[cole617]

My ADD wanted to reply before I finished reading , but I am glad I finished because I was just going to say what you ended up saying in the 2nd half of your thread!!!!!
I,Too, had been training 5-6 days ew because its worked for me for so long...Then I started getting horrific wrist pain, reoccuring pinched nerves in my back,etc....
So for once I took my own advice (that I have given to countless clients over the years) and cut both my training volume down and my days in the gym down to 3 days ew and bang! My intensity went right thru the roof and my aches and pains all but vanished!
Its a great way to mix things up, whether it be to revive intensity or cater to some injury you may be having.Or even just to mix things up...A few weeks training a few days a week, maximizing rest and letting the body recover from the all out abuse- that us hardcore trainers inflict- should be a regular tool that is used either (or both) as needed or even quarterly....When I do it, Its usually at a higher rep-range as well-to further let the body repair (CNS damage particuay).
It takes 14 days of not training at all and sub-par eating before your body begins to shed muscle, so don't worry... Training 10x a month (for one month) at 12-15 reps will not make you shrink and will def. Give you much needed rest and in MOST cases will boost strength and muscle gains after switching back to your normal split, or maybe even during.
As far as the over use of drugs and underuse of nutrition and training....I could go on forever. I feel everyone should have 5-7 years of natty training before even considering AAS. That's my opinion. I practice what I preach too, - trained for 5 years without anything, then 2 years with supps before I made the leap. I also was on the boards for over a year -reading my ass off- before I went on. I know this is why I get more out of lower doses and retain more "off cycle". I don't mind coming off either; Unless you are a competitive BB or over 35 I think coming off every so often is a good thing. I see too many 19 year old bros coming on the boards starting their first cycle (with no knowledge) and never coming off, because they are scared "of shrinking"-hell my best bro is one of these guys. Its totally a personal decision, I just think its a waste of natty gains to jump on too early and if most guys waited they wouldn't worry so much about coming off. (Obviously this doesn't apply to you competitors!)
There was a post talking about this awhile back and it said the guys that gain 40-50lbs every cycle-are the guys that didn't reach their natty potential before they started AAS. Most of us experienced guys, the ones I know at least gain 15-20 pounds. (Unless its an ungodly pro-type cycle) I know I do.To be honest, I gain all I need without going very far over 1500mgs tops and as far as tipping the scale can reach the same numbers with 600mgs of test. Now if I ever decided to compete, things would be different, but Im not...So I don't take AAS like I am.
Great topic AJ