Table of Contents
What Are SARMs?
You have been training long and hard. At first, you probably increased the frequency of your workout sessions. Then, your “gym bros” said you needed more than that. Suddenly, you find yourself spending loads of money on workout supplements. Days go by, and you are still not making the desired progress.
The phrase “ultimate supplements for bodybuilders who also want to keep their health in check” sounds almost heavenly. After all, many athletes praise these substances, so why not try them? Without further ado, let us see if science can tell us what SARMs are, how they work and if they are really that safe and effective.
You may have thought of steroids as the next viable option. After all, Arnold Schwarzenegger, one of the best bodybuilders in history, used them. And from what you have seen, they obviously work. Then again, there are side effects. As a result, you may not be ready to go down that path. In the end, your health matters most.
But now, these substances called SARMs popped up all of a sudden. This brought a smile to your face as you heard they can help you gain muscle and lose fat. Not only that, but all the disadvantages that come with steroids are out of the equation. Above all, they are legal and affordable. As a result, your smile widens.
The phrase “ultimate supplements for bodybuilders who also want to keep their health in check” sounds almost heavenly. After all, many athletes praise these substances, so why not try them?
We asked ourselves the same question, so we decided to do a bit of research, hoping we could come up with a satisfactory answer.
Without further ado, let us see if science can tell us what SARMs are, how they work and if they are really that safe and effective. We hope you will find the answers you are looking for.
Defining SARMs
The name selective androgen receptor modulator hides behind this acronym. SARMs are a kind of drug similar to anabolic steroids in chemical terms.
Since the market is teeming with SARMs, it is useful to know that they differ in strength and potential side effects. Some of the more popular SARMs include:
- Andarine (S-4, GTx-007)
- Ostarine (MK-2866, GTx-024)
- Ligandrol (LGD-4033)
- LGD-3303
- Cardarine (GW-501516)
At this point, you may be wondering what is with all the alphanumeric names. To tell the truth, SARMs have not yet been medically approved. As a result, the pharmaceutical industry only bothered to code them.
How Do SARMs Work?
Before we get to understanding how SARMs work, we have to understand hormone physiology. Hormones are chemical messengers that enable communication between your body and your cells.
Metaphorically speaking, they are outgoing mail containing important instructions. This mail gets sent to “mailboxes“ in your cells that are your hormone receptors. Whatever command was in there is now carried out.
The male body produces androgens — hormones responsible for masculinity. By masculinity, we mean facial hair, more muscle, deeper voice, etc. Testosterone, as you may know, is the most well-known androgen, but there are others as well.
There are three ways in which androgens affect your body:
- They bind to the androgen receptors in your cells
- They convert the hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It then binds to androgen receptors.
- They convert to the hormone estradiol (estrogen). This hormone binds to a different type of receptor, more specifically, the estrogen receptor.
The body regulates its androgen production carefully in natural circumstances, and its sensitive feedback mechanisms are used to achieve perfect balance.
However, when anabolic steroids come into play, this changes the above balance. This is because androgens flood the cells and fully saturate their receptors. In turn, a powerful message is sent to all cells waiting for instructions. Among these are the muscle cells, which grow rapidly as a result.
So far, so good. The pecks are popping, your jaw is dropping. From happiness that is. But pick it up, because there are also other aspects to consider.
So get ready for some downsides as well. According to a Sports Med research, there are some irreversible side effects steroids can cause. Read on if you want to avoid potential permanent damage.
While one can reverse changes like testicular atrophy, cysts, acne, high blood pressure, and increased aggression, there are some that are there to stay. These include heart dysfunction, liver disease, male-pattern baldness, and gynecomastia (breast development). If this doesn’t already sound frightening, you should also consider the risk of biological and physiological addiction as well.
For these very reasons, scientists have been trying to produce steroids or related drugs that are not as damaging to human health as steroids could be. This is where SARMs come in, as supplement marketers claim they fit the description.
In contrast to steroids, which cause a fuss in the body’s system, SARMs are much more effective in telling its cells to grow. There are two arguments to support this claim:
- SARMs aim for tissues like muscle and bone, but they avoid the prostate, liver and the brain.
- SARMs do not easily break down into undesired molecules that cause side effects.
In the end, SARMs have less power than ordinary steroids. Not only that, but they do not inhibit natural testosterone production as much. As a result, it is easier for the user to recover from using them.
Why Bodybuilders Opt for SARMs
SARMs were originally developed as a healthier alternative to testosterone replacement therapy. However, it is still not certain if they can help you achieve your goal.
Most bodybuilders who use them do so for the following reasons. For one, they use them as a starting point before they go into their usual steroid cycles. Another reason is increasing the effectiveness of their steroid cycles without any aggravating side effects.
Bodybuilders also believe SARMs can help them retain lean mass without any increase in water retention. Oddly enough, athletes praise them for being harder to detect during drug tests.
A 2009 research shows that SARMs are less powerful for muscle building in comparison to traditional steroids. On the other hand, they are still more effective than natural substances like creatine.
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Stacking SARMs
To state the obvious, stacking is taking different SARMs at the same time to achieve a joint effect. This, in turn, speeds up cutting, bulking, healing or recomping (eating at maintenance). We are yet to fully discuss the safety of using SARMs.
For now, you should know some compounds are safe to stack, whereas some are not. Learning how to stack can prove challenging. In the end, athletic success hinges on detailed research, a proper diet, and a good workout program.
We recommend that you drink a lot of water daily (3.7 liters) in addition to your proper diet. Protein-rich food intake should be maximized. However, if you want to gain muscle, you ought to introduce carbs, especially after hard workouts. Consistent exercise is also important.
As for the stacking duration, a proper cycle length spans anywhere between 6 and 10 weeks, while eight weeks is considered optimal. Although longer cycles are common, they come with a higher risk of testosterone suppression. At this point, if you’re wondering why the sudden change of heart, read on. I will elaborate further in the section on safety.
Dosage
Our research on dosage led us to some pretty detailed tables for bulking, cutting, recomping and strength cycles.
The table represents more advanced dosage cycles. Have in mind that these are for extreme athletes only. One should first have some prior knowledge and experience before using such dosages.
Bulking
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | |
| LGD 4033 | 5mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 15mg |
| MK 677 | 12.5mg | 25mg | 25mg | 25mg | 25mg | 32.5mg |
More advanced:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | |
| LGD
4033 |
5mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 15mg | 15mg | 15mg |
| MK 677 | 25mg | 25mg | 25mg | 25mg | 25mg | 25mg | 25mg | 25mg |
| YK 11 | 5mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg |
| Ostarine | 10mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 40mg | 40mg | 40mg |
Cutting
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | |
| Ostarine | 10mg | 20mg | 30mg | 30mg | 30mg | 30mg |
| Cardarine | 10mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg |
More advanced:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | |
| Ostarine | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg |
| Cardarine | 30mg | 30mg | 30mg | 30mg | 30mg | 30mg | 30mg | 30mg |
| Sr9009 | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg |
| Andarine | 50mg | 50mg | 50mg | 50mg | 50mg | 50mg | 50mg | 50mg |
Recomping
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | |
| LGD 4033 | 5mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 15mg |
| Cardarine | 10mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 30mg |
More advanced:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | |
| LGD 4033 | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg |
| Cardarine | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg |
| SR9009 | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg |
| MK 677 | 25mg | 25mg | 25mg | 25mg | 25mg | 25mg | 25mg | 25mg |
Strength
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | |
| LGD 4033 | 10mg | 10mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg |
| YK 11 | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg |
More advanced:
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | |
| LGD 4033 | 10mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg | 20mg |
| YK 11 | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg |
| RAD 140 | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg | 10mg |
| MK 677 | 12.5mg | 25mg | 25mg | 25mg | 25mg | 25mg | 25mg | 25mg |
Are SARMs Safe?
There is a lack of human research on SARMs. Not enough is known about the way they work and the side-effects they could cause. Here is why we changed our minds near the end of the Stacking section. It is a lie that SARMs do not hinder the production of testosterone in your body.
In fact, a study shows they do just that. The male subjects of the study took 3 milligrams of Ostarine a day for 86 days. This resulted in their free testosterone being lowered by 23% and a 43% drop in total testosterone levels. Similarly, Ligandrol was found to do the same.
The side-effects increase with dosage. For example, bodybuilders experience acne and hair loss because they generally take larger doses. Still, SARMs do not affect one’s system as negatively as steroids.
Seven large experiments exploring the effect Cardarine has on mice had to be canceled. This is due to the SARM causing cancerous growths in their intestines.
On the other hand, evidence shows that SARMs may actually slow down particular kinds of cancer. It should also be noted that SARMs are being increasingly banned by sports committees.
Final Thoughts
While SARMs are certainly not as effective as steroids, they boost muscle growth more than natural supplements do. They come with fewer of the short-term side effects as well. There appear to be fewer safety concerns, but this does not mean SARMs are completely safe to use.
Because there is not enough research on SARMs in general, take all related claims with a grain of salt. Many of them out there contradict each other, so tread carefully. Spending some time on SARM-related forums, articles, and books have left us a bit confused, honestly.
Make sure you first consult a healthcare specialist and then talk to current or former users of SARMs. The first-hand experience is a valuable source of information. This is especially true if you are close to people who have had such experience in the past.
By the time you reach the point where you would actually need SARMs, you will hopefully already be satisfied with your physique. In case you are still not, then you can experiment with SARMs.
Once again, make sure you are safe while doing it. Ask yourself if gains are worth the risk.
In the end, it is your body and your decision. If you are just looking for a shortcut, we would recommend taking the basic steps first. You should start by going regularly to the gym. Also, make sure you are on a proper diet.
