Take a look around, and you’ll see that a new phenomenon is sweeping the manosphere. Whether it’s the Reddit “looks maxers” doing their mewing, or the Instagram fitness models trying to make it big, everyone seems to be on SARMs.

Just what are SARMs, though? Well SARMs, which is short for “Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators,” is a new class of compounds that are gaining popularity all across the globe.

Are they safe, though? Just what are these “SARMs” and what effects do they have on your body? While many users are hailing them as the new “legal steroids” others claim that they’re bad for your health, and could wind up harming you in the long run.

In today’s article, I’d like to explore this fascinating new set of compounds, and specifically discuss how I believe they can help you achieve your fitness goals this year.

What Are SARMs?

SARMs, short for “Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators,” are a class of compounds that were first created in the 1940s… but we need to back up first, though.

There are actually two different types of SARMs. There’s “steroidal SARMs,” which were created in the 1940s, and then there’s “non-steroidal SARMs,” which is what people are taking today.

SARMs were initially created to combat muscle wasting in cancer patients and geriatrics but were soon abandoned after they were deemed to have too many side effects. It was clear that doctors couldn’t keep prescribing steroids to their patients.

So, the research of SARMs was abandoned… that is, until a company called GTx Pharmaceuticals picked up their patents in the 1990s, and began extensively researching them. They then created, what is now known as “non-steroidal SARMs,” which is what people are using today to get jacked faster than ever before.

Are SARMs Like Steroids?

The first question that many people have about SARMs, is if they’re like steroids or not. The short answer is a resounding “no.” Now here’s the longer answer.

When you take steroids, such as Testosterone Enanthate, Dianabol, or Trenbolone, the chemicals quickly go to work and start targeting what are known as “androgen receptors” in your body. These are molecular stations that compounds can bind to, and then affect your body’s metabolic processes.

So when you take a big old shot of steroids, the compounds basically bind to many of your androgen receptors, and tell them to: “Build muscle ASAP!”

This comes at a price, though. Some androgen receptors are “good” in that when steroids bind to them, they tell your body to do things like build muscle, lose fat, and grow stronger.

Other androgen receptors, however, are associated with heart disease, high cholesterol, shrunken testicles, and gynecomastia (otherwise known as bitch tits).

That’s why people on steroids boast such impressive gains, but also such impressive side effects. The steroids on the market today don’t have the ability to “selectively” target the “good” androgen receptors while ignoring the “bad” ones.

How SARMs Work

This is where SARMs come in. Unlike steroids, SARMs are formulated to specifically target the “good” androgen receptors associated with muscle growth, fat loss, increased strength, and a deeper voice, while simultaneously ignoring the “bad” androgen receptors that would lead to all kinds of negative side effects.

This is why, in many circles, SARMs are being touted as “legal steroids.” They’re currently legal to sell and possess and have almost none of the side effects that steroids have.

That being said, there’s a lot of misinformation out there on SARMs… and while they aren’t perfect, many users believe that SARMs will be the new steroids that athletes and bodybuilders will be using to compete in the coming years.

In fact, as we previously reported on Menprovement, many of the “fitness gurus” who are telling you that they’re “natural” are actually on SARMs:

Have you ever seen those shredded fitness models? You know, the ones who have millions of subscribers on YouTube and claim that their secret is something simple like “intermittent fasting” or just following a “ketosis diet”? Yeah, those.

Well, guess what… they’re on chemical enhancement, and they’re just not telling you. Yup. That’s right – there it is. I said it.

Whether you realize it or not, 99% of “natural fitness models” are anything, but. They lie to your face, and sell you false hopes and promises, cashing out on your drive and motivation to look like they do…and they’re laughing behind your back.

Most of them are on either steroids or SARMs. That’s just a fact.

Steroids are difficult to obtain and are illegal to even possess, so I won’t even begin to cover that here… but there’s something that, in my opinion, is even better than steroids.

They’re called “SARMs” – short for “Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators.” They’re powerful enough to help you pack on as much muscle and strength as steroids, but with none of the side effects. Yeah, you heard me right.

Without going into too much detail here, 99% of these “fitness models” are on SARMs because they’re easy to take, impossible to detect, and best of all, work like a charm.

Thankfully, we’re not here to lie to you or spread any misinformation. Instead, we’re going to take a look at some of the most popular SARMs, and what the research says about them. That way, you can make an educated decision for yourself.

The Benefits of SARMs

There’s plenty of popular SARMs out there, some of which actually have a lot of research to substantiate them. In fact, according to one study, conducted by researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine, found that SARMs present an “unprecedented discovery” which we can use to improve physical function, bone health, and strength gains, without causing any of the negative side effects steroids are typically known for:

“The last decade has witnessed unprecedented discovery effort to develop selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) 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.“

Sound good? Well, it turns out there’s more… a lot more. In another study, researchers found that SARMs could potentially be used to help combat the effects of cancer:

Muscle wasting, including a loss of skeletal muscle, is a cancer-related symptom that begins early in the progression of cancer and affects a patient’s quality of life, ability to tolerate chemotherapy, and survival. SARMs increase muscle mass and improve physical function in healthy and diseased individuals, and potentially may provide a new therapy for muscle wasting and cancer cachexia.

SARMs modulate the same anabolic pathways targeted with classical steroidal androgens, but within the dose range in which expected effects on muscle mass and function are seen androgenic side-effects on prostate, skin, and hair have not been observed. Unlike testosterone, SARMs are orally active, nonaromatizable, nonvirilizing, and tissue-selective anabolic agents.”

Study after study seems to support the idea that SARMs can be used to help users build muscle, lose fat, increase strength and endurance, and even fight certain forms of cancer.

Take a look at a few of the benefits of SARMs:

-Non-Toxic (much easier for your liver to process than steroids)

-It Will help you build lean, dense muscle

-Helps you recover faster

-Increased strength

-Heals your muscles, joints, and tendons faster

-Deeper voice

-More female attention (not joking)

Now, of course, more research must be conducted, but still—SARMs show quite promising results. The existing research seems to strongly exist that SARMs are in fact, a sort of “legal steroids” with very few side effects.
So, with this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most popular SARMs.

Popular SARMs

When you first learn about SARMs, it can be quite overwhelming. There’s everything from “MK-2866” to “RAD-140” and it’s seemingly impossible to know what each and everyone does. That’s why here at Menprovement, we’ve compiled a convenient, quick list that you can refer to when you have any questions about SARMs.

Here are the most popular SARMs so far:

• Ostarine (MK-2866)
• Ligandrol (LGD-4033)
• Cardarine (GW-501516)
• Testolone (RAD-140)

While there are plenty of other SARMs, these seem to be the most widely researched, and they also have the most anecdotal evidence to support their efficacy at building muscle, shredding fat, and keeping the side effects to a minimum.

Ostarine (MK-2866)

Ostarine is perhaps the most famous SARM, known for its ability to rapidly build muscle mass in users, and increase strength by leaps and bounds. Ostarine, otherwise known as MK-2866, was one of the first non-steroidal SARMs to hit the market.
A typical MK-2866 dosage is 25mg per day, although some users have used as much as 100mg per day. The recommended dosage is from 25-50mg per day.

Most users take Ostarine as a “stack” with several other SARMs at once, such as Ligandrol and/or Cardarine, to enhance their benefits, and completely transform their physique. A typical cycle of Ostarine usually lasts around 8-12 weeks and is followed up by a 3-month break, just to be safe.

Ligandrol (LGD-4033)

Ligandrol was first discovered by “Ligand Pharmaceuticals,” which is of course why it’s named “Ligandrol.” Researchers very quickly caught on to the benefits of Ligandrol, and realized it could be used for not just medicinal purposes, but recreational as well.

A typical LGD 4033 dosage is around 10mg per day, although some users have claimed to use more than 20mg per day. The recommended dosage is usually around 10mg per day.
When taken within the 10mg per day range, Ligandrol has been shown to be extremely safe. One clinical trial, for example, stated the following:

“LGD-4033 was safe, had a favorable pharmacokinetic profile, and increased lean body mass even during this short period without change in prostate-specific antigen. Longer randomized trials should evaluate its efficacy in improving physical function and health outcomes in select populations. Hormone levels and lipids returned to baseline after treatment discontinuation.”

In addition to this, most users take Ligandrol in conjunction with other SARMs such as Ostarine (previously mentioned), Cardarine, and/or Testolone, to increase the effects.

Cardarine (GW-501516)

While Cardarine isn’t technically a SARM, it’s often thrown in with SARMs because they have a very similar mechanism. Cardarine acts by binding to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, rather than binding to androgen receptors, but the effects are all the same.

One study, for example, found that cardarine literally “reprograms muscle fiber types to enhance endurance running,” so it would be no surprise if we start seeing long-distance runners testing positive for Cardarine in their blood.

Many users report being able to run for hours on end when taking Cardarine, which is why it’s such a potent SARM when combined with Ostarine and Ligandrol. When taken together, you literally have a “fat-burning, muscle-building” matrix that triples your results.

Testolone (RAD-140)

When it really comes down to it, Testolone is by far, the most powerful SARMs available. In fact, studies have shown that it’s literally 90% effective as taking pure testosterone, but has less than 1% of the side effects.

This comes from a concept known as the “anabolic ratio,” which is simply a compound’s testosterone-like effects, compared to how quickly it aromatizes (turns into estrogen).

Testosterone, for example, has an anabolic ratio of 100:100. So, it has about equal muscle-building effects, as it does negative side effects. Trenbolone, the most powerful steroid on the market, has an anabolic ratio of 500:500. This means it has 5x the muscle-building effects of pure testosterone, but also 5x the side effects.

Testolone, or RAD-140, has an anabolic ratio of 90:1, which is absolutely incredible. This means that it’s literally 90% as effective as testosterone at building muscle, increasing strength, and growing libido, but only has 1% of the negative side effects.

Not bad, eh? To get these incredible effects, users typically take 15mg of Testolone per day to start, but some have reported taking up to 25mg per day as well.

How Do People Use SARMs?

Users typically order SARMs online, and they come in a glass vial with a dropper included. The dosages are usually measured out per milliliter.

So, for example, Ostarine is typically dosed at 25mg per milliliter. Ligandrol is typically dosed at 10mg per milliliter. RAD-140 is typically dosed at 15mg per milliliter.

All you do is simply measure out your dosage, put it into a cup, mix it with some water, and drink it. The taste is a little bitter, but it’s nothing a true man can’t take. Most SARMs have a half-life of 24 hours or more, so taking a single dose once a day is enough.

Where Do People Get SARMs?

Getting SARMs from the right place is extremely important. As I alluded to before, a lot of companies will sell sleazy products filled with junk, and market them as “SARMs.” That’s why it’s important to buy from a company that has a proven track record.

One way to find a good source is to look at the SARMs Source Talk Subreddits, where users share their experiences with certain SARMs from specific companies. Personally, I buy SARMs from Proven Peptides, because they’ve got a proven track record of delivering high quality, no-BS SARMs, that deliver on what they promise.

I’ve personally ordered Ligandrol, Ostarine, Cardarine, and Testolone from Proven Peptides, and not only were they exceptionally professional, quick to ship, and responsive via email, but the SARMs were incredibly potent and helped me put on 20 pounds of muscle ASAP.

Overall, it’s recommended that you do your own research. One way I like to test online companies is to email them and see how fast they respond. If they don’t respond after 1-2 weeks, then I know they’re probably a scam. If however, they respond within a business day or two, I know they’re probably legit. Another way I vet online companies is by seeing if they have a phone number I can call or a physical address I can see them at (even if it’s far away). Just by checking for these things, you can literally screen out 90% of the bogus companies out there.

SARMs Side Effects (Post Cycle Therapy?)

Lastly, a word of caution—while all of the research indicates that SARMs have almost no side effects, it’s still important that you be smart and stay safe. It’s recommended that you consult with a healthcare professional before trying any sort of workout routine, supplement, or new diet.

That being said, there’s been almost no reported side effects for SARMs, aside from some slight testosterone suppression, and difficulty seeing at night. It’s hard to know if these side effects are due to SARMs however, or users simply getting scam pro-hormones labeled as “SARMs” and then thinking that the side effects are from SARMs instead.

Overall, be safe. If you want to ensure your body is always in tip-top condition, it’s recommended you do a “Post Cycle Therapy” after you spend 8-12 weeks on SARMs. This is where you take testosterone-boosting ingredients to get your body back on track so that it’s at normal levels.

Personally, I don’t think it’s necessary, but you can never be too safe. If you do decide to do SARMs, it’s recommended that you get regular blood work to check your liver enzymes and testosterone levels, just to be sure.

Summary

All in all, SARMs show incredible promise. Users can easily pack on 10, 15, 20, or even 30 pounds of muscle, in just a short few months, depending on their stack. If you’re a beginner, it’s recommended that you do your due diligence before you even consider buying some SARMs. While they can be an incredibly powerful tool for transforming your body, you always want to know what you’re doing first.

Numerous clinical studies have testified to the efficacy of SARMs, and thousands of bodybuilders all across the globe have used them to have tremendous effects. While more research should still be done, there is a strong body of evidence supporting the claim that they are, in fact, a much safer version of steroids.

So, if you’re looking for an edge, SARMs just might be it.