cloudstrife1218
MuscleChemistry Registered Member
How To Train When You're On Steroids
(or any other anabolic substance)
A lot of bodybuilders believe that training on steroids is no different from training off of them, and that heavy training is the best choice at all times. This is an antiquated attitude, of course, but not as misguided as those who believe that taking steroids means you don’t have to work out very hard—that the drugs will take care of everything. The idea is that getting huge is as simple as popping a pill. It’s the ones who believe this that really need to read this section more than anyone else. So let me talk about that first and get it out of the way. (c) Steroids 101
Steroids put your body into a state of “perfect grace”, provided that, initially, receptor sites don’t get burned out or abuse doesn’t overtake the situation. This state of perfect grace produces an environment for perfect change. Keeping yourself in this optimized state is the goal of taking steroids. Finding out how to do that is learning how to unlock the best that steroids have to offer without unlocking the worst. But it’s this whole idea and illusion of perfection that causes people to think of and use steroids are a “cure-all” or a magic pill or potion. To assume that it substitutes for hard work is the first big mistake any bodybuilder makes.
Here’s the truth:
You should be working twice as hard on steroids as you do off of steroids! Now why would that be? Well, because when you’re taking steroids, your body is repairing itself at an alarmingly rapid rate. When you’re clean, it’s real easy to over train. On steroids, it’s all but impossible to over train. And that is the precise reason why to work extra hard while taking them. If you think you’re blasting your body hard, blast it 10 times harder because that’s about how much more intensity and workload you actually can handle on ‘roids.
Does that mean working out with heavier weights? Does it mean working out longer? Or does it mean that the overall volume of sets and repetitions need increasing? Yes to all of those, and more. The idea is to increase the workload in whatever way you can because the body is repairing itself much faster and can handle the extra work and effort.
Bottom line? Ultimately, the more you tax yourself when operating under perfect conditions, the better your result will be because you don’t have to worry about the body breaking down along the way. Where you may have had to take a day off after every two workouts, you’ll probably find that you want to train through and take just one day off per week instead, to further take advantage of your heightened situation.
While on an anabolic steroid cycle, you’ll recover much more rapidly between workouts because of enhanced protein synthesis and tissue regeneration. But you’ll also notice that you will be able to recover much faster between sets, as well. So it isn’t just adding workouts to your weekly schedule that will serve you better, it’s also about adding volume to each workout. That means adding exercises that not only meet the criteria of additional volume, but adding exercises that can develop each body part much more completely. This happens because you are finally able to add dimension to your workouts. Had you done that prior, when natural or not on a cycle at all, you would have likely over-trained your body. This is the beauty of steroids.
So what, specifically, can you do to increase intensity in your workouts, and add the needed volume to make good use of your cycle?
~ Take less rest between sets
Keep up the pace during workouts and take less rest between sets.
~ Use super-sets and giant sets to up the intensity
Non-stop movement between a variety of exercises prior to taking a rest taxes the body and creates change. Move rapidly even when walking to the other side of the gym to keep heart rate up. If you can increase the weight you use in workouts, while also increasing pace and endurance, you’re utilizing your anabolic cycle maximally.
~ Do supersets using two primary exercises/ giant sets using one primary and two secondary exercises
When putting together supersets, focus on two primary exercises, such as leg press and hack squat. When doing giant sets, use one primary exercise and two or more secondary exercises.
~ Add “finishing” exercises to one workout of each body part per week to enhance development.
Adding finishing touches, by adding entire categories (forearms or traps) is one way. Adding individual exercises that strengthen and highlight tendons (hip flexors) and that enhance and bring out the aesthetic of ligaments and muscle tie-ins is another way.
~ Add sets and reps to workouts
Start increasing repetitions to each existing set for a week or two, and then gradually begin adding additional sets to existing exercises. Then, add additional exercises and begin building upon sets and reps with new movements.
~ Alternating training routines
Instead of always working standard two days on/ one day off, or three days on/ one day off, try out different workout schemes, such as one body part per day/ 5 days per week, or 6 days on/ one day off (training body twice in 6 days).
~ Concentric/ Eccentric repetitions
Work on doing slow up/ slow down repetitions. Some call these ‘positives’ and ‘negatives’ or concentric and eccentric work. Doing this during two to three sets per body part/ per week, strengthens tendons and ligaments surrounding muscles and adds shape. This is the time to do it!
~ Vary apparatus
Even though this is certainly a time for heavy workouts, try to do quality work too, by including apparatus that isn’t typical – such as cables, various attachments you don’t normally use, and machines.
~ Use divergent angles and body position to do what you always do
Include exercises such as concentration curls, triceps extensions facing away from weight stack (rope attachment), slant boards for abdominal work, and machines for shoulder and back work.
~ Find a training partner
Training partners are invaluable to someone on a steroid cycle because they push you and get you to get the best from yourself over the course of a cycle. Choose someone with your general goals in mind but who is maybe more interested in seeing your success than his own.
~ Choose a well-appointed gym
You need to find a gym with as much equipment and the fewest crowds possible. You want also to find an atmosphere that is both driven and competitive to motivate you.
[h=2]TYPES OF SPLITS[/h]A split is a program that allots both workout days and rest days in combination to create a pattern that, hopefully, is a marriage between the stress of exercise and recovery. Essentially, you’re splitting up your schedule in a logical manner that allows you an appropriate period of time for exertion and the necessary time for recuperation in between workouts. This number of days, workouts and rest periods varies for everyone, and can change for each of us at any given time, depending upon many factors. If the time taken for workouts is too long in duration or too intense, or the number of rest days is too many or too few, the lack of balance will express itself through a lack of gains, an injury, or some other telltale sign.
[h=2][/h][h=2]COMMON SPLITS[/h]3 days ON/ 1 day OFF
One of the most common splits is 3 days on/ 1 day off. Some people feel that working out more than 3 days in a row doesn’t allow the body to recuperate as a system. The supposition is, even though you may be able to work for 5 days straight, working a different body part each day, you’re still stressing your body as a system, and can’t handle the lactic acid and by-products created by difficult, intense workouts. This is probably best believed during a growth cycle or period, where workouts are short, intense, and require a lot of rest in between. I happen to agree with the theory that 3 on/ 1 off is one of the best for growth; particularly if you’re working more than one body part per workout day scheduled. Resting twice during the week is almost always better than resting once. I also like the 2 on/ 1 off/ 2 on/ 2 off schedule (M, T, TH, F workouts with W, S and S off).
2 days ON/ 1 day OFF – 2 days ON/ 2 days OFF
This is a great one for beginners, I find, because it only requires intensity for two days at a stretch. It’s also great for recuperation. Some use the days off for calves and abs and don’t do them on actual workout days. I recommend this because these are muscle groups that require a different workout strategy altogether.
1 Body Part per Day / 5 Days per Week (5 days ON/ 2 days OFF)
I like this one for growth too, because it allows you to focus intently on one body part daily, for about an hour, then rest. I always got a lot of gains off of this workout schedule. Mentally, it’s great because all you worry about prior to workouts is the one body part. Planning a workout for one body part—completely—is easier than planning for 2 or 3 per session.
3 days ON/ 1 day OFF – 2 days ON/ 1 day OFF
I like this for contest prep, because it allows you to have an intense, power-packed schedule in the beginning of the week, and then have less load toward the end. Essentially, it’s M, T, W workouts, with Thursday off, and F, S, with Sunday off.
(or any other anabolic substance)
A lot of bodybuilders believe that training on steroids is no different from training off of them, and that heavy training is the best choice at all times. This is an antiquated attitude, of course, but not as misguided as those who believe that taking steroids means you don’t have to work out very hard—that the drugs will take care of everything. The idea is that getting huge is as simple as popping a pill. It’s the ones who believe this that really need to read this section more than anyone else. So let me talk about that first and get it out of the way. (c) Steroids 101
Steroids put your body into a state of “perfect grace”, provided that, initially, receptor sites don’t get burned out or abuse doesn’t overtake the situation. This state of perfect grace produces an environment for perfect change. Keeping yourself in this optimized state is the goal of taking steroids. Finding out how to do that is learning how to unlock the best that steroids have to offer without unlocking the worst. But it’s this whole idea and illusion of perfection that causes people to think of and use steroids are a “cure-all” or a magic pill or potion. To assume that it substitutes for hard work is the first big mistake any bodybuilder makes.
Here’s the truth:
You should be working twice as hard on steroids as you do off of steroids! Now why would that be? Well, because when you’re taking steroids, your body is repairing itself at an alarmingly rapid rate. When you’re clean, it’s real easy to over train. On steroids, it’s all but impossible to over train. And that is the precise reason why to work extra hard while taking them. If you think you’re blasting your body hard, blast it 10 times harder because that’s about how much more intensity and workload you actually can handle on ‘roids.
Does that mean working out with heavier weights? Does it mean working out longer? Or does it mean that the overall volume of sets and repetitions need increasing? Yes to all of those, and more. The idea is to increase the workload in whatever way you can because the body is repairing itself much faster and can handle the extra work and effort.
Bottom line? Ultimately, the more you tax yourself when operating under perfect conditions, the better your result will be because you don’t have to worry about the body breaking down along the way. Where you may have had to take a day off after every two workouts, you’ll probably find that you want to train through and take just one day off per week instead, to further take advantage of your heightened situation.
While on an anabolic steroid cycle, you’ll recover much more rapidly between workouts because of enhanced protein synthesis and tissue regeneration. But you’ll also notice that you will be able to recover much faster between sets, as well. So it isn’t just adding workouts to your weekly schedule that will serve you better, it’s also about adding volume to each workout. That means adding exercises that not only meet the criteria of additional volume, but adding exercises that can develop each body part much more completely. This happens because you are finally able to add dimension to your workouts. Had you done that prior, when natural or not on a cycle at all, you would have likely over-trained your body. This is the beauty of steroids.
So what, specifically, can you do to increase intensity in your workouts, and add the needed volume to make good use of your cycle?
~ Take less rest between sets
Keep up the pace during workouts and take less rest between sets.
~ Use super-sets and giant sets to up the intensity
Non-stop movement between a variety of exercises prior to taking a rest taxes the body and creates change. Move rapidly even when walking to the other side of the gym to keep heart rate up. If you can increase the weight you use in workouts, while also increasing pace and endurance, you’re utilizing your anabolic cycle maximally.
~ Do supersets using two primary exercises/ giant sets using one primary and two secondary exercises
When putting together supersets, focus on two primary exercises, such as leg press and hack squat. When doing giant sets, use one primary exercise and two or more secondary exercises.
~ Add “finishing” exercises to one workout of each body part per week to enhance development.
Adding finishing touches, by adding entire categories (forearms or traps) is one way. Adding individual exercises that strengthen and highlight tendons (hip flexors) and that enhance and bring out the aesthetic of ligaments and muscle tie-ins is another way.
~ Add sets and reps to workouts
Start increasing repetitions to each existing set for a week or two, and then gradually begin adding additional sets to existing exercises. Then, add additional exercises and begin building upon sets and reps with new movements.
~ Alternating training routines
Instead of always working standard two days on/ one day off, or three days on/ one day off, try out different workout schemes, such as one body part per day/ 5 days per week, or 6 days on/ one day off (training body twice in 6 days).
~ Concentric/ Eccentric repetitions
Work on doing slow up/ slow down repetitions. Some call these ‘positives’ and ‘negatives’ or concentric and eccentric work. Doing this during two to three sets per body part/ per week, strengthens tendons and ligaments surrounding muscles and adds shape. This is the time to do it!
~ Vary apparatus
Even though this is certainly a time for heavy workouts, try to do quality work too, by including apparatus that isn’t typical – such as cables, various attachments you don’t normally use, and machines.
~ Use divergent angles and body position to do what you always do
Include exercises such as concentration curls, triceps extensions facing away from weight stack (rope attachment), slant boards for abdominal work, and machines for shoulder and back work.
~ Find a training partner
Training partners are invaluable to someone on a steroid cycle because they push you and get you to get the best from yourself over the course of a cycle. Choose someone with your general goals in mind but who is maybe more interested in seeing your success than his own.
~ Choose a well-appointed gym
You need to find a gym with as much equipment and the fewest crowds possible. You want also to find an atmosphere that is both driven and competitive to motivate you.
[h=2]TYPES OF SPLITS[/h]A split is a program that allots both workout days and rest days in combination to create a pattern that, hopefully, is a marriage between the stress of exercise and recovery. Essentially, you’re splitting up your schedule in a logical manner that allows you an appropriate period of time for exertion and the necessary time for recuperation in between workouts. This number of days, workouts and rest periods varies for everyone, and can change for each of us at any given time, depending upon many factors. If the time taken for workouts is too long in duration or too intense, or the number of rest days is too many or too few, the lack of balance will express itself through a lack of gains, an injury, or some other telltale sign.
[h=2][/h][h=2]COMMON SPLITS[/h]3 days ON/ 1 day OFF
One of the most common splits is 3 days on/ 1 day off. Some people feel that working out more than 3 days in a row doesn’t allow the body to recuperate as a system. The supposition is, even though you may be able to work for 5 days straight, working a different body part each day, you’re still stressing your body as a system, and can’t handle the lactic acid and by-products created by difficult, intense workouts. This is probably best believed during a growth cycle or period, where workouts are short, intense, and require a lot of rest in between. I happen to agree with the theory that 3 on/ 1 off is one of the best for growth; particularly if you’re working more than one body part per workout day scheduled. Resting twice during the week is almost always better than resting once. I also like the 2 on/ 1 off/ 2 on/ 2 off schedule (M, T, TH, F workouts with W, S and S off).
2 days ON/ 1 day OFF – 2 days ON/ 2 days OFF
This is a great one for beginners, I find, because it only requires intensity for two days at a stretch. It’s also great for recuperation. Some use the days off for calves and abs and don’t do them on actual workout days. I recommend this because these are muscle groups that require a different workout strategy altogether.
1 Body Part per Day / 5 Days per Week (5 days ON/ 2 days OFF)
I like this one for growth too, because it allows you to focus intently on one body part daily, for about an hour, then rest. I always got a lot of gains off of this workout schedule. Mentally, it’s great because all you worry about prior to workouts is the one body part. Planning a workout for one body part—completely—is easier than planning for 2 or 3 per session.
3 days ON/ 1 day OFF – 2 days ON/ 1 day OFF
I like this for contest prep, because it allows you to have an intense, power-packed schedule in the beginning of the week, and then have less load toward the end. Essentially, it’s M, T, W workouts, with Thursday off, and F, S, with Sunday off.
