Off-cycle — what actually happens in the 4-week break

You 'know it worked' because the next cycle's week-1 response feels like the first cycle's week-1 response. If week 1 of cycle 2 feels blunted, your break was too short.

IGF-1 decays over about 2 weeks back toward baseline (it has a longer half-life in tissue than plasma). Receptor resensitization for GHSR takes 3-4 weeks for Ipa. Pituitary GH stores refill over similar window.

If you lab IGF-1 at end of cycle + 2 weeks off + 4 weeks off, you'll see the decay curve. Once it's back to baseline you're fully reset.

Another thing that happens: your baseline sleep often gets a temporary bump the first week off as sleep architecture rebounds, then settles back to 'normal' by week 3. Don't mistake that for the cycle still 'working.'

This is exactly what I needed. Thanks.