It’s getting to be that time of year again. Spring is pushing Winter out and Summer will be here soon. That means you’ll want to get ripped and look your best for the beach, contest, or special event. You’re doing everything you need to but you want an extra boost to help those pounds drop off faster. This is where a thermogenic pre-workout comes in. You can get the benefits of a regular pre-workout with an extra fat-loss kick!
What Is Thermogenesis?
We can define thermogenesis as the use of calories to produce heat in the body. It’s a metabolic process that helps you maintain body temperature. (1) Several supplement ingredients stimulate the metabolism. These are thermogenic and help the body burn unwanted fat.
What Is A Thermogenic Pre-Workout?
For the most part, a thermogenic pre-workout includes everything you expect from a typical pre-workout. They will also supply thermogenic ingredients. Some may have a greater fat loss focus than others. (2) These pre-workouts are formulated to help the user lose fat and achieve a lean physique. At the same time, they support overall workout performance.
How Are Thermogenic Pre-Workouts Different From Regular Pre-Workouts?
A good pre-workout must contain ingredients that promote energy, focus, endurance, pumps, and performance. You should look for ingredients like beta-alanine, betaine, and even creatine. Then there are nitric oxide boosters and water-based pump enhancers such as citrulline, Nitrosigine®, and glycerol. You should also expect a good focus complex. A thermogenic pre-workout should contain all of these and also include a thermogenic/fat loss ingredient or complex.
How To Choose A Thermogenic Pre-Workout
The main thing you should want in a good thermogenic pre-workout is a balanced formula. Yes, you want everything a good pre-workout offers but with added ingredients that can help you reach your fat loss goals. Avoid any products that only target a single aspect beyond fat loss, such as energy. Especially at the cost of the other benefits a pre-workout should provide. You should also choose a quality product that’s well-dosed with a fully disclosed label.
Ingredients To Look For In A Thermogenic Pre-Workout
Caffeine
This is, of course, the most popular stimulant in the world. You know caffeine will increase energy, alertness, and focus. You may not know that it will stimulate thermogenesis and improve performance. (3, 4) Caffeine can have harsh effects at high doses, such as the jitters and the dreaded “crash”. Be sure you choose a thermogenic pre-workout that has a stimulant dose you can handle. Also, some pre-workouts add in theanine, which will help smooth the effects of caffeine.
Capsaicin
This thermogenic ingredient is cayenne pepper. It’s what makes peppers hot. And, as noted, it stimulates thermogenesis. Capsaicin might help reduce appetite. (5)
L-Carnitine
L-Carnitine helps transport fatty acids to the mitochondria to be used as energy by the body. It is a popular ingredient. (6) There will be more than one form of carnitine in thermogenic pre-workouts. The different forms include acetyl-l-carnitine, which has cognitive benefits, and l-carnitine-l-tartrate, which has performance and testosterone-producing benefits.
Gamma-Butyrobetaine (GBB)
This ingredient is considered to be, and commonly called, “super carnitine”. What is it? GBB converts into carnitine in the body. As a supplement ingredient, it has a thermogenic effect while providing the same fatty acid transport benefits as standard carnitine. (7)
Synephrine
This is also known as bitter orange. It was the original replacement for ephedra and has a similar but milder stimulant and other effects. These effects include energy, focus, thermogenesis, and appetite control. (8)
Yohimbe
This ingredient comes from the bark of the Yohimbe tree in South Africa. What does it do? It can increase levels of the hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine. This will, in turn, help your body burn more fat and control your appetite. Yohimbe also has thermogenic properties. (9)
How To Use A Thermogenic Pre-Workout
As many know, you take the product of choice 30 minutes before you train. Of course, follow all the label directions and don’t use a high-stim pre-workout too late in the day. You want to sleep at night!
Should I Cycle My Thermogenic Pre-Workout?
The main reason to cycle a pre-workout is to give your body a break from the stimulants. Your tolerance to the stimulants will build up with any pre-workout you choose to use. The solution is to cycle 3-4 favorite pre-workouts or alternate a stim-based with a stim-free pre-workout.
How To Get The Best Results From A Thermogenic Pre-Workout
If you’re using a thermogenic pre-workout, fat loss is your primary goal. It is no doubt clear that the keys to fat loss are your diet and your level of activity. Of course, cardio should be used to get the fastest results. Everything from brisk walking sessions to HIIT Interval cardio would be a good choice.
There’s also nutrition. To be clear, we’re talking about fat loss, not weight loss. There is a big difference between these two terms. First, fat loss is losing excess body fat only. Second, weight loss means you’re also losing muscle. What you should be thinking is recomposition: losing fat while maintaining muscle mass. This means cardio combined with resistance training.
Don’t Go On A Diet!
Also, make healthy nutritional changes you can live with. I did not say to go on a “diet”. There’s a difference. Going on a “diet” suggests a fast fad approach to “weight” loss. It also suggests you’ll go off the diet at some point. If you can make healthy changes, you are thinking long-term and you can eat that way as long as you need to. Think high protein, low sugar, carb-cycling, and a moderate intake of healthy fats.
Recap
Of course, we have some of the best thermogenic or fat-burning pre-workouts available. A great choice is EPH Labs Oxyshred Hardcore. This powerful Pre features 5 complexes that help burn fat and give you an amazing workout. Stop by illpumpyouup.com and check it out! While you’re here, stock up on all your needs!
References:
- https://meshb.nlm.nih.gov/record/ui?name=Thermogenesis
- Belza, A., Frandsen, E., & Kondrup, J. (2007, January). Body fat loss achieved by stimulation of thermogenesis by a combination of bioactive food ingredients: a placebo-controlled, double-blind 8-week intervention in obese subjects. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16652130
- Astrup, A, et al; “Caffeine: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of its thermogenic, metabolic, and cardiovascular effects in healthy volunteers”; Am J Clin Nutr; 51(5):759-67; 1990; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2333832
- Harpaz, E., Tamir, S., Weinstein, A., & Weinstein, Y. (2017, January 1). The effect of caffeine on energy balance. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27824614
- Tremblay, A., Arguin, H., & Panahi, S. (2016, August). Capsaicinoids: a spicy solution to the management of obesity? Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26686003
- https://examine.com/supplements/l-carnitine/
- Sheen, A. (2016, May 10). LeanGBB® replacement of L-Carnitine. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/AlexSheen3/leangbb-replacement-of-lcarnitine
- Stohs, S. J. (2017, October). Safety, Efficacy, and Mechanistic Studies Regarding Citrus aurantium (Bitter Orange) Extract and p-Synephrine. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28752649
- Ostojic, S. M. (2006). Yohimbine: the effects on body composition and exercise performance in soccer players. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17214405