Thread: PCT recommendations

Originally Posted by rippedgolfer

I've been hearing conflicting suggestions for PCT. Some say to train hard, increase calories and do low reps. Conversely, I've heard to take it easy and lift doing high reps. Can you guys give some suggestions on the most effective PCT?

Good question... I'd like to hear opinions too.

I'm thinking, depending on the life of the gear, you would want to contine yout training balls out until it has cleared. After that... I'm thinking a deload or off time (maybe 7-10 days) my be beneficial.

If you like your gains and want to keep them, you need to continue training hard, but not for as long. You will see your muscle slowly disappear if you go high reps with low weight. You want to continue lifting heavy, but keep your workouts around 1 hour in duration and don't train a muscle group twice in one week. You will need more rest when not on AAS. It can also be good to switch up your routine a bit to better shock your body to continue developing. Keep your core muscle building lifts intact (Squats, deads, Bench, etc), and try to keep the weight up. Also, you will need to continue to eat a lot of protein (1.5-2.0g per body weight) to maintain muscle mass, but I would not recommend upping your carbs or fats, as you will start to put on BF because you no longer have the AAS keeping it at bay.

That's just my 0.02 from many successful PCT's.

My PCT training is very similar to GMO. I reduce the length of my training but I still work hard. My main concern during PCT, is maintaining my strength. I do the minimum amount of exercises I need to maintain my strength. Depending on how dose heavy my cycle was, I will sometimes lose a little strength or sometimes I have the ability to maintain all of my strength but have reduced endurance. It's a balancing act, you have to tweak things around until you find what is best for you. IMO PCT is the most important time; also, I see no point in making great progress if you are just going to lose it. After PCT, I will switch around my routine in order to shock by body. Then I'll make slow natural gains until I decide to go back on cycle.

I always train like a strength/power lifter during PCT. Well I normally do anyway but I drop reps even more in PCT and try to push as much weight as possible (5x5 is what I like to do during PCT, not as hard on the joints as my normal routine but still very heavy). I generally continue making gains during PCT. I think doing low weight/high rep HIT training is a bad idea post cycle. Just my opinion...

If you're worried about deloading then deload week 12 or 13.

Originally Posted by rippedgolfer

I've been hearing conflicting suggestions for PCT. Some say to train hard, increase calories and do low reps. Conversely, I've heard to take it easy and lift doing high reps. Can you guys give some suggestions on the most effective PCT?

you should continue training hard for at least two weeks after an AAS cycle or into PCT, you will (or should) continue make gains up to two weeks after you complete your AAS cycle.

Originally Posted by Prince

you should continue training hard for at least two weeks after an AAS cycle or into PCT, you will (or should) continue make gains up to two weeks after you complete your AAS cycle.

Good point, I forgot to mention that.

At some point, preferable when off aas for several weeks/months it is always good - at least for me - to incorporate HIIT training into my routine for a few weeks. This helps stimulate the fast-twitch muscle fibers and gets me ready to go back to heavy lifting naturally before next cycle. Tabata Interval Training worked well for 12-16 week bouts while off cycle.

Drop the volume and sets, keep the weight heavy.

I'm more focused on keeping my strength! That would be awesome.