Do the cycle or not??

[xtreme_67]

Hi every one im new to the forums so here is my first question...Ive been lifting for a little over a year now and have gained strength and size considerably. however lately my growth and strength have kind of levled off and i am at a plateau...I have been taking cell-tech, nitro-tech, thermo-gain, and NO2 religously but it doesnt seem to be working as well as it used to...latly i have seriously been considering trying out the fizogen products. mainly i was going to go with what they call the 12 week 'mass onslaught' bulking cycle. which consists of...on-cycle, off-cycle, blitz cycle, mass cycle lean tabs,and blast cycle. I realize the costs involved in goin this route but if it gets me alot better results than what i have been getting its way worth it to me. So I was really just looking at some feedback from ppl that have done this program and some do's and dont's. And are these products really up to all the hype that u see in mag? Thank you so much.
BTW: I work out religously for roughly 2 hours a day 5-6 days a week.

[mydamnself]

Most everyone on this board will tell you fizogen is crap.

"BTW: I work out religously for roughly 2 hours a day 5-6 days a week."

That is part of your problem right there. You are training way to much. In the beginning your body could handle it because you weere just starting, but now you've overtrained. 1 hour max, preferably three times a week is what you need. Doing more does not equal better results.
How is your eating? If you're not eating enough it doesn't matter what supplements you are taking.
I'm not trying to sound harsh, but what you need to do is educate yourself about proper training and nutrition instead of trying to find some magic cycle or quick fix. Everyone on here with experience will tell you the same thing. 90% of this crap doesn't work. Eating and training right always works.

[xtreme_67]

thank you mydamnself. That actually helped alot. u know we really need more ppl in the world like u that are up front and sincere.

[pu12en12g]

Hi every one im new to the forums so here is my first question...Ive been lifting for a little over a year now and have gained strength and size considerably. however lately my growth and strength have kind of levled off and i am at a plateau...I have been taking cell-tech, nitro-tech, thermo-gain, and NO2 religously but it doesnt seem to be working as well as it used to...latly i have seriously been considering trying out the fizogen products. mainly i was going to go with what they call the 12 week 'mass onslaught' bulking cycle. which consists of...on-cycle, off-cycle, blitz cycle, mass cycle lean tabs,and blast cycle. I realize the costs involved in goin this route but if it gets me alot better results than what i have been getting its way worth it to me. So I was really just looking at some feedback from ppl that have done this program and some do's and dont's. And are these products really up to all the hype that u see in mag? Thank you so much.
BTW: I work out religously for roughly 2 hours a day 5-6 days a week.

Diet:

-Total daily calorie intake. This is what will make / break you
-Total daily calorie intake. This is what will make / break you
-Total daily calorie intake. This is what will make / break you

- It is NOT efficient to try and lost fat AND gain muscle at the same time
- It is NOT efficient to try and lost fat AND gain muscle at the same time
- It is NOT efficient to try and lost fat AND gain muscle at the same time

- BMR and nutrition calculator (click here)

- Total Daily Protein Intake (for best results I recommend AROUND 2g per lb of bodyweight)

- Fatloss basics. READ IT:

- Foods (Good vs. Bad):

- If there was ONE SINGLE KEY to the gains I made in the 1 1/2 years when I went from 175-225 (my best.. leanest gains), it is OATS / STEEL CUT OATS ! The emphasis here is that oats / steel cut oats are a INEXPENSIVE, HEALTHY, yet VERY CALORIE DENSE FOOD. I saw lean gains like I had never seen before. But NO THEY DON'T TASTE GOOD. YOU HAVE TO FORCE FEED THEM. This gets old fast. I added about 1 cup of oats to each protein shake.

When bulking (to gain lean muscle mass), I aim for:

- 1lb lean beef per day
- 1 Gallon Skim Milk per day
- Around 2000 cals per day from oats
- Lots of protein shakes (up to 8 per day)
- Lean chicken
- Lean turkey
- Lean beef / sloppy Joes (manwich)
- Hamburger Helper
- Lots of pasta
- Lots of tuna
- Potatoes
- Rice (Note: If you can afford it you can do things like boneless chicken breast, steaks etc.. etc..)
- Veggies (Fresh if possible)

When cutting (to lose fat):

- I eat many of the same foods above, but with a lower TOTAL DAILY CALORIE INTAKE

- I put a emphasis on PRE- and POST-workout nutrition, and the end result is that most of my calories are eaten before my afternoon workout. I have found this to be ideal (for me).




Supplements:

- Supplements / Companies to avoid: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpo...0&postcount=81

- SAVE $$$$$ ! ! STICK WITH THE BASICS ! ! )

Multivitamin
(Click here for a Multivitamin Comparison Chart)
10 lb bags of Optimum Whey Protein (This includes a great BCAA profile AND glutamine) (Note: I recommend Choc / Choc Mint only)
Creapure Creatine or Creatine Ethyl Ester HCL or Magnesium Creatine Chelate
Cold Pressed Flaxseed oil (and / or fishoil

- Stay on creatine, there is no need to cycle it ! (cycling and loading are totally optional)

- Creatine timing (when / how to take it):

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=307788
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/author22.htm

- For best results, aim for AROUND 2g of total daily protein intake per lb of bodyweight EVERY SINGLE DAY ! !

Example:

Bodyweight: 200lbs
Total daily protein intake: 400g

Here is why:

http://www.johnberardi.com/articles/...oprejudice.htm


http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=337536
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=392907

Workout / Routine:

- I recommend a MAX-OT, 5x5, HST (or similar) routine with a EMPHASIS ON:

- Squatting / Leg pressing
- Deadlifts
- Barbell benchpress (Including flat / decline / incline)

- Both BB's and DB's for best results

- Concentrate more on measurements and less on bodyweight

- Weigh yourself once a week. Should gain (or lose) around 1lb per week (depending on goals).

- Concentrate on form first, in order to stay injury free

- Emphasize both range of motion, and mind-muscle connection

- With intensity, strength gains, and a proper bodybuilding diet, the size gains (or fatloss) will come

- Make sure and have a spotter when working out your major muscle groups, preferrably someone bigger than you

- Don't be scared of overtraining. Simply listen (pay attention) to your body, and ask more questions later if you think you are overtraining.





Cardio:

- If possible, do cardio at least 8 hours from when you lift weights

- If possible, do cardio in the AM after sleeping.

- No need to do cardio on a empty stomach, but many prefer to due to nausea

- Jumping rope is a very efficient form of cardio

- HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) is a efficient form of cardio






Recovery (A.K.A GROWTH !):

- With proper intensity MUST COME PROPER RECOVERY !

- Make sure and get enough protein right before you go to sleep.

- Make sure and get enough protein/carbs right when you wake up

- Make sure and get enough deep, quality sleep (Not getting enough quality sleep is the #1 newbie mistake. You should aim for at least 8 QUALITY hours of sleep per night):

http://www.johnberardi.com/articles/...sleep_1_pr.htm
http://www.johnberardi.com/articles/...sleep_2_pr.htm

- Make sure and get enough protein / calories on off days (This is when your body will be recovering) It is important to be consistent !

- Make sure and get proper pre and post-workout nutrition:

Carbs pre and post workout.
Protein pre and post workout.
Creatine pre and post workout:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=272067

H20 / Cell volumization:

- Make sure and drink enough water throughout the day (This is CRITICAL ! !) I drink about 1 liter per hour. (Keep in mind I am currently over 240lbs so you may not need this much) Click here to read about why this is SO IMPORTANT:

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=332329
http://www.t-nation.com/findArticle....le=301stretch2
http://www.biochemj.org/bj/313/0697/3130697.pdf
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/author22.htm

Good luck !

Disclaimer: The above post is IN MY OPINION, or IN MY EXPERIENCE, unless otherwise noted.

[mydamnself]

thank you mydamnself. That actually helped alot. u know we really need more ppl in the world like u that are up front and sincere.

Thanks, I appreciate that. The above post by the guy who's handle I can never remember is a great place to start and begin learning what you need to do. You'll be surprised how quickly you progress once you know what you have to do.