In my previous two articles, you learned what
supplements can make you the best bodybuilder ever.
But what about these extra fat pounds that you got
when you were trying to bulk up, (or during your
summer vacations), and now you can not get rid of
them? That's what we are going to discuss today.
One note first though: Before I write any ingredient
that can help you lose the pounds that you want,
remember always that at the same time you have to do
some kind of cardio exercises in order to create
bigger fat loss, since you must always burn more
calories than the ones you eat in order to have good
results. Treadmill, or stationary bicycle if you are
in the gym, or for more "active" friends, swimming, or
jogging seems another good solution.
Also cardio training makes your metabolism run hotter and more efficiently.
Cardio training burns more calories and allows you to eat more food while
you are losing body fat.
Finally remember that the right nutrition always
plays
a vital role. You can not eat junk food all the time
and then expect that the A or B fat burner that
you just took can do all the work for you. You must
have a "3 way plan" which means you should always
have in the right balance, your nutrition, your
exercising and your supplementation. So let's start.
1. Ephedrine/Caffeine/Aspirin (E/C/A stack)
For most people this is the "cutting edge" supplement
for fat loss and for a good reason. Many clinical
researches have shown that the combination of these 3
ingredients together can help you lose the
most fat pounds possible. I will explain briefly what
is the main action of each one of them and also their
"herbal" forms, since most supplement companies today
prefer to put them all together in that form, because
it seems to be safer than the original version.
a) Ephedra
Ephedrine is the main active chemical component of the
herb Ephedra. Ephedrine is a beta-adrenergic
agonist, which means it tends to increase your heart
rate and overall thermic (or heat-producing) character
of almost all tissues in the body including muscle
and fat tissue. That simply means it can help you burn
more fat.
a+) Ma-Huang
The "Ephedra sinica" form of this herb contains the
thermogenic chemical "Ephedrine" at a concentration of
about 6%-8%. (ie 250mg of Ma-Huang Extract contains 15-20mg Ephedrine). More info on ephedra.
b) Caffeine
Caffeine promotes fat metabolism and thus spares
carbohydrate for use as energy later in a workout.
Researches have known for years that caffeine has a
positive effect on endurance and that the longer you
exercise, the more profound that effect becomes. Also
in one study they found that subjects
squatted more weight when given caffeine before-hand.
b+) Guarana
Guarana is basically Caffeine in herbal form. Guarana
extract contains around 10%-20% of Caffeine. That
means that 1000mg of Guarana contain around 100-200mg
of Caffeine. (Just read carefully the label to see how
much quantity it contains and make the right
estimation.) More info on caffeine.
c) Aspirin
Aspirin contains Acetylsalicylic acid. It has been
proven that in conjuction with Ephedra plus Caffeine, your
fat loss process can get even greater.
c+) White Willow Bark
This herb contains a substance called salicin.
Fortunately, unlike aspirin which when consumed in large
quantities can cause serious stomach problems, White
Willow Bark contains certain nutrients which
can not put your stomach in risk. White Willow Bark
Extract contains about 10% of salicin.
Recommended dosages: First of all you should remember
that the stacking of these three creates a powerful
stimulant. That means if you are less than 18 years
old or if you are taking a MAO inhibitor or any
allergy, asthma, or cold medications containing
ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine you
should not use Ephedra. Also discontinue use if
dizziness, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, or nausea
occurs.
Also consult a health care practitioner prior to use
if you have high blood pressure, heart or thyroid
desease, diabetes, difficulty urinating, prostate
enlargement or glaucoma. And NEVER exceed the
recommended dosages.
Finally if you are a competitive athlete, do not take
Ephedra, since it belongs in the "forbidden
substances" of the IOC, and if they found you
"positive" in some drug test you will stay for some
months (or even years), out of your favourite sport.
So DO NOT take more than 60-80mg of Ephedrine every
day, 600-800mg of Caffeine, and 300mg of Salicin.
Remember also to take them three times per day, divided
in three equal dosages. (Each one to be 20mg of Ephedrine,
200mg of Caffeine and 100mg of White Willow). And
avoid taking your last dosage before you go to
sleep, because it's never a good idea to take any kind
of stimulant at that time. Try your last dose to be at
least 4-5 hours (depending of how sensitive you
are) before you sleep.
Finally, remember to always cycle Ephedrine since its
the most important ingredient of the E/C/A stack. (So
you should always cycle E/C/A). The best cycle is 6-8
weeks on, followed by 3-4 weeks off.
2. Guggul
I think it is one of the safest fat burners, since it
is not a stimulant.
What it does is preserve or increase thyroid
output, preserve or increase the metabolic rate, and
provide much needed substrates for the production of
neurotransmitters (epinephrine and norepinephrine)
involved in weight loss and metabolic rate. And
something very important is that Guggelsterone therapy
has been shown effective in lowering "bad" cholesterol
and helping to raise the "good" cholesterol. |  |
And since it's not a stimulant you can stack it with any other fat burner for better results.
Recommended dosages: Daily recommendations for Guggul
are typically based on the amount of Guggulsterones in
the extract. A common intake of guggulsterones is 25mg three times per day. (Most extracts contain 5-10%
Guggulsterones). And you don't have to cycle it but
remember that Guggul should be used with caution by
persons with liver disease and in cases of
inflammatory bowel disease and diarrhea. More info on guggul.
3. L-Carnitine
Before the E/C/A stack appeared, it was one of the
best fat burners. But until now, many people use it
because it is not a strong stimulant like the previous.
Even though it might increase slighty your heart
rate, it is considered as one of the safest fat
burners.
L-Carnitine is made in the body from the amino acids
Lysine and Methionine. It is needed to release energy
from fat. Also its mean action is to transfer fatty
acids across cell membranes to the mitochondria where
it can be used as energy.
Also many researches have shown that it plays an
important role in fat metabolism and the reduction of
blood fats (triglycerides), which can create problems with our health in large amounts.
Recommended dosage: L-Carnitine works, (especially the liquid form), when
you consume 4-5gr per day (Prefferably before your weight or cardio training).
It is not one of the supplements that should be cycled, but I would recommend
it in order for your body not to get used it, to again have a 6-8 week cycle,
followed by 3-4 weeks off. More info on l-carnitine.
4. Yohimbe
This herb appears to decrease fat synthesis in the
body as well as increase fatty acid mobilization from
fat stores in women (especially in the hips).
Also further studies have been shown that Yohimbe can
help prevent arteries from becoming clogged. It has
also been used in the treatment of congestive heart
failure and finally it appears that it can help in
male impotence.
Recommended dosage: A typical safe daily amount of
Yohimbine from any product is 15-30 mg. Yohimbine is
found as a natural component of Yohimbe bark. It is
this chemical extract which is the active component of
Yohimbe powder. More info on yohimbe.
5. Chromium
Chromium is an essential trace mineral that helps the
body maintain normal blood sugar levels. Chromium, in
a form called Chromium Picolinate, has been studied
for its potential role in altering body composition.
Preliminary research in animals and humans suggested
that chromium picolinate increases fat loss and lean
muscle tissue gain.
Also in the human body, Chromium is needed for proper
function of insulin. The strongest anabolic hormone,
and in contrast, too little Chromium and you get an
odd type of diabetes that insulin can not control.
Recommended dosage: Maybe it's not a stimulant but
since it's a trace mineral you should always be
careful not to exceed 100-200mcg per day. Because
extreme amounts can led you to suffer from liver and
kidney damage. You don't need to cycle it, but
remember again you must not take huge amounts of it in
order to get more benefits.
6. Hydroxycitric Acid (or Garcinia cambogia, HCA)
Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is a fruit extract with a
chemical composition similar to citric acid (the
primary acid in citrus fruits). Preliminary research,
based on laboratory experiments and animal research,
suggests that HCA may be a useful weight loss aid. HCA
has been demonstrated in the laboratory (but not yet
in trials with people) to reduce the conversion of
carbohydrates into stored fat by inhibiting certain
enzyme processes. Also it is one of the "pretty safe" diet
supplements.
Recommended dosage: 500mg taken before your meals 3
times a day (in a total of 1500mg per day).
7. Soy Protein
Last but not least for today, I have included Soy
Protein for fat loss, and I will explain why.
Soy Protein supplementation can help boost
thyroid-hormone levels and maybe help maintain them
during calorie restricted diets, since when you start
dieting, your body always tries to keep your fat by
lowering thyroid hormone levels, making it even more
difficult to lose fat.
I think that lsolated Soy Protein is the best since it
contains large amounts of phytochemicals which can help
support natural production of your thyroid hormones.
Recommended dosage: Add 40-50
grams of soy protein per day with your meal
replacement powder, when you are dieting.
This was my fourth article that was devoted especially
to people that want to lose some unecessary pounds.
You just read seven of the best fat burners available
today on the supplement market. I repeat again that if
you are not a perfectly healthy individual, consult
your doctor before you take any of them.
Also, remember never to stack any kind of fat burners,
because you might experience greater health risks. The
only combination you can use, is the first one that l
wrote (E/C/A). Also one more combination can be
done only with Guggul or Soy Protein plus anyone of the
above. Also never exceed the recommended dosages l
wrote.
Finally, don't forget that you should never lower your
fat consumption on food too much. ln contrast EFA's
(Essential Fatty Acids) are more than valuable in your
diet in order to lose pounds more effectively. (Read
my previous article to learn more about EFA's).
In my next week's article you will learn how you can
make the perfect "bulking phase" and to pack on good
quality pounds, either if you are a hard gainer or
not. Stay tuned.
giannis@bodybuilders.com
Recommend this article to a friend by e-mail here!
Back To John Stamatopoulos' Main Page
Back To The Articles Main Page.
Related Articles
The Power Of A Refeed And Leptin!
The Nutritional Equivalent To Liposuction!
Supplements For Slackers: What To Take If Your Diet Stinks.
Article #4 - The Best Fat Loss Supplements
