Training differences natural vs geared

[KCMO]

I’m a lifelong natty who’s going to be transitioning to trt and then cruise/blast.

I currently do whole body upper/lower splits 4 days a week. I’ve read so many different opinions on how to handle training on gear. Some say to not change your training, some say increase volume, some say to let the weight climb as high as your body allows. That last one makes me nervous, dont most AAS weaken connective tissue? I’ve even read that on aas I should be pump training for max hypertrophy.

I train at home. I’ve got a safety cage, flat bench, adjustable incline bench, rigid oly bar, dumbbells, an elliptical, and I rigged up a cable machine on my cage. The cage also has a pull-up bar. I’ve also got farmer carry handles, some heavy medicine balls, and some sandbags for weighted carries.

Workouts currently take about 1.5 hours 4 days a week. I can make time to go longer or more days, but I’d prefer not to. Free time is short and I already get up at 4:30 am to get my workout in. So with these time and equipment restraints, what would you guys say is optimal?

 

[KL8209]

I'm sure you'll get some solid answers here but just wanted to note I'm not so sure AAS directly weakens connective tissue. I think one of the most common injuries I've heard about while on is a tendency to go super hard and their joints or tendons just aren't ready for the weight and something either gives out or ending up with a torn muscle.

 

[Physique Demon]

I think you just train the same man. It's no different natty or enhanced. When enhanced you just recover faster, so do more sets, heavier weight ect.

 

[dd340]

I’m a lifelong natty who’s going to be transitioning to trt and then cruise/blast.

I currently do whole body upper/lower splits 4 days a week. I’ve read so many different opinions on how to handle training on gear. Some say to not change your training, some say increase volume, some say to let the weight climb as high as your body allows. That last one makes me nervous, dont most AAS weaken connective tissue?

Don’t use and AI and you don’t need to worry about your tendons or connective tissue (at least no more than a natural would). Also use a good Test base with any cycle. You want a good supply of E2 despite what the Bro scientists will say on this site. Very dry compounds like winstrol and anavar are more likely to cause those injuries.

 

[Physique Demon]

Don’t use and AI and you don’t need to worry about your tendons or connective tissue (at least no more than a natural would). Also use a good Test base with any cycle. You want a good supply of E2 despite what the Bro scientists will say on this site. Very dry compounds like winstrol and anavar are more likely to cause those injuries.

I'll just add on to that. Have an ai, because if at some point your nipples start to itch and get real puffy its time to take some. We don't want to develop breasts, ya know.

 

[JC Grifter]

Don’t use and AI and you don’t need to worry about your tendons or connective tissue (at least no more than a natural would). Also use a good Test base with any cycle. You want a good supply of E2 despite what the Bro scientists will say on this site. Very dry compounds like winstrol and anavar are more likely to cause those injuries.

I’ve been on an AI for 8 years and have never experienced any of the issues people same come with an AI. I’d chalk that up to bro science too.

 

[ickyrica]

We don't want to develop breasts, ya know.

speak for yourself

 

[JC Grifter]

Training split doesn’t really matter between natural and on cycle. I’d say you can do more volume and hit the same muscle sooner on gear.

 

[kosp]

Just listen to your body, the last cycle I trained at a very high volume style because I felt so, a lot of exercises and reps for each muscle group, all in descendant pyramids adding weight, ended up having strong elbow pain. Train smart.

 

[theOH]

I was on AI for 5 months. I experienced sides. Weak piss stream, difficulty peeing, frequent restroom to piss, dry muscles, joint pain.

From what I saw from Dr Thomas O’conner online, the muscles develop at a quicker pace than the connective tissue. That is the reason aas users have those issues.

I’ve been on an AI for 8 years and have never experienced any of the issues people same come with an AI. I’d chalk that up to bro science too.

 

[KL8209]

I was on AI for 5 months. I experienced sides. Weak piss stream, difficulty peeing, frequent restroom to piss, dry muscles, joint pain.

From what I saw from Dr Thomas O’conner online, the muscles develop at a quicker pace than the connective tissue. That is the reason aas users have those issues.

Damn that sucks

How long did it take for those sides to stop and return to normal for you?

 

[theOH]

Damn that sucks

How long did it take for those sides to stop and return to normal for you?

i’d guess two weeks. I didn’t know the issues were caused by the AI. It was 3-4 weeks after I stopped when I realized the issues I was having were not happening anymore. I thought it was the Test causing all my issues. It wasn’t until I read the side effects for anastrozole that I put it all together.

 

[KL8209]

i’d guess two weeks. I didn’t know the issues were caused by the AI. It was 3-4 weeks after I stopped when I realized the issues I was having were not happening anymore. I thought it was the Test causing all my issues. It wasn’t until I read the side effects for anastrozole that I put it all together.

Glad to hear everything came back to normal so quickly though. Not that it shouldn't have but anytime sides like that are happening you never know. Freak things happen all the time to people.

 

[kosp]

I was on AI for 5 months. I experienced sides. Weak piss stream, difficulty peeing, frequent restroom to piss, dry muscles, joint pain.

From what I saw from Dr Thomas O’conner online, the muscles develop at a quicker pace than the connective tissue. That is the reason aas users have those issues.

It sounds like you were using a lot.

 

[Human_backhoe]

I was on AI for 5 months. I experienced sides. Weak piss stream, difficulty peeing, frequent restroom to piss, dry muscles, joint pain.

From what I saw from Dr Thomas O’conner online, the muscles develop at a quicker pace than the connective tissue. That is the reason aas users have those issues.

Most of us have probably over done the AI. It sucks bad. That being said take as little as possible to avoid sides like gyno and problematic edema, high e2 feels great for sex drive and adds growth factors. Also the t to e ratio has cardio and neurological protection. I take no AI up to 500T

Neither E or T have been proven on their own to have this.

 

[theOH]

It sounds like you were using a lot.

I was using 1/4 mg EOD, then my dr had me switch to 1mg ED. That I did not do, I took 1/4 each day for two weeks prior to labs. I also stopped taking HCG (which was keeping my E reading high). That dropped me to 14 for E. My Dr loved it, but I had all the sides mentioned plus no libido, ED issues even with drugs, short temper, etc. I’ve been off of anastrozole completely for a little over a month and feeling better.

 

[kosp]

I was using 1/4 mg EOD, then my dr had me switch to 1mg ED. That I did not do, I took 1/4 each day for two weeks prior to labs. I also stopped taking HCG (which was keeping my E reading high). That dropped me to 14 for E. My Dr loved it, but I had all the sides mentioned plus no libido, ED issues even with drugs, short temper, etc. I’ve been off of anastrozole completely for a little over a month and feeling better.

For you AI is like that, and for other maybe it fixes water retention/gyno/libido issues and make feel much better. I personally don't like to fuck with E2, but I cycle light too.

Still I don't see your relation between AI and prostate

 

[master.on]

I’m a lifelong natty who’s going to be transitioning to trt and then cruise/blast.

I currently do whole body upper/lower splits 4 days a week. I’ve read so many different opinions on how to handle training on gear. Some say to not change your training, some say increase volume, some say to let the weight climb as high as your body allows. That last one makes me nervous, dont most AAS weaken connective tissue? I’ve even read that on aas I should be pump training for max hypertrophy.

I train at home. I’ve got a safety cage, flat bench, adjustable incline bench, rigid oly bar, dumbbells, an elliptical, and I rigged up a cable machine on my cage. The cage also has a pull-up bar. I’ve also got farmer carry handles, some heavy medicine balls, and some sandbags for weighted carries.

Workouts currently take about 1.5 hours 4 days a week. I can make time to go longer or more days, but I’d prefer not to. Free time is short and I already get up at 4:30 am to get my workout in. So with these time and equipment restraints, what would you guys say is optimal?

4x/week, and 1.5 hours workout are too much, especially since natties don't have the improved recovery juiced dudes do.
You'd overtrain yourself.

 

[KCMO]

4x/week, and 1.5 hours workout are too much, especially since natties don't have the improved recovery juiced dudes do.
You'd overtrain yourself.

I seem to be walking a fine line right now, I’m trying to listen to what my body is telling me to avoid burning out. Sometimes it’ll be skipping some accessory work or conditioning, or taking a day off. Strength and size still increasing, but I do think I’ll have to switch it up soon.

 

[theOH]

For you AI is like that, and for other maybe it fixes water retention/gyno/libido issues and make feel much better. I personally don't like to fuck with E2, but I cycle light too.

Still I don't see your relation between AI and prostate

thanks dude, sorry for the confusion. Okay, so I thought I was having prostate issues due to the issues peeing. I had to press on my bladder to go. All my issues, those are prostate issues. Trouble pooping too. Like something was blocking. So When I had my physical, the dr checked and said my prostate was fine. So my post was to point out, taking anastrozole can mimic prostate enlargement.

I’m not a dr and this is anecdotal based on myself only.

btw, the anastrozole did control water retention. When I stopped, my weight went up 10lbs.

I feel I derailed this topic. No more from me.