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At least the length of the cycle plus the PCT.
time on PLUS PCT TIME = time off at the minimum
A lot of folks have posted the general wisdom - which I don't disagree with - especially for anyone new to the activity. However, speaking from many years of personal experience, it really depends on what you are using and how much, and each person's unique recovery dynamics. With AAS, I started big and bold and have since scaled back a lot. A lot of guys wouldn't bother using my doses, but as primarily a swimmer and runner with a good diet as well as quickly recovering testicles and no history or tendency for some of the common side effects, I have found over time that it is flexible. If you go big with a cycle and want to grow a lot, shutdown will be worse and you need to responsibly recover. If you go light and your overall lifestyle and genetics proves it can support it, then time off becomes more relative. You can only find that out with years of experience.
Hence, as you say, the general guidance works. That and blood works
I only recommend 1-2 cycles per year so spread them out. Minimum for me would be time on plus pct as recommended time off. And even then only if blood work verifies recovery.
I agree with the group but also feel it depends on the purpose for why you're taking them. I just finished a test only cycle and plan on starting back after only 8 weeks off. I have bloodwork schedule for tomorrow and once that comes back with everything looking normal than I will start back. I'm still making some decent gains off cycle but I have a competition in March so my timing is starting to get crunched. My goal is to do three cycle within my remaining time which is harsh but I have it planned out and working with others to keep everything in check. If bloodwork comes back and I need to stay off than I will. Also, the three cycles include two shorter cut cycles and only one long clean bulking cycle.
spread em out length of the cycle or two is ideal for me
There's a lot of variables, age, type and dosages on cycle, experience. Blood work will always tell you if you've returned to baseline and are ready for another cycle but the "time on cycle plus PCT = time off" is a good rule of thumb to stay healthy. For some even that won't be enough so bloods pre cycle are a definite must.
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