Training While Being Enhanced

[trophymade]

Hello, everyone,
I'm hopping on my first cycle soon; part of the reason why I'm doing so is because I love training, and I want to be able to train as hard as I can while without recovery being an issue. The split that I'm running right now is this:
U/L/P/P/L/U/R
A mix of Upper/Lower and PPL.

My training sessions on Upper look like this:

Pull Ups 1xFailure
Lat PD 1xFailure
T-Bar Row 2xFailure
Low Row 1xFailure
Incline BP 2xFailure
Pec Fly 2xFailure
Shoulder Press 2xFailure
Shoulder Raise 2xFailure
Incline Bicep Curl 2xFailure
Unilateral Tricep Extension 2xFailure

Lower:

Hamstring Curl 2xFailure
Smith Machine Bulgarian Split Squat 2xFailure
Leg Press 2xFailure
Leg Extension 2xFailure
RDLs 2xFailure
Calf Raises 2xFailure
Abductor 1xFailure

Pull:

Chin Ups 2xFailure
Lat PD 1xFailure
T-Bar Row 2xFailure
Low Row 2xFailure
Incline Bicep Curl 2xFailure
Hammer Curl 2xFailure

Push:

Smith Machine Shoulder Press 2xFailure
Shoulder Raise 2xFailure
Incline BP 2xFailure
Pec Fly 2xFailure
Dips 2xFailure
Unilateral Tricep Extension 2xfailure

This is a decent chunk of volume, I believe, but my body is able to handle it adequately. Now, when I get enhanced, do you guys think I could be able to add much more volume, like, for example: adding one more set to each exercise or being able to train beyond failure?

 

[Jimbabwe]

No compelling reason to try to do more volume or add intensifiers just because you're on cycle. If the training you're doing now is working; just keep doing it.

 

[trophymade]

I see. I also do 30 minutes Stair Master ED; should I keep it that way or do more cardio to ensure my heart remains fine?

 

[botk1161]

You think going on cycle is going to give u some unlimited level of recovery? It’s got way more to do with diet, sleep and low stress.

 

[Jimbabwe]

Would do regular cardio for a lot of reasons, but my preference is incline walking because it's easier to recover from than the stair master.

30 minutes most days is probably fine, but it really depends on what your health markers look like.

 

[Rockslide]

It’s going to help with recovery but overtraining can and will still happen if you aren’t paying attention to volume and diet and sleep isn’t sufficient.

If anything it’s going to mask the overtraining and the extra neural drive is going to allow you to push through fatigue and overtraining (you will overtrain worse and keep going)…. That is until you can’t, and then you will crash.

I think it’s fine to increase volume, but important to be reasonable about how much. Test kicks in about 2 weeks in and the next 2-4 weeks will feel like Superman. Won’t fatigue, set after set, PRs , train for hours . The fatigue is still happening and accumulating by the set, by the day, by the week and at some point the nervous system won’t be able to override that fatigue . Other scenario is that the tendons won’t handle the volume and tear a pec, quad, bicep etc 6-8 weeks in which is also terrible and will ruin the next 6 months

 

[Hyde]

Adding anabolics can actually mean you handle less volume. It’s definitely not something where you start adding tons of work sustainably - you just get much faster results from the work you do.

You have extra neural drive to lift bigger weights, which will be harder to recover from. AAS tend to negatively affect tendons at worst, and at minimum do not increase their strength at a rate sufficient to keep pace with muscle strength increases. And they tend to decrease cardiovascular fitness past a fairly low threshold of use, leaving you winded more easily as blood thickens, BP is increased, and compounds like orals induce lethargy, or Tren with broncho-constriction.

Most steroid users will tell you they can do more total work on a cruise phase, which coincidentally is often the same kind of enhancement doses you will see in combat sports etc: ~175-250mg/wk of test. I know I certainly can. Higher doses than that, blood can get thick beyond optimal range, things like excessive muscle pumping & water retention can become issues, and again BP or other health burdens of elevated gear use.

If you want enhanced recovery, optimize your diet and sleep another 30-60 minutes nightly. If you have sleep apnea, get a CPAP. If you fight with your gf or anyone routinely, stop it or get them out of your life. Take a walk outside most days to catch some sun or take in the evening air.

 

[Hyde]

Also, find a pressing variation besides incline bench 3x a week, and consider learning to squat if you’re serious about adding size. I can’t see why you wouldn’t squat or frontsquat one of your two lower days, or even a hacksquat or powersquat or pendulum squat machine instead of 2 Legpress days. Something for some variation.