Britain is credited with being the birthplace of modern bodybuilding. Bodybuilding offers many physical benefits and can improve your physique.
As you become more active in bodybuilding, you may realize you need some help getting the results you want.
This is when supplements and selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) come in. Many professional bodybuilders, fitness enthusiasts, and more use supplements and SARMs to maintain their strength and conquer new goals.
But no two products are the same. You’ll want to use the types of SARMS and supplements that give you the best results while also maintaining safety.
Here are the best SARMS and supplements to take.
SARMS
All prohormones such as SARMs build muscle by binding to androgen receptors (AR). SARMs help build muscles while minimising side effects.
There are also AR agonists in anabolic tissue such as skeletal muscles but are only partial antagonists in the sex organs and prostate so no estrogen conversion takes place. This also means SARMs benefit muscle-wasting conditions and is also an effective male contraceptive therapy method.
While SARMs and their ingredients/substances aren’t legally banned, they are banned by major sporting associations such as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Keep in mind, you don’t take SARMs long-term. It’s recommended you only take a minimum dosage for a certain amount of time (can be anywhere between four and 12 weeks).
After you take a SARM cycle, you follow through with post cycle therapy (PCT). We’ll discuss this more later.
You can either take a SARMs stack or take SARMs individually. Here are the best ones you should take.
Ostarine
Ostarine (MK-2866) helps rapidly build muscle and lose fat. It has a powerful impact on the androgen receptors, resulting in muscle growth. This also enhances athleticism, improving your performance while you’re lifting.
Many users also lose weight while taking Ostarine. That’s because this SARM increases your metabolic rate. You’ll burn more fat and calories with ease.
This SARM acts quickly and you’ll notice results immediately. It’s currently one of the most popular SARMs for bodybuilders for this reason.
In addition, it comes with minimal side effects. Bodybuilders will also experience other benefits when using Ostarine, such as improved bone density and faster recovery time.
Ligandrol
Ligandrol (LGD-4033) is one of the most powerful muscle-building SARMs on the market. It only takes a few weeks for Ligandrol to take effect, even after a single cycle.
A large part of this reason is how Ligandrol increases your energy. You’ll be able to work out for longer and can sustain more intense training sessions, which will lead to some serious muscle gains.
This is the best SARM if you’re looking to bulk up and completely transform your physique. It increases muscle mass and speeds up recovery time. Ligandrol also speeds up fat loss and increases bone density. All of these benefits will also lead to an increase in overall strength.
Ibutamoren
Ibutamoren (MK-677) is a growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) which promotes growth hormone levels. It does this by mimicking the action of the ghrelin hormone and binds to the ghrelin receptors (GHSRs) in the brain, releasing the growth hormones.
Bodybuilders take this SARM because it reduces belly fat, increases lean body mass, and increases protein synthesis.
GHSRs are also found in the areas of the brain that control appetite, mood, pleasure, memory, biological rhythms, cognitive functions, and memory. When you take Ibutamoren, you’ll not only lose fat and build muscle but will also feel better and more alert, improving your fitness performance.
Ibutamoren also has many benefits for everyone. It increases calcium retention, improving your bone density. Ibutamoren also accelerates healing, increases collagen production, increases cellular repair, improves sleep quality, enhances the immune system, and may also benefit the heart and the liver.
The best part of Ibutamoren is it starts working almost immediately.
Testolone
Testolone (RAD-140) is one of the most potent SARMs. It can increase lean muscle growth and helps prevent muscle wasting. This is ideal for bodybuilders who are focused on bulking.
Bodybuilders take Testolone because it builds muscle mass and strength. Testolone is also popular because it optimizes their performance. This SARM can also assist those with muscle degenerative disorders.
Testolone will also make you more confident. You’ll be in a better mood and will feel more enthusiastic about lifting.
You’ll not only receive these benefits but will experience them quickly.
Andarine
Andarine (S4) binds to the androgen receptors in the skeletal muscles. This helps increase mineral bone density.
It not only builds muscle and encourages lean muscle growth but also shreds fat. This SARM is ideal for bodybuilders who want the “cut and dry” look — larger and more defined muscles without the cushion of fat.
This SARM was initially created to assist patients suffering from muscle loss, but it’s mainly used by bodybuilders to prevent muscle wasting.
For best results, you’ll want to use Andarine with another SARM, such as Ostarine.
Myostine
Myostine (YK-11) is a myostatin inhibitor that’s commonly used by bodybuilders. Myostatin is a protein that prevents the body from growing too much muscle. Myostine limits how much myostatin is in the body, surpassing your natural muscle building thresholds.
This not only results in increased muscle growth but also leads to muscle retention and the formation of new muscle cells.
Unlike other supplements that focus on testosterone, Myostine only focuses on specific cells. This limits the side effects you may experience.
S-23
S-23 increases lean muscle mass and improve bone strength, all without gaining water weight or additional fat. This SARM preserves both fast-twitch and slow-twitch muscles. This is why this SARM can result in a chiselled look with hardened muscles.
To improve bone health, this SARM increases the activity of bone-building cells which enhances bone mineral density.
Like many of the SARMs on this list, users will lose fat with this SARM. You’ll also maintain your muscle mass, which is important if you’re in a calorie deficit diet.
ACP-105
ACP-105 is the best SARM for those who are bodybuilding and are experiencing no results. This SARM promotes muscle development and increases muscle mass. You’ll also build strength and will have more endurance, giving you the energy to lift more.
Not only that, but ACP-105 gets rid of abnormal fat. Abnormal fat is not only the unhealthiest fat but is also very stubborn. ACP-105 uses this not so it’s utilised and burned off.
Supplements
Along with SARMs, supplements enhance your fitness performance and will even aid you when taking SARMs.
How do supplements differ from SARMs? Supplements consist of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, and other beneficial ingredients. People take supplements for more reasons than fitness benefits. Supplements contain essential vitamins, minerals, and other compounds that improve your health.
But there are specific supplements that bodybuilders and anyone taking SARMs should use.
PCT
As discussed previously, you only take SARMs for a brief cycle. If you take SARMs for a longer time period at a higher dose, you should take PCT supplements.
After you end a SARMs cycle, your body shuts down normal hormone production, especially in regard to testosterone and cortisol. This post-cycle process can cost you serious bodybuilding results. You could lose strength and size, gain fat, and redo all of the serious efforts you worked hard to achieve.
Don’t worry, you can avoid all of these setbacks by taking PCT supplements.
A normal PCT supplement will offer these benefits:
- Estrogen inhibition
- Testosterone recovery
- Cortisol reduction
- Progesterone inhibition
- Increased workout performance
- Enhanced mood
- Minimising fat gain
- Natural anabolics
- Overall health restoration
Many PCT supplements contain natural vitamins, minerals, and herbs such as ashwagandha extract, Tribulus Terrestris extract, Rhodiola Rosea extract, vitamin E, and saw palmetto extract. These ingredients will balance hormones while improving body composition and your overall sense of well-being.
Cycle Support
Should you just take SARMs and be set? Cycle support is recommended. These are supplements that aid your body during a SARM cycle.
Everyone taking SARMs should take cycle support, no matter how small a dosage, short a cycle, or how experienced the user is with SARMs. While SARMs offer amazing results and are relatively safe, they could stress out your organs.
Cycle support protects essential bodily functions, such as cardiovascular, liver, prostate, and cholesterol health and also supports your blood pressure. In addition, cycle support decreases the chance you’ll experience any side effects.
High-quality cycle support supplements contain ingredients such as grape seed extract, Tribulus Terrestris extract, vitamin E, N-Acetyl-I-Cysteine, saw palmetto extract, celery seed extract, and hawthorn berry.
Creatine
All fitness enthusiasts should be familiar with creatine. This is a substance found naturally in muscle cells, in the form of phosphocreatine.
It helps your muscle produce energy and especially assists with weightlifting. That’s because your muscles naturally produce creatine when doing any high-intensity exercise, such as weightlifting.
Creatine supplements increase strength, gain muscle, and increase overall exercise performance. That’s why all fitness enthusiasts should take creatine supplements.
Creatine offers even more benefits. For example, it protects against neurological benefits. That’s why creatine is a supplement that everyone should add to their regimen.
Your body produces creatine from amino acids, specifically glycine and arginine. Creatine is found naturally in food, but it’s limited to fish and red meat. That’s why most athletes and bodybuilders take creatine as a supplement.
Whey Protein
Before we discuss whey protein and why all bodybuilders need this supplement, it’s essential to discuss protein and how it benefits weight training.
Protein is called the “building blocks of muscles” for a reason. Eating an adequate amount of protein promotes muscle growth and maintains your muscle health, especially when weightlifting.
Protein can also increase your muscle strength. This nutrient is essential when repairing muscles; protein synthesizes new satellite cells, which repairs the damaged tissue and muscle fibres that occur during exercise.
Protein is found in many food sources, such as meat, nuts, fish, beans, and dairy products. But what is whey protein and why should bodybuilders take this type of protein?
Whey is the byproduct of cheese and casein. Whey contains an ample amount of protein and other nutrients, such as amino acids. Taking a whey protein supplement or powder can help you gain muscle, increase strength, and lose body fat.
Branched-Chain-Amino-Acids (BCAA)
There are 20 amino acids that make up the different proteins in the human body, but only nine of them are considered essential. Three of these nine amino acids are some of the most beneficial, called BCAAs. BCAAs consist of valine, leucine, and isoleucine.
These amino acids are linked by a chemical structure known as a “branched-chain.” They offer many benefits for athletes, such as increased muscle growth, reduced muscle soreness, prevents muscle wasting, reduced exercise fatigue, and even benefits the liver.
How can BCAAs offer so many fitness benefits? BCAAs stimulate muscle protein synthesis, which is the process of building muscle. It’s also said that BCAAs decrease muscle damage as well as the length and severity of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), encouraging bodybuilders to lift more.
While BCAAs are essential to muscle gain, it is recommended you take BCAAs with protein supplements, specifically whey protein.
You can find BCAAs in natural food sources, such as meat, eggs, and dairy products. But most bodybuilders prefer taking BCAAs as supplements, especially in powder form. This ensures you receive enough BCAAs.
C4
C4 (commonly known as pre-workout) delivers a boost of caffeine and other ingredients to increase endurance, energy, and performance. It’s ideal for bodybuilders of all levels, but you should follow dosing instructions carefully.
Keep in mind, C4 is on the list of WADA banned substances. That’s because it contains Synephrine HCL, which augments ATP synthesis and energy levels.
Use These Different Types of SARMs and Supplements for Best Results
Serious bodybuilders will likely need to take supplements and SARMs to experience the results they want. With so many types of SARMS and supplements, it’s best that users know the best types to take and how to take them safely.
Are you looking for supplements and SARMs? We sell them both! If you’re based in the U.K., shop with us today!