Need advice planning for next year's contests

[hardcoded]

Currently 174, 5.5% bodyfat, 28, 7 years training experience. This was my first year of competitive bodybuilding. I did 4 shows and placed in all 4, took first twice. Now that I'm in the off season I'd like to put on some size but I also want to be sure I have enough time to recover and start another cycle for contests in April and June of 2012. Looking for advice on a possible short bulk cycle for this winter and a contest prep cycle for next year, but I'm worried about having enough time off between the two to recover fully.

My goal for bulking would be to enter the light heavyweight class. I'm 5'9" so I think the 176-198lb range would be a good fit for me. My goal for contest prep is really to get hard, that was what kept me from getting the overall win. Thanks.

 

[what to do]

did you use any gear for the shows ?

 

[hardcoded]

did you use any gear for the shows ?

I had one cycle of test @ 500/wk for 10 weeks prior to the first show but for the rest I was natural.

 

[DaHurt]

I had one cycle of test @ 500/wk for 10 weeks prior to the first show but for the rest I was natural.

Sorry I'm confused - if you used gear prior to the first show, which preceded the others, then how we're you natural for them?

 

[hardcoded]

Sorry I'm confused - if you used gear prior to the first show, which preceded the others, then how we're you natural for them?

It is irrelevant to the thread topic but to answer the question, I wasn't on anything during the later shows, so blame poor wording.

 

[DaHurt]

Just a question buddy. So you were actually on test during the first show? You can spare any comments on relevance to the thread topic - I'm asking because personally I'm interested in how people arrange their cycles around competition, as I'm interested in competing in a year, and using gear for the first time.