Baby Fat Can Help you Lose Weight – from Bodybuilders to New Moms

Body Scan GraphicThere’s a type of fat called Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) that we have in abundance as babies, but that we gradually lose as we reach adulthood.

Otherwise known as Brown Fat, this tissue is an odd hybrid between fat and muscle. It’s darker in colour than the flabby fat we associate with the stuff that jiggles when we run or get up too fast.

Scientific research also tells us that it comes from the same stem cells as muscle. So technically it’s fat, but it has many of the characteristics of muscle.

Why are we even discussing this?

Well, there’s a way that you can encourage your BAT stores to become more active than they already are, and there’s even a way you could start to grow more of it back.

And why would we want it to grow and activate?

The answer to that is best explained by babies.

Babies – Brown Adipose Tissue – Body Heat

BabyAs an adult you have very little Brown Fat left. Medical scans have shown that we have kept sparing amounts in the upper chest and neck area, but it makes up less than a percent of your total body mass.

Infants, however, are a different matter. We are born with much more relative to our body mass – about 5%.

Its function is for babies to avoid hypothermia, given that babies are far more sensitive to cold temperatures than adults. They also cannot shiver very well at all, which is one of the ways adults generate heat when their environment is cold.

Brown fat is specifically ‘designed’ to generate heat – thermogenesis – in the absence of shivering, which for a baby, is essential.

The reason it is brown is due to the density of the mitochondria within the tissue. There is a much higher number of these cellular power plants than ‘white fat’. What’s more – they have a higher concentration of the coupling protein (thermogenin) in the inner membrane that is responsible for allowing the energy to be given off as heat.

You might still be wondering how this is relevant to you as an adult – as a bodybuilder, gym goer, athlete, father, mother…anyone who wants to stay in shape…

Brown Adipose Tissue burns regular fat as a source of fuel for this heat generation.

Adults – BAT and Burning Fat

Losing WeightBAT burns fat. The bad fat. The stuff you can grab in you hands, the stuff that builds around your heart that can ultimately be your demise.

Brown Fat uses it as fuel to create this heat, the process of thermogenesis. And current and recent research tells us that we can wake it up what we have left, and possibly even grow more.

The result would be your very own inner furnace, burning off extra calories of unwanted fat.

You see how this could be appealing to, well…everyone!?

Cold Exposure

Woman DoctorContrary to what some people believe, sweating buckets in a hot environment does not make you lose weight. If anything, your body is trying to stay cool by slowing metabolic processes and using as little energy, and fuel, as possible.

On the contrary, if you spend extended periods in colder climates – where you actually feel the cold, not where you wrap up warm and sit by the fire – you should find that your body fat reduces as your body burns it to generate heat.

A controlled version of this, called Cold Exposure, is what some people are experimenting with in order to activate their stores of Brown Adipose Tissue, and in some cases it, grow some.

So people have taken to sleeping in sub 19 C (66.2 F) degree temperatures to trigger the process. Unfortunately it would take many months or perhaps years of doing this to notice much of a difference. However, it is not a harmful practice to adopt and it might surprise some people to learn that it is in colder temperatures that we achieve deeper sleep in general, and not super cozy warmth.

Ingredients and Supplements

Supplement It’s not just your environment that can trigger BAT to activate, but some things that you consume.

Hot peppers – specifically Capsaicin or Capsicum – has been shown to effectively convert white fat cells into brown fat cells [source].

This ‘browning’ of white fat cells is an indication of what is to come with research into humans and the study of certain foods’ effects.

Obesity is basically a disease, so it should be said that hot peppers on a pizza is not the way to cancel out the other thousands of calories.

What it does mean is that a supplement containing a concentrated extract of hot peppers might be a good idea, along with a calorie controlled diet.

Cayenne pepper comes from capsaicin hot peppers. There is one dietary supplement we use which contains an excellent dose of it PLUS the rest of its formula is stellar.

CLICK HERE to read about the Top Fat Burner

Appetite Suppression and Glucomannan – Important Fat Loss Advice

Losing Weight The key to losing fat is calorie control. There are lots of ways to describe different diets and eating habits, and lots of “gurus” out there who will claim to have the definitive answer.

Ultimately, however, losing weight comes down to one simple rule:

Calorie Intake < Calorie Expenditure = Weight Loss

If the amount of calories you eat total less than the amount you use / burn / metabolize in a given period – let’s use a day for simplicity – then you will lose some weight.

Now, the type of weight you use – fat, muscle, a mixture of both – is largely determined by other factors, such as exercise and the sorts of foods you are eating.

We’ll get to muscle retention through food intake soon, but most valuable to you right now is probably the ability to eat less.

Physical and Mental Aspects of Calorie Control

Hunger Junk CravingsDieting is difficult for two main reasons:

Physical – your body is used to a certain way of doing things, food intake included. If you change this, then in simple terms, it will initially protest and feel a little discomfort (hunger), perhaps weakness until it starts to actually feel better from it. The timeline varies between individuals.

Mental – food is a comfort when you are feeling crap. Eating is an activity when you are bored. Sweets and junk are basically a drug, and fat just makes things tasty. Let’s not talk even talk about starchy carbs!

There’s a huge psychological factor to consider when you are dieting. Sometimes you’re not even physically hungry, but you still stuff your face with fast food. If that isn’t a mental thing, then we don’t know what is.

There are tricks you can use to defeat both the physical and mental goblins, and we’re going to talk about a very specific one right now.

Glucomannan

Instant Knockout CapsulesThe root of the Konjac plant is home to a type of fibre (/fiber) called Glucomannan. It has an interesting property that not many other natural fibres have.

It can absorb many more times its own volume of water. This interested scientists and supplement companies for the purpose of losing weight.

In the stomach, Glucomannan forms a comfortable mass, which can reduce the physical cravings for food.

Provided at least a tall glass of water (minimum of 250 ml / 8 oz) is taken with the glucomannan product, it works and is completely safe.

Glucomannan products are generally taken half an hour before meals, but never before bed.

Products Containing Glucomannan

A brief internet search will find you a lot of brands that have made a Glucomannan product. This might be a good option if you are going the cheap route and just want to try it out.

The best products we have found are those that combine the glucomannan into a formula with other ingredients: fat-burners, appetite suppressors, carb blockers, energy boosters and so on.

Of course, being the conscientious sorts that we are, we have an excellent product recommendation for you.

Product Recommendation

Instant Knockout Review

Instant Knockout comes highly Recommended

Instant Knockout is the best fat loss product available as far as we are concerned. It contains the perfect blend of fat burners, energy boosters, nootropics and, of course, Glucomannan.

It contains a great formula which gives actual results, and is endorsed by some of the world’s fittest people – including professional fighters who live and die by the weight category they have to make for a competition.

Not only that but it’s available at some great price deals, and can be shipped anywhere in the world.

When we found it, we jumped on it immediately.

Take a look at our review by following the link below.

CLICK HERE to read more about Instant Knockout

Vitamin D – This Article Might Change Your Life

Man Feeling Good in SunHave you ever made a simple change in your lifestyle and it has made a world of difference?

Vitamin D is one of those simple changes you can make and it can have benefits you couldn’t possibly have dreamed of, from stronger bones, to bigger muscles and from a happier mind to better sex and more energy.

It might be the one thing you are lacking in, making you tired, irritable, injured or just plain depressed.

Everyone knows Vitamin D is synthesized by your body when sunlight touches your skin, and if you don’t know that then you should.

Your skin is your very own all-over-body solar panel – the first capture point of the sun’s rays after their 150 million kilometre and 8 and a half minute journey from our nearest star.

…but what if you spend a lot of time inside, or you live in a climate that isn’t sunny all year round?

DID YOU KNOW: during the Spring, Autumn and Winter in climates above the 37th parallel north or below the 37th parallel south of the equator, peoples’ skin will not make sufficient Vitamin D. People who work indoors, or don’t consume enough are effectively deficient for 3/4 of the year.

And by the way, the 37th parallel isn’t even high (or low). It clips the north of Africa and most of America is above it, all of Canada of course, the UK and about 95% of Europe!!!

37th Parallel Latitude

The 37th Parallel

What’s All the Fuss About?

Vitamin D is essential for you to live, that’s why it’s a vitamin. Few people put enough stock into the true impact it has on health. In fact, a lot of people go their whole lives not getting enough, and struggle their way through as a result.

Vitamin D:

  • Increases Bone Strength and Density
  • Improves Mood, Emotional Stability and feelings of Vitality and Well-Being
  • Optimizes Hormone Balance, particularly Testosterone in Men
  • Sharpens Cognitive Function
  • Improves Heart Health

Isn’t it a shame that so many people don’t get enough of this awesome Vitamin?

All it takes a few bucks / quid / crowns or euros per month to sort your D levels out.

Girl in SunSure, there’s food that contains Vitamin D like fatty fish, liver, cheese, eggs….and these days companies fortify some of their products with it. You’ll often find milk that’s been fortified with Vitamin D.

Even then, you might not be getting enough. Especially if you work according to the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance), which even after an update from 400 IU to 800 IU is STILL NOT ENOUGH FOR ADULTS.

It’s a global crisis, at least for the people in those climates.

And to be honest, a lot of people in hot climates don’t get enough because they shuttle themselves into an office, workshop, warehouse or store and stay there for the sunniest part of the day.

Recommended Daily Allowance

Milk Vit DThe original RDA was just about enough to avoid rickets. Seriously?!! Thanks for that, government health people!!!

There are boat loads of benefits from Vitamin D, so instead of thinking I’m taking enough to avoid having bendy legs, you should be thinking, am I getting enough to get all the good stuff like stronger bones, improved hormonal balance, a stress-free mind, even happiness and feelings of vitality??

Screw the RDA, it’s a load of rubbish. You can take up to 4000 IU safely (and many people do every day) and research indicates you can go a lot higher than that (although there is probably no need).

A daily dose of 2000 IU is good enough for rock and roll, and you can eat Vitamin D rich food on top of that…and get some sun (when it deigns to shine).

And don’t rely on your multivitamin. For a start, it doesn’t go above the crappy 800 IU, and it doesn’t contain any fat – which is important to have in some form alongside Vit D because it dissolves in fat and gets into your system that way.

Vitamin D Liquid Capsules

SunshineThis is the direction to go in. Get yourself an oil based liquid gel capsule supplement of Vitamin D3. They look a bit like fish oil caps; sort of a gold coloured soft gel.

Most companies put out 1000 IU capsules – they aren’t even bothering to go lower because they know what the deal is.

Now, because they already contain the fat, they are ready to be taken like that. To make doubly sure, have a glass of milk to take it with.

Why D3?

Vitamin D3 is the most bioavailable of the D types. Simply put, it’s the one that makes the greatest impact.

Want The Lowdown on Vitamins? CLICK HERE

Prime-T – RSP Nutrition – Testosterone Support Supplement – Review

Overview

Prime T RSP Nutrition Prime-T is a “scientifically formulated testosterone support” supplement according to the manufacturer, RSP Nutrition.

It’s main benefit is to naturally support serum and free testosterone levels. The ‘free testosterone’ part being the main draw for most customers.

Free testosterone is the stuff floating around, ready to be used for positive gain such as anabolic muscle growth, sexual health and overall vitality.

RSP have put together a strong formula, combining some of the better ingredients for boosting testosterone levels and controlling estrogen activity. The highlights there are the inclusion of D-Aspartic-Acid, DIM and Boron at effective dosages.

With that said, we feel Prime-T at least competes with similar products, although it will not replace Prime Male in our supplement cabinet.

Prime Male is still the best.

CLICK HERE to find out more about that

Prime-T Advertised Benefits

It’s a testosterone booster of course, but here are the specifics, more or less, of RSP’s marketing claims:

There are 4 Key Factors:

  • Healthy Serum and Free Testosterone Levels
  • Estrogen Balance and Prostate Health
  • Muscle and Strength Increases
  • Sex Drive and Libido

To support these 4 factors RSP have turned to scientific research to select the appropriate ingredients for Prime-T.

Ingredients are the most important aspect of a testosterone supplement. Without the right ingredients at the right inclusion rates, you are just going to waste your money.

Ingredient Formula

Open Pill Contents SpilledThe following ingredients and their associated inclusion amounts correspond to 4 tablets of Prime-T.

Amount Per Serving

3,000 IU  – Vitamin D (as cholecalciferol)
20 mg      – Vitamin B3 (as niacinamide)
800 mcg  – Folate (as folic acid)
12 mcg    – Vitamin B12 (As cyanocobalamin)
12 mg      – Zinc (as zinc citrate)
3,200 mg – D-Aspartic Acid
500 mg    – Fenugreek Extract
300 mg    – Maca Extract (root)
250 mg    – 3,3’-Diindolylmethane (DIM)
250 mg    – Safed Musli Extract (as chlorophytum borivillanum)(root)
100 mg    – Boron Citrate (supplying 5% boron)
5 mg        – Bioperine

Usage Guidelines: 4 tablets is the daily dose. They should be taken about an hour before bedtime on an empty stomach.

Our Thoughts on Formula and Dosage

There are some obvious highlights to the Prime-T formula.

D-Aspartic-Acid (D-AA) is a good testosterone optimizer and the dosage is very good. If for some reason you are experiencing lower than normal testosterone levels, or, you are an athlete, gym rat etc. then you will benefit from D-AA at this dose within two weeks of use.

Studies show D-AA not only acts fast but also hard. It may boost sub-optimal levels of testosterone by up to 50% in 14 days.

3,3’-Diindolylmethane (DIM) is good at regulating estrogen levels, helping your system to balance them so that you neither have too much nor too little. It may also act as an anti-aromatase agent within that context. This is because as your testosterone levels increase from supplementation, diet and exercise, more could therefore be converted to estrogen, via aromatase.

Boron Citrate (for boron) is rapidly becoming a prevalent inclusion in testosterone boosters. It’s early days but the research conducted so far looks very promising. It can increase Free testosterone and DHT (a more anabolic compound made from testosterone) and reduce SHBG, the binding hormone that renders testosterone useless. It can do this in small doses as well.

The rest of the formula is fairly standard with Vitamin D, B3, Folate and Zinc providing the vitamin and micronutrient base that every man should have in their daily intake.

Side Effects

Doctor ApprovalThere should be no problems for the average man using Prime-T.

People with pre-existing medical conditions (including anyone taking prescription medication) should check with their doctor before taking this product, or anything similar.

It should also be kept away from pregnant and breastfeeding women. It’s true that some of the ingredients might help lactation but there are other products designed specifically for mothers and they should be recommended by their doctor.

Some of the ingredients are libido enhancing, so it won’t come as a shock if your sexual appetite is heightened.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Prime Male

PRIME MALE – Top T-Booster

Prime-T is a good supplement and RSP is a reputable manufacturer in the sports supplement industry.

It contains some valid ingredients at decent dosages. Beyond that it is in a level playing field with a few other products. There are many many testosterone supplements that are worse than this one.

Prime Male is still our favourite testosterone booster, mostly because we feel its effects more powerfully than anything else we have tried. It could have something to do with the Luteolin or the Red Ginseng.

CLICK HERE to find out more about Prime Male

LeanMode – from Evlution Nutrition – Stimulant Free Fat Burner Review

Lean Mode BottleLeanMode is the stimulant free fat burner on Evlution Nutrition’s weight management product line.

It is the stim-free option against their stimulant based fat burner TRANS4ORM, which we have reviewed separately (click here to read it).

Generally speaking stim-free fat loss products are designed for people who don’t like the feelings associated with stimulants, nor the crash that can occur afterwards if they are particularly sensitive.

They are also good for people who work out at high intensities and don’t want their heart rate to be increased even further unnecessarily.

CLICK here to read about the TOP fat burner

Advertised Benefits

LeanMode is described as having the following benefits:

  • Metabolism Support
  • 5 Modes of Action
  • Appetite Support
  • Stimulant Free
  • Fat Burner
  • Gluten Free

All of the above are pretty routine for most fat burners. The specifics of the “5 Modes of Action” are to do with the ingredients in the formula; five main ingredients with five different ways of exerting their effects.

How Does It Work Without Stimulants?

MetabolismIt might seem like a non-starter for some little capsules to do any serious damage to body fat without at least some form of stimulant to rev you up.

The truth is, some of the better weight loss ingredients are not stimulants. They work in different ways but can still be effective. Here are some examples of those modes of action:

  1. Appetite Suppression
  2. Mood Improvement
  3. Fat Transportation to cell mitochondria
  4. Conversion of Fat for Fuel during exercise
  5. Non-stimulant Thermogenesis

Of course, the key is the formula, the ingredients within it, and the dosages at which they have been included. These are really the only factors to consider where a product’s efficacy is concerned.

Ingredient Formula

The following ingredients and their associated inclusion rates are in 3 capsules of LeanMode:

500mg – Garcinia Cambogia extract (60% HCA)
500mg – Green Coffee Bean extract
500mg – CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid)
500mg – Acetyl-L-Carnitine
250mg – Green Tea Leaf extract

Green CoffeeIf you’re wondering whether Green Coffee should be included in a stimulant-free formula it can be assumed that it has been decaffeinated, as within most green coffee extracts.

Green Tea leaf is also a point of discussion for us, because it can be stimulatory at times.

So, LeanMode is not completely stim-free if we’re being strict, but it’s as close as possible while containing something of a thermogenic fat burning element.

Our Thoughts on Dosage and Guidelines

The above inclusion rates are for 3 capsules, and 3 caps is the daily serving. Therefore, those are the daily totals.

With that in mind, we’d probably multiply each ingredient’s dose by 3, except for the Green Tea which could be x2.

To be clear: WE ARE NOT advising you to take 3 times the dose. It’s more a case of scientific research studies suggesting that each ingredient is more effective at about the 1500mg per dat mark (with 500mg for green tea).

That said, Evlution Nutrition might have some super extracts which we are not aware of, and we still advise you to FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES on the packaging.

Side Effects

Woman DoctorWe didn’t experience any negative side effects when taking LeanMode.

One of the main reasons for using a stim-free fat burner is basically to eliminate the potential for many of the common side effects associated with fat burners.

Again, however, we reiterate our earlier point that you should follow the usage guidelines on the label.

There are some people who should not use LeanMode, regardless of its stimulant free recipe. Pregnant and nursing women must avoid all supplements which have not been approved by the doctor.

People with medical conditions, or those taking prescribed medication should also avoid products like this unless they have been specifically cleared by their doctor.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Instant Knockout Fist Bottle

You can use LeanMode when you’re not using IKO

As stim-free fat burners go, Lean Mode from Evlution Nutrition is one of the better ones. We’ve seen some howlers though, so that’s not necessarily saying much.

Burning fat is a tricky business with pills. The ingredients really do have to be top notch, and at least some of them have to be included at powerful doses.

LeanMode might be a good support product if you are taking a break from the stimulant-based fat burners for a couple of weeks and still want to take something in the meantime.

Just don’t expect miracles with this one.

CLICK HERE to find out which Fat Burner is MOST RECOMMENDED

TRANS4ORM from Evlution Nutrition – Fat Burner Capsules – Review

Transform Bottle TRANS4ORM is a stimulant based fat burner from the popular supplement EVLUTION Nutrition.

Evlution have a few different weight management products but Trans4orm and LeanMode are the two multi-ingredient formulas (LeanMode is the stimulant-free fat burner).

The company has also released TRANS4ORM in a pre-workout format. This review concerns the capsule fat burner.

Evlution claim that Trans4orm is “scientifically engineered to support” the following benefits:

  • Fat Burning
  • Cravings Contro
  • Boost Metabolism
  • Increase Energy and Focus

These are the basics which most ‘all-in-one’ fat burners hope to cover. It’s good to see the company keeping it simple here; we see far too many huge lists of over-hyped capabilities. The four points above are all you want, and all you need, of a fat burner.

CLICK here to discover which Fat Burner we rate the Highest

How Does It Work?

DB pressFor fat loss, increasing the process called thermogenesis is the basis for adding stimulants to the blend. They also increase metabolism and help you with additional energy and focus.

In fact, stimulants like caffeine and yohimbe / yohimbine are the multi-taskers, checking boxes next to ‘fat burning’, ‘boosting metabolism’ and ‘increasing energy and focus.’

For cravings control, some sort of appetite suppressor is usually employed. However, it can come in the form of a more cognitive approach as it does with Trans4orm. The idea is to trigger some sort of satisfaction response in the hunger and craving centres of the brain.

Further benefits to focus and energy (also mental energy) come from nootropic ingredients; cognitive enhancers that can cross the blood brain barrier and improve brain function in some way. [Ref: collegian.psu.edu]

We can explain more once we dig into the TRANS4ORM formula.

Ingredient Formula

The following inclusions and associated weights (mg/mcg) is equal to 2 capsules of Tras4orm:

  • 15mg     – Niacin (Vit B3)
  • 2mg       – Vitamin B6
  • 400mcg – Folic Acid
  • 6mg       – Vitamin B12
  1. 500mg – Green Tea Leaf extract
  2. 300mg – Choline Bitartrate
  3. 200mg – L-Tyrosine
  4. 175mg – Natural Caffeine
  5. 100mg – Coleus extract
  6. 50mg   – Alpha-GPC
  7. 20mg   – Yohimbe extract
  8. 5mg     – BioPerine (black pepper)
  9. 2mg     – Huperzine Serrata extract (std. min. 1% Huperzine-A)

blood flowAs you can see there is a vitamin base to the formula. This is standard practice and lets the companies call their products supplements.

The main formula contains excellent ingredients on the whole. We don’t like Yohimbe, but we’ll come to that in the Side Effects section.

Green Tea extract and caffeine are the obvious thermogenic inclusions aside from Yohimbe. All 3 are there to make sure your body produces heat energy and uses fat as the main fuel source.

Coleus is also a thermogenic, working much in the same way as caffeine (increasing cAMP – Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate – in cells). The dose of Coleus is quite small though.

L-Tyrosine is another stimulatory compound. It is the second nootropic inclusion as well. It may reduce stress levels and improve subjective well-being. There is some talk that it can reduce fat levels but it’s more important as a mental fatigue reducer.

Choline Bitartrate is the primary nootropic compound. By increasing levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine it may improve cognitive function (focus, mental drive, energy etc) during exercise and the calorie controlled aspect of your diet.

Alpha-GPC is probably our favourite ingredient in the mix, although it is included at quite a low dose. Still, significantly more than most supplement companies do. It is quite expensive to purchase, which is why most supplements don’t contain it at anywhere near its effective dose (about 1000mg).

It is another neurotransmitter booster. It appears to improve muscular power output via increased mind-muscle connection. It also boosts growth hormone quite dramatically initially, although it is more of a quick spike than a prolonged release. Again, however, this may all be pretty much moot considering the dose is not much more than a symbolic gesture.

BioPerine is a patented form of black pepper, used for its ability to increase the bioavailability and absorption of the other ingredients in the blend.

Huperzine Serrata – which confers around 20 to 40mcg of Huperzine A in this case – is another nootropic substance. Tiny doses are effective for its most renowned effect of inhibiting the enzyme which itself inhibits acetylcholine, the aforementioned, and hugely important neurotransmitter.

Side Effects

Doctor ApprovalWe mentioned Yohimbe in the ingredients section. A good fat burner according to current studies (perhaps inconsistent though), it may be a double-edged sword.

Yohimbe is known to cause some unwanted side effects in some people. It can cause feelings of anxiety in young adults, especially those prone to it.

Even at recommended dosages, side effects can occur with yohimbe / yohimbine. Nausea, stomach pain, dizziness and anxiety are all possible.

An analysis of many supplements containing Yohimbe found that the doses were often massively inaccurate – from 25 – 150% inaccurate!!

To add to this, it interacts negatively with many prescription drugs, especially anti-depressants. Even its compatibility with some everyday compounds are in question.

Suffice it to say, it is best to take it slow with Yohimbe if you feel you still want to use it. The daily recommended dose is 2 capsules of Trans4orm in the morning and 2 later on. You can easily assess your tolerance of the whole formula by taking one capsule first and going from there.

Pregnant women, breastfeeding women, people on medication and those with medical issues should not use this product.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The inclusion of Yohimbe puts us off using TRANS4ORM. We consistently see it in formulas of fat burners, but it also means that they are limited to the USA market.

Many countries do not allow these Yohimbe / Yohimbine containing supplements, and so if you are not in the US then it’s unlikely you will be able to get it anyway.

Instant Knockout Review

Instant Knockout comes highly Recommended

Aside from that ingredient, TRANS4ORM has excellent inclusions. The only problem then is that the inclusion rates are low for many of the better ones.

Our advice is to get the supplement that will help you really hold back the hunger, while giving you the fat burning and energy boost you need.

That comes in the form of a product with a lot more substance to its formula. Instant Knockout is our recommendation. Follow the link below and check it out…

CLICK here for the full review of the Most Recommended Fat Burner

RSP Quadra Lean – Thermogenic Fat Burner – Review

RSP QuadraLean Fat BurnerQuadraLean is a fat burner supplement manufactured by RSP Nutrition, a company well established in the bodybuilding and sport nutrition business.

This particular product is one of the better selling fat burners on the market, possibly because it is advertised as a 4-in-1 formula – hence, “Quadra”.

The 4 mini-blends within the formula are:

  • Weight Loss
  • Energy
  • Thermogenesis
  • Neuro

It looks good on paper; hitting all those areas with just bottle of pills. So we can understand why so many people might purchase it.

We had a go with QuadraLean to see whether it really does provide “Cutting Edge Thermogenic Fat Loss.”

CLICK to find out WHICH FAT BURNER WE RECOMMEND

How Does QuadraLean Work?

Scientist and MicroscopeQuadraLean has been developed with fat loss as the main objective, using 4 different areas of effect on the body to accomplish it.

The Weight Loss Blend contains ingredients which may influence the storage and transport of fat.

Energy Blend holds no surprises. Stimulants can be found here, included to boost energy and add to the fat burning process.

Thermogenesis is the process by which the body’s cells ‘burn’ fat and release the energy as heat.

The Neuro Blend contains ‘nootropic’ or cognitive enhancers, so called for their activity in the brain. Some improve focus, some heighten mood and others speed up signalling from the brain to the muscles.

We’ll discuss the specifics of each blend in the Ingredients section.

Ingredient Formula

Open Pill Contents SpilledFirst off, the label is completely transparent, meaning none of the ingredients are hidden within proprietary blends.

They are however split into 4 blends within the main formula:

(the following inclusion rates are in 3 capsules)

Weight Loss Blend

500mg – Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) Powder
500mg – Acetyl-L-Carnitine Hydrochloride

Energy Blend

200mg – Natural Caffeine (from green tea)
75mg   – Bitter Orange extract (citrus aurantium)

Thermogenesis Blend

40mg – Yohimbe extract
25mg – Cayenne Pepper Fruit extract (Capsimax)

Neuro Blend

300mg – Choline Bitartrate
50mg   – Alpha GPC

CLA is quite overrated in our opinion. It has never really been reliably proven that it has any significant fat loss effect.

L-Carnitine is however well established. It transports fatty acids to the mitochondria of cells to be used as fuel.

Caffeine is in nearly every fat burner and is extremely well studied and supported for both focus and fat loss. For fat loss it must be said that you should not consume any other sources of caffeine. For maximum effect, it is better if you haven’t had any for two weeks prior to using a fat burner with it in.

Bitter Orange extract contains the active ingredient synephrine, which can work in synergy with caffeine. It is a stimulant itself and can be effective at the dosage here, although it is quite low.

Yohimbe probably makes this a US only formula, as the ingredient is not allowed in many other countries that have tighter regulations. It is another stimulant and can increase the rate of thermogenic fat burning.

Due to the side effects which can occur while using Yohimbe / Yohimbine, it is not always suitable for everyone (we will discuss this further in the Side Effects section).

Cayenne Pepper induces the heat effect of capsaicin / capsicum (hot pepper) and is a reliable fat burner.

Choline Bitartrate and Alpha GPC are both ‘nootropic’ in nature (they improve cognitive function) by increasing neurotransmitter activity. This can have the effect of improving mood, mind-muscle connection and ability to focus.

Side Effects

doctorThe majority of people who have used stimulant based fat burners before will have no problem with QuadraLean.

However, Yohimbe / Yohimbine can cause unwanted side effects in some people. It is known to stimulate anxiety in some people.

Stimulants in general can give people some mild effects like the jitters, nausea, headaches, dizziness etc.

If you are unused to stimulants or have cycled off them then you could start with a partial dose. The maximum recommended serving is 3 capsules, therefore you could split that to 2 or even 1 pill to begin with until you get used to it.

QuadraLean is not suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions or taking prescription medication.

Conclusion and Recommendations

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Instant Knockout comes highly Recommended

We’ve said it before on this site, but we are not big fans of Yohimbe. There are too many questions about its side effects, and not enough answers.

Yohimbe also makes QuadraLean only really available in the US, due to most other countries not allowing it to get across their borders.

So, what are you to do? Well, there is a fairly popular stimulant-free version of QuadraLean, but then that won’t have enough teeth for some people.

We recommend a fat burner that is used by professional athletes. One that cuts the fat quickly, provides an excellent appetite suppression effect, and won’t give you anxiety. Find out more about it by following the link below…

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Marine Muscle – GUNNER – USA Only Anabolic Pills – Steroid Alternative

Marine Muscle Gunner AnabolicGUNNER is an oral anabolic, designed, manufactured, and sold by Marine Muscle in the United States.

Marine Muscle products are exclusive to the US due to the restrictions most other countries have on some of the ingredients they use.

The ingredients themselves are safe when taken at the directed dosages, but because they share many physical and beneficial characteristics of steroids, they aren’t allowed to leave America.

Interesting, considering the stuff some countries do allow through customs.

Anyway, this is a review, not a lesson in international drug law. Suffice it to say, Gunner is safe and free of side effects…and legal in the US.

Anabolic Steroid Precursor

Marine Muscle Gunner ResultsGunner contains a pre-cursor to Boldenone.

Boldenone Undecylenate, aka – Equipoise – is one of the most sought after anabolic steroids on the black market.

While Equipoise is a synthetic steroid, Gunner is a safe natural compound and may increase testosterone levels and exert health benefits above and beyond muscle growth and sex drive. Prostate health being one of them.

CLICK HERE to view Special Offers on Gunner

What Are The Benefits of Gunner?

Gunner is found in the Bulking and Strength categories within the Marine Muscle product line.

From the compounds involved, It appears to be formulated to enhance the following processes:

  • Protein Synthesis
  • Nitrogen Retention
  • Growth Hormone Production
  • Red Blood Cell Production

These in-turn will lead to the following benefits:

  • Increased Muscle Mass
  • Increased Strength
  • Bigger Vasodilation (muscle pumps)
  • Heightened Rep/Set Stamina
  • Faster Recovery (post workout)

Further benefits, in terms of product purchasing include:

  • Free of Side Effects
  • Legal Alternative to Anabolic Steroids
  • USA Made
  • Free Shipping on All Orders in the US

Usage Guidelines – For Best Results

Gunner works most effectively if it is taken before your workout.

This way, the chemical processes mentioned earlier – nitrogen retention, protein synthesis. growth hormone (IGF-1) release and blood cell production – will begin when your body needs it to the most.

Post workout recovery will be augmented by taking your usual protein (plus creatine) shake.

Are There Any Side Effects?

DoctorDespite containing steroidal compounds, the typical steroid related side effects will not happen with Gunner. Nor will any other significant side effects.

Provided you follow the directed dosages on the packaging, and you are in good health, you will have no problems in our opinion.

People who should avoid taking products like this include, people taking prescribed medication or who have a medical condition that may be affected, and also pregnant and breastfeeding women. Ask your doctor if you are unsure.

Are There Any Special Offers?

Marine Muscle Bulking StackCurrently there is a very good deal on the stacks (Bulking, Cutting, Strength): Buy One Get One Free

That’s 8 bottles of Marine Muscle products for the price of 4.

Gunner is in the Bulking and the Strength stack so you will get two if you use the deal to get those stacks, along with 6 other bottles.

Follow the link below to check out the deal.

CLICK HERE to view the product website

Conclusion and Recommendations

Gunner LabelGunner is probably one of the closest things you’ll get to an anabolic steroid, without breaking any laws or risking your health.

We really enjoyed the cycles we’ve done using their products, especially with Gunner as the base of the bulking and strength stacks.

We have no hesitation in recommending Gunner and those Marine Muscle products that we have tried so far, including:

  • Gunner
  • Trooper
  • Enduro
  • Drill Master
  • Devil Dog

To see the special offers and products discussed, follow the links in either of the green boxes in this review.

Hydroxycut Hardcore Next Gen – International Formula (non-US version)

Hydroxycut Hardcore Next Gen has two formulas. This is our review of the International formula.

We have also reviewed the USA version of the product – click here for the Hydroxycut Hardcore Next Gen USA Formula review.

Difference Between International and USA Versions?

HydroxyCut Hardcore InternationalIngredients, mainly, plus some different tests and regulations each product is subjected to.

Wait…the ingredients are different!?

Yes. MuscleTech’s Hydroxycut product line is popular all over the world, but the product you’re reading about in a magazine might not be the one you can buy in your local supplement store, despite it having exactly the same name.

In the case of Hydroxycut Hardcore Next Gen, like many other products, its USA formula contains ingredients that are either controversial or outright banned in most other countries.

Yohimbe is the main one singled out here. You can see why in the USA HydroxyCut Hardcore Next Gen review by reading in the Side Effects section.

We’ll get on with the Internationally (non-US) available product.

CLICK here to view the product we Recommend the Most

How Does it Work?

Hydroxycut promise the following benefits from their fat burner:

  • Advanced, Scientifically Tested Weight Management
  • Extreme Energy and Mental Focus

push upsThe first one there refers to the scientific studies that have been carried out with Green Coffee extract, the main ingredients of Hardcore Next Gen.

Green coffee contains chlorogenic acid, which – amongst other things – might block some carbs from being absorbed when you eat them. Hence, the “weight management” aspect.

The studies do support this to some degree but green coffee is far from powerful, especially compared to some other ingredients available.

The second point about extreme energy and mental focus is in relation to the caffeine, skullcap, huperzine and coleus inclusions, all of which are known as nootropic (cognitive enhancing) or energy boosting.

The combination of the 2 effects is pretty much what 99.99% of fat burners are designed and marketed for. So, no shocking revelations there.

Ingredient Formula

The following ingredients make up the formula:

  1. 400mg – Green Coffee extract
  2. 377mg – “Unparalleled Sensory Complex” including:
    – caffeine
    – coleus
    – skullcap
    – huperzine
  3. 100mg – Choline Bitartrate
  4. 60mg – Coleus extract
  5. 25mg – Blue Skullcap

Green CoffeeGreen coffee extract is reported to reduce obesity by preventing the absorption of a portion of the carbohydrates consumed.

Realistically, it might do this, but not as powerfully as other ingredients.

The Unparalleled Sensory Complex is a group of ‘nootropic’ compounds – those which enhance cognitive function in some way. Focus and mental energy are the main benefits. The majority of this proprietary blend will be caffeine.

Choline Bitartrate is another cognitive booster. It increases levels of acetylcholine – a principal neurotransmitter, responsible for muscle signalling amongst other things.

Coleus has been found to act as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. This means it acts as a blocker for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, keeping it active in the system for longer.

Blue Skullcap might be useful in preventing anxiety along with a host of other problems but it is early days yet and research is lacking.

Side Effects

DoctorWe can quite confidently assume there is more than 200mg of caffeine in the “Unparalleled Sensory Complex” so there is potential for a few mild side effects there, especially if you are unused or unsuited to caffeine.

The irony is that you must be ‘off’ caffeine for a couple of weeks – i.e. not habitually drinking coffee – before using it for it to work as a fat burner.

Basically, don’t consume any other source of caffeine while using these pills, and take half the recommended dose for the first couple of days to get used to it.

The other ingredients are generally well tolerated by most people. The Blue Skullcap is an unknown to be honest. There isn’t much information on its effects, however, it is unlikely to cause problems from preliminary evidence.

Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, people with medical conditions and those using medication should avoid this product and other like it.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Instant Knockout CapsulesThis is the internationally available Hydroxycut Hardcore Next Gen. We wouldn’t use either again, given the choice.

Green coffee is not good enough in our opinion to be used as a main ingredient. After that you are left with caffeine and some small doses of nootropic ingredients.

We’d rather stick to what we know works for us and has strong doses of the right ingredients.

If you want to see the review of our favourite fat burner, follow the link below…

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Hydroxycut Hardcore Next Gen – USA Formula – MuscleTech Fat Burner Review

Hydroxycut Hardcore Next Gen BottleHydroxyCut Hardcore Next Gen is one of the many weight loss supplements in MuscleTech’s HydroxyCut product line.

It’s tagline reads “Next Generation Weight Loss and Extreme Sensory!”

The weight loss part is obviously the main idea with a fat burner like this, but the sensory comment refers to the cognitive and mood related element.

Most supplement companies are making the combined fat burner and mood / focus lifter now, given that the latter appears to complement the former. Losing weight is tough for anybody, so we can do with all the support we can get.

HydroxyCut break down the product’s benefits into 2 categories:

  • Enhanced Mental Focus
  • Ultra-Amplified Thermogenesis

The company also pushes the importance of a scientific study that has been carried out with green coffee – one of the main ingredients of HydroxyCut Hardcore Next Gen.They say that most thermogenic fat burners don’t have studies supporting them.

Perhaps they haven’t noticed that most fat burners contain caffeine…and that caffeine is the most scientifically researched and supported ingredient in the business.

So to some extent, most thermogenic fat burners have some level of scientific backing!

CLICK to read about the Highest Rated fat burner

How Does It Work?

Hydroxycut Hardcore Next Gen has a couple of main advertised benefits.

  • Thermogenic Fat Burning
  • Enhanced Cognitive Function

man and dumbbellHydroxyCut Hardcore Next Gen is a stimulant based fat burner. This means that some of active ingredients are included to cause a thermogenic or metabolism boosting effect.

It also contains nootropic ingredients for their benefits to focus and mood.

The main ingredient, however, is Green Coffee; a source of Chlorogenic Acid. This also happens to be the ingredient which the Hydroxycut people talk about at length in their marketing material and videos.

There are a couple of scientific studies which support the theory that Chlorogenic Acid reduces obesity by preventing some carbohydrates from being absorbed by the body.

This is of course something the green coffee supplement manufacturers will exaggerate. There are in fact better supplements for reducing body fat (see recommendations section at the end of this article).

Ingredient Formula

The ingredients in Hydroxycut Hardcore Next Gen are all named on the formula, including their inclusion rates.

  1. 400mg – Green Coffee
  2. 290mg – Caffeine
  3. 100mg – Coleus Extract
  4. 75mg   – Blue Skullcap (scutelleria lateriflora)
  5. 40mg   – Yohimbe extract (pausinystalia yohimbe)
  6. 25mg   – Ophiopogonis
  7. 20mg   – Guayusa (ilex guayusa)

Coffee Caffeine HeartThe main ingredient – green coffee – is the focus of Hydroxycut’s marketing. They like reminding us all of two studies which showed chlorogenic acid (the active compound in green coffee) can somehow reduce the weight of test subjects.

Can it do this well enough at 400mg? Not really, not in our opinion, and not in the opinion of objective experts. It might reduce the uptake of carbohydrates, a little.

Caffeine is present at 290mg. That’s a fairly big dose, considering 500mg a day is enough to cause health problems. Caffeine sensitive people will need to take it slowly to begin with.

Yohimbe is probably the third dedicated weight loss ingredient. We won’t lie: we do not like yohimbe.

It might be the most effective ingredient in this formula for weight loss, but there is also a shadow that follows it around. Yohimbine can cause some unwanted side effects, especially in young adults. Anxiety can be increases, and over-stimulation can occur in some people.

Together with the caffeine dose, there is the potential for some dizziness, anxiety, nausea, headaches and heart palpitations.

The rest of the ingredients: coleus, skullcap etc. are for the “extreme sensory” effect (Hydroxycut’s words, not ours). The biggest sensory effect will come from 290mg of caffeine if you are unused to this much caffeine.

The cognitive ingredients lack a little substance here.

Side Effects

Female DoctorThere are a few potential side effects from the ingredients chosen for Hydroxycut Hardcore Next Gen.

They mainly concern the Caffeine and Yohimbe.

Caffeine works for fat loss if the user is caffeine “naive”. This means they are not habitually consuming caffeine in the form of coffee or other means.

So, to take 290mg a day on a caffeine “naive” stomach is likely to cause at least some mild effects like nausea, dizziness and so on.

People especially sensitive might even get heart palpitations and the jitters.

Yohimbe might compound the caffeine issues, and add some more. It can cause anxiety and more over-stimulation (the shakes, heart racing etc.).

This is the case with all fat burners that are going for the “hardcore” effect. It’s up to the user to decide for themselves whether they are up to it.

Needless to say, this is not a supplement for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Nor is it advised if you have a medical condition or taking medication.

Don’t consume any other source of caffeine or yohimbine while you are taking these pills. Don’t take them within 5-6 hours of bed time.

If you are concerned but still interested, ask your doctor what they think of the formula.

And when taking them for the first time, take less than the recommended dose for the first couple of days to see how you feel.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Hydroxycut Hardcore Next Gen is not something we would use again. It probably works for some people, but we get better results from different supplements that don’t leave us feeling washed out afterwards.

The side effects weren’t bad for us, but we can imagine trying to take it on an empty stomach in the morning, and it wouldn’t be pretty.

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Instant Knockout comes highly Recommended

We mentioned that we think there are better fat burners, with better ingredients.

That’s because green coffee is not that effective. And what you’re left with after that is a massive caffeine dose, some iffy yohimbe and a bunch of fancy sounding plants that may or may not improve your focus. Coleus is a good ingredient but it’s a small dose here.

If you want to see an example of what we think is a great fat burner with epic appetite control, follow the link below to read about it.

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