have said their trough on a given dose would be higher then mine was at the peak on the same dose.

 

[Brock456]

I mean they’re still bigger than the average person

the average person who doesn’t work out?

Or the average bodybuilder?

 

[kadafi2]

Just saw something on Shawn Ray or was it Kevin or Dexter? Regardless, they were a shadow of there former selves. Dennis Wolf looks great though. And Jay too but Dennis appears to be holding on to more. Anyway, what others, most, are saying, essentially you are only as big as your dose.

Dennis Wolf on Instagram: "Post workout condition check;-) Потренил с легка сегодня в @ddx_fitness Хороший зал👍 С понедельника планирую посетить больше залов в Москве 🔥💪 @nutrition_wolf @officialgasp @beyondpeptides.shop #moscow #москва #россия"

21K likes, 399 comments - dennisbigbadwolf on January 18, 2025: "Post workout condition check;-) Потренил с легка сегодня в @ddx_fitness Хороший зал👍 С понедельника планирую посетить больше залов в Москве 🔥💪 @nutrition_wolf @officialgasp @beyondpeptides.shop #moscow #москва #россия".

www.instagram.com

Jay is bigger.

 

[TheOtherOne55]

this whole thread is already a confusing shit show lol

Dennis Wolf, Jay maybe even Ron Partlow are shellls of their former selves. But that shell is still way fuckin bigger, leaner and more impressive than a regular Joe. I’m sure they go anywhere from 100-500mg a week and eat decently healthy. I think we are seeing much more of that then say Tom Prince who shriveled down to a non-lifting 175lbs post BBing career.

Even guys like Fouad and Iain are wayyy smaller than then peak size, but still larger and leaner than the average Joe. Why are all these guys able to do this? Well they are/were genetic freaks. That’s why they were professional BBers. And they also trained heavy and hard for decades on end to build up a pretty dense set point, regardless of dose. Go look at retired NFL lineman who got “unfat” post football. They are all still thick large guys from years of holding that size. To carry that mass, your base is naturally big.

 

[KingOfSushi]

And 10mg of test lmao

Joined Friday and making a 10mg joke when it hasn’t even been on the front page in weeks

 

[my_way]

Joined Friday and making a 10mg joke when it hasn’t even been on the front page in weeks

He’s using every fiber of his being not to drop the n word. He already referred to a member here as “daddy” lol