Cardarine Before and After Results (4 Transformations)

Cardarine, otherwise known as GW501516, is a PPARδ agonist that can significantly increase fat loss and muscular endurance (Chen et al., 2015).

For research purposes, we have republished several before-and-after photos of users who have utilized Cardarine. Consequently, individuals can gain insight into the extent of fat loss experienced during a Cardarine cycle and identify the most effective dosages.

The following users have submitted their before-and-after pictures via email or have published them on Reddit. To have your Cardarine transformation featured on this page, please contact us.

Cardarine Before and After (12 Weeks)

This Reddit user’s cycle:

Weeks	Cardarine dosage
1–12	20 mg/day

In total, this user reported losing 40 pounds and developing visible abdominals within 12 weeks. He appears to have lost approximately 10% of his body fat.

Cardarine is unlikely to cause this level of fat loss on its own. More commonly, we see this type of transformation in users who combine supplementation with regular cardiovascular training and a calorie deficit.

Cardarine Before and After (4 Weeks)

This Reddit user’s cycle:

Weeks	Cardarine dosage
1–4	10 mg/day

He reported losing 20 pounds in 4 weeks, with his body fat percentage decreasing by approximately 3–4%. These results are particularly notable considering the low dosage and short cycle duration.

He experienced significant improvements in endurance during his cardiovascular workouts starting after the second week of supplementation.

This user is displaying visible six-pack abdominals in the after photo; however, he was already relatively lean in the before photo. Therefore, achieving defined abdominals may be unlikely unless a male user is at approximately 15% body fat or lower prior to starting his cycle.

Disclosure: We do not permit any form of advertising on Inside Bodybuilding. We monetize our practice through doctor consultations and meticulously selected supplement recommendations, which have yielded significant outcomes for our patients.

Best SARMs Company in 2026

Cardarine Before and After (8 Months)

The above user did not specify his Cardarine dose or cycle duration. However, he reports losing 90 pounds over 8 months by combining Cardarine with a long-term caloric deficit diet.

These results are unlikely to be replicated by others unless they consistently control their calorie intake alongside Cardarine use.

Cardarine Before and After (8 Weeks)

This Reddit user reported losing 20 pounds following a cycle of Ostarine and Cardarine. His dosages are documented below.

Weeks	Cardarine dosage	Ostarine dosage
1–8	10 mg/day	20 mg/day

He utilized Cardarine alongside the following approximate macronutrient intake:

• 200 grams of protein
• 165 grams of carbohydrates
• 60 grams of dietary fat

This user also reported a noticeable improvement in endurance. To address moderate testosterone suppression caused by Ostarine, he implemented an 8-week post-cycle therapy (PCT).

This user’s Cardarine results are another example of significant fat loss when combined with cardiovascular training. In our experience, Cardarine’s lipolytic effects are diminished when users do not engage in aerobic exercise. Therefore, his transformation can also be attributed to his training split and not solely to Cardarine.

Based on the before-and-after pictures above, here is an example of what a sample cycle might look like:

Duration	Cardarine dosage
8–12 weeks	10–20 mg/day

Cardarine is not FDA-approved and is considered an experimental drug; therefore, its full effects are not yet fully understood.

How Much Weight Can Subjects Lose on Cardarine?

The amount of weight an individual loses on Cardarine can be influenced by:

• Training
• Genetics
• Diet
• Dose
• Cycle duration

It remains unclear whether a higher dose of 20 mg/day of Cardarine is more effective for fat loss than 10 mg/day. Based on our experience and the before-and-after pictures above, 20 mg may not provide significantly greater fat-burning effects compared to 10 mg.

A user taking 10 mg/day of Cardarine for 8 weeks and following a caloric deficit diet may lose approximately 20–30 pounds, based on our patients’ results.

Is Fat Loss From Cardarine Temporary or Permanent?

To maintain fat loss results from Cardarine, users may need to consume maintenance calories. Therefore, if an individual overeats after stopping the cycle, they may experience fat regain. However, if a calorie surplus is avoided post-cycle, most users can retain their fat loss results.

In our experience, the endurance effects of Cardarine are partially temporary due to mitochondrial biogenesis. We have observed that users retain some improvements in stamina, which may be attributed to muscle memory.

Can Each Cycle Become Less Effective?

We find that users commonly experience significant weight loss during their first Cardarine cycle, while the second cycle tends to be less effective. These results suggest that the body develops a tolerance to the PPARδ agonist over time.

Cardarine Outcomes and Complications

• Improved heart health
• Hepatotoxicity
• Potentially carcinogenic

Improved Heart Health

Cardarine may enhance lipid profiles by increasing HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels.

In a clinical study, a 10 mg dose of Cardarine resulted in a 16.9% increase in HDL levels (Olson et al., 2012).

Hepatotoxicity

Some users can take Cardarine, and their alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels may elevate slightly after an 8-week cycle. Others may cycle it and experience abnormal liver function.

In medical research, a connection has been observed between liver fibrosis and Cardarine (Kostadinova et al., 2012). Other studies suggest that it may offer protection to the liver through beta-oxidation regulation (Magliano et al., 2015). Therefore, the reason why Cardarine is hepatotoxic to some users and not to others is not fully understood.

If a user’s liver is currently inflamed or damaged and they take Cardarine, their condition may worsen due to cellular proliferation.

Studies indicate that 500 mg/day of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) can reduce ALT and AST enzyme levels, which may be beneficial during Cardarine cycles (Ma et al., 2016).

Potentially Carcinogenic

Research has shown that high doses of Cardarine have caused cancer in rodents. Therefore, there may be some carcinogenic risk associated with Cardarine.

Some users reduce the dose to 10 mg and perform short cycles of 4–6 weeks in an attempt to minimize potential carcinogenic risks. However, it remains unclear whether lower dosages provide such protection.

Until further research is conducted, Cardarine supplementation may pose certain risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Cardarine Build Muscle?

Research provides evidence that Cardarine may have anabolic effects, with users gaining approximately 1.3 kg of lean mass after taking 10 mg/day for 12 weeks (Olson et al., 2012). Therefore, Cardarine might be beneficial for cutting, due to its potential to promote muscle retention while in a calorie deficit.

However, based on our conversations with bodybuilders who have used this PPARδ agonist, muscle gains appear to be negligible.

Can Researchers Combine SARMs With Cardarine?

Yes, we have observed researchers stacking Cardarine with SARMs and other substances such as:

• Ostarine
• RAD-140
• Stenabolic

Ostarine and RAD-140 are SARMs, while Stenabolic is a Rev-ErbA agonist. A drawback of such stacks is that they can worsen liver enzyme levels; therefore, it is advisable to regularly monitor ALT and AST enzyme levels throughout the cycle.

Stacking Cardarine with anabolic steroids is likely to increase the risk of hepatotoxicity and cardiotoxicity.

Can Women Supplement With Cardarine?

Cardarine is a banned substance; therefore, women are currently prohibited from taking it. However, women may experience fat loss and increased muscular endurance similar to men, although their doses might need to be adjusted based on body weight.

We have observed women supplementing with Cardarine at the dosages outlined below.

Weeks	Cardarine dosage
1–6	7.5 mg/day

So far, we have not found evidence that Cardarine causes any masculinizing effects in women. Nonetheless, pregnant women are advised against taking Cardarine due to potential risks to developing fetuses.

Summary

Cardarine is one of the most potent performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) we have observed for reducing fat mass.

However, concerns exist regarding Cardarine’s potential carcinogenicity. Therefore, caution should be exercised when considering the safety of this PPARε agonist until further research is conducted. Its effects on cellular proliferation, particularly in the pancreas, warrant special attention.

Co Authors :