Optimising Training for AAS

Kafka82

New Member
Hello,

I'm a newbie for AAS but quite advanced lifter and been always natural in spin the last 6 years of training.

I'm reading and collect info before starting my first cycle. As a general background I'm a 31 yo male 172 cm 77 kg 13%bf.

My question is what kind of training would you recommend while I ll have my 10 week cycle provided I'm aiming to bulk?

I assume intensity of the training should be high under AAS - what about volume and density and frequency?

High or low volume ?

I usually plan my work outs around 4 week cycles - so if I ll do 10 week under gear I ll have to plan 3 training cycles.

Do you have suggestions in terms of periodisation ? Like what strategy should I adopt during month 1. -2 and 3 ?

Thanks a lot

Jon
 
Ditto what DYS said. Good training is good training. Upping the intensity will give you quicker gains than upping the volume. But if you're maxed out on intensity then start upping the volume. And by maxed out I mean you're worried adding another couple plates might tear some ligaments or snap some bones.
 
From the perspective of a bodybuilder, I would lower my bodyfat in order to "optimize" for an upcoming steroid cycle. At 13-15% BF - that would be the signal that it is time to stop my bulking cycle rather than to begin it.

Of course, it all depends on your goals. If you're a powerlifter or strongman competitor, BF levels aren't so important.
 
Hey guys,
Sorry for late reply but have been busy. My goal is to add 4 kg of lean muscle in 12 weeks and keep bf the same. . I am now 77 kg 13bf. I am hoping to drop bf a little bit during next 4 weeks before next cycle - aiming at 11% bf but not sure I can do in 4 weeks - maybe 1 % drop will be more realistic.

I am posting here 2 programmes I usually have good results. The first one is the one I'm doing now pre steroids . It is a low frequency medium volume high intensity aimed at strength gains. The second programme is a low volume high frequency programme. This will be the programme I ll be doing under steroids for the first 4 weeks. Following that I am planning a more standard programme with 5 days training with medium volume for chest specialisation.


Strength programme with wave loading and extended eccentric . Weight is increased from wave 1 to wave 2 and across reps. 4 days training 2 in 1 /2 day off

Day 1

-----------

A1. Standing military press

Wave 1
1x7
1x5
1x3

wave 2
1x7
1x5
1x3

A2 eccentric wide grip pull ups
4x2 (2o sec negative)

B1 lateral raises 4x6
B2 bent over row 4x10
B3 wide grip upright row 4x10

C1 incline tricep kickback
C2 incline ez skull crushers
C3 flat ez skull crushers


Day2

A1 Leg press
Wave 1
1x7
1x5
1x3

Wave2
1x7
1x5
1x3

B. drumbell squats
4x2 (20 sec negative)

C1 leg extension 4x10
C2seated calf press 4x10
C3 static lunges 4x10

D1 narrow calf raises 4x10
D2 wide calf raises 4x10
D3 toes in calf raises 4x10
D4 goes out calf raises 4x10

Day 3

A1 flat dumbbell press

Wave 1
1x7
1x5
1x3

Wave 2
1x7
1x5
1x3

A2. Supported rows
4x2(20 sec negative )

B1 neutral grip chest flys 4x8
B2 bent over dumbbell rows 4x8
B3 incline db chest press 4x8

C1 reverse grip barbell curls 4x8
C2 underhand grip barbell curls 4x8
C3 hammer curls. 4x8

Day 4

Lying leg curls
Wave 1
1x7
1x5
1x3
Wave 2
1x7
1x5
1x3

B. stiff legged dead lifts
4x2 (20 sec negative)

C1 seated leg curl 4x8
C2 weighted glute bridges 4x8
C3 hips up lying leg curl 4x8

D abs


Calendar
Day1-day2- off-day3-day4-off-off

----------------------------------------


High frequency programme . 7 days in 3 days off



Day 1
A lying 1 leg curl 4x10
B lying 2 leg curl 4x6-6-6
C leg press 4x20

D1. 1 arm drumbell side leaning lat raises 3x15
D2 seated dumbbell lateral raise 3x10
E 1 arm bent over cable lat raises 3x10 (last set to failure)

Day2
A1. 1 arm cable row 4x20
A2. 1 arm dumbbell row 4x8
B revise grip pull down 3x12
C overhand bent over row 3x12

D1 close grip push-up 3x20
D2 wide grip press down 3x15
D3 parallel bar dips 3x10

Day 3
A 1 leg leg press 4x20
B barbell squat 4x12
C alt stationary lunges 3x12

D seated calf raises 3x8-8-8-8
E standing calf raises 3x10-10-10-10

Day4
A flat barbell press 4x15
B incline dumbbell press 4x8
C1 flat dumbbell flys
C2 weighted push-up 3x25

D. Seated supinating dumbbell curls 3x15
E1 reverse grip barbell curls 3x12
E2 barbell preacher curls 3x12

Day 5
A1 bent over dumbbell lat raises 3x10
A2 seated front dumbbell raises 3x8
B seated dumbbell presses 5x8

C cross cable extensions
D lying cable skull crushers
E overhead rope extension

Day 6
A lying 2 leg curl 5x8 (last set to failure)
B front squat 4x15
C stiff leg deadlift

D leg press 3x25
E weighted walking lunges. 2x20

Day 7
A flat dumbbell Ben h press 4x10
B supported T bar rows 3x8-8-8

C1 decline dumbbell press 3x15
C2 underhand machine rows 3x25
C3 back extension 3x15

D standing barbell curl 4x10
E machine curl 3x12
F 2 arm cable curl 2x20

Calendar
Day1/day2/day3/day4/day5/day6/day7/off/off/off
 
Wow. This is... a lot of stuff. I think there needs to be a bigger focus on heavy compound movements, even for bodybuilders. Pick six or seven big movements, train them heavy and get strong as shit at those. Use isolation work to bring up lagging body parts, not as the base of your routine.
 
Answers in bold.

Hey guys,
Sorry for late reply but have been busy. My goal is to add 4 kg of lean muscle in 12 weeks and keep bf the same. . I am now 77 kg 13bf. I am hoping to drop bf a little bit during next 4 weeks before next cycle - aiming at 11% bf but not sure I can do in 4 weeks - maybe 1 % drop will be more realistic.

I am posting here 2 programmes I usually have good results. The first one is the one I'm doing now pre steroids . It is a low frequency medium volume high intensity aimed at strength gains. The second programme is a low volume high frequency programme. This will be the programme I ll be doing under steroids for the first 4 weeks. Following that I am planning a more standard programme with 5 days training with medium volume for chest specialisation.


Strength programme with wave loading and extended eccentric . Weight is increased from wave 1 to wave 2 and across reps. 4 days training 2 in 1 /2 day off

Day 1

-----------

A1. Standing military press why are you hitting front shoulders on back day? Doing so will greatly compromise your chest workout. Do front and side shoulders on chest day, after chest. This will be a fairly high volume workout, but gear will allow you to maximize intensity.

Wave 1
1x7
1x5
1x3 I would keep reps higher, at least 5

wave 2
1x7
1x5
1x3

A2 eccentric wide grip pull ups
4x2 (2o sec negative)

B1 lateral raises 4x6 Why are you pre-exhusting side/rear delts before back? Moves rear delts to back day, and front/side to chest workout day

B2 bent over row 4x10 Start back w/ this movement. 2 warm ups. Then 3 working sets (busting your ass w/ as much intensity as possible). Off gear do 2 working sets.

B3 wide grip upright row 4x10

Move these to the end of chest day. C1 incline tricep kickback
C2 incline ez skull crushers
C3 flat ez skull crushers


Day2

A1 Leg press
Wave 1 Keep reps a bit higher for these leg exercises. More importantly, you should do squats (barbell, not dumbbell) and deadlifts, lunges, and then leg press, leg curls.

1x7
1x5
1x3

Wave2
1x7
1x5
1x3

B. drumbell squats
4x2 (20 sec negative)

C1 leg extension 4x10
C2seated calf press 4x10 Do calves on a different day, you should be 100% wiped out if training upper legs correctly.
C3 static lunges 4x10 move to upper leg day

D1 narrow calf raises 4x10
D2 wide calf raises 4x10
D3 toes in calf raises 4x10
D4 goes out calf raises 4x10

Day 3

A1 flat dumbbell press

Wave 1
1x7
1x5
1x3

Wave 2
1x7
1x5
1x3

A2. Supported rows Why are you doing back here, but pull ups another day? Put them all together.

4x2(20 sec negative )

B1 neutral grip chest flys 4x8
B2 bent over dumbbell rows 4x8
B3 incline db chest press 4x8

C1 reverse grip barbell curls 4x8
C2 underhand grip barbell curls 4x8
C3 hammer curls. 4x8

Day 4

Lying leg curls move to leg day.
Wave 1
1x7
1x5
1x3
Wave 2
1x7
1x5
1x3

B. stiff legged dead lifts move up. I am not going to give any more advice, the main problem w/ your workout is grouping the correct exercises together, and doing more basic movements, less isolation movements.

4x2 (20 sec negative)

C1 seated leg curl 4x8
C2 weighted glute bridges 4x8
C3 hips up lying leg curl 4x8

D abs


Calendar
Day1-day2- off-day3-day4-off-off

----------------------------------------


High frequency programme . 7 days in 3 days off



Day 1
A lying 1 leg curl 4x10
B lying 2 leg curl 4x6-6-6
C leg press 4x20

D1. 1 arm drumbell side leaning lat raises 3x15
D2 seated dumbbell lateral raise 3x10
E 1 arm bent over cable lat raises 3x10 (last set to failure)

Day2
A1. 1 arm cable row 4x20
A2. 1 arm dumbbell row 4x8
B revise grip pull down 3x12
C overhand bent over row 3x12

D1 close grip push-up 3x20
D2 wide grip press down 3x15
D3 parallel bar dips 3x10

Day 3
A 1 leg leg press 4x20
B barbell squat 4x12
C alt stationary lunges 3x12

D seated calf raises 3x8-8-8-8
E standing calf raises 3x10-10-10-10

Day4
A flat barbell press 4x15
B incline dumbbell press 4x8
C1 flat dumbbell flys
C2 weighted push-up 3x25

D. Seated supinating dumbbell curls 3x15
E1 reverse grip barbell curls 3x12
E2 barbell preacher curls 3x12

Day 5
A1 bent over dumbbell lat raises 3x10
A2 seated front dumbbell raises 3x8
B seated dumbbell presses 5x8

C cross cable extensions
D lying cable skull crushers
E overhead rope extension

Day 6
A lying 2 leg curl 5x8 (last set to failure)
B front squat 4x15
C stiff leg deadlift

D leg press 3x25
E weighted walking lunges. 2x20

Day 7
A flat dumbbell Ben h press 4x10
B supported T bar rows 3x8-8-8

C1 decline dumbbell press 3x15
C2 underhand machine rows 3x25
C3 back extension 3x15

D standing barbell curl 4x10
E machine curl 3x12
F 2 arm cable curl 2x20

Calendar
Day1/day2/day3/day4/day5/day6/day7/off/off/off
 
The biggest thing I've noticed helping so far is switching my lifts up every 2 weeks is keeping me from overusing one specific set of muscle too much. i.e. I switch from bar bell to dumbbell to machine centric exercises for chest, if I don't do this my ROM starts declining and I stop getting a good burn
 
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