Life after aas, training natural.

[HCR]

Not sure if this is in the right section, but heres the deal and would like some input, info, and maybe if someone has a personal experience similar that would help me out alot here.

Been training since I was 18, Im now 28..Ive done 4-6 cycles, always prop/tren.. My last cycle lasted almost 2 years (yes, 2 years), 100mg prop/75mg prop ed, the last 6 months was eod..but never had any break or ai when on. Luckily, thank god, my test levels and everything are back to normal. I took aromasin only after I decided to stop. So besides that, heres the real ordeal.
About 8 months ago I had a mental breakdown, I collapsed due to stress, woke up in the hospital, work, life sometimes your brain/body cant handle the stress. It was and still is a challenge trying to go up hill and have motivation to deal with everyday things, an ant hill turns into a mole hill in my head sometimes..but I deal with it.

Soo..I havent been to the gym since the hospital visit. I was fine with it, knowing id get back into it..but, looking in the mirror now, Ive lost a ton of muscle, havent eaten right, my diet was the same pretty much everyday, small meal in morning, chicken salad wrap at night and a 6 pack of beer..weekends id drink alot more. So, it took a toll on my body, so much that i lost all my confidence, I look in the mirror and I dont see myself (used to seeing someone/thing different for so long) and im embarrased to even have sex, ive turned down a lot of times with very attractive girls because I just dont have the confidence and it kills my sex drive..I dont see what they see I guess?
So, Im back at the gym a week ago, been training hard for only one week now..eating very clean. Im an all or nothing type of person and right now, im in it, so I just would like to know what to expect. But, although its hard, I do not want to do another cycle, I am doing this naturally.
My question is about muscle memory..ive read posts and threads about it but no one seems to of asked what I want to know. If after training for years unnatural, losing the muscle, out of the gym for 8+ months, does the muscle memory have any effect if I come back training natural? I know..from a past experience that my muscle came back very quick after starting a cycle, and im trying to stay away from that. What should I expect, considering my diet & training is in check?
Im 28, 6'2 200 lbs..bf? not sure, maybe 15%? I was 210-220 at 10% bf, i was big, ripped and thats who I was..its hard to keep motivation when you used to play with 120lb dumbbells like rag dolls and now Im benching with 70 dumbbells, and seems after the first set of 10-12, my next set I can barely make it to 6 reps...just an example.
So for anybody thats been through something similar, used aas, had a good physique, alot of muscle and then lost it and came back training naturally..Id love to hear it.

My diet: (just for the hell of it, feel free to critique)
AM: 3 scoops whey, 1/2 cup oats.
2 hrs later: 1 lb chicken breast (weighed before cooking), handful of spinach..in blender with water (yeah, its disgusting, but its easier than the food) tbspn of pb, brown rice.
3 hrs later: 3 scoops whey, pb.
GYM
Post workout: 4 scoops whey, 1/2 cup oats or banana.
1 hr later: 1 lb chicken breast, asparagus.
After that ill have another shake, some nuts, veggies..munch on what I have.

Not sure about total cals, but protein intake should be about 300-340grams.

My gym routine is 45 minutes of lifting followed by 20 minutes to 35 min cardio, depending on which muscle I work.

Sunday: Chest, abs, 20 min cardio.
Monday: Back, 20 minute cardio.
Tuesday:35 min cardio.
Wednesday: Legs, abs.
Thursday: Triceps, 35 min cardio.
Friday: Biceps, 35 min cardio.
Saturday: 35 min cardio.

Anyway, if you read through this whole thing..i know I went a rant a few times, feel free to chime in with any advice..
Appreciate it, any help is better than no help.
I might put up some pictures to give you guys some sort of idea where im coming from..again, id love the help guys..and not going to lie, its hard not to go and get back to the aas lifestyle.

 

[Digitalash]

Have you had bloodwork? What are your test levels like now? Yes muscle memory will still come into play, even if that muscle was grown while using AAS originally. Honestly every time I've come back from a long layoff the muscle comes back almost as if you were on cycle, at least the first few months. You'll gain alot back quickly if you really stick to your diet. You may never look quite like you did before but you can probably get back to your current weight at 10% or so naturally, I would take six months at least and just train/diet like your life depends on it. See where you're at then and reevaluate what you want to do

 

[vicious 13]

I don't see u getting as big or strong w out gear IMO muscle memory is more the motion not really the strength

 

[supaman23]

Have you had bloodwork? What are your test levels like now? Yes muscle memory will still come into play, even if that muscle was grown while using AAS originally. Honestly every time I've come back from a long layoff the muscle comes back almost as if you were on cycle, at least the first few months. You'll gain alot back quickly if you really stick to your diet. You may never look quite like you did before but you can probably get back to your current weight at 10% or so naturally, I would take six months at least and just train/diet like your life depends on it. See where you're at then and reevaluate what you want to do

Bump.

 

[HCR]

Always had a doc looking after me while on cycle..but after, im no longer dealing with him, my test levels were at 600 6 months ago.
Im also getting blood work done by my new doc, and she has no clue, but I can tell her what to check off on the sheet when I go get the blood work done..Since im not exactly positive what my old doc tested for..I know he tested, test, t3, thyroid..and a few other things. When I get my new blood work done, if you guys know, let me know what to tell my doc to have tested. I dont want to stray away from the original topic, but i appreciate any help..this is going to be a long road..Maybe ill take pictures and post them every week on my progress in this thread if anybodys interested.

Digital, thats make me feel a little better..its just been awhile for me training naturally.

 

[Goldenera]

I took 8 lazy yrs off. My buddy wanted me to get him into shape for his wedding. I figured it was a good excuse to not be lazy anymore lol. He would get pissed at how fast I would grow and he wouldn't. I kept trying to tell him bro I'm 25-30lbs lighter then I once was. I've been here before.

It comes back way faster for sure IMHO. I waited 1 full yr before I used aas again to break a plateau. U can make great gains natural....just not as fast as on gear. However I feel if u are not gaining good naturally your diet or routine or both is not up to par.

I've put back on 35 lbs in under 3 yrs now. 2 cycles in that 3 yrs.
here's a before and after to motivate ya.

 

[Standard Donkey]

why are you not going back on aas?

 

[HCR]

Golden, thats impressive..but be nice to see a pic after the year of being natural..

Donkey, its not that i dont want to, trust me, if it was in front of me, id start right away...but, its not and me being in the state of mind im in, not that i dont trust my source, you never know whos going to knock on your door...haha, i was very close to making an order and just didnt hit the send button. But besides that, i want to lose some bf before/if i start up again

 

[Goldenera]

Here ya go. This is roughly 1 yr into it and natural.

I'm a firm advocate of training natural and plateau out before juice. I feel u get more out of the juice as u could have made some of the gains natural.

It's all about the diet then the quality and intensity of the routines. Juice doesn't make legends. Nutrition and training do.

I feel I should mention I only train 2-3 times a week. No cardio. With more diet tweaks and 4-5 day program the natural results would be more profound. I work a lot and have a family. Bb is just a hobby to me

 

[Menoah]

HCR, I feel for you brother, and I'm going to give you my honest opinion that you may already know and probably won't want to hear. Will you gain a lot of it back, yes. Will you look and feel as jacked as you were while on, never.

 

[Digitalash]

well no not quite, but he can probably come fairly close if he wasn't past his natural potential before, or at least not too far past. You might not have quite the same "look" and you'll have to focus on your diet more to maintain leanness, but you can probably get almost as big as you were

 

[overburdened]

Have you had bloodwork? What are your test levels like now? Yes muscle memory will still come into play, even if that muscle was grown while using AAS originally. Honestly every time I've come back from a long layoff the muscle comes back almost as if you were on cycle, at least the first few months. You'll gain alot back quickly if you really stick to your diet. You may never look quite like you did before but you can probably get back to your current weight at 10% or so naturally, I would take six months at least and just train/diet like your life depends on it. See where you're at then and reevaluate what you want to do

^^^This.. I tried to rep you bro(digital), but I gotta hand out more before coming around to you again... WELL SAID BRO!!!

 

[nby]

In the end you won't reach the physique you had when ON gear. In time you'll reach your natural max. and muscle memory will speed this process up for you, but you still won't get past it without AAS. It's up to you whether you can cope with this or not.

 

[AMA Rider]

600 natty T is awesome. I think you could get real gains ? Now my natty is like 290, so I can't gain or have a raging libido ? Work hard you will get it !

 

[ANIMALHAUS]

You need to go out and slam some pussy, lift some heavy weight, eat a GD steak and step the fuck away from a mirror for 6 months. The only person that can determine what you're worth is you.

Do exactly what I said above and you'll be back to being a MAN in no time.