In the world of bodybuilding, as in life, nothing is simple. You always have to pay a price for the results you get. And if you decide to use the power of anabolic steroids, then be prepared to face the so-called «rollback» after the end of the course.
- «Rollback» is a phenomenon that occurs after you stop taking the drugs. After powerful hormonal stimulation, which allowed you to quickly build muscle mass, the body returns to its natural state.
At this point, you may notice that some of the gained mass disappears. This happens because the drug stimulated not only muscle growth, but also fluid retention in the body
Do not be upset, «rollback» is a normal phenomenon. Your task is to minimize it. This is possible if you exit the course correctly, maintain training and nutrition.
It is impossible to completely avoid «rollback», but you can minimize its consequences. This doesn't mean you have to go back on cycle, but using the right strategies will help you keep most of the mass you've gained.
Actions in the body after the course and brief tips
While taking steroids, your own hormones, like testosterone, "went to sleep" and stopped working at full capacity. Their work was taken over by artificial hormones.
But when the course ends, the body returns to its previous state, and your own hormones may need time to "wake up" and start functioning fully.
At this time, you face two problems:
- Decreased levels of anabolic hormones. Testosterone, which stimulates muscle growth, becomes less.
- Increased levels of catabolic hormones. Cortisol, a stress hormone that destroys muscle, increases, and estrogen may also increase, which is also not very good for muscles.
These changes make muscles more vulnerable to destruction. If you continue to train with the same intensity as during the course, you risk losing a significant part of the muscle mass gained.
Therefore, after the course it is very important:
- Restore your natural hormonal background. This can be done with the help of special programs, diet and a healthy lifestyle.
- Reduce the catabolic effect. Change the intensity of training and diet.
Do not forget that each organism is individual. To minimize the "rollback" and preserve muscles, consult a specialist! He will help you create an individual plan for training, nutrition and recovery after a course of steroids.
How to Survive Steroid Rollback
Before we move on to specific recommendations for maintaining results after an anabolic steroid (AAS) cycle, let's deal with a fundamental question: what are the natural limits of muscle mass growth?
Muscles, like any other organ, have their genetic limitations. Despite the fact that we can significantly increase their volume with the help of AAS, this hypertrophy is essentially artificial and cannot be infinite. After the end of the cycle, the body gradually returns to its natural state, which leads to the loss of part of the gained muscle mass.
- Example: If you are a man of average build and height (170-180 cm), training with iron, your natural maximum weight can fluctuate around 90 kg (± 10 kg). During the AAS cycle, you can swell up to 120 kg, but after its completion, your weight will most likely drop to 90 kg.
It is important to understand that strength and muscle mass are not the same thing. Strength depends not only on muscle mass, but also on its density, neuromuscular connection and other factors. Therefore, strength, as a rule, is preserved better than muscle mass after the end of the course.
With age, the natural limit of muscle mass can increase due to training experience and a slowdown in metabolism. For example, at the age of 30-40, you can expect to weigh 90-100 kg.
So, we are faced with the fact: the body seeks to return us to a natural state after an AAS course. What can be done to slow down this process?
Restoring hormonal levels after an AAS course (PCT) is a key point. After an AAS course, the natural production of testosterone in the body decreases. To return it to its previous level, it is necessary to stimulate the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, which regulates the production of sex hormones.
How does this system work?
- The hypothalamus secretes gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which stimulates the pituitary gland.
- The pituitary gland, in turn, secretes luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which stimulate the testicles to produce testosterone.
In order to restore hormonal levels as quickly as possible, it is necessary to stimulate all levels of production. This means that the testicles must function well and gonadotropins (LH and FSH) must be naturally produced.
However, restoring hormonal levels after an AAS course is a difficult task. Often, after an AAS course, the ratio between estrogens (female hormones) and androgens (male hormones) is disrupted, which makes it difficult to restore and start the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. This is one of the main reasons for large losses in muscle mass after an AAS course.
Testicular Restoration
During an anabolic steroid cycle, the testicles tend to shrink in size. This is because AAS suppress natural testosterone production, and as a result, the testicles, like any organ, atrophy from inactivity.
It is important to understand that the size of the testicles is not the only indicator of their functionality. Yes, small testicles can be a sign of malfunction, but not always.
HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a hormone that can prevent testicular atrophy caused by an AAS cycle. It stimulates the testicles to produce testosterone, helping to maintain their functionality.
However, even with sufficient gonadotropin production (including hCG), atrophied testicles may not respond properly to stimulation. This is especially true after long AAS cycles (e.g., 12 weeks or more).
The fact is that the testicles not only shrink in size, but also demand their functionality. The hypothalamus, reading the low testosterone level, tries to activate the production of gonadotropins, but the atrophied testicles simply do not “hear” the signal.
This leads to a delay in the restoration of natural testosterone levels. This leads to a loss of muscle mass and strength, since the body does not receive enough “building material” for the muscles.
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What to do?
- Take hCG. hCG is a reserve part of PCT, which helps to maintain the function of the testicles.
- Follow the recommendations for the duration of the AAS course. The longer the course, the less likely it is to have serious testicular atrophy.
- Regularly undergo examinations by an endocrinologist. An endocrinologist will help determine the condition of the testicles and select the optimal PCT scheme.
It is important to remember that testicular restoration is a long process. You need to be patient and come to the appropriate specialist.
Additional methods for maintaining results after an AAS course
In addition to restoring hormonal balance, there are a number of additional methods that can help maintain results after an anabolic steroid (AAS) course.
- Tribulus. This sports supplement affects the hypothalamus, stimulating its work and accelerating the restoration of hormonal balance. However, you should not expect a significant effect from it.
- Creatine is also often recommended for maintaining results, but it is important to remember that exogenous creatine suppresses the production of natural testosterone. After an AAS course, when testosterone levels have already decreased, creatine use may be undesirable.
- Insulin and growth hormone. Insulin and growth hormone are powerful anabolic agents that can help preserve muscle and strength. However, their use has its limitations:
- Insulin without sufficient training load and in conditions of reduced androgen levels can lead to fat gain.
- Growth hormone is very expensive and is only effective when combined with AAS.
Therefore, insulin and growth hormone are recommended only for certain categories of people:
- Ectomorphs (naturally dry), for whom insulin may be the solution.
- People with a fairly high income who can afford to buy growth hormone.
For most people, there are more reasonable methods for maintaining results after a course of AAS, including proper training. In the next part, we will take a closer look at the importance of proper training for maintaining muscle mass and strength.
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