Many people try to lose body fat like they study for exams; by cramming! They try to lose as much body fat in as short a time as possible. Of course this approach never works. Whilst it is possible to lose weight fast, it is impossible to lose body fat fast.
Our body has been designed to preserve its valuable fat stores so if we are ever faced with a famine it will be able to survive for a long period of time until we find food. Even though famines are rare in our society, our body still does its very best to preserve its fat stores.
As a result, the only way to lose body fat is to lose it slowly. If you try to lose it quickly the body recognises this and kicks in its 'Anti-Starvation Response' to help overcome your efforts. For example, your body will immediately slow your metabolism, break down lean tissue (because it burns up the most energy), increase your appetite and increase the activity of fat-storing enzymes in your body.
Despite the fact that you can only lose body fat slowly, there are ways to help speed up the process. One of the most effective ways is by using 'thermogenics'/ fat burners. Thermogenics or fat burners, as the name suggests, generate more heat in the body by stimulating the nervous system. This speeds up your metabolism, and one of the by-products of energy metabolism is the generation of heat.
By increasing your metabolism you increase the rate at which your body burns fuel for energy and this means that your daily calorie (energy) expenditure is far greater. Increasing your energy expenditure makes it easier to create a calorie (energy) deficit and therefore lose weight. However, if food intake is not controlled and an excess of calories are consumed, thermogenics/ fat burners will not help your weight-loss efforts; they are not 'magic pills'!
Anecdotal evidence suggests that thermogenics/ fat burners can help you lose up to 3 times more body fat compared to diet and exercise alone, making them an effective weapon in your fat-burning arsenal!
There are many brands of thermogenic products/ fat burners on the market and knowing what to look for can ensure that you get the best possible results from your investment of time and money.
Number of thermogenic ingredients
For best results, the thermogenic you choose should contain at least 5 thermogenic ingredients. If it contains less than this then it is likely to be less effective. Also, having a variety of sources means that many different receptors on the nervous system will be targeted rather than just a few. Doing so ensures longer lasting effectiveness of the thermogenic. Having only a few thermogenic ingredients means that the receptors will 'down regulate' the effectiveness of the thermogenic in a short period of time.
Plus, a product that contains a multiple number of thermogenic ingredients means that only a few capsules need to be taken rather than a handful. This makes use of the thermogenic much easier.
The correct ingredients
There are a number of herbal and fruit extracts that have been shown to have beneficial thermogenic effects in the body. The best thermogenic products contain combinations of the following herbal and fruit extracts: Guarana, Green tea, Coleus forskholii, Citrus aurantium, Ginger, Evodia rutaecarpa and Theobroma.
Some so-called thermogenics/ fat burners on the market only contain a few actual thermogenic ingredients combined with 'thermogenic-support' ingredients. For example, L-carnitine was a popular 'fat-burner' in the 80's and 90's (it is actually a fatty acid transporter and not a thermogenic) and is still contained in some products today.
Also, the levels required for L-carnitine to be beneficial are at least 2,000 - 3,000mg, not the few hundred mg doses that some products contain.
It is beneficial for thermogenics/ fat burners to also contain a black pepper extract (a.k.a. Piperine). Piperine has been shown to block proteins and enzymes that limit absorption of nutrients through the intestinal wall. This means maximum absorption of the ingredients from the thermogenic will occur.
Therapeutic doses
It is essential that the level of the ingredients in your thermogenic is adequate. Oftentimes ingredients are simply added to the product as 'label garnish' rather than having a therapeutic effect. For example, Citrus aurantium (the 'cousin' of Ephedra) is an expensive ingredient and should provide a minimum level of active ingredient (oxidrene a.k.a. synephrine) of at least 10mg per serve. Any less than this and the product is not going to be as effective as it should be.
This is certainly one area that may be confusing for many people because the amount of herb or fruit a product contains can be vastly different to the amount of active ingredient (extract) it contains. The extract is the active component; the part that offers the therapeutic effect or benefit.
Cost
Not only do thermogenics (fat burners) vary in number of ingredients, types of ingredients and levels of ingredients but they also vary greatly in cost. It is essential that the thermogenic you consider has a low cost-to-benefit ratio. This means that results you achieve by using the product outweighs the cost of purchasing it.
The cost of the thermogenic you purchase must be less than $1 per serve, which means that if you use two serves a day it is going to cost you less than $2 a day. This is a very reasonable price to pay for accelerating your weight-loss and fat-burning efforts.
Other considerations
Thermogenics are not for everyone. People who suffer from high blood pressure, use blood pressure medication or who are pregnant or nursing should avoid their use entirely. For people who fall into one of those categories there are other supplements that are safe for them to use. SoLean 50+ is a good example. Even though it has been designed specifically for people who are over 50 years of age, it may also be safely used by people of any age who are interested in losing weight.
Thermogenics should not be used on a continuous basis. Since they stimulate receptors on the nervous system, over time the body 'down regulates' those receptors to make the thermogenic less effective. Therefore, it is best to use them for a period of 8 weeks and then have 2 weeks off.
The ingredients in thermogenics also stimulate the adrenal glands to release the catecholamines (epinephrine and nor-epinephrine) into the blood stream. These hormones stimulate the fat cells to release stored body fat, which may then be used as a fuel source by the body. The potential problem is that continued use of thermogenics may lead to 'adrenal exhaustion' so it is always best to avoid using them for longer than 8 weeks.
Overall, thermogenics (fat burners) can certainly help you lose weight faster than you ever thought possible if you use them correctly. Always consult your doctor and have a health check before using them.
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Stephen Smith is the part-owner of Body Concepts, an Australian supplement company, and Focus On, a health and lifestyle magazine. Stephen has been involved in the health and fitness industry for over 18 years and has a science degree from UWA. Lots of free articles and interesting weight loss information can be found on his website: <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/greensmoothie0d-20 /" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.quick-weight-loss-principles.com</a>
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