If you’ve been in the fitness community for the past few years, you’ve undoubtedly heard of SARMs. This sort of “magic pill” can supposedly help you gain up to 30 lbs of muscle, and shred fat all in one short cycle.
So- are SARMs worth the hype? Or is it all BS?
In this guide, I will go over everything relating to SARMs, in other words, an ultimate SARMs Guide.
Before we start- I have personally not taken SARMs. I doubt I ever will, because I don’t think I need it to get jacked.
This guide is based off of *quality* and trusted information from the internet.
You should do basic supplements like creatine before you turn in your natty card.
There are many questions when it comes to any supplement in the fitness industry, especially supplements with steroids like effects.
Are SARMs safe? Do they actually build muscle? How should I take them? What kinds should I take?
In this SARMs guide, I answer all those questions. My goal is to teach you everything there is to know about SARMs, so you can decide whether you should wait a few years to take them, or hurry and buy some to start getting jacked.
What Are SARMs?
In short, SARMs are an anabolic steroid.
SARMs stands for selective androgen receptor modulators. I know most of you reading this don’t know what those are, so I’ll fill you in.
“The androgen receptor (AR), also known as NR3C4 (nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 4), is a type of nuclear receptor that is activated by binding any of the androgenic hormones, including testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the cytoplasm and then translocating into the nucleus.”
Wikipedia
If any of you ever wondered why athletes, powerlifters, and bodybuilders have used testosterone to gain muscle, this is why. The androgen receptors respond to hormones, and essentially help build more muscles.
Funny enough, SARMs have been around much longer than most people think. SARMs were originally invented in the 1900s to help fight muscle waste in cancer. They didn’t work, and weren’t used for many decades.
SARMs started to gain popularity in the 90’s when they were refined, however they were still not known. The refined SARMs (the ones we have today) are perfect for bodybuilding. This is because of their molecular structure, which allows for steroid like muscle building effects without most of the negative side effects.
So basically- SARMs get you insanely jacked without most of the negative side effects that regular roids would give you.
How Do SARMs Work?
Now that we’ve gone over what SARMs are, it’s time to learn how they work.
SARMs work by attaching androgen receptors to skeletal muscle, while ignoring organs.
I know none of you know what that means (and I didn’t at first either) so let me break it down in english.
SARMs attach testosterone boosting receptors to your muscle, and only your muscle. They ignore organs, and only build muscle.
Most steroids end up inflating everything they hit. They hit your muscles, but also hit things like your heart, liver, balls, etc. Trust me, you don’t want to take dangerous roids and end up with messed up organs.
This is why SARMs are so popular- they don’t mess with your organs.
SARMs are about 90% as effective as regular steroids. They only have have less than 5% of the side effects. Remember, they only bind to muscle.
This is a game changer for men looking to get jacked fast. Most SARMs guides don’t even mention this component.
SARMs Before And After
SARMs are quite possibly the #1 supplement to get jacked period. Results like these are why. SARMs help you get jacked!
Just imagine going from a scrawny beta boy to a jacked chad in just 2 months….
Of course, you’ll have to actually lift and understand the fundamentals of fitness, but results like these are extremely rare, and impossible to do naturally.
This isn’t just the only before and after picture of SARMs though- there are many, many more out there. These specific results were done with the SARM RAD-140.
SARMs Benifits
If you haven’t noticed already, SARMs have A TON of benefits, and lots of them are backed up by science as well. Anecdotal evidence is great, but when you have clinical studies backing you up- you can know for sure about the benefits.
SARMs Benefits:
- Gain a ton of muscle
- Safe
- Shred fat
- Fast muscle recovery
- Insane Strength Gains
- More dense bones
Strength Gains
Listen, you don’t spend money on a supplement like SARMs and not expect to gain strength. SARMs are actually better in my opinion for gaining strength than getting jacked. They do both- but the strength gains are insane.
I know people who improved their PR’s within 2 weeks, with one even boasting how he improved his bench by 40 lbs in one cycle!
If you do exercises like the helms row or the b stance hip thrust, your power will go up with those.
Are SARMs Safe?
Studies point to SARMs being safe for human consumption.
One study by Boston University School of Medicine shows an increase in physical performance.
“The last decade has witnessed unprecedented discovery effort to develop selective androgen receptor modulators that improve physical function and bone health without adversely affecting the prostate and cardiovascular outcomes. SARMs hold promise as a new class of function promoting anabolic therapies for a number of clinical indications, including functional limitations associated with aging and chronic disease, frailty, cancer cachexia, and osteoporosis.”
SARMs hold considerable promise as a new class of function promoting anabolic therapies for a variety of clinical indications, such as frailty, functional limitations associated with aging and chronic illnesses, cancer cachexia, and osteoporosis.
(Source)
This study shows that taking the SARM RAD-140 is actually safer than testosterone replacement therapy, or (TRT).
The increased risk for prostate cancer makes T therapy a risky treatment option (71). Moreover, even in neurons, high doses of T can be harmful rather than beneficial (72, 73). In this regard, SARMs like RAD140 can be better alternatives to T because they are only partial agonists or antagonists to androgenic regulation of prostate while still having androgenic effects on other tissues such as muscle and brain. In addition, higher doses of SARMs as compared with T might still promote neuron viability and not induce apoptosis, making them a suitable therapeutic strategy against age-related disorders such as AD.
(Source)
Think about all the 50+ year old dudes taking TRT due to low testosterone levels… none of them are dying or getting sick from side effects.
Most people who doubt the efficacy of SARMs point to them not being FDA approved- if TRT is FDA approved, you think SARMs which have been proven to be safer won’t be?
I’m no doctor, but in my opinion you should not take SARMS unless you are super serious about fitness. If you do take them, take them correctly. They are not approved for human consumption.
Best Kinds Of SARMs
This section will explain the best kinds of different SARMs.
Just like regular roids, SARMs also have tons of different types that do different things. Some shred fat, others build muscle. Others, do both.
RAD-140: (Testolone)
RAD-140 is probably the best SARM on the market period. It’s got the best anabolic to androgenic ratio of any SARM, at a 90:1 ratio.
Basically, they have 90% of the muscle building effects of steroids, but have 1% of the side effects. That’s pretty much no side effects if you think about it.
Just some context- one of the most common supplements for getting jacked is testosterone. Testosterone has an 100:100 anabolic to androgenic ratio. 100% benefits but binds to all muscle androgen receptors- leading to negative side effects.
Testolone is far superior.
MK-2866: (Ostarine)
Ostarine is an amazing SARM for building muscle, but better for shredding fat. This SARM is well known to help you bulk while shredding fat.
In other words- you can do a complete body recomposition with ostarine. Let’s say you’re around 16-20% bodyfat, but muscular. You could easily use ostarine to build a greek god like physique in a few weeks. You would shred fat, and build lean muscle.
GW-501516: (Cardarine)
Cardarine is a SARM that helps you do everything cutting wise-
What I mean when I say this is, cardarine shreds fat, as well as increases endurance. So if you were looking to build your endurance, this would be perfect for you.
Maybe you’re an athlete or boxer who wants to have better stamina, or maybe you want to shred fat. Either way, Cardarine is great for both.
Funny enough, cardarine isn’t even technically a SARM because it doesn’t bind to androgen receptors. However it’s still classified as a SARM because of its performance enhancing qualities.
LG-4033 (Ligandrol)
Ligandrol is used to make you look better. It’s also a fat shredding SARM.
The cut and dry look bodybuilders go for is easily achieved through taking Ligandrol.
The shrink wrapped look is what most people get after taking ligandrol.
Users’ lean body mass grew, their fat mass dropped, and their “feeling of well-being” increased.
How To Do A SARMs Cycle:
Now for what may be the most important part of the article- how do you do a SARMS cycle?
The answer is pretty simple, however cycling properly can be a challenge.
Most people wonder, how do you take SARMs. You basically take a dropper fill it with the liquid from the vial. Then, you put it in your mouth and swallow it.
There is crucial information to be aware of when using SARMs. If you want to be safe and effective- you have to do something called cycling. A cycle is when you take SARMs for 8 to 12 weeks and then take a break.
You don’t want to take SARMs year round. Instead, you want to take them daily for 8-12 weeks and then complete a post cycle therapy.
SARMs Post Cycle Therapy:
The reason you want to do this is because SARMs will somewhat slightly reduce your natural testosterone levels and production. It’s completely reversible, however it’s more safe to give your body a rest. This is when you take a post cycle therapy.
A post cycle therapy (which I will write more later) is basically when you take a testosterone boosting supplements to reset your testosterone levels.
| Time | Protocol |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1-8 | Use SARMs Daily |
| Weeks 9-12 | SARMs Post Cycle Therapy (Take Testosterone Boosters) |
| Weeks 13-16 | No hormone shifting supplements (be natty) |
SARMs Legality By Country:
When most people hear about SARMS and their amazing affects they think to themselves “are these actually legal?” Luckily, they are legal in most countries.
They’re in a legal gray area due to their liquid form.
Technically speaking, SARMS are legal for research purposes. They are not intended for human consumption, however everyone finds ways around that.
SARMs are currently legal in the following countries:
- United States
- Europe
- Canada
- Australia
- United Kingdom
In most other nations, such as India, the Netherlands, Sweden, Pakistan, and others, purchasing and possessing SARMs is lawful.
The only times you would want to avoid them are if you’re being tested and would get in trouble if you were found to be taking them. For example: an olympic athlete, a military member, or a college/high school athlete. I would also avoid them if you’re under 18 because your body is still developing.
SARMs Side Effects
The last important factor to consider when taking SARMs, is whether or not they have negative side effects.
When taken with the proper dosage, SARMs have been known to have very few side effects and none of them are threatening.
Keep in mind that SARMs are much safer than anabolic steroids (stuff like tren).
Anabolic steroids can cause everything from heart disease to liver failure. It’s important to mention this in the SARMs guide because most sites selling SARMs will ignore negative side effects.
Now- the reason why SARMs don’t have as many negative side effects is because they’re not hormonal. They don’t alter your hormones, and give you backne, acne, and mood swings.
Some users report only minimal adverse effects, such as a small increase in cholesterol and possibly some eye pain. They have extremely minimal adverse effects when used carefully. Keep in mind these are pretty rare.
Again- I would advise is that if you are under the age of 18, to not use SARMs. It’s always preferable to be natty, especially while you’re still growing.
SARMs Guide Conclusion:
To wrap it up, SARMs are a great supplement to take if you want to get jacked fast. They’ve got insane benefits, and are safe too.
Don’t take them if you’re under 18 or a drug tested person. You are entirely liable for what happens to you. SARMs are great to help you push through your PRs, gain strength, build muscle and lose fat.
