Can results be maintained after discontinuing steroids?

Author: Yuri Klimishin - an iron enthusiast and veteran of the "chemical" front.
2015-03-08

Important! We do not advocate for the use of steroids and other potent substances. All information is provided so that those who still decide to take them can do so with minimal health risks.

Will the results achieved during the cycle remain after its completion? This is the number one question, often asked by those who want to try AAS (andro anabolic steroids) for the first time. Naturally, everyone wants to know: what happens AFTER the cycle? Is it worth the risk if all the volume and strength gains will vanish down the toilet just a few weeks after stopping the pharmacology?

I answer: In 9 out of 10 cases, amateur bodybuilders begin to indulge in the forbidden fruit while still far from reaching their genetic maximum. This is because a person with average genetics (and that's just the 9 out of 10 people on the planet) requires about five to six years of living meticulously, focusing solely on training, diet, and recovery to reach their natural peak in muscle and strength development.

The only way to systematically progress on your hormonal background is to utilize natural testosterone production and growth hormone. Since their peaks occur at certain times of the day, one must live in a strict regime. This means not being able to earn money, study, or deal with family issues. It's clear that 99% of ordinary mortals cannot (and do not want to) afford such a lifestyle. Thus, the hand reaches for the syringe.

If you cycle once

So, the first short and the first long cycles in life will be the most powerful if everything is done correctly: plan the cycle, execute the cycle, and exit it. Here’s a concrete example. Let's say a person weighs 80 kilograms. They start a cycle and gain 12 kilograms on it. By the end, our weight is already 92 kg, respectively. But this person's genetic maximum is 85 kg. If they continue to train systematically and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, eat well and healthily after the cycle, then these 85 kg will be there to stay. Absolutely certain.

The remaining 7 kilograms will go away. This usually happens over two to four (at most six months) months. Sarcoplasm (water) will disappear within a week or two. The muscle will dissolve slowly. But it will definitely melt away, like a snowman in the sun.

And if the first cycle was short, all subsequent short cycles will yield diminishing returns, and the drop-offs after them will become increasingly pronounced. Therefore, constantly doing "short" cycles if your sport is bodybuilding makes no sense at all. A short cycle should be the first and the last in life. After that, one must decide: either cycle properly or stop cycling altogether. If the first short cycle ended unsuccessfully, but you haven't abandoned the idea of reaching your ceiling on the drug and then quitting, then don't make the same mistakes again. For your second cycle, do it over 10-12 weeks. Get a full return from it and then try not to lose your precious kilograms.

I know people who have stopped after one or two cycles and continue to live their lives. But such individuals are the minority. The vast majority cycle regularly or continuously. Unfortunately, one must have ironclad willpower to permanently (or long-term) abstain from pharmacology after fully understanding WHAT it is like. So think carefully - is it even worth starting a cycle? Pharmacology is a vicious circle, from which it is MUCH more difficult to exit than to enter.

If you cycle constantly

A somewhat different situation arises with athletes who have become thoroughly hooked on AAS after trying them. That is, a person has gone through a couple of cycles and, due to ignorance of the basics, has retained nothing. This happens often. If you don't know how to recover and train properly after a cycle, you may end up even smaller than you were before the cycle. Such guys usually give up on everything and start taking testosterone constantly.

Naturally, after a year and a half to two years of such experimentation, a person with average genetics will start experiencing various problems. Issues can arise with the liver, heart, pancreas, and/or thyroid gland. One can simply get tired of constantly elevated levels of anabolic hormones in the blood.

Some completely come off the chemistry for a while, while others create "bridges." This involves taking minimal doses of steroids and growth hormone while simultaneously working on health recovery. In the latter case, it’s simpler – my explanations are unnecessary for them. However, the former usually worry A LOT – will everything disappear after cessation? Well, guys, there's no need to panic on such a grand scale. Health still needs to be restored. And if it cannot be done on a bridge, then a cliff is inevitable.

Of course, over several years on hormones, a person will UNDENIABLY reach their natural muscle potential. This, so to speak, is an indisputable advantage of prolonged continuous use of pharmacology. It's clear that everything excessive will disappear over a few months. This is a dogma. Being larger than your natural ceiling is only possible with drugs – accept this once and for all. However, prolonged use of testosterone will definitely enhance your male qualities. That is to say, after the drop-off, your body will look much better than before your acquaintance with steroids. When anabolic hormone levels exceed the natural amount over a long period, it will surely shift your genetics in a more masculine direction.

The fact remains that the success of your endeavors, both on pharmacology and after discontinuation, directly depends on a sensible approach to diet, course design, training process, and recovery. In other words, you will achieve your goals only if you constantly think through your actions, regardless of what stage you are currently at.

I apologize if what I've described in this article seems difficult for some. Learn to think and continuously solve more complex tasks. Otherwise, you will not achieve anything but disappointment.