The anabolic bodybuilder's fork in the road

[Ness]

I think most members here have been to this point already (perhaps several times over) and Im finding myself here now. Im not looking for advice, just a discussion about your thoughts and stories from you guys that have been there.

Ive come to the point where I have found my genetic limit with the doses of anabolics that I use. I have never gone past a certain amount. Now, there are two roads that I could take.

1. Add more mgs and seek more mass.
2. Maintain my mgs and current mass and be happy and settle with my size and my results.

There are several criterion and pros/cons to the situation. Health, moderation, balance, longevity, social life, lifestyle, goals, etc.

How do you deal with these? How do you justify your choices? What aspects rule the course you take? Most will never be a pro, but still push the limits; why?

 

[betito]

Ive come to the point where I have found my genetic limit with the doses of anabolics that I use.

This is a big statement. How are you so sure?

 

[Ness]

This is a big statement. How are you so sure?

Plateau...lets not worry about me or trying to fix me, it is what it is.

 

[thebrick]

Not knowing your current dosages or age or if you want to compete, I would have to say for me the decision comes down to, what can I live with safely for the long-term? Also, something to think about… Sure you may think at your current dosages you will not continue to improve, but I do not believe that to be true. So in that sense, you are not settling at all.

 

[Ness]

Not knowing your current dosages or age or if you want to compete, I would have to say for me the decision comes down to, what can I live with safely for the long-term? Also, something to think about… Sure you may think at your current dosages you will not continue to improve, but I do not believe that to be true. So in that sense, you are not settling at all.

Ok. Now considering your diet, rest, training are spot on and youre working with a pro trainer; what drives your improvements?

 

[FeverishFlux]

There are some simply awesome trainers here on PM that I would consult. I would go to PH or BH or one of the other pros and get them involved in my training and nutrition.
Your genetic limit with whatever supps says nothing about how you can be limiting yourself with diet, training and sleep(always overlooked).
Don't consider adding supps until you've consulted some Professional Muscle trainers:st:r-wars

 

[Ness]

There are some simply awesome trainers here on PM that I would consult. I would go to PH or BH or one of the other pros and get them involved in my training and nutrition.
Your genetic limit with whatever supps says nothing about how you can be limiting yourself with diet, training and sleep(always overlooked).
Don't consider adding supps until you've consulted some Professional Muscle trainers:st:r-wars

Phil Hernon is my trainer.

 

[thebrick]

Ok. Now considering your diet, rest, training are spot on and youre working with a pro trainer; what drives your improvements?

Time… with time comes muscle maturity. Only time and dedication can give that IMO. You can't fast track that or force it with bigger doses.

 

[pesty4077]

Time… with time comes muscle maturity. Only time and dedication can give that IMO. You can't fast track that or force it with bigger doses.

Not to mention being very healthy at 50!

 

[betito]

Phil Hernon is my trainer.

Then you should discuss this with him, maybe he has something planed or a way to do things when this happens

 

[Ness]

Right, and I am a freak about my longevity and health. I have been spoiled by the rate of progress that I have seen for a couple years now, and I feel like my genetics are telling me something as my gains slow.

Betito, thanks for your input but come on..do you think that I have not already? I dont make a lot of threads and Im trying to create some discussion with the other members here. Thats what this forum is about, unless I am mistaken.

 

[pesty4077]

Right, and I am a freak about my longevity and health. I have been spoiled by the rate of progress that I have seen for a couple years now, and I feel like my genetics are telling me something as my gains slow.

Ness, Let me give you some solid advice. I am not the biggest or best BB out there by no means. Hell, I am not even close, but put me up to any guy that is around 50, I can tell you I will be in the top percentage. I remember training down at Gold's (Venice) and Shawn Ray telling me how big I was at 265. I thought I was the bomb at that point, my health was in jeopardy, because I kept taking more and more to get big. Well that was at 30, and I can tell you that I feel better now that I am close to 50, then at that age. Now, my goal is simply have the body of a 30 year old. I could care less about that kinda of size at this point of my life, I want the health benefits. So, keep in mind when you are bumping in up a knotch, is it really worth it? I don't know how old you are and what your goals are, but keep everything in perspective in your life.

 

[Ness]

Ness, Let me give you some solid advice. I am not the biggest or best BB out there by no means. Hell, I am not even close, but put me up to any guy that is around 50, I can tell you I will be in the top percentage. I remember training down at Gold's (Venice) and Shawn Ray telling me how big I was at 265. I thought I was the bomb at that point, my health was in jeopardy, because I kept taking more and more to get big. Well that was at 30, and I can tell you that I feel better now that I am close to 50, then at that age. Now, my goal is simply have the body of a 30 year old. I could care less about that kinda of size at this point of my life, I want the health benefits. So, keep in mind when you are bumping in up a knotch, is it really worth it? I don't know how old you are and what your goals are, but keep everything in perspective in your life.

Yes, I agree with all that you have said. I have decided not to bump anything up. I am going to work on what I have. I know that many dont stay on 250mgs of test for their entire BBing life. They get to the point when they decide that they want/need more...or not.

Im simply at a point where I see things changing or evolving in my life and Im asking questions and am curious about what drives others to do what they do.

In other words, I feel alone sometimes in this journey and Im inquiring about other people's choices. I guess other people's perspective and actions like yours it what I need right now. Not so much advice or opinions...just perspective.

 

[thebrick]

Not to mention being very healthy at 50!

Exactly, if you truly love this sport, you will never want to walk away from it. Don't put yourself in a position to be possibly forced out.

 

[Sesshomaru]

I think most members here have been to this point already (perhaps several times over) and Im finding myself here now. Im not looking for advice, just a discussion about your thoughts and stories from you guys that have been there.

Ive come to the point where I have found my genetic limit with the doses of anabolics that I use. I have never gone past a certain amount. Now, there are two roads that I could take.

1. Add more mgs and seek more mass.
2. Maintain my mgs and current mass and be happy and settle with my size and my results.

There are several criterion and pros/cons to the situation. Health, moderation, balance, longevity, social life, lifestyle, goals, etc.

How do you deal with these? How do you justify your choices? What aspects rule the course you take? Most will never be a pro, but still push the limits; why?

Personally, I would choose 2 because I know that you can still maintain that size while off, but not if you go beyond it. My goal is not to become a mass monster (which is fine if you do) so this also plays a role. But mainly I want gains I can keep.

I also value balance, moderation, etc.

 

[jcmule]

I believe eventually your body hits a point where your receptors do not respond to the same mgs any longer, either you up your mgs, take some time off to give your receptors a break, or stay the same and raise your nutrition up.

But I do agree with everyone else if you are not competing then taking more is not the answer. Honestly I always felt if your not a competitor then why put your body at risk at all? With good nutrition and the prohormones they have out these days you can achieve a great look without chemicals.

However, when you step on stage the chemical look blows the natural look clean out of the water, not to mention when you get to the end of your diet while preparing for a show its hard to hold on to muscle without having chemicals for protein synthesis.

 

[youngmuscle]

I believe eventually your body hits a point where your receptors do not respond to the same mgs any longer, either you up your mgs, take some time off to give your receptors a break, or stay the same and raise your nutrition up.
QUOTE]



no im sorry thats not accurate.. receptors are receptors they dont get desensitized and you dont 'clear them out'.. AAS doesnt stop working.. if the mg he is using no longer is keeping him anabolic its time he ups the mg or incorporates other drugs, simply put the amount of hormone he using nly supports a given amount of muscle mass... he has reached that level..




NESS-
if your a health freak you should stop using AAS altogether.

if you dont however, that being said, if you want to improve, assuming your diet and training are on point now, then you must up the dose or incorporate other hormones.

 

[Mr.G]

I think your body is like a balloon. You blow it up to get bigger. Then shrink it, to blow it up larger the second time. It takes dieting to a certain point, then add calories & mgs to grow. Work on weak areas when you are on the up swing.

 

[buselmo]

Get down to 5% bodyfat... then it depends on your gear use

1) if you are a year round user with minimal breaks, get off for 8-12 weeks after you cut body fat, then get back on half the dose you were on and build up to where you left off and repeat.

2) if you cycle, stay on year long IF you want results to come.

that's all the advice i can give. the rest is up to you

 

[betito]

Betito, thanks for your input but come on..do you think that I have not already?

When an answer can affect other people health I don´t like to assume anything