[William Rohe]

Are you having a problem with grip on the sets you ARE using straps with or the sets you are NOT using straps with?

If it’s the sets you’re using straps, I’m not sure how you’re having grip issues. The whole point of straps is being able to keep your grip. You might need a different pair of straps if your grip is failing even when using straps. With the schiek straps I have, my grip never gives out. I fail on working sets when I’m either too gassed out(cannot breath anymore) or my body physically cannot do another rep. Or if it’s something like rack pulls at the end of the workout, my hands and grip even with straps can get shot and I just cannot hold onto the bar because all the work I did earlier in the workout.

[William Rohe]

Those T-bar rows looked absolutely killer! I’m at the point I cannot fit anymore weight on our t-bar at my gym 🙁 only goes up to 7 plates

[William Rohe]

I listened to that episode but that must not have stuck with me. Thanks Christoph! And thanks DrDean!

[William Rohe]

I’m the same in that I take full rest days off instead of deload. I don’t exactly take a full week, but 4 full days off of thinking about lifting and without any physical activity is really refreshing. Then feel amazing heading back into the gym.

[William Rohe]

Marcus – JP touches on deloads in his logs a few times if I recall correctly. Might have to do some searching. No video though(was looking for one this last weekend).

[William Rohe]

If you aren’t running anything and it mainly shows at a lower bodyfat, sounds like you got a little bit of gyno. I have it from when I was a overweight kid and it becomes more and more apparent when I get really lean. It’s likely something you’d need surgery to correct. If it was while you were running a cycle and noticed it early, then an AI would likely have helped but I’m assuming you’ve had this for awhile?

[William Rohe]

Daniel – Jordan doesn’t eat veggies as much because of the amount of calories he needs to consume on a daily basis. I’m sure the same thing does for Ronnie. Jordan does recommend a greens powder supplement. But when needing to take in so many calories a day, the volume you get from veggies is very filling and tends to take away your appetite.

[William Rohe]

I’m not talking about dosing abnormally high. Lets say for example you’ve ran Test at 500/600mg in the past. In this cycle I’m planning to run 800mg as that’s the next logical step for more gains this time around since I may have maxed out at 600mg. Would doing the pyrmaid style be a better idea as it’s a plateau buster later in the cycle or simply just starting at 800mg to keep stable blood levels and getting the highest return back right off the bat.

Example:
Week 1-4: Test 400mg
Week 5-8: Test 600mg
Week 9-14: Test 800mg

I cannot find any kind of scientific study to support either side. Just going off of people posting on web forums opinions and it seems to be of the popular opinion to just start at the dose you’re intending on reaching. I understand we want to get the most out of the lowest possible dose and support that idea. But the intention of this cycle is reaching 800mg either way. Start low and start at 800mg is the question for best possible gains in strength and tissue?

[William Rohe]

You already answered what one of my questions was going to be which was making sure you’ve ran both compounds separate before. As far as dosing goes, I’d start out at a lower dose and wait to increase. I’ve never ran the two compounds together at once, so they could have a positive synergistic affect that less could be more. Just take it slow. Run everything by your prep coach as well as they should be the one seeing your progress several times a week.

[William Rohe]

Don’t go by a set number from the past thinking it’s your maintenance and trying to stay within a certain amount of it. You’re on cycle now which really changes things. Strength going up is good….means the compounds are working. But that scale weight needs to be increasing as well to ensure lean tissue is being built and you’re not just recomping or even under-eating.

Plenty of options here on how you can get more calories in. I’d start by increasing calories on your rest day. You’re eating over 1k less calories on rest days. Being on cycle and with the goal of gaininig, you can increase calories a little bit on those days. Maybe focus on never hitting less than 3k calories on rest days.

Then on workout days, something small and simple like an extra scoop of intra workout carbs can go a long way if it doesn’t cause stomach issues. Toss in 2 tbsp peanut butter/almond butter with your breakfast and your last meal of the day. That right there is an additional 350+ calories a day. Or if you want the extra calories to come from protein and not fats, just take an extra scoop of protein powder for breakfast or before bed/over night. Just a simple increase in calories somewhere in the day.

[William Rohe]

I’ve seen people use both at the same time during prep and enjoyed the benefits from both. That would likely be something for a very experienced user that’s focusing on keeping as much lean tissue as possible.

[William Rohe]

It’s completely different rates for everyone. Some people can handle calories being put back in faster while others might need to go at a slower rate. Keep an eye on the scale and most importantly, the mirror. You’ll have an initial jump in weight of water just by adding calories back in, but after the initial jump in weight is what you need to eye the most. I came off keto and throw in 75g of carbs right off the bat. My body needed it with carbs being practically at zero and calories in general being low. I just made sure to time the carbs around my workouts so they are partitioned the best possible. Each increase from then on out will be more a judgement on how your body is reacting with each increase.

[William Rohe]

If the amount you has takes you out of a calorie deficit, you’ll stop dropping bodyfat. Imo it should be tracked during a prep – everything during a prep should be tracked. That way you know how much you’re consuming on a day to day basis.

[William Rohe]

I guess I’m impatient. Just saw you posted the video on increasing bodyweight. Thanks JP!

[William Rohe]

Saw the video on IG – you looked great during the quest posing!