How do fat burners work?

It is time to look at a very asked about topic, How do Fat Burners Work?! As the heading suggests, fat burning supplements or “Fat burners” support the body’s natural process when it comes to reducing and targeting stubborn body fat. For many, fat burning products enable extra motivation and dedication when it comes to your training. THis will play a pivotal role in supporting and maintaining body composition goals.

Fat burning products work by increasing the speed of our metabolism, specifically formulated to contain ingredients to induce lipolysis (the use of fat as energy), suppression of appetite, a combination of these actions actions will help result in fat oxidation.

Lets take a look into what fat burning supplements actually do in the body, by breaking down the cause and effect of fat burners once consumed.

Are all fat burners the same?

In order to cater for a large variety of individuals within the industry, there are many types of fat burners. Here are a few things to consider when determining which type of fat burner is best for you.

Thermogenic fat burner (powdered):

A thermogenic fat burner contains a range of ingredients, formulated specifically to support fat loss in the body. These types of fat burners come in powder form and a range of flavours to tickle those taste buds. These products also contain caffeine, a stimulant which aids in performance and increases in cognitive function.

Stimulant-free fat burner:

Stimulant free fat burners contain all the ingredients that thermogenic fat burners have, except for caffeine. This enables individuals that train to still take a product that will help their goals. There are also peope who are sensitive to caffeinated products and do like the effects of caffeine.

Fat burning capsules/pills:

Fat burning pills are designed for those who wish to take a more simple and direct approach. Those who aren’t worried about taste and just want to start the thermogenic process, this is the one for you!

How should I use a fat burner?

Fat burners are best taken in conjunction with exercise and typically consumed 15-30mins prior to exercise. Always follow the directions on the label to determine how to fat burners work.

Can I dry scoop a fat burner?

There has been a growing trend within the industry where fitness enthusiasts love to test themselves on camera. The simply scoop out the product and put it straight into the mouth followed by a few sips of water.

Although it makes for engaging content, are you actually doing more harm than good? The answer is YES! Fat burning (all products for that matter) have been specifically formulated to be mixed with water. In order for your body to digest and breakdown the ingredients in the safest way without overwhelming the body, they need to be diluted into a liquid. Always follow the recommended advice listed on the product and trust the process.

What happens to my body if I consume a fat burner?

When we consume fat burners the body begins breaking down and absorbing the ingredients. Lets take a look into what fat burning supplements actually do in the body. Many processes occur when we consume these products and different actions take place.

Thermogenesis

The first process we are going to visit is called “thermogenesis”. Thermogenesis occurs due to the dissipation of energy through the production of heat, our body producing heat through the burning of calories is called thermogenesis. Many factors such as exercise, diet and even climate can effect thermogenesis.

Thermogenesis is a natural metabolic process and is usually heavily induced while exercising. This is a result of our core body temperature heating up. If we apply this to what fat burners can do for us, they are specifically designed with ingredients intended to boost metabolic rate, thereby increasing the rate at which fat stores are used as energy.

Lipolysis

This is another important factor of the fat burning process. Lipolysis refers to the breaking down of fat (lipids). Lipolysis is a process by which our body breaks down stored fats through enzymes and water, also known as hydrolysis.

The process of lipolysis occurs in our adipose tissue. Naturally we store body fat as a back up energy source in case we deplete our glycogen stores. This gives the body a source of energy to resort to where adipocytes (fat cells), are converted into fatty acids. This is the bodies preferred energy source as it not only fuels everyday movement, but also brain function.

When we are working to burn through a calorie deficit or exercise our body will begin dipping into these fat stores as an alternative source of energy. These molecules are released into the bloodstream in the form of fatty acids, allowing our body to further increase energy expenditure and in turn aid in weight loss.

Appetite suppression

Appetite suppression is another extremely important factor when losing body fat. In order to lose body fat we need to be in a calorie deficit. This can mean a few extra hunger craving unfortunately. By using fat burners that commonly contain caffeine and other stimulants, you won’t have to worry about those cravings. Certain ingredients help to curb appetite that we would usually experience without the use of them.

The benefit is not having insatiable cravings or feeling overly hungry, we are more likely to stick to our diet. Through being in a deficit, we can ensure we are going to be losing weight and reducing body fat. Another key aspect to look at is making sure we are consuming enough protein for muscle retention. Consuming higher levels of protein will also help reduce hunger cravings.

Targeting fat loss

When looking at losing body fat, there are many factors throughout the day that need to be taken into consideration.

The first is diet and this is going to be the major factor with tageting fat loss. Food consumed will directly correlate with energy expenditure and the way our bodies respond to physical exercise.

The next factor that should be mentioned is exercise, what type and how often. In order to achieve the best results we need to look at both diet and exercise. This is the simple calories IN vs calories OUT. In order to achieve your weight loss goals, you need to burn more calories than you are consuming. Heart rate directly corresponds with increases in core body temperature. Physical exercise, such as weight training, HIIT and cardio are all ways that can further heat up and help your body burn fat.

Once fat burners are brought into the equation, they most certainly will help support fat loss. Give the diet and exercise your best effort with regard to consistency and staying compliant. Fat Burners will never compensate for a bad diet or no training!

Diet – You are what you eat

One of the biggest misconceptions we see is where people think they can just take a pill or use a fat burner and the miracle of fat loss will happen before their eyes. We all should know this not to be true. Adhering to a calorie deficit is going to play the largest role in your weight loss journey.

The rest is made up of exercise and of course consistency over time. A fat burner can really help give the edge in the quest to reach your body composition goals.

Fat burners are more of an assistant, helping to play a roll in the already structured diet. Fat burners help via boosting energy, promoting the use of fatty acids as energy, curbing your appetite and reducing cravings, increase metabolism and core temperature.

Exercise and weight loss

Exercise, diet and weight loss go hand in hand. All of these components need to be looked at and analysed for results. Being honest with yourself and having realistic goals is going to keep you adhering to the process. If you think fat loss is going to be easy, it’s time to re-think your approach. You will be mentally and physically challenged, you will want to procrastinate and you will want to quit. What separates the weak from the strong is that of persistence and commitment towards your ambitions.

Best fat burners: EHPLabs – Oxyshred

EHPLabs Oxyshred is an industry favourite. It has been one of the most popular products on the market for the last 5 years.

We are huge fans of EHPLabs Oxyshred, its one of those products that simply cannot be denied. It ticks so many boxes from its fat burning capabilities to its amazing flavours. Best of all the flavours taste absolutely amazing.

Is Oxyshred a fat burner?

EHPLabs have created one hell of a popular fat burning supplement. Oxyshred is a name synonymous with getting shredded and the lifestyle that entails. Supported by scientific and pharmaceutically backed research, we can deep dive into why Oxyshred is so popular.

Oxyshred works by targeting your subcutaneous fat stores. Specifically, the formulation of ingredients target the bodies white fat cells which results in an increase in both lipolysis and thermogenesis. Oxyshred does this by helping to metabolise fat stores within your body. It converts those fat cells into glucose which we then utilise as a source of energy.

When consumed on an empty stomach, Oxyshred is a great way to kickstart your metabolism. It is also a pleasant pick me up to get your gears ticking over so that you can power through your day at full capacity. Oxyshred has a few other awesome tricks up it’s sleeve too. Curbing the appetite and reducing food cravings we all tend to get are put at bay while using Oxyshred!

As mentioned earlier a key foundation to long term success while pursuing any fitness goal is quality sleep and managing your levels of stress. Oxyshred will be your go to in this instance as it’s immunity-boosting ingredients will aid in enhancing your overall well-being, delivering a natural and clean boost of energy whilst still managing to keep cortisol at optimal range, keeping you from feeling burnt out and fatigued.

Does Oxyshred help with fat burning?

Combining these ingredients and many more, Oxyshred is one heck of a fat burning product. Boasting scientifically proven ingredients in its formula to induce thermogenesis and lipolysis of fatty acids, Oxyshred ticks all the boxes of a well rounded fat burner. As well as a fat burner it helps improve immunity and well being, plus making the fat loss journey as enjoyable as possible!

Caffeine tolerance – Over doing the stimulants

If you simply cannot start the day without your morning coffee plus dont mind a few througout the day, over-doing the stimulants might be an issue. It is always helpful to know how much caffeine your are consuming including the supplements as a total a 24 hour period.

The reason to be cautious is due to the compounding effts of multiple sources of caffeine. If excess caffeine is consumed for prolonged periods of time it can have some unwanted side effects. Feeling tired, sluggish and lacking in recovery are all factors that can be attributed to excess caffeine consumption. There are also detrimental health risks including adrenal fatigue, heart arrhythmias and a rise in blood pressue that need to be considered.

Adrenal fatigue can occur due to high levels of caffeine consumption. An article published by the (USFDA) suggests, that the typical safe dosage of all caffeine ingested throughout the day for healthy adults is up to 400 milligrams/day. However, individual tolerances vary significantly depending on past and present caffeine usage.

Always be mindful of how much caffeine is consumed over a 24 hour period. This will ensure the effectiveness of the stimulant in relation to exercise and when it is needed most. If excess caffeine is being consumed due to lack of energy or motivation, it is time to look at the outside factors. Lifestyle choices such as sleeping habits, foods consumed and exercise can all increase energy naturally and improve the general health and well being of a persion without relying on caffeine.

What are the best fat burning ingredients

While EHPLabs utilise a hand full of great ingredients in the formulation of their fat burning powder, there are also a few other ingredients that have plenty of research behind them that we should mention.

Caffeine Anhydrous:

Caffeine is a very common stimulant within fat burner products, Caffeine helps in many ways acting as a very comprehensive ingredient, which includes boosting metabolic rate to burn more calories throughout the day, reduce appetite, increase cognitive function as well as give you that burst of energy needed for the gym after a long day of work.

Green Tea:

Green Tea extract is an ingredient that aids in fat loss, not only is it a naturally occurring stimulant, but it contains an antioxidant called catechin. This antioxidant Epigallocatechin (EGCG) has been shown in many studies to boost fat metabolism.

EGCG works through the inhibition of an enzyme that breaks down norepinephrine, (which is the hormone related to the fight or flight response). When this hormone increases there’s more potential to break down stored fatty acids.

Acetyl L Carnitine:

This amino acid has great benefits, the most common is for its fat loss effect. Carnitine helps to transport fatty acids into our cells mitochondria to burn fat, the mitochondria part of our cells are those which turn sugars, fats and proteins from our foods that we eat, into energy.

Consuming Acetyl L Carnitine instead of standard L Carnitine comes with further benefits. This ensures that the carnitine that we are having can cross what is known as the ‘blood brain barrier’ and enters your brain producing a mass of positives such as increased concentration, reduction of blood pressure the list goes on.

The reasons why this amino acids is so effective is because the enzyme that is required to transport fat into the cells to be burnt is carnitine dependant, thereby consuming Acetyl L carnitine your making this process happen at a faster rate, so you can burn through fat stores more effectively.

Conjugated linoleic Acid (CLA):

Conjugated linoleic acid, known as CLA, is another commonly consumed product containing omega-6 fatty acids. CLA supports the naturally occurring function and rate of lipolysis in the stomach through digestion. With suggested benefits of increased weight loss, blood sugar control and muscle tissue retention.

Grains of Paradise

This ingredient is not used widely, however Grains of paradise is a great ingredient with regards to metabolic thermogenesis. GP works by converting your white adipose tissue to brown adipose tissue, once activated, providing an increase rate of energy expenditure meaning you will burn more calories. GP is also known to aid in the prevention of visceral fat accumulation.

Summary

Trying to figure out what supplement does what and how to use them can be a daunting experience for some individuals, especially when you are new to the industry. By reading this article we hope it will help people make the right decisions when choosing a fat burner. With all the information regarding the effects that fat burners have on the body and the best ingredients, products can be tailored to different individuals.

In order to get the most out of your weight loss journey, make sure to look at how many calories your consuming vs how many your burning (Calories IN vs Calories OUT). As explained in this article, the role of fat burners is to be added onto what your already doing to not only support you in achieving your goals, but to give you that extra motivation and support when dieting.

If your after more information about a certain product or looking to change up your current supplement stack, be sure to check out our other blog articles on our website.