nutrition on vs off cycle

[ardbeg]

I like to think I have my nutrition pretty locked down. I also think I eat a whole ton. I'm 6'6", 255lbs (+/- a few pounds every day, but always around 255), and 22% bf last I checked. The fat doesn't bother me too much. I want to know what I can expect to be eating on cycle compared to now. A typical day:

0530: wake up, go to the gym
0800 (post workout): 6 eggs fried (coconut oil), 2c kale fresh, 3/4lb bacon (no sugar), 1c shredded carrots
1030: 4 eggs scrambled (coconut oil), cubed pork chop (1/2lb), 2c spinach fresh
1400: dried mango, 8 oz
1825: 2c arugula fresh, 8oz chicken sausage (no nitrates or sugar), 1/2c guacamole, handful of cherry tomatoes
2200: 2c chili (beef, pork, no legumes or artificial anything -- lots of veggie carbs appx 12 oz protein)
2345: go to bed

I get 1.5-2 gallons of water in throughout the day (I measure this). I don't normally do dairy, but sometimes post workout I'll have a pint of whole chocolate milk (sorry, it's a cheat, I just can't stand regular milk). The beef (and milk...) is grass-fed, the chickens are pastured (yeah, I have kind of a bromance going with my butcher...), the pork comes from polyface farms...

Anyways, I keep a real detailed food log. So what's got my attention here is I eat when I'm hungry, I eat till I'm full, and I don't see a lot of room to be adding in more food. Will I need to actually get more protein in when I'm on-cycle? This is almost two pounds of meat before counting the ten eggs. I feel like, from reading the on-cycle recommendations that I am already eating like I am "on cycle." What would need to change?

Oh, and for goals -- I am a strength athlete, not a bb. I do strongman events and olympic lifts. I try to keep my aerobic capacity up, but I don't ever really run more than 5k. If a training log would help, I can post that -- I've got those too.

[alexus hensicus]

What are your macros tracked at, cause there's not much for carbs here and you could use variety in the protein selection. What goals are you looking for?

[ardbeg]

What do you mean by "tracked at"? Most of the carbs I get in are vegetables. If I'm feeling peckish I have a sweet potato or two. I really don't get a lot of sugar in; if I do, it's fruit.

I've never heard about protein variety...? I move between chicken, beef, and pork because that's what's around. If I go out to dinner, there's occasionally lamb or venison. I avoid shrimp and fish because it's so expensive for what you get -- although I do take fish oil.

As far as my goals, I'm looking to augment training. I train hard 4-ish days a week (sometimes a day less when I'm super sore, sometimes a day more when I've got time or I'm working on something), and just want to increase explosivity and strength. Since I don't get judged on how I look, carrying a little extra bf around doesn't bother me.

[ardbeg]

Also, my main question is not "what's wrong with my diet" (unless something really sticks out here) but "am I going to have to eat more or differently on-cycle." I'm planning out a first cycle and want to make sure I do everything correctly before diving in.

[You mad Bro]

You need to eat more carbs and protein that's for sure and don't be getting carbs mainly from fruit and veg. A lot of carbs will give you strength so stock up on sweet potatos and oats.

[ardbeg]

thanks YMB -- you mean right now or on-cycle?

[anewguy]

thanks ymb -- you mean right now or on-cycle?

all day everyday son!

[alexus hensicus]

Just think of on cycle your main muscle gaining time and off sustaining gains. Yes you can still gain off cycle but number 1 is keeping everything from cycle.