When is it time to stop?

[BrickShitHouse]

Just wondering if anyone else has given any thought to when they will finally give up the gear. I will always work out, it's just too much a part of who I am but I guess I can't see myself staying on when I'm 45 or 50 years old. Right now I'm 32 and single so I can justify it but if and when I get married and have kids I don't know if it will be worth considering the expense, amount of time needed to train as well as the legal risk. Maybe when I am that old I'll just go on HRT and/or GH but just enough to maintain. Anyone else thought this far ahead? BSH

[Thor]

Since I am in a similar boat as you (31 years old) I can only share my speculation. My goal has always been to raise my homeostatic weight high enough whereby when I come off gear eventually I will be able to maintain a satisfactory weight by just lifting and having good nutrition. My guess is that you would have to hold a weight 10% - 15% above your eventual settled weight. I am now 225 lbs and would like to hold 240 lbs (9% BF) for a significant amount of time so the weight I would settle at when off gear would be 215 - 220 lbs. The way that Arnold and other retired bodybuilders have settled into would give evidence that this could be accomplished. I will probably be a GH user in my 50's...

[LARGELI]

Originally posted by Thor
Since I am in a similar boat as you (31 years old) I can only share my speculation. My goal has always been to raise my homeostatic weight high enough whereby when I come off gear eventually I will be able to maintain a satisfactory weight by just lifting and having good nutrition. My guess is that you would have to hold a weight 10% - 15% above your eventual settled weight. I am now 225 lbs and would like to hold 240 lbs (9% BF) for a significant amount of time so the weight I would settle at when off gear would be 215 - 220 lbs. The way that Arnold and other retired bodybuilders have settled into would give evidence that this could be accomplished. I will probably be a GH user in my 50's...

where is your eveidence that Arnold and others have givin up roids?

[Thor]

I've talked to a few retired guys and I am presuming that Arnold has for the most part as he has had 2 major surguries in the last 3 years and has become governer. Wouldn't surprise me if he hit a cycle before doing Term 3. Latest article in Mens Journal says he no longer does them.

[LARGELI]

Originally posted by Thor
I've talked to a few retired guys and I am presuming that Arnold has for the most part as he has had 2 major surguries in the last 3 years and has become governer. Wouldn't surprise me if he hit a cycle before doing Term 3. Latest article in Mens Journal says he no longer does them.

lol, and barry bonds says its just creatine!

not saying that Arnold is lying but dont beleive everything you hear or read.

[JUICE]

im only 22 and thought of stopping because me and my girl have talked about getting married and all. She dont like the idea of me juicing at all, but since we are not married she lets me but donest like it. Ya getting married means Im gonna have to stop for sures. I think I will do 2 more cycles and thats it. Maybe 3. I hope by the time I do them I weigh 260 or so ripped. Im currently at 225 with 15%bf and 3 cycles under my belt.

[smalls]

Originally posted by INTIMID8OR3
If done in moderation I'll be stopping when I quit going to the gym..... NEVER .... ;)

Exaclty

[Thor]

Originally posted by LARGELI
lol, and barry bonds says its just creatine!

not saying that Arnold is lying but dont beleive everything you hear or read.

Point taken, but regardless of whether of not Arnold is still using. My original theory I believe to be sound and answers the man's question.

Plus, if I were Arnold now and had been cycling, I would be disappointed, he doesn't look that good anymore and has a bit of a gut.

The guy who won the Masters Olympia last year, Stan (? I forget his last name) was a personal trainer at my gym for a number of years before competing. He was off juice for a long time and still look quite good, he went back on and looked a lot bigger to win the Masters O.

[muscledoc]

Let me answer your question first hand. I am 52 years old and my children are grown and out of the house. I am divorced, quite happily I might add. I've been going to the gym almost without fail for the last 25 years. After you hit 50, everything turns to shit regardless of your working out. Your hormone levels change and the weight pours on. I just started up agian on gear and the changes are remarkable. I have my old evergy back again, I'm motivated again in the gym and my old size is coming back. I'm about to add GH to the mix to start to bring the sub=Q fat levels back under control. Being huge isnt as important as it once was, but maintaining muscle mass and shape is still uimportant and believe me without juicing it is next to impossible. I may not be doing it at the levels you guys are doing it, but htats the nice part of mature muscle. It doesnt require as much to return.

[Thor]

thanks for the insight MD

[KeepinItReal]

Yo Brick, Im going until probably 35-36 bro and thats it. Then I think Im just gonna hit small doses of human grade test at like 300mgs/every other week for the rest of my life. Still waiting to see though. And Brick, stop calling yourself an old man when replying to me. Hell bro I got a couple years on ya. LOL PEACE! KIR :agree:

[muscledoc]

No problem Thor. You guys will drop off the stuff for a while when others things become prioity but once it's all about you again sometime in the future,you'll be back

[monroe]

I agree with muscledoc. you might stop at one time, having gained enough and only want to maintain...but latest when you start losing despite all hard efforts, you'll be back again boosting those efforts. and it's gonna be in this age where it really makes a difference.

[freedum143]

I gave up the gear and training when I was 33. Two little kids, and long 12 hr work days put an end to that part of my life. At 38 , I am now ona 11 month comback with gear. And I put on 25+ lbs of solid muscle, not water, in that time. I will quit the gear as soon as my body tells me to.

[anatole]

Training and gear may be compatible with a busy family and profesional life, it only makes it a bit more busy. As many things, this wont hurt you if not done excessively. I have the same "profile" than freedum and after marrriage and young kids are "on the track" you may think again for yourself (once in a while!!)