So what actually happens to the muscles while on and off cycles...

[guitarded]

I'm struggling to explain this question, but here goes:

-when one is on a cycle, is he actually growing new muscle tissue or just saturating the tissue he already has with water etc? (referring to test/deca etc and not HGH)

-If we actually gain muscle tissue from a cycle and do proper pct etc, isn't keeping that tissue just a matter of eating to support those gains, proper training, sleep etc? ( I realize we lose some water weight and some strength that goes with it, but I'm speaking in terms of just holding onto the actual muscle gained in a cycle...if any)

I'm just a couple weeks into my first cycle and am just trying to understand this process better. It's a lot of money to invest and I want to get the most out of it as well as prepare myself mentally for the inevitable loss of some strength and size afterwards.

thanks

[MJM]

Bump for more information, that's some good questions and thoughts.

Originally Posted by guitarded

I'm struggling to explain this question, but here goes:

-when one is on a cycle, is he actually growing new muscle tissue or just saturating the tissue he already has with water etc? (referring to test/deca etc and not HGH)

-If we actually gain muscle tissue from a cycle and do proper pct etc, isn't keeping that tissue just a matter of eating to support those gains, proper training, sleep etc? ( I realize we lose some water weight and some strength that goes with it, but I'm speaking in terms of just holding onto the actual muscle gained in a cycle...if any)

I'm just a couple weeks into my first cycle and am just trying to understand this process better. It's a lot of money to invest and I want to get the most out of it as well as prepare myself mentally for the inevitable loss of some strength and size afterwards.

thanks

[guitarded]

N E one out there with the knowledge/experience care to take this one on?

[MANWHORE]

Originally Posted by guitarded

I'm struggling to explain this question, but here goes:

-when one is on a cycle, is he actually growing new muscle tissue or just saturating the tissue he already has with water etc? (referring to test/deca etc and not HGH)
thanks

I'm sure some guys aren't answering,because maybe they think you should already know this.... and.. well,you should. It's increasing the amount of muscle tissure and not just water. Muscle Gains are lost after cycle,because natural test is low and cortisol is high. Get you PCT together and you should keep a decent amount of new muscle

[EDED]

Originally Posted by guitarded

I'm struggling to explain this question, but here goes:

-when one is on a cycle, is he actually growing new muscle tissue or just saturating the tissue he already has with water etc? (referring to test/deca etc and not HGH)

-If we actually gain muscle tissue from a cycle and do proper pct etc, isn't keeping that tissue just a matter of eating to support those gains, proper training, sleep etc? ( I realize we lose some water weight and some strength that goes with it, but I'm speaking in terms of just holding onto the actual muscle gained in a cycle...if any)

I'm just a couple weeks into my first cycle and am just trying to understand this process better. It's a lot of money to invest and I want to get the most out of it as well as prepare myself mentally for the inevitable loss of some strength and size afterwards.

thanks

you got super high level of androgen in your body that your body is not designed for, the exogenous androgen will upgrade enzymes, increase protein synthesis, boost IGF-1, affect metabolism, more creatine, etc., and all kinds of shit and it will affect MANY MANY things that is considered ANABOLIC, so dont think test only affects your brain, balls, dick, muscles, hair and prostate, its a chemical messenger its everywhere in your body.

also, your muscles getting bigger, its hypertrophy, your preexisting muscle cells getting thicker due to more proteins added on (myosin and shit), hyperplasia is very rare or impossible at least from what ive heard. so you are NOT making NEW muscles, you are just growing.

so EAT EAT sleep and train right, and try to gain as much during this anabolic period.

cuz like manwhore said, post cycle will have you with low test, high estrogen, cortisol and such you will be in CATABOLIC stage, tahts the real battle during the cycle, its very hard to keep ALL your strength and size, so good luck, post cycle trauma is pretty tough on your body and mind.

[rtlltj]

This is what I'm doing to finish my cycle, currently its 500mg/week test enanthate and im running 20mg nolva eod but starting at week 9 im going run arimidex at either .25mg ed or .50mg eod for the estrogen rebound and im going to stop using nolva weeks 9-10. then week 11 will be nothing (no adex, no nolva(unless needed), then start pct with nolva at week 12.

[Rex Feral]

Originally Posted by guitarded

I'm struggling to explain this question, but here goes:

-when one is on a cycle, is he actually growing new muscle tissue or just saturating the tissue he already has with water etc? (referring to test/deca etc and not HGH)

-If we actually gain muscle tissue from a cycle and do proper pct etc, isn't keeping that tissue just a matter of eating to support those gains, proper training, sleep etc? ( I realize we lose some water weight and some strength that goes with it, but I'm speaking in terms of just holding onto the actual muscle gained in a cycle...if any)

I'm just a couple weeks into my first cycle and am just trying to understand this process better. It's a lot of money to invest and I want to get the most out of it as well as prepare myself mentally for the inevitable loss of some strength and size afterwards.

thanks

1) Its called hypertophy. Your first step would be to find out what that means, if you are interested in how muscle tissue becomes larger physiologically.

2) No. Its not just a matter of diet/training/rest. You cannot expect to maintain the same level of lean tissue if you are not supraphysiologic hormonally. Which, if you go off, you will not be. So, stay on, or do PCT & deal w/ it. Its a smaller issue than you think it is. That's natural w/ your 1st cycle. You'll get used to it if you do this long enough. You can always get right back, or, choose to never leave.


Rex Feral.

[cathex]

You always know when you've asked a good question on this forum cos it kinda goes all quiet then a few sporadic quasi answers pop up.

[guitarded]

...so if we're only "inflating" the tissue we already have and not adding new tissue, then aren't we inevitably doomed to lose all our gains over time after stopping useage? After proper pct, diet, sleep, training etc we can keep our gains for longer, but after say 2 years off, is it safe to say we will have lost most of those gains? I'd be interested in hearing from people who've stopped using, but continued to eat and train right and see what they have to say about keeping their gains for the long haul.
Another question: ...so then is HGH the only thing one can use to actually grow more muscle tissue?


thanks for the feedback

[einstein1905]

Things were explained pretty well in previous posts. However, nothing you "gain" is "permanent", not even during the cycle. Your current state is the net result of anabolism and catabolism that is constantly ongoing. To maintain a more positive anabolic net result, the supraphysiological levels of androgens are necessary. Catabolism still occurs during a cycle, just to a lesser degree to due several factors, all or most directly related to supraphysiological androgen levels. Once off of a cycle, the net favor of anabolism shifts back towards net catabolism....this will depend on how much mass your endogenous androgen levels can maintain. Eating does help a great deal to reduce catabolism, but training is a catabolic process (not exactly, but it's the same effect). Muscle is damaged and must be repaired.....again, if your endogenous androgen levels aren't sufficient to facilitate this, you will not completely repair muscle damaged during resistance training and are therefore having a net catabolic result. There comes a point where one must maintain elevated androgen levels to maintain mass. Most grossly underestimate this point, when it's actually improper rest, diet, micronutrient intake or training that is culprit, but none the less this point does exist.