Do long-term users still enjoy the ‘process’?

[Survivalism]

I’m curious where people here land on this, especially long-timers.

Do you get more enjoyment from:

1) The physical results
Size, strength, performance, physique, etc.

OR

2) The process itself
Cycle planning, managing sides, bloodwork interpretation, pinning frequency, and leveraging one compound’s mechanism to offset or amplify another.

Personally, I’m finding more appeal in the application and problem-solving side of things. The results are obviously welcome, but they’re not the only draw.

Not asking from a beginner standpoint or looking for advice — more interested in how perspectives shift after multiple cycles and years of use.

 

[adrenalytic]

Long time lifter but not a long time user by any means. Haven't even hit the one year mark yet. But I'll say I love all of it. Everything you mentioned is right up my alley being an analyst by trade.

I also enjoying discussing ideas with others of a similar mindset.

And one thing you didn't mention: the ego part of it. I love looking good and fit. I love the attention I get from it (even the negative kind from they eye-rolling jelly looky-loos). My self-confidence has never been higher.

There's nothing about this hobby I don't like, really.

 

[BigDadd7]

I am results driven. Pinning and planning got old for me years ago

 

[Psy-chonaut]

I am much more 'training/process' focussed (yes a nostalgic/ romantic) it's what I love and always has been, how can I move forward from X with injuries, k!lling my self etc...
But I still use the mirror, and then the scale to see the effect...

Drugs are just a complementary, or a crutch (injuries), for the training I love.... Still fairly new, in the ped world, Went to 'dark side' for approx 4 years ago...

But do I love learning about the individuality of the pharmacology 'between you/me/us' in this 'screwed up world' (both the good and the bad) , HELL Yeah

 

[RockyP]

I enjoy the process of dialing in nutrition and training with recovery and optimizing sleep (which I find to be very challenging). I also enjoy learning more and more about cardiac and other health support, staying way ahead of the curve of modern medicine (like being able to run tren / mast / anavar and have an LDL of 33 with my lipid support regimen).

As much as I like playing around with stuff like pre-workouts, etc., the anticlimactic aspect of the gear you realize fairly quickly (and which professional competitors have been saying for years and years) is that it's the simple shit that works. For bulking, test + anabolic + GH. Cutting, test / mast, maybe some tren, and an oral at the end if you desire. The majority of my time is spent ordering bulk protein, storing it, preparing it, tweaking macros / calories, and perfecting training technique. And I do love all of that process aspect. I've also gone through the learning curve of teaching myself how to train all over again. Many of us don't want to believe it to be true, but ESPECIALLY if you are enhanced, you don't need heavy weights and crazy intensity to make the gains you desire. You do need to have your nutrition dialed in and train properly, which for most of us means slowing down, taking weight off the bar, and isolating the muscles properly (once you have built a base of mass). I enjoy listening to pods / interviews with pro's / competitors / coaches. Never stop learning in this game.

 

[just some dude]

(like being able to run tren / mast / anavar and have an LDL of 33 with my lipid support regimen).

but what about the kidneys and liver?

 

[RockyP]

but what about the kidneys and liver?

All normal with support Supps