Peptides like sermorelin and CJC offer steady lean muscle gains with minimal androgenic load but tend to be slower and require daily injections. MK-677 stimulates natural growth hormone release orally and can boost appetite and lean mass over months with few severe side effects. Growth hormone delivers more pronounced anabolic effects and improved recovery but carries risks of edema, joint pain, and insulin resistance if used long term. Insulin drives strong anabolic responses by shuttling nutrients into muscle cells but demands precise dosing or it can cause dangerous hypoglycemia. Traditional anabolics produce rapid muscle growth and strength gains but come with higher risks of liver strain, hormonal suppression, and cardiovascular stress. Overall, peptides and MK-677 trade speed of gains for a gentler safety profile while growth hormone and insulin can match anabolics in potency at the cost of more complex side effect management.