There’s a lot of misinformation circulating online when it comes to SARMs for strength.
Some sources even go as far as to include Cardarine into the fray, despite it not being a SARM and not boosting strength at all.
This article has been written with the aim of being a reliable source for bodybuilders looking to boost their strength.
Things To Do Before Taking SARMs
I’ve been a bodybuilder for over ten years and trust me, I know how hard things can be, especially when it feels like you’re not improving at all.
However, before you start taking SARMs, it’s absolutely paramount that you have done the following things.
1. Eat Clean
In order to maximize the amount of progress you can get from SARMs, you need to keep your diet in check.
This also means no junk food or any other processed foods.
The thing is, your diet will determine most of your results.
As unlikely as it seems, most progress is accomplished in the kitchen, not in the gym.
2. Train Hard
It’s absolutely essential that you take your training seriously and give it your best every single training session.
It doesn’t matter if you have a bad day or if you are not feeling the pump, simply remind yourself why you started in the first place and get those gains.
SARMs are not a magical button that will just add strength to your body, yes they help but you’ll have to do work as well.
3. Have PCT Nearby
The SARMs I’m going to be introducing today aren’t child’s play, they hit hard and deplete the body of its natural testosterone levels.
In order to mitigate that, you need to have a post cycle therapy protocol ready and steady.
You can check out my where to buy PCT article to learn more about the entire process and get yourself some.
4. Be Mentally Prepared
This is something I haven’t seen many people talk about; SARMs definitely have an impact on your psyche.
Some SARMs make you more moody and aggressive, you have to be prepared for that and understand that you’re not equivalent to your emotions and feelings.
Best SARMs For Strength
There are three SARMs which I consider to be absolute monsters at increasing strength.
You will definitely beat your PRs and achieve your strength goals if you dabble in them, because they were basically made to boost power.
I will introduce each SARM and talk a bit about why it boosts strength in the first place.
1. Ligandrol
Ligandrol is one of the most potent SARMs out there and many unprepared bodybuilders have fallen prey to its suppressive nature.
It’s especially useful to those who have trouble putting on weight, as it potentiates your hunger hormones and helps you add more mass.
Most strength gains from Ligandrol are actually due to the weight gain you experience.
There’s no need to worry, as most of the weight will be muscle.
One side effect you have to watch out for is water retention but that is easily solved by drinking more water and in extreme cases, lowering your dosage.
Read my full Ligandrol review for more information!
2. RAD 140
If you’re in it for strength gains but also for cosmetic reasons, you’ll love RAD 140.
It’s by far the best SARM for dry gains but it also packs quite a punch when it comes to boosting strength.
RAD 140 is a versatile SARM which can be used for cutting, bulking and recomping, it’s meant for those who like to keep their options open.
I personally use it for recomping as one is able to boost strength, while also getting an enviable physique.
One problem with RAD 140 is increased aggression and that’s why I warned you’ll have to be mentally prepared for it.
Read my entire RAD 140 review to learn everything you need to know about this SARM!
3. YK11
YK11 is by far the best SARM for increasing strength, it’s a myostatin inhibitor and follistatin agonist; in simple words, it boosts strength and increases muscle mass.
With YK11, it’s not uncommon to amplify your scores on the big three by around 20 pounds.
As with RAD 140, YK11 can be used for almost anything but personally speaking, I find it to be great for going on a cut while still gaining strength!
You can easily get shredded with this SARM but as with everything that goes up, it must come down.
The side effects of YK11 are quite pronounced and include increased aggression, mild acne, loss of libido and hair shedding.
Read my complete YK11 review to be in the know about things.
Example SARMs Strength Cycles
In this section, we’re going to be looking at some example cycles for boosting strength.
If you’re a newbie to SARMs, I suggest you follow them to a tee, as to avoid any confusion or overdosage.
1. SARMs Strength Cycle While Bulking
In this instance, we’re going to utilize the power of Ligandrol; it already boosts hunger, so why not make it useful?
Week | Ligandrol | PCT (Nolvadex) |
1-8 | 10mgs per day | / |
8-10 | / | 40mgs per day |
10-12 | / | 20mgs per day |
As you can see from the table above, we’re using a moderate dosage of Ligandrol and respecting its suppressive nature by adding four weeks of PCT.
This should yield a lot of strength, muscle mass and overall weight; perfect for those who have trouble gaining mass.
2. SARMs Strength Cycle While Cutting
I think YK11 is the best SARM for gaining strength while on a cut.
You will be surprised as to how much strength and muscle you’ll actually gain during a cycle, even while in a caloric deficit!
Week | YK11 | PCT (Clomid) |
1-8 | 10mgs per day | / |
8-10 | / | 50mgs per day |
10-12 | / | 25mgs per day |
PCT is absolutely necessary after a YK11 cycle, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
In this case, we’re utilizing Clomid, which is a bit stronger than Nolvadex but performs phenomenally when moderate to heavy suppression is concerned.
We’re taking a 10mg dosage of YK11 per day, not too much but enough to make a striking difference.
3. SARMs Strength Cycle While Recomping
I already said that my preferred compound for recomping is RAD 140 so it comes as no surprise that it’s my number one choice.
Your muscle gains will be awesome and strength will increase accordingly.
Week | RAD 140 | PCT (Nolvadex) |
1-8 | 10mgs per day | / |
8-10 | / | 40mgs per day |
10-12 | / | 20mgs per day |
10mgs of RAD 140 per day will ensure that you get all the strength benefits of the compound while incurring the least side effects.
It’s basically a sweet spot dosage and you’ll love your newfound strength, energy and stamina.
We’re respecting the power of RAD 140 by including four weeks of PCT with Nolvadex, very important not to skip out on it.
Example SARMs Strength Stack
The following stack is only meant for those that already have experience with SARMs and are looking to take their strength to the next level.
Case in point; professional bodybuilders with over five years of experience in the game.
I think the best stack for maximum strength gains is Ligandrol and MK-677.
The latter is a growth hormone secretagogue which helps build muscle mass and strength through increased IGF-1 production.
I already have an article on mixing the two together, it’s the ever popular stack between LGD-4033 and MK-677.
As always, here’s a table demonstrating how a cycle should look like.
Week | Ligandrol | MK-677 | PCT (Nolvadex) |
1-8 | 10mgs per day | 15mgs per day | / |
8-10 | / | 15mgs per day | 40mgs per day |
10-12 | / | 15mgs per day | 20mgs per day |
It’s fine to keep taking Ibutamoren even while you’re consuming PCT.
Actually, many people utilize MK-677 as a PCT and claim to have awesome results; some say it’s similar to the real deal.
I doubt Ibutamoren alone is as strong as real PCT but in some cases, you can even forgo Nolvadex if the suppression is mild in nature.
This stack will make you hungry and cause water retention.
The former is not a huge deal as we’re looking to gain muscle and strength but the latter can be quite inconvenient.
Read my MK-677 water retention article to learn a bit more about it.
All in all, the strength and muscle gains are outworldly; people report gaining up to 15 pounds of muscle in just one cycle.
Not just that but they absolutely smash their PRs and hit their target goals.
Conclusion
For most people, the three outlined SARMs for strength will be more than enough to break their plateaus.
For those who want something more and have experience with SARMs, the aforementioned stack is a game changer.
To conclude, whichever SARM you pick, you’ll love the newfound muscle mass and strength; have fun!