How to Take SARMS? The Complete Dosage Guide for Beginners
If you’ve been training for a while, then you’re no doubt well acquainted with plateaus. You probably know just how hard it can be to get to where you want to be despite all your hard work, supplements, and nutrition.
For most people, the idea of using anabolic steroids is too risky. With so many medical side effects associated with steroid use, it’s no wonder that people would prefer a safer option. This is where SARMs come in.
Most gym regulars have heard about SARMs, but would you know where to start? In this SARMs dosage guide, we’ll take a look at different SARMs and the best SARMs dosage to help you reach your goals safely and effectively.
SARMs for Bulking
Not all SARMs are made equally. If your primary aim is to pack on muscle then you’ll need a SARM that is specifically designed to promote muscle growth.
These SARMs will often increase testosterone levels. The four most popular SARMs for this purpose are:
- Ostarine
- Ligandrol
- YK-11
- Ibutamoren
Let’s take a quick look at the benefits of each and the recommended dosage and cycle.
Ostarine
Ostarine is considered the most popular SARM. It’s been around the longest and has been subject to the most human clinical trials. Ostarine is great for building lean muscle as well as burning fat, which makes it a popular choice for people considering SARMs for the first time.
If you’re taking Ostarine for building muscle you’ll want to start with a dose of 10mg per day to assess your body’s tolerance. Then you can work up to a maximum of 25mg daily.
Ostarine has a half-life of 24 hours so you’ll only need to take it once a day. Most people take it about 1 hour before they work out. You can cycle Ostarine for 8-12 weeks.
If you’re cycling a high dose (20-25mg) for more than 8 weeks you’ll need to use PCT after your cycle to avoid testosterone suppression.
Ligandrol
Ligandrol is very similar to Ostarine, but it’s much more potent. It has a half-life of 30 hours, so you’ll only need to take it once a day. Beginners should start with a dose of around 4mg and work up to no more than 10mg.
A Ligandrol cycle should last between 8-12 weeks. You must use PCT after completing a Ligandrol cycle.
YK-11
YK-11 is considered the ultimate SARM when it comes to packing on muscle. Technically speaking it’s not a SARM, but a new synthetic steroid. This means that you can expect more side effects and running on-cycle support and PCT is an absolute must.
Beginners should start with a daily dose of 5mg and work up to no more than 15mg. YK-11 has a half-life of 4-6 hours so to keep a steady concentration you’ll need to split your dose up to twice a day.
Ibutamoren
Ibutamoren isn’t a SARM. It raises your IGF-1 and growth hormone levels. As a result, Ibutamoren is the safest option for anyone completely new to SARMs. It won’t affect your testosterone levels and comes almost completely free of side effects.
Ibutamoren will help improve your sleep quality, increase your appetite, and it even works as a nootropic. It helps to boost recovery too.
The recommended dose is between 15-25mg daily. There are minimal benefits of trying to take higher doses so most users stay in this range. The half-life of Ibutamoren is 24 hours so you only need to take it once a day.
If you’re worried about eating too much, then it’s best to take it at night so you sleep through the worse of the increased appetite. Ibutamoren can take around 4 weeks to start being effective and most people will cycle it for a minimum of 4 months.
SARMs for Cutting
If your goal is to lose body fat and improve your body composition then you’ll need SARMs that are specifically designed for the job. The two most popular SARMs for cutting are:
- Cardarine
- Stenabolic
There are several crossover SARMs, such as Ostarine that are also recommended for fat loss.
Cardarine
Cardarine doesn’t necessarily build muscle or burn fat, but it increases energy levels. This makes it easier to put in the hard work that’s needed to shed excess weight. Cardarine is non-hormonal so it won’t affect your testosterone levels.
Beginners should start with a daily dose of around 10mg and work up to no more than 20mg a day. The half-life of Cardarine is between 16–24 hours so you’ll only need to take it once a day.
A typical Cardarine cycle lasts between 8-12 weeks. It’s also worth noting that Cardarine is considered the best SARM choice for women who are looking to burn fat.
Women who are new to SARMs should start with a daily dose of 5mg and then work up to 10mg a day. Women tend to respond quicker to Cardarine so their cycles tend to last 4-7 weeks.
Stenabolic
Stenabolic will improve your endurance and your metabolism making it a perfect choice for fat loss. It can also help with recovery and reduce inflammation.
Stenabolic has a half-life of 4 hours so you’ll need to split your dose up into 2 or 3 times a day. New users should start with 5mg three times a day and work up to a maximum of 10 mg three times a day.
Ideally, you should run Stenabolic for 8 weeks to reduce the chance of adverse side effects. However, experienced users regularly run Stenabolic for up to 12 weeks. You won’t need to run any PCT following your Stenabolic cycle.
Always Stick to the Recommended SARMs Dosage
SARMs are considered much safer than anabolic steroids, but only when you stick to the recommended SARMs dosage. Do note that these doses only apply to standalone cycles. If you’re looking to stack different SARMs together then you’ll need to alter that dose accordingly.
Always be sure to check the half-life of your SARMs to work out the best SARMs dosage timing. And remember, SARMs are not a substitute for hard work. They are only designed to work when paired with an effective training and nutrition plan.
