SARMS

There hasn’t been a more exciting phase in the history of performance enhancement drugs.

For decades, bodybuilders and athletes were stuck with the two extremes. Steroids on one end and lackluster supplements on the other end.

The choice was yours. You could either plunge right into anabolics and go the pinning route or you could keep flushing money down the drain on creatine and whey protein and whatnot, hoping to get that dream physique.

SARMS promise to be the middle ground.

One step below anabolic steroids and a huge step up from the snake-oil supplements.

It gives you a hands-on ‘anabolic steroids’ experience without the risk of serious, permanent organ damage or without having to worry about pea-sized balls.

If you have been fascinated by all the talk about SARMS, then here’s a brief overview of these amazing compounds and some tips on how to incorporate these into your fitness routine.

The Science behind SARMS

What Are SARMS?

SARMS or Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators were first identified in the 1990s as potential therapeutic aids for the treatment of a variety of health conditions that relied on exogenous androgens at that time.

Two anti-androgens, bicalutamide and hydroxyflutamide were selected for extracting electrophilic derivatives of the same.

However, research was still nascent and it would be years before the first SARM made it to in-vivo animal trials and subsequently, to human trials.

SARMS selectively activate androgen receptors in bone and muscle tissue to generate the intended response from these cells.

SARMS VS STEROIDS

In other words, these compounds activate these receptors and amplify the rate at which muscle and bone tissue is formed, something that was only possible with anabolic steroids. For a patient suffering from cachexia or from HIV related muscle wasting, this would be a safer way to improve the quality of life.

Unlike steroids, these compounds do not affect the functioning of the sexual organs or of the prostate. Nor do they get aromatized into estrogen, which is one of the primary concerns that people have while using anabolic steroids.

Top 5 SARMS that newbies need to know about

What are the SARMS that a rank newbie can try without worrying about too many negative sides?

‘Wait. Did you mention sides? We thought that SARMS didn’t have any side effects’

We hear that a lot. So, we will talk about the side effects in a bit.

For now, here are the 5 best SARMS that are perfect for the beginner athlete, not necessarily in this order.

MK-2866 or Ostarine:

One of the first SARMS to be released by GTX, MK-2866 is a very versatile SARM and a very mild one. Both men and women can add it to their cutting cycles as it helps you retain muscle mass and to body recomposition cycles as well. Doesn’t suppress you as much as the other compounds do.

MK-677 or Ibutamoren:

This HGH secretagogue is one of the best compounds for newbies. Doesn’t cause suppression, can be taken for up to 6-months or even a year without the risk of serious side effects, improves the quality of sleep and your skin, helps you retain muscle even during severe calorie deficits.

Andarine S4:

If your dream physique is one that’s shredded and has tons of vascularity along with muscles, this bad boy is your best bet. Ensure that you follow the dosing protocol to the T to avoid some of the side effects though.

LGD-4033 or Ligandrol:

Things are starting to heat up now folks. LGD-4033 is the testosterone equivalent of the SARM world. Expect quick increases in muscle mass and strength. Eat in a surplus and you can gain up to 10 lbs. very fast. However, LGD is one of the strongest SARMS currently. We wouldn’t recommend that you touch it unless you have used some of the milder ones.

RAD140 or Testolone:

Hands down, one of the most powerful SARMS that we’ve used. This one will give you amazing strength gains and a decent amount of muscle mass in very little time.

2 SARMS that you should avoid using

Now that you know which ones are worth your money, here are a few that you should avoid at all costs.

• YK-11: Never been tested on a live animal. The only tests on this compound are conducted in-vitro, that is on a slide under a microscope in a lab. In other words, we have no idea how it would work or what it would do in a human being. Go figure.
• S-23: Is being researched as a male contraceptive. However, not enough is known about its effects. It may even make you permanently sterile.

Will SARMS cause side effects?

Yes, they will. But with proper dosing and good supplementation, you should be able to mitigate most of the side effects as they are pretty mild.

The most common side effect will be the suppression of your natural testosterone production, which will be more pronounced in mass building SARMS like RAD and LGD.

That’s why it is crucial that you cycle SARMS and treat it respectfully. Do bloodwork before and after cycles.

Check your hormone levels. See if you need a PCT.

Should you stack SARMS?

You might have heard or read that you can and you should, since they do not compete for the same androgen receptors.

However, stacking SARMS may suppress your testosterone production.

To avoid that, I would recommend you to run them sequentially instead.

Cycle 1

MK-2866 – 8-10 weeks

MK-677 – Week 11-17

LGD-4033 – Weeks 18-27

And so on.

Keeping realistic expectations

Last but not the least, it is important that you keep realistic expectations before you start with SARMS.

A lot of users end up disappointed with their results because they expect to gain a ton of muscle with their maiden SARMS cycle.

It doesn’t happen that way folks.

SARMS are a safer alternative to steroids. So, you aren’t going to look like Kai Greene after your first cycle or even your 100^th one to be honest.

But yes, you will look, feel and perform like a better version of your scrawny, natty, previous self, without your testes shrinking away or growing tits.

And we think that’s all that matters.

Doesn’t it?

Enjoy the SARM ride!