Second cycle coming up, should I be adding training volume on blast or keeping the same?
12 posts · started by SydneyFit · Nov 16, 2025
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SydneyFit
113 posts · joined Mar 2020
Nov 16, 2025 at 9:00 AM
#1
Starting my second cycle next month, 500mg test e for 14 weeks. First cycle I kept my training exactly the same as natural. Wondering if I should be adding volume on cycle or if the recovery improvement just means I can push harder on the same volume. I train 4 days a week currently, upper lower split. Keen to hear how people structure training differently on cycle versus off.
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Geoff K
106 posts · joined Feb 2020
Nov 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM
#2
Add some volume on cycle by all means. An extra working set on your main movements is a reasonable place to start. The recovery improvement is real so you can handle it without going too far above your natural baseline.
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ScouseLad
42 posts · joined Jun 2023
Nov 19, 2025 at 9:00 AM
#3
adding volume on cycle sounds like a plan. i def notice i am not as sore after sessions now. could probably handle an extra working set on the big movements at least
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TEXMEX
334 posts · joined May 2017
Nov 20, 2025 at 9:00 AM
#4
Add volume on cycle for sure. The recovery difference is real. I go from 4 days to 5 and add one extra working set per major movement. Week 3 is when you feel like you can actually handle it without burning out.
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FLbodybuilder
1,336 posts · joined Feb 2015
Nov 21, 2025 at 9:00 AM
#5
Add volume on cycle without question. The recovery window is genuinely wider. An extra working set on every major compound movement and one additional session per week is where I would start on a first blast. Track it and adjust.
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OhioStrong
53 posts · joined Mar 2023
Nov 22, 2025 at 9:00 AM
#6
I added one extra session per week on my first cycle. Not certain it helped but recovery was fine and I felt like I was not making the most of the compound by keeping everything identical to natural training.
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HighAltitude
68 posts · joined Sep 2022
Nov 23, 2025 at 9:00 AM
#7
I train outdoors a lot so I keep my schedule flexible. On cycle I find I can handle more volume in the gym sessions I do get in. Recovery is noticeably faster so the extra working sets feel manageable rather than grinding.
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MunichMarc
278 posts · joined Dec 2018
Nov 23, 2025 at 9:00 AM
#8
I train 4 days and plan to keep it the same on cycle for the first run. Want to understand the compound effect before changing too many variables at once. Easier to attribute what changes to the gear that way.
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Chi Guy
669 posts · joined Apr 2015
Nov 24, 2025 at 9:00 AM
#9
Add volume on cycle. The recovery window is wider. I go from 4 to 5 sessions and add an extra working set on every major movement. The compound is primed for growth - give it the training stimulus to work with.
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AucklandA
122 posts · joined Aug 2019
Nov 25, 2025 at 8:53 AM
#10
Adding one extra session on cycle is something I tried last blast. Found the fifth day worked well. Recovery was fine and the gains in that extra session were real rather than just junk volume.
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CapeTown CT
159 posts · joined Oct 2019
Nov 26, 2025 at 8:53 AM
#11
I keep the same frequency but the sessions get more intense on cycle. Better recovery means I can push harder each session. The extra intensity within the same structure gets more out of the compound than adding whole extra days.
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OsloFit
45 posts · joined May 2022
Nov 27, 2025 at 8:53 AM
#12
Good question on training frequency. I train 4 days naturally and was not planning to change this on cycle. The advice here about keeping frequency the same and pushing harder within sessions makes sense to me.