Need some advice on packing on muscle mass

[jmaresca]

I am interested in packing on some serious muscle mass over the next 6 months. Typically I am accustomed to high rep (a lot of isolation movements with mostly machines and cables) lower weight and higher reps with a lot super sets and going to failure. Aside from the type of training I just mentioned I normally focus on high protein diets with minimal carbs.

Recently I have been training naturally. I am interested in continuing to go natural until I hit a certain point. Typically when I go "natural" I do a lot of cardio, workouts like the type I mentioned above, a lot of cardio and low carb and this is typically to maintain a much more lean and cut look.

I want to focus purely on mass for the next 6 months and then when I reach a size that is a little bigger than I want I will realign my focus to rip it all up.

The problem I am having right now, from what I can see, and in terms of packing on muscle mass is that I am not really gaining much muscle mass. Not as much as I know I should be. I know my carbs are too low. I know that the weight isn't heavy enough and I know I am doing too many reps and not enough of compound movements.

I hit each body part 10 times per month. I have excellent recovery capabilities so using days that I am not working on a body part is sufficient enough of time for recovery. I pretty much think I answered my own question when I said I should be upping my carbs, lowering the reps, adding more weight but if anyone can suggest anything in terms of dieting and workouts that will help me accelerate my muscle mass gains that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Optimal]

Well like you said, you already answered the question... but for more "general" ideas, I would say that if you're gonna train natural then learn from those who are the best at it. Team 3DMJ coaches hundreds of natural athletes each year, many winning pro cards. Look them up on youtube, tons of great (free) videos there. In particular, the "pyramid of importance" series sums up the most critical parts of nutrition in the most comprehensive way I've found yet.

Also, don't drop high reps entirely. The lower ranges are great for size & are fantastic for tracking progression, but I would also throw in one or two high-rep exercises at the end in order to get sufficient volume.
Strength helps endurance and endurance helps strength, all athletic performance is synergistic. Just know what the focus is each time you start an exercise and look to progress in some form each month.

 

[jmaresca]

Thank you for your reply, insight and information Optimal. I really appreciate it. I look forward to checking out those videos. I really am only going "natural" right now because I want to try and push myself and gains to the very limit and then blast away. Typically over the years my use of enhancements have been used as what I would call "finishers". Tightening up or only for high quality yet low amounts of lean muscle to throw onto of my mass.

Roughly 10 years ago, when I first got into utilizing PEs I would focus on mass but I think that was only because I was an inexperienced PE'r and typically, from what I hear and read (as well as from personal experience" you start out with those popular rookie chems such as Dbol and Deca. I remember back then, I think it may have been my third cycle, I was trying out test cyp for the first time and I way too bulky. I mean I seriously had to turn side ways sometimes just to walk through door ways. Really didn't like being that bulky with no cuts to speak of.

Over the years I learned to use gear that has lower sides, focused on areas of gains that I felt where harder to achieve (such as cutting) as well as the ability to maintain those gains. While I wouldn't mind going "normal" over "natural" to help assist with my current mass building goals I feel like everything available to me in terms of PEs has one issue or another. For example, dianabol, great for mass but way too much water. Anadrol, way too many sides.

Tren could be another good option for mass but I didn't respond well to it the 2 x's I incorporated it into a cycle. But then again it could have been the longer ester version I was using and I don't think my dosages where high enough considering the amount of PE usage I already had under my belt. I was doing, at max, 300 mgs per week of the Tren and I think I needed at least double that to really respond to it as well as the length of the cycle was only 8 weeks and if my research serves me correctly that isn't long enough for something with longer esters.


If there is anything you can suggest to me in terms of gear that would help me put on some truly awesome mass that would be helpful. Whenever I put together a cycle and run it I am always forcing myself to go with things like EQ, anavar, masteron, primo and we all know the types of gains that comes those choices.

Also, are you able to answer this question for me:
http://www.steroidology.com/forum/supplement-forum/655620-eca-building-muscle-mass.html#post3374325

Thanks again Optimal.

 

[DreDay187]

The first thing I would change is your exercise selection and rep ranges. For strength and muscle mass gains, look into 3-8reps, 10 on the high end, and higher weights. Also get rid of most machines and cable exercises in favor of compound free weight lifts such as squats, deads, press, bench, dips, chins and pull-ups etc.

 

[49ER]

Top Ramen and tuna baby!

 

[Optimal]

Tren could be another good option for mass but I didn't respond well to it the 2 x's I incorporated it into a cycle. But then again it could have been the longer ester version I was using and I don't think my dosages where high enough considering the amount of PE usage I already had under my belt. I was doing, at max, 300 mgs per week of the Tren and I think I needed at least double that to really respond to it as well as the length of the cycle was only 8 weeks and if my research serves me correctly that isn't long enough for something with longer esters.


If there is anything you can suggest to me in terms of gear that would help me put on some truly awesome mass that would be helpful. Whenever I put together a cycle and run it I am always forcing myself to go with things like EQ, anavar, masteron, primo and we all know the types of gains that comes those choices.

In that case your best bet is probably deca. It will keep your joints healthy, your gains solid & the sides generally minimal (provided a test base).
There might be some water retention but it's temporary, and imo worth it when comparing the mass-building capabilities to those you already mentioned.
If health/sides is important to you then yeah, I would avoid the tren.

 

[jmaresca]

In that case your best bet is probably deca. It will keep your joints healthy, your gains solid & the sides generally minimal (provided a test base).
There might be some water retention but it's temporary, and imo worth it when comparing the mass-building capabilities to those you already mentioned.
If health/sides is important to you then yeah, I would avoid the tren.

The only issue I have with Deca is prolactin. Been trying to get my hands on some caber or prami before I run it but if I can get my hands on the cab/prami I would love to run some Deca.

 

[DreDay187]

The only issue I have with Deca is prolactin. Been trying to get my hands on some caber or prami before I run it but if I can get my hands on the cab/prami I would love to run some Deca.

RUI carries prami