LGD 4033, or Ligandrol, is known as “the best” bulking SARM because of its ability to significantly accumulate muscle growth in short periods of time.
One can expect gains of up to 10 – 15 lbs of weight in an average 8-week bulking cycle (provided that he does everything right).
This article is a comprehensive breakdown of LGD 4033, based on the analysis of thousands of anecdotal reports and the current scientific literature (clinical and preclinical studies). You will learn:
LGD 4033 (also known as Ligandrol and VK5211) was originally discovered by Ligand Pharmaceuticals and is currently being developed by Viking Therapeutics.
Like MK-2866 (Ostarine) it too was originally designed for treating muscle-wasting conditions and osteoporosis.
Multiple clinical trials have proven its efficacy in building lean muscle, even at low doses. It works extremely well, and it was very well tolerated in all studies.
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A key characteristic of LGD-4033 is that it will make you put on some water weight, unlike other dry SARMs like Rad-140 (Testolone) or MK-2866 (Ostarine). So not all of the weight you gain will be muscle. You should expect to lose 2-4lbs or 1-2kg of water after your cycle.
On a caloric deficit, it will still increase or at least retain muscle but is rarely used for cutting.
Ligandrol will increase your strength significantly, much more than milder SARMs like Andarine or Ostarine. By the end of your cycle, you will be able to easily rep out the weight that you could barely rep once before the cycle.
And like all SARMs, LGD too will boost your overall performance and stamina in the gym. You will be able to perform more sets, more reps, and train for longer, and harder.
Contrary to popular belief LGD-4033 (and other SARMs) will not make you lose more fat. In fact, Ligandrol will make you look more fat than you actually are due to the water retention it causes.
Clinical studies have proven that LGD 4033 will make your bones stronger and increase their density. After all, this is one of the purposes it was originally designed for.
But it does not have the ability to heal joints or tendons (like Ostarine is said to have). Though it will decrease the chances of injury by protecting and lubricating them because of the water retention it causes.
Ligandrol will shorten the time you need to recover from workouts, you will feel less sore the next day, and you will be able to work the same muscles again sooner.
Depending on your goal and how you want to look, LGD-4033 can be helpful or harmful when standing in front of the mirror. If you want to look as aesthetic as possible and have that dry and hard look then LGD is a no-go.
The upside is if you want to look as big as possible, you will look like an absolute beefcake on LGD 4033, and the water retention will also enhance your pumps in the gym.
LGD-4033 is a moderately suppressive SARM, comparable to Rad-140 (Testolone). It will suppress your natural levels significantly, and it will require most people to do a PCT (not everyone).
You can expect your testosterone levels to be anywhere from 10 – 50% of your baseline.
A drop in your testosterone levels can manifest with:
LGD-4033 will also decrease your SHBG, which will result in an increase in your free testosterone levels in the first few weeks of the cycle until the total testosterone suppression kicks in.
You will feel an improvement in motivation, libido and overall well-being during this time.
LGD-4033 will cause dyslipidemia. Your HDL will decrease and LDL will increase.
HDL – good cholesterol
LDL – bad cholesterol
This is another universal side-effect of all SARMs, which doesn’t manifest by how you feel. The only way to know the extent of the damage is by doing bloodwork.
The LGD Flu is a unique side-effect only to Ligandrol.
LGD Flu is proven to be real in a clinical trial where the participants developed symptoms of an Upper Respiratory Tract infection for no apparent reason.
If you do get the LGD Flu the only thing you can do is wait it out for 3-5 days, although some users have successfully mitigated it with some common flu medications.
This side-effect does not affect everyone, only a very small minority of users experience it.
LGD-4033 is not as harsh on the liver compared to other SARMs and anabolics, you can expect a notable (but rarely worrisome) increase in liver enzymes.
These side-effects are pretty rare and only happen to a small number of people
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LGD 4033 cycling information:
The optimal dosing range for LGD 4033 is 2.5 – 10 mg/day. This has been shown to be the most effective dose range in terms of delivering proportionate benefits and side effects.
Exceeding this range will yield diminishing returns and a disproportional increase in side effects to benefits. It will also require you to do a testosterone base of some sort.
The ideal cycle length for LGD 4033 is 8 weeks. This is because of a problematic protein called myostatin (MSTN).
Myostatin has one purpose in your body, to limit muscle growth. From an evolutionary standpoint, it makes perfect sense. Too much muscle isn’t exactly ideal for survival.
When you do a cycle, you induce a state of excessive muscle growth which leads to a steady increase in myostatin as a response by your body. By the 8th week, the myostatin build-up is too great and leads to a serious halt in progress.
This plateau in progress has been confirmed by thousands of cycle reports, across different SARMs (YK11 as an exception as it inhibits myostatin).
LGD 4033 is considered a moderately suppressive SARM, often compared to RAD 140. Most (but not all) users will have to run a PCT after their cycle.
As a PCT you will be using a SERM – selective estrogen receptor modulator.
You should always have a SERM at hand no matter how confident you are in your natural ability to recovery – just incase.
IMPORTANT: Bloodwork is the only way to accurately determine the extent of the suppression.
To determine whether to PCT or not refer to the table below:
|
Bloodwork |
Symptoms of Suppression |
PCT |
|---|---|---|
|
Total Testosterone & LH within reference range (even if close to bottom) |
No |
Optional |
|
Total Testosterone & LH within reference range (even if close to bottom) |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Total Testosterone & LH below reference range |
Yes/No |
Yes |
|
Can’t Do Bloodwork (For Whatever Reason) |
No |
Optional |
|
Can’t Do Bloodwork (For Whatever Reason) |
Yes |
Yes |
If you’re feeling symptoms of suppression, I would advise to do a PCT to get rid of them faster – even if your bloodwork comes out good.
How to PCT after an LGD 4033 cycle:
Any of the following SERMs will do. Though I would avoid Raloxifene, and disregard Toremifene and Clomiphene if you have access to Tamoxifen or Enclomiphene as they will make you feel significantly better than the rest.
|
WEEK 1 |
WEEK 2 |
WEEK 3 |
WEEK 4 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
TAMOXIFEN |
20mg/day |
20mg/day |
20mg/day |
10mg/day |
|
ENCLOMIPHENE |
12.5mg/day |
12.5mg/day |
12.5mg/day |
6.25mg/day |
|
|
30mg/day |
30mg/day |
30mg/day |
15mg/day |
|
|
50mg/day |
50mg/day |
50mg/day |
25mg/day |
|
|
60mg/day |
60mg/day |
60mg/day |
30mg/day |
Enclomiphene has been shown to increase testosterone levels above the reference range. Which can help you retain and even gain more muscle after your cycle – not to mention that you’ll feel incredible.
LGD 4033 is an incredible SARM for bulking cycle. Only take LGD 4033 if you’re willing to do whatever it takes in terms of the remaining training variables like diet, training and sleep.
Always have a PCT ready to deploy, and never neglect bloodwork. Don’t get ahead of yourself with high doses, and remember, less is more!
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