Weight Loss For Idiots

Review: Abdominal cuts green revolution: abdominal profile cuts?

2010-10-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

Revolution's Abdominal Cuts Green is a new offering from the folks who brought us the popular Abdominal Cuts, a CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) based diet supplement. The new "Green" version of this product builds upon the original formula, subtracting a few ingredients and adding a couple of new (and hopefully more effective) ones.

The reason why this product is now labeled as "green" is because of the addition of fucoxanthin, which is derived from certain types of seaweed. Fucoxanthin or not, how does this product measure up to the advertised claims of being able to target fat loss from hips, butt, stomach and mid-section, as well as suppressing your appetite?

To answer that, let's have a closer look at the ingredient profile.

According the product labeling I saw at GNC, a single serving of one capsule contains 1645 mg of ingredients. Considering that the largest capsule most people can tolerate (size 00) holds a maximum of 600-1000 mg of ingredients or so (how much exactly depends on the density of the ingredients included), I'm going to assume this is a typo and this dosage is reflective of a two-capsule serving.

Of course, I know what is said about "assuming" anything, but since a single, 3-capsule serving of Abdominal Cuts offers up 2400 mg of ingredients (or 800 mg per cap), it seems logical to assume a 1645 mg dose of this similar product would be offered up in 2 capsules.

Additionally, this is a proprietary blend, so we can't actually confirm the exact amount of any of the ingredients. Which means we don't know which ones are present in dosages strong enough to elicit an effect. It's quite possible several of them are present only as label dressing. Anyhow, here's what's in Abdominal Cuts Green...

1) Vitamin E: A fat soluble vitamin, a potent antioxidant, and a natural preservative.

2) Organic safflower oil: Commonly used as a source of CLA or conjugated linoleic acid (although the label does not indicate this). There is some evidence that CLA is beneficial for weight loss. A recent meta-analysis (see American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 85, No. 5, 1203-1211, May 2007) concluded...

"Given at a dose of 3.2 g/d, CLA produces a modest loss in body fat in humans."

Incidentally, not all of CLA's characteristics are beneficial; it may also increase inflammation and insulin resistance.

There's also a small issue with one of the isomers in CLA, specifically the T10 C12 isomer, stimulating the production of mammary tumors in animal models.

Don't panic though; for one, you're not a mouse, and two, the other primary isomer in CLA (called T9 C11) seems to have the opposite effect.

Does Revolution's Abdominal Cuts Green contain the minimum 3.2 grams (3200 mg) of CLA shown to be effective?

There's no way to be sure, although with a full-day's dose of 6 caps delivering just over 4900 mg of ingredients, it is certainly possible.

3) Conjugated Linolenic Acid (CLnA) (from Organic Pomegranate Seed Oil): There are preliminary animal studies show promising results for weight loss (see J Agric Food Chem. 2007 May 2;55(9):3741-8. Epub 2007 Mar 30, Nutrition. 2006 Jan;22(1):54-9. Epub 2005 Oct 12, Lipids Health Dis. 2004 Nov 9;3:24), but to date, no published human-based data exists.

4) Alpha Linolenic Acid: An omega 3 fatty acid, there is some evidence that ALA lowers blood pressure, serum cholesterol and blood lipids (see J Hum Hypertens. 1990 Jun;4(3):227-33, Am J Clin Nutr. 1986 Sep;44(3):336-40). Whether or not its included in Abdominal Cuts in a dose strong enough to elicit such beneficial effects is something we do not know.

5) Organic Wakame: Wakame is a seaweed, and in this product, a source of fucoxanthin.

Fuco-what?

Fucoxanthin. It's a carotenoid present in seaweed and other marine vegetables. Thereis a small amount of promising evidence that indicates Fucoxanthin is useful for weight loss (see Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Jul 1;332(2):392-7, Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2008;17 Suppl 1:196-9). The bad news is that to date, any published material has been based on animal studies.

Additionally, there's the problem of low bioavailability of these compounds in humans. This study (see Br J Nutr. 2008 Aug;100(2):273-7) concluded...

"... results indicated that the plasma response to dietary epoxyxanthophylls was very low in humans even after 1-week intake of epoxyxanthophyll-rich diets."

The question then becomes...

If the human body has such real difficulty accessing this compound, how effective can it be as a fat burner? This is a question that can only be answered in a peer-reviewed, published study. And of course, nothing like that exists yet.

On a more positive note, there is some newer study data that indicates the combination of fucoxcanthin and pomegranate oil does show positive weight loss effects. Does this product contain the precise amounts shown helpful in the study? Although there's no way to tell for sure, my guess would be, "probably not."

6) Gamma linoleic acid (GLA): Commonly derived from borage or evening primrose oil, GLA is an omega-6 fatty acid. Although it is commonly prescribed to treat illnesses that involve inflammation (i.e., rheumatoid arthritis) some studies have investigated GLA's role in weight loss. One study (Int J Obes. 1983;7(6):549-53) concluded...

"It would appear that any antiobesity property possessed by EPO (evening primrose oil) is clinically insignificant."

Another study (Swed J Biol Med. 1986;4:8-11) demonstrated GLA elicited a small amount of weight loss in people who have a family history of obesity.

At this point, GLA's role in weight loss has not been clearly demonstrated, although it's certainly a beneficial addition to anyone's diet.

7) Organic sesame seed oil: Sesame seed oil contains a lignan (a phytoestrogen) called sesamin, which according to some retailers, lowers both blood pressure and cholesterol, increases the oxidation of fatty acids in the liver and muscle tissue (which should result in increased fat burning), as well as reduces the levels of certain enzymes which contribute to the storage of fat.

Although there are preliminary studies that confirm this (see Lipids, Volume 26, Number 7, 512-516, Journal of Lipid Research, Vol 32, 629-638, J. Agric. Food Chem., 2001, 49 (5), pp 2647–2651, Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin Vol. 25 (2002), No. 9 1247, Atherosclerosis 122 (1996) 135- 136), the vast majority of them are animal-based, performed with doses much larger than likely to be present here (especially when you factor in a Human equivalent dose, or HED).

So while it's probably fair to say that sesamin is a healthy addition to anyone's diet, it's a bit of a stretch to describe it as a fat burning miracle, especially at what is likely to be an insignificant dosage.

8) Organic grape seed oil: Grape seed oil has a light taste and a high flash point, making it ideal for cooking. It's also a great source of alpha linoleic acid, a beneficial omega-6 fatty acid. You've probably also heard about the amazing antioxidant benefits of grape seed extracts—none of these pertain to grape seed oil however (proanthocyanidins, the type of antioxidant present in grape seed, are insoluble in lipids).

So there you have it; Abdominal Cuts Green in a nutshell.

How's it fare as a weight loss supplement?

The main weight loss benefits are largely attributable to CLA. And, if CLA is present at the minimal effective dose of 3.2 grams (and we can't confirm this) that leaves 1735 mg of ingredients left to be divided up between the remaining 7 ingredients (this, at the full 6-caps per day dosage).

So it is entirely possible that several other healthy or beneficial ingredients are present at a useful dose. But we can't confirm if they are, and which ones they are, which makes it very difficult to accurately assess the value of this product (of course, if Revolution wanted to make things easier for us, they could reveal all this information on the label).

For instance, CLA can be purchased relatively inexpensively—as little as $16 for more than a month's worth. Same for borage oil, a great source of GLA.

Other ingredients, like fucoxanthin, are more expensive to purchase in isolation. So a product that contained a useful dosage of fucoxanthin within its formula might justify a higher cost.

The problem—at the risk of sounding like a broken record—is that we can't confirm the dosage of any of the ingredients so in fairness, we can't speculate on Abdominal Cuts Green's value.

Not from either a "bang for the buck" perspective or a "fat burning" perspective.

But the thing is, Revolution should make it easy for you to assess the value of its product, and the fact that they don't, speaks volumes. If some of the ancillary ingredients were present at helpful dosages, wouldn't you want to flaunt that fact?

Hardly confidence inspiring, in my opinion.

So the choice is up to you; you can buy CLA in isolation for $16. Or you can shell out $45 or so for Abdominal Cuts Green in the hopes that perhaps it contains a useful dose of CLA, plus enough of the other worthwhile ingredients to justify the difference in cost.

Your call. I know what I'd do.

Review: Joel Marion Cheat your Way Thin feeding program

2010-10-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

Joel Marion is a former Body for Life champion, personal trainer, established author (he's written for Men's Fitness, Muscle Media, Woman's Day, SELF, Muscle & Fitness Hers, MuscleMag International, Oxygen and more) and the brains behind the new "Cheat Your Way Thin" diet program.

As you and I know, there are precisely a bazillion diet programs available these days. So the most obvious question I had, as I sat down to review the program, was...

"What makes Cheat Your Way Thin different? What makes it better, worse, or more likely to lead its practitioners to success—or failure? Does Joel Marion really have a unique approach to weight loss?"

Interestingly enough, the theory behind this diet is a little different than what you may be used to; Joel's program is designed to manipulate the hormone leptin—a hormone that plays a critical role in weight loss/gain.

Put simply, Joel postulates it is this hormone that is largely responsible for the slowing of weight loss that occurs on any diet program.

Believe it or not, Joel is not pulling this out of the air—there is some evidence to support this theory. In one small study (see J. Clin. Invest. 115(12): 3579-3586 2005), individuals were placed on a 800 calorie per day diet on which they remained until they lost 10% of their initial weight.

At this point, it was found that levels of both leptin and thyroid hormones had dropped significantly, as had the participants' respective metabolic rates (not surprising; we both know how the weight comes off quickly on any diet initially, but then begins to slow, until any further progress is almost impossible).

The next stage of the study saw participants receive twice daily injections of leptin, which brought thyroid hormone levels and energy expenditure back to normal.

Participants then went on to continue losing fat mass, while retaining their lean muscle.

Of course, since leptin can only be administered by injection (it is broken down if taken orally), supplemental leptin is not an option for most people. Thankfully, Joel proposes an easier, cheaper, and less painful solution.

Joel argues that leptin levels can be raised by short periods of over-feeding coupled with the cycling of carbohydrate consumption (this, in essence is the core of the program; cycling nutrients (carbohydrates, mostly) and calorie levels, interspersed with periods of over-feeding).

Hormone manipulation through calorie cycling is not a new concept; bodybuilders have been playing around with this for years. And yes, there is some evidence calorie cycling can effect critical hormones—specifically testosterone, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor (see American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 49, 608-611).

Other evidence suggests diminished leptin levels can return to baseline levels within 12 hours of "re-feeding (see The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol. 82, No. 2 561-565), giving credence to Joel's argument that "cheating" can effect leptin levels in a way that encourages weight loss.

At this point, you're probably thinking this diet is bogged down in theory and you'll never get through it.

Not so.

Joel does provide an overview of his leptin theory in one of the audio files that accompanies the program, but the actual program manual is extremely short, concise, and simple to follow. I've provided this background information here only to establish that Joel's program is credible, and to show there is some real, verifiable science behind his theories.

Here's the gist of the diet program, and what you can expect on it. To begin with, you start off on...

1) The Priming Phase: A three-week phase that begins and ends with a cheat day, and consists of a blend of low carb days (where you consume minimal carbs) and low glycemic index (GI) / low glycemic load (GL) days (on these days, you eat more carbohydrates, but you stay away from the high glycemic carbs that can spike your insulin levels).

A full description of low glycemic index (GI) / low glycemic load (GL) carbs is provided in the manual, along with a list of food resources for each.

This first three week period is the most restrictive of the program.

Next, you move to...

2) The Core Phase: Here you have 5 different options to choose from, depending on your tolerance to carbohydrates and your own preferences. There are ton of options here, so I'll just give you a breakdown of the "standard" week in this phase.

It consists of...

Two low carb days, followed by...Two low GI/GL days, followed by...Two higher GI/GL days, followed by...A cheat day.

You stay on the Core Phase until you reach your weight loss goals.

3) The Maintenance Phase: A repeating 7-day plan, that consists of...

1 low-carb day, followed by...1 low GI/GL day followed by...2 higher GI/GL days followed by...1 low GI/GL day followed by...1 higher GI/GL days followed by...A cheat day

And that's basically the gist of it. Of course, I have simplified things for the sake of this review. The "Cheat Your Way Thin" manual will show you exactly what are acceptable meal choices for each and every option listed here, so there's absolutely no guesswork involved. Despite its apparent complexity and complication, there's really not much to this, short of meal preparation.

What do you get for your money? I reviewed the "deluxe version" of the program, which included...

4 PDF files: The program manual, a recipe manual, a workout program, and a program checklist. 3 audio files: GameChanger, Confessions, and Strategies files2 Microsoft Excel files: A calculator (which determines your caloric requirements for the various elements of the diet), and a journal, to track your progress. 1 Microsoft word document: The "cheat your way thin" quick reference cards.

In short, everything you need is here—a roadmap to success, if you like. All in all, Cheat Your Way Thin is a diet definitely worth experimenting with; even if you don't buy the whole "leptin thing", the fundamentals of this diet are sound, regular cheat days do allow you—at least on occasion—to eat whatever you want, and calorie cycling is a well-established means of combating the whole "weight loss" plateau thing.

Bottom line?

If you're in the market for a solid diet-plan, Cheat Your Way Thin is definitely worth investigating. You can learn more about the program here!

Review: USP Labs OxyELITE Pro - get CRIC!

2010-10-28T09:45:00.000-07:00

Reviewing USP Labs' products are a little more fun to review than the standard fare we usually encounter here at UltimateFat Burner.com. Of course, that doesn't mean their products—like the new OxyELITE Pro™ that we're looking at today—are dramatically more effective than those produced by their competitors. It does mean, at least, that they don't sleep-walk through the process of formulating their products, or copy someone else's compilation.

In the past, we've looked at USP's Recreate fat burner and their pre workout supplement "Jacked" (which Elissa really liked). In fact, one of the advertising claims for OxyElite Pro is that it's...

"It's like Jacked in a pill with crazy fat burning!"

This is likely attributable to its DMAA content, but let's leave that for a minute. One of the things I found most interesting about this product was the "scientifically reviewed" featured so prominently in big letters on the label. I wonder if someone could explain to me what this means, exactly?

This product certainly hasn't been "scientifically reviewed" by a panel of third party experts, nor has any peer-reviewed study been performed and published on it. As far as I can figure it, "scientifically reviewed" is meaningless marketing gibberish.

Getting to the ingredients now, the OxyElite formula looks a little tepid at first glance, with a single dose / capsule containing a mere 219.5 mg of them.

Don't be fooled though, this product likely packs one heck of a wallop.

Here's what you'll find in each capsule...

1) Caffeine: A popular alkaloid and central nervous system stimulant found in coffee, tea, cola nuts, guarana and yerba mate.

Caffeine, of course, has mild thermogenic effects and can enhance exercise performance.

It also cheaply and effectively addresses the #1 complaint of any dieter—fatigue.

2) Bauhinia Purpurea: A medium-sized, deciduous, fast growing shrub common to south China and Asia. It's Included in this formula on the basis of animal data (see here) that suggests Bauhinia supports thyroid hormone levels. No studies have been performed to confirm similar effects in humans. Unlike the next ingredient I'll discuss, however, studies were performed which a much lower dosage, meaning it is possible there is enough Bauhina present here to potentially offer benefits, should they be applicable.

3) Bacopa Monniera: Typically used to enhance focus and concentration. It is also included for its supposed thyroid regulating effects, based entirely on animal data (see J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Jul;81(2):281-5).

Again, no studies have been performed to confirm a similar effect in humans. In fact, if you check the reference, you'll see the mice in the study were receiving a 200 mg/kg dosage, which means a human being would certainly need a HUGE dosage to duplicate the results, should they be applicable.

Obviously, the amount included in this formula is not going to have any effect on stabilizing thyroid levels—heck, there's not even enough here to support focus/concentration which usually requires a dose of about 300 mg.

4) 1,3-Dimethylamylamine: This compound is also known as "methylhexaneamine." 1,3-Dimethylamylamine (DMAA), is an adrenergic amine that acts as a CNS stimulant. It was originally patented by Eli Lilly as a nasal decongestant in 1944, but largely abandoned until re-introduced as a dietary supplement (Geranamine™) by Proviant Technologies, the parent company of Ergopharm.

Although there's no current research on it, DMAA's gotten mostly rave reviews from users for its effects on mood, focus and energy. A few have reported problems with higher doses, however, so some caution is advised.

USP's OxyElite Pro is not the first weight loss product to contain DMMA. Ergolean's AMP (and now AMP 2) contains it, and garnered a fair bit of mainstream negative publicity, with one expert calling the legality of DMAA into question and saying...

"The chemical structure is similar to amphetamines and ephedrine..."

Having experimented with a DMAA-based pre-workout supplement myself (Nutrex's HemoRage) I can testify to the potency of DMAA for getting you "jacked."

5) Cirsium Oligophyllum: According to the OxyElite advertising...

"Our use of this plant is based upon an animal study which had suggested that compared to a control group, the extract was able to reduce the gain of bodyweight and fat mass and specifically seemed to target subcutaneous fat mass over that of visceral fat mass with a ratio favoring the reduction of subcutaneous fat mass over that of visceral!"

Just so you know, the study they are discussing is this one: Int J Biol Sci 2009;5(4):311-318. Same problem however; no data exists to confirm similar effects and appropriate dosage in humans. Its value here is speculative at best.

6) Rauwolscine: Also known as a-yohimbine or corynanthidine, this is a yohimbine alkaloid included in this formula for its ability to act as an alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist. According to USP Labs, it is much more effective than yohimbe as a weight loss agent. Again, it all makes sense in theory, but there's no good clinical data to draw on to confirm their conclusions.

So at the end of the day, what have you got?

Very little in the way of proven weight loss ingredients.

As you can plainly see, many of the most "cutting edge" ingredients are under-dosed, and included on the basis of positive animal studies (the results of which may or may not be applicable to humans).

Since no human-based data exists for these ingredients, their touted effects are speculative at best.

Of course, that does not mean OxyELITE Pro won't kick you smack-dab in the seat of your pants. There's no doubt the combination of caffeine, DMAA and rauwolscine will get you seriously wired.

If you're the sort of person who has a high tolerance for stimulants and likes to take fat burners for the jolt of energy they provide, you probably won't go wrong with this product—it's available online from BodyBuilding.com, our recommended online retailer. Just don't expect the sort of fat burning results that are promised in the advertising.

If you are interested in experimenting, my recommendation is that you do your best to get your hands on a sample or two of any DMAA-based supplement to try first (even a pre-workout supplement like Nutrex's HemoRage or USP Lab's Jacked will work). You might not like the DMAA experience. It can be pretty intense.

As I said earlier, I got one heck of a blast from the DMAA in HemoRage—and while it got me pretty "revved" up for my workout, it's not a feeling I would like to repeat on a daily basis. That feeling is a bit difficult to describe; like being wired on caffeine or ephedrine but without the jitters. The jitters are happening alright... just on the inside. A bit weird. And a bit un-nerving.

Also... a word to the wise—don't exceed the recommended dosage. DMAA can be pretty potent stuff, and depending on how much is included in this formula, may really get you wired. And if you are...

New to stimulant-based fat burners.Sensitive to caffeine and other stimulants.Suffering from an underlying disorder, such as heart disease and high blood pressure.

... you should not experiment with this product.

Ripped Freak Review: A Hybrid Drug Fat Burner?

2010-10-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

The word is out; Pharma Freak's Ripped Freak is some seriously strong stuff. And I'm not talking "ephedra-stack" strong. I'm talking "rip-your-head-off-and-spit-down-your-throat strong." All the feedback I've received on Ripped Freak to date has been the same... take at your own discretion, this is a powerful product.

So what's the deal? Is Ripped Freak —advertised as a "hybrid drug fat burner"—really the "most powerful bodybuilding supplement legally available in North America? To answer that question, let's first deconstruct some of the sales copy and then take a look at the ingredients. Beginning with the sales copy...

"Hybrid-drug" is a term that's been coined by a team of leading pharmaceutical and organic chemists working in the sports supplement industry. A hybrid-drug is defined as a compound derived from nature that's been organically altered or synthesized to deliver more powerful drug-like effects!"

Sounds impressive, right? Yep, but it ain't true. Never mind the fact that leading pharmaceutical and organic chemists are not working in the sports supplement industry,

the term "hybrid drug" is one that is already taken.

And what about this one?...

"... the RIPPED FREAK formula also contains five newly discovered methylated derivatives of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) from green tea extract."

In case you've forgotten, EGCG is an essential catechin of green tea, to which some of its thermogenic and weight loss benefits have been attributed. What Pharma Freak has neglected to mention here is that these so-called "newly discovered" EGCG derivatives are naturally occurring, and are likely present in other green tea extracts as well. Plus, there's absolutely no indication that the ECGC derivatives are superior to the parent compound for fat loss.

With that said, what's in Ripped Freak? Good question...

1) 5 methylated derivatives of EGCG: As I mentioned already, EGCG is an essential catechin of green tea. And even though EGCG is helpful for weight loss (see J Am Coll Nutr. 2007 Aug;26(4):389S-395S) some studies (see J Am Coll Nutr. 2007 Aug;26(4):396S-402S) have indicated that...

More potent dosages of EGCG may lead to greater effect EGCG may work best when combined with other catechins and stimulants—like those found in green tea.

Unfortunately, there's no evidence to suggest these naturally occurring methylated versions of EGCG are any more effective for weight loss than the parent compound.

2) 1,3-Dimethylamylamine: This compound is also known as "methylhexaneamine." 1,3-Dimethylamylamine (DMAA), is an adrenergic amine that acts as a CNS stimulant. It was originally patented by Eli Lilly as a nasal decongestant in 1944, but largely abandoned until re-introduced as a dietary supplement (Geranamine™) by Proviant Technologies, the parent company of Ergopharm.

Ripped Freak is not the first weight loss product to contain DMMA. Ergolean's AMP, AMP 2 and USP's OxyElite Pro contain it. The launch of AMP garnered a fair bit of mainstream negative publicity, with one expert calling the legality of DMAA into question and saying...

"The chemical structure is similar to amphetamines and ephedrine..."

I've experimented with DMAA-containing pre-workout supplements (i.e., Nutrex's Hemo Rage), and can attest to the potency of this ingredient as a stimulant.

3) 1,3,7-trimethyl-1H-purine-2,6(3H,7H)-dione: A very deceptive way of labeling "caffeine." Caffeine, of course, is a common, albeit relative mild thermogenic, with well-established effects (see Am J Clin Nutr. 1989 Jan;49(1):44-50, Am J Clin Nutr. 1980 May;33(5):989-97). In this formula, caffeine is one of the two allegedly engineered compounds, and is delivered in the "methyl gallate ester" format. When conferring with our scientific and technical advisor Elissa, here's what she told me...

Neither caffeine nor raspberry ketones (the other "engineered" ingredient in this formula) is a majorly impressive thermogenic, so it remains to be seen whether delivering them as methyl gallate esters improves anything. In my opinion, improving the half life and bioavailability of caffeine is more likely to get you/keep you more wired than ever, which isn't necessarily a good thing."

She also sent me this link for a patent which discusses the potential use of methyl gallate esters for improving drug bioavailability. Apparently, it's not completely clear whether this is largely based on in-vitro work and speculation, or whether there are actually drugs with pharmacokinetic data in humans that prove it actually works as claimed. Just because something looks good on paper, doesn't mean it works very well in real life.

4) Red Pepper Ester Stack: Red peppers contain capsaicin, a chemical that gives chile peppers their "heat." The theory is that capsaicin "revs" up your metabolism by creating heat, thus burning off extra calories. However, this study (Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2007 Jan;292(1):R77-85. Epub 2006 Jul 13) says it best...

"Capsaicin has been shown to be effective, yet when it is used clinically it requires a strong compliance to a certain dosage, that has not been shown to be feasible yet."

In other words, in order for capsaicin to have an effect on your metabolism, it has to be taken in doses much too high to make it practical. Delivering several variations of this compound in "ester" format may make it more effective, but there's no evidence to demonstrate this conclusively.

5) Raspberry Ketone (4-(4-hydroxyphenyl) butan-2-one): a phenolic compound derived from red raspberries, raspberry ketones have only really been shown effective in animal studies (you can view the details of the study here). You are not a mouse, and the results of animal studies do not necessarily translate over to humans.

An unpublished pilot study performed on Razberri-K (a patented form of raspberry ketones) demonstrated it enhanced post-exercise fat oxidation, although the results were apparently not large enough to be statistically significant.

Does delivering this ingredient in a "methyl gallate ester" form vastly improve the thermogenic efficiency of this ingredient?

There's no clinical evidence to confirm or deny this claim.

And there you have it... Ripped Freak in a nutshell.

As you can see, the claims of "superior fat burning effectiveness" and "hybrid drug technology" is complete nonsense; it's marketing 101.

That's not to say this product isn't going to tear your head off. The combination of DMAA and caffeine in the methyl gallate ester format is likely the culprit here.

One friend of mine—who is comfortable using the full-blown ephedra stack—was unable to finish the product because of the way it made him feel. "Spacey and kind of stoned, and I was getting huge red blotches all over my body", were his exact words to me. He took the two capsule dose only once before a training session that he was later unable to remember. He ended up giving the remainder of the product to another friend, who also gave it up after a couple of doses.

I also received this email recently from a visitor named Brian (nallickbrian At AOL.com)...

"...can you please review/warn people about a new fat burner called Ripped Freak. I took one pill of this as suggested and I thought I was going to end up in the hospital. I was sick, dizzy, and my heart rate was going through the roof. It was one of the scariest products I've ever taken. Not even ephedra affected me like this."

In conclusion, there's no doubt this is a hardcore product. And while raspberry ketones, EGCG and caffeine are moderately helpful for weight loss, the fat burning benefits are extremely exaggerated. Plus, there's little real evidence to suggest delivering a couple of relatively mild thermogenics in methyl gallate ester format improve their efficiency.

Nonetheless, initial feedback indicates this is one product not for the faint of heart. It's definitely not for anyone with underlying health issues, or a newcomer to thermogenics. Be very careful with this one, and should you decide to experiment, absolutely do not exceed the recommended dose.

It would have been nice if Pharma Freak had halved the dose in order to make this product a little more tolerable. By creating such a potent product they are playing with fire, especially if the adverse reaction reports pile up and cause a ban by the FTC.

It might be a smart solution therefore, to create your own version of Ripped Freak. Most of the ingredients in this product are available on their own. For example you could stack 1,3-Dimethylamylamine, caffeine, raspberry ketones, and green tea extract and create a "customizable" product with a dosage that you can tolerate.

Rx6 Fat Burner sports IPO Review: things!

2010-10-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

BPI's Rx6™ boasts "6 in 1 fat loss technology" that offers "hours and hours of non-stop energy and fat burning."

Of course, if you're a regular visitor to UltimateFat Burner.com, you're aware that in the supplement industry, talk is cheap. Because supplement retailers don't actually have to demonstrate that their products work as described, they can pretty much say whatever they want.

And they often do.

So let's cut away the advertising spiel, and break down the Rx6™ formula and see how it really measures up.

What's in it?

A single, 618 mg serving contains the following...

1) Niacin (20 mg): Also known as Vitamin B3, high dosages of niacin have been shown to lower LDL cholesterol levels, help with diabetes-associated ailments, and, when used in conjunction with statin drugs, slows the progression of arteriosclerosis. Of course, in this product you're receiving only a fraction of the amount of niacin shown effective in the aforementioned studies.

2) 6-In-1 Fat Burning Proprietary Blend: This 238 mg blend contains the following 6 ingredients...

Thiamine Disulfide: Thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1, plays an important role in energy metabolism, and is thought to play a role in appetite suppression. This novel, potent version of thiamine is being touted as a potent enhancer of physical and mental energy—especially when combined with caffeine (as it is in this formula). 1,3 Diimethylamylamine: This compound is also known as "methylhexaneamine." 1,3-Dimethylamylamine (DMAA), is an adrenergic amine that acts as a CNS stimulant. It was originally patented by Eli Lilly as a nasal decongestant in 1944, but largely abandoned until re-introduced as a dietary supplement (Geranamine™) by Proviant Technologies, the parent company of Ergopharm.

Although there's no current research to validate any of the outrageous claims made for it, DMAA has gotten mostly rave reviews from users for its effects on mood, focus and energy. A few have reported problems with higher doses, however, so some caution is advised.

Rx6 is not the first weight loss product to contain DMMA. It's popping up in more and more weight loss supplements these days; Ripped Freak, Ergolean's AMP, AMP 2 and USP's OxyElite Pro all contain it. The launch of AMP garnered a fair bit of mainstream negative publicity, with one expert calling the legality of DMAA into question and saying...

"The chemical structure is similar to amphetamines and ephedrine..."

I've experimented with DMAA-containing pre-workout supplements (i.e., Nutrex's Hemo Rage), and can attest to the potency of this ingredient as a stimulant.

Amla (10:1 Extract): Also known as Indian gooseberry, Amla is included in fat burners for its "supposed" role as a beta-2 adrenergic agonist (thanks to an active compound called "phyllemblin."). These type of compounds can have such effects as raised energy intake and expenditure.

Unfortunately, and as already noted in the Cellucor D4 Thermal Shock review, there's no accessible published research to validate this claim. At best, all we have is the fact that Amla is an Ayurvedic treatment for asthma and cough, so it's possible that it offers some sort of beta-adrenergic activity.

Synephrine: Once thought to be a credible alternative to ephedra, published research has not been kind to synephrine. Anecdotal evidence suggests it may have some appetite suppressing qualities, but this has not been borne out by any credible studies. MethylSynephrine: Is the methylated version of synephrine any more effective than the "regular" stuff I just discussed? There's no published research to indicate that it is. Yohimbine Hcl: The standardized extract of the bark of the African Yohimbe tree, there is some data showing yohimbine is a somewhat effective weight loss supplement (see Isr J Med Sci. 1991 Oct;27(10):550-6) likely because of its action as an alpha 2-receptor antagonist. Evidence also validates its "lipid-mobilizing action."

3) MethylCore Proprietary Burning Blend: This 360 mg blend contains the following 7 ingredients...

Caffeine: Not surprising to find this here—caffeine has a well established record as a mild thermogenic, and does deliver mild weight loss results (see Am J Clin Nutr. 1989 Jan;49(1):44-50, Am J Clin Nutr. 1980 May;33(5):989-97).

It also cheaply and effectively addresses the most common complaint of dieters; lack of energy.

Also of note is the amount of caffeine in a serving—a whopping 300 mg. That's a lot, around 3 cups of coffee worth. We're delving into Muscle Tech territory here, and folks who are sensitive to stimulants are probably going to want to give this product a miss.

300 mg of caffeine, stacked with yohimbine, synephrine and DMAA is going to pack a punch Mike Tyson would be envious of. Remember too, that you can't take half a dose to assess your tolerance... this is all served up in a single, one-cap serving.

Lastly, with 300 mg of ingredient here, we're left with a mere 60 mg to be split among the remaining 6 ingredients; cassia nomame, ginseng, dandelion root, green tea, uva ursi and niacin (yes, again!).

What's the significance of this? Well, it means that none of these ingredients are going to be present in a dosage large enough to elicit any effect. They are present only as "label dressing." In other words, they make the product's formula appear more impressive, but they add no additional real value to it.

So there you have it... BPI Sports' Rx6 fat burner in a nutshell.

How's it measure up?

Well, as you can see, there are only a few ingredients in this formula for which any evidence of weight loss exists.

Nonetheless, this product packs one heck of a punch, and probably will be huge hit for anyone who likes powerful, stimulant based supplements.

It's not an ideal product for anyone sensitive to stimulants—even though BPI Sport's claims its capsules are designed to deliver their "jittery-payload" in a timed released fashion, which may make it more tolerable.

It's also appears to be pretty expensive—BodyBuilding.com sells a 45-capsule box for $35. However, I doubt that most people will be taking more than 1 capsule per day, which makes it a little more affordable.

Bottom line?

The fat burning effects of this product are exaggerated. Most of the ingredients have little or no published data behind them. Additionally, most ingredients are pretty commonplace. There's nothing revolutionary here. Lastly, this is a very, very, potent product—ideal for those of you who love the surge of energy delivered by stimulants, but something to be avoided by anyone with history of heart disease or high blood pressure!

Sciviation Dialene 4 x Review: 4 X Fat Burning?

2010-10-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

SciVation's Dialene 4x fat burner takes a slightly different approach to weight loss. In addition to including the "usual suspects" in their product, they've also added an "antioxidant blend" to enhance fat burning and weight loss.

To determine whether or not there's anything to this claim, we'll need to take a closer look at the Dialene 4x formula. What's in it?...

A B-vitamin blend (B-vits are usually included in weight loss products to provide the raw material necessary for proper energy metabolism), plus...

1) The G6 Fat Incinerating Matrix™: A 665 mg blend of the following...

Cayenne Pepper (40,000 HU): The active "fat burning" ingredient in cayenne is "capsaicin." Capsaicin is the chemical that gives chile peppers their "heat." The theory is that capsaicin "revs" up your metabolism by creating heat, thus burning off extra calories. However, this study (Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2007 Jan;292(1):R77-85. Epub 2006 Jul 13) says it best... "Capsaicin has been shown to be effective, yet when it is used clinically it requires a strong compliance to a certain dosage, that has not been shown to be feasible yet."

In other words, in order for capsaicin to have an effect on your metabolism, it has to be taken in doses much too high to make it practical.

USP Caffeine: A well-known thermogenic with established, albeit relatively mild, weight loss benefits (see Am J Clin Nutr. 1989 Jan;49(1):44-50, Am J Clin Nutr. 1980 May;33(5):989-97).

It's also used to cheaply and effectively address the most common complaint of dieters—fatigue.

Hordinine HCl: Normally spelled "hordenine" and often sourced from citrus aurantium (like synephrine) It’s alleged to be beneficial for fat/weight loss, due to its ability to stimulate the release of norepinephrine, although there is no evidence/research to validate this claim. Its value in this formula therefore, is largely speculative.

Synephrine HCl: Once thought to be a credible alternative to ephedra, clinical evidence has not been kind to synephrine. The most positive study I could find concluded...

"CA (citrus aurantrium) alone increased thermogenesis, on average, by 4% (52), a response that is statistically significant but not necessarily clinically significant, representing an average 1 kg over 6 months."

For more, see the full synephrine review.

Vinpocetine: Often added to fat burners and pre-workout, stimulant blends designed to improve focus, concentration and training drive (see BSN's No-XPLODE as an example). Yohimbine HCl: The standardized extract of the bark of the African Yohimbe tree is yohimbine. This compound is often used as a natural aphrodisiac. It is also sold as a drug (in the U.S., a popular brand is Yohimex containing 5.4 milligram of yohimbine hydrochloride per tablet) and is used to treat impotency, dilate the pupil of the eye, and stimulate fat loss (studies indicating weight loss are promising but not revolutionary -- see Isr J Med Sci. 1991 Oct;27(10):550-6).

2) LipidOX™ Blend: A 550 mg blend of...

Astathanthin (1%): Likely misspelled, should be "astaxanthin", a potent antioxidant with possible immune-boosting characteristics. FucoXanthin (10%): A carotenoid isolated from brown seaweed, and used in diet pills for its supposed fat blasting characteristics. This, based on the strength of positive animal studies. Newer studies show the combination of fucoxanthin and pomegranate seed oil to be beneficial for weight loss. Human data on fucoxanthin is highly lacking, however. Antioxidants: Grape Skin Extract, Blueberry Extract, Raspberry Powder, Cranberry Powder, Prune Powder, Cherry Powder, Bilberry Extract, Strawberry Powder, Broccoli Cruciferous Extract, Spinach Powder, Tomato Powder, Carrot Powder, Onion Powder.

No one is arguing that "improving your antioxidant profile" as stated in the Dialene advertising copy is a bad thing. However, this statement...

"The LipidOx Blend was designed to contain a high amount of the anti-oxidants research has shown to have a significant effect on fat loss."

... takes marketing "spin" to a whole new level. Where, exactly, is the clinical data that indicates a couple of hundred milligrams of this 13-ingredient antioxidant blend has a significant effect on weight loss?

I'll tell you where it is—nowhere. Because it doesn't exist. It does make compelling advertising however. In recent months, consumers have been bombarded by the message that other "revolutionary" antioxidants (like acai, for instance) have magical, fat melting powers. There is no evidence that they do, and these scams have finally attracted the attention of various U.S. Attorney Generals.

At the end of the day, there is very little in the Dialene 4x fat burner to get excited about. When the rubber hits the road, the claims made for this product aren't remotely reflective of reality. However...

... if the caffeine, synephrine and yohimbine in this product are present in a strong enough dosage, I have no doubt you'll feel a definite "jolt" from this product. And of course, all three of these ingredients do "work" to some small extent.

It's up to you to decide whether it warrants spending just under $30 for a two-week supply of the product (15 days at the full 4 caps per day dosage). You know what I think.

Sensa sweet Review: Is this sweet rise satiety?

2010-10-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

Sensa Tastants—"sprinkles" as they are also referred to on the TrySensa.com web site—are a product you "sprinkle" on your meals to increase satiety (the feeling of "fullness") and decrease appetite. They work, apparently, by using...

"...your senses of smell and taste as allies in weight loss. Sprinkling Tastants on your food makes you feel full faster by stimulating the part of your brain that tells your body it’s time to stop eating."

The good news is that the Tastants' effectiveness are verified by a huge clinical study conducted by Dr. Allan Hirsch. In it, over 1,400 men and women lost 30.5 pounds in a period of 6 months—by doing nothing more than sprinkling the Tastants over their meals (this equates to the loss of 1.25 lbs. a week—hardly an outrageous amount, and well within the realms of what one can attain with a proper diet and exercise).

The study participants were not asked to add diet and exercise programs to their routines, but were instead instructed to "maintain their existing exercise routines and eating habits."

The first thing I do when I see a retailer "touting" a clinical study to sell a product is try to find out a little more about that study.

The first and most obvious question is, "in which reputable, peer-reviewed journal has this study been published?"

According to the product web site...

"The study abstract was published in "Advanced Technologies and Treatments for Diabetes", First International Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, February 27, 2008."

This is a little misleading; a study abstract is not the same thing as the publication in a notable journal, where the study conclusions and methodology can be critiqued by qualified professionals. It is little more than a presentation of the data, without critical discussion of the findings. So the correct answer to my question is...

No. This study has not been published in any reputable journal.

However, when discussing Tastants with Elissa, our scientific and technical advisor, she informed me that the study had been presented at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in the spring of '08, and that it takes a number of months for any study to proceed through the peer-reviewed process and attain publication in any decent journal.

So we need to give Dr. Hirsch and the Sensa folks a chance to get to print before we draw a conclusion, one way or another (if we don't see publication of this study sometime this spring (2009) then it's time to review this question again).

That said, an ABC News story reports...

"...the Endocrine Society, which Hirsch says reviewed and approved of his work, said they merely invited him to present his findings for debate. And they were "surprised and troubled by the promotional nature of his presentation."

Although I have not seen the study to read it, there are some problems which will pose a major obstacle to publication in a peer-reviewed journal...

Participants weighed themselves and reported their results with no outside checks and balances. The program regimen ("The study participants were not asked to add diet and exercise programs to their routines, but were instead instructed to "maintain their existing exercise routines and eating habits.") is so generalized as to put each individual into his/her own unique study group.

After all, some people may already be exercising and dieting, some may not. Some may be exercising vigorously, others barely at all. Some may be over consuming calories significantly, some only a little, and some not at all. I

f the majority of Tastants users are consuming significantly more calories than they require and still lose weight, aren't the results even more impressive? And if they are not, doesn't that diminish the importance of the results? After all, one can easily lose 1.25 lbs. of weight a week just by adopting a sensible diet and exercise plan.

At this point, I guess it's fair to say I'm willing to give Dr. Hirsch and folks at Sensa the benefit of the doubt, but I can't say I'm holding my breath to see this published anytime soon. But I'm a skeptical guy by nature and I've found that when it comes to the supplement industry I rarely go wrong assuming the worst. That said, I'll be the first to admit I could be wrong. We'll see.

So what's the bottom line with Tastants?

At this time, you can buy a single month's worth of product from TrySensa.com for $59, but you must enroll in a recurring billing program to do so (if you experiment with either the 3 or 6 month "starter kits" you can opt out of this "program"). Although I have not received any information about this company's billing policies, I do not recommend buying any product that is sold in such a manner. Feedback to this site indicates they rarely ever work out to the benefit of you, the customer.

Given the cost of this product, the recurring billing program, and the "in limbo" status of Dr. Hirsch's study, I would recommend holding off on this product until the study has been properly reviewed and assessed.

In the meantime, there are much, much cheaper ways to increase satiety—have a look at the glucomannan review for more information!

SlendeSlim Review: The 8 patented ingredients make SlendeSlim A winner?

2010-10-22T09:45:00.000-07:00

SlendeSlim™ is one of the many new fat burners and diet pills that capitalizes on the common misconception that "patented" ingredients are proven ingredients. Not so. As Elissa indicates in this blog post...

"A patent is simply a legally-recognized grant of property rights over an invention, formula, or design."

In fact, anytime you come across the term "patented" in advertising copy—for ANY product, it's time to turn the "skeptic-o-meter" up to full volume. Since patented does not mean "proven to work", there's no real reason to divulge this information to you. After all, you're interested in finding out if the product will work for you. I doubt you could care less whether the retailer has a legally recognized grant of property rights over the product or not.

Ergo, the only reason to include this information is to further perpetuate the illusion that there is something very special about the product in question. And if they are using the term "patented" to do it, instead of something genuine, chances are it's a pretty ordinary product.

Bottom line?

Beware the terms "patented" and "patent pending".

Anyhow, let's get back to SlendeSlim™.

It boasts an 8-ingredient blend of undetermined strength and potency (in other words, the retailer tells us what is in the product, but they don't tell us how much of each ingredient is in it.

This makes it impossible to determine whether the promising ingredients are present in doses high enough to correspond with any positive clinical studies that may exist. It's common tactic used by retailers to disguise the potency of their product formulas).

What's in SlendeSlim™exactly ? Indeterminate amounts of...

1) Chromax®: The patented form of chromium picolinate. Chromium plays a role in regulating insulin function and as such, is a common ingredient in many weight loss products. However, studies show contradictory results when it comes to demonstrated benefits for dieters.

2) Slendesta®: A potato extract engineered to stimulate the body's production of a powerful "satiety" chemical, cholecystokinin—or CCK. This potato extract is nothing new—an older product called Satise makes exactly the same claim. Unfortunately, there's no peer-reviewed published data validating this potato extract's effect on cholecystokinin and weight loss. And until there is, this one definitely goes in the "wait and see" category.

3) Viscofiber®: A soluble dietary fiber made from oat grain. You won't get any argument from me on the importance of fiber in the diet. Upping your consumption of fiber is one of the easiest ways to increase satiety (i.e., the feeling of fullness), and decrease calorie consumption. Taking a product like SlendeSlim™ isn't usually the best way to get the recommended amount of fiber into your diet however. It's unlikely SlendeSlim™ contains enough Viscofiber to make a difference to your hunger levels —and if it does, there won't be room for anything else in the formula. Besides, fiber supplements are usually pretty affordable, making this product an expensive option as a fiber supplement.

4) ChromeMate®: Another variation of chromium, this time it's chromium polynicotinate. Frankly, the presence of ChromeMate® in this formula makes Chromax® redundant. One source of chromium is enough—you're not going to get much in the way of additional benefits by providing two sources of chromium. As I indicated previously, clinical data for chromium is contradictory, although one study did indicate this particular form of chromium is beneficial.

5) Selenium SeLECT: Selenium is a trace mineral that plays a role in a properly functioning thyroid. It's unlikely selenium supplementation will help your weight loss program unless you are deficient in it. If you're a North American, it's unlikely this is the case, as the soil is rich in selenium (planted crops convert selenium into forms easily absorbed by humans).

6) Slimaluma: The patented form of Caralluma fimbriata, an Indian plant which shows modest weight loss effects. One positive study on Caralluma (see Appetite. 2007 May;48(3):338-44. Epub 2006 Nov 13). It concluded...

"While there was a trend towards a greater decrease in body weight, body mass index, hip circumference, body fat and energy intake between assessment time points in the experimental group, these were not significantly different between experimental and placebo groups. Caralluma extract appears to suppress appetite, and reduce waist circumference when compared to placebo over a 2 month period."

7) Infinergy® DiCaffeine Malate: Besides the "boost" it provides, caffeine exhibits modest thermogenic activity, and is therefore a common ingredient in most weight loss products and diet pills. Much ado has been made by retailers about this "special" form of caffeine (which is bonded with malic acid). They claim it outperforms the regular stuff. Unfortunately, there's no published data to validate these claims. In reality, dicaffeine malate may work as well as, better than, or not as well as, regular caffeine.

8) Bioperine®: A pepper extract, Bioperine is usually included in products for its ability to increase the bioavailability of certain ingredients. And yes, there is published evidence to validate this claim (see Planta Med. 1998 May;64(4):353-6).

The SlendeSlim™ sales copy references Bioperine's "thermogenic" effect and its ability to ramp up the metabolism. There is no clinical evidence to validate this claim.

So there you have it. The SlendeSlim™ formula. It's not terrible, by any means. However, there are some major problems that make it impossible to make a recommendation for this product...

As previously indicated, we're not told how much of each ingredient is included in the formula. For example, the positive study I referenced for Slimaluma used 1 gram (1,000 mg) of Caralluma per day (for 60 days). Does this product contain 1,000 mg of Caralluma? Who knows? For many of the ingredients in this formula (Slendesta, Cromax, Chromate) the benefits are largely speculative, or the clinical results are inconsistent.The cost. At $50 for a month's supply, this is an incredibly overpriced product, especially when you consider that it's a pretty ordinary formulation. Readily available, popular commercial products can be had for almost half the price (for instance, Nutrex's popular Lipo 6 is available online for just under $25).

To put the "value" of this product into proper perspective, check out what it would cost to buy a few of the core ingredients from a reputable online retailer (we recommend BodyBuilding.com)...

For around the same money I can guarantee I will receive the correct doses of the appropriate ingredients. Plus, this $50 buys several months supply of all ingredients but the Slimaluma Plus. I'm not suggesting this is the best course of action... this is just a demonstration of the product's value.

The SlendeSlim™ web site claims a 100%, no-quibble money-back guarantee. Love to hear from users of the product to find out if they honor it...

Slim Force 7 Review: Buyer Beware!

2010-10-21T06:30:00.000-07:00

Slim Force 7 is a text-book example of exactly what you should avoid in a weight loss product. Put the ingredients set aside a moment and consider that the advertising of the product referred to Canadian and American regulators for fails does not to investigate nad (the Council of Better Business Bureau's national advertising Division) allegations of product which show no signs to justify their.

And people selling Slim Force 7 no problem throwing some real whoppers there.Some of the funniest? they claim that their product will be...

"… do you lose weight eating whatever you want, without leaving you never get bold yet."

And you can lose weight very quickly...

«.. . in the first 3 weeks, it is possible to lose up to 2 pounds per day, without any effort.»

This is totally ridiculous of course.There is no substance in the world it works well.not even prescription weight loss medications more puissants.Aucun these two are my favorite cependant.À my opinion, this takes the cake...

"Slim Force 7 is a weight loss product that was the subject of numerous studies and research. Recent studies have shown that 6 fruits and seaweeds contained in the report, combined together, are able to stop the FAT to settle and contribute to eliminate all the jours.Il resultant fastest weight loss ever seen in a completely natural product.»

Riiiiiight.

Slim Force 7 subject to exactly zero and published research studies. And there are no studies showing an indeterminate amount 6 different fruits and seaweeds 1 "stop fat from being deposited."

And what are the ingredients, exactly? According to the website...

"Slim Force 7 treatment consists of grapefruit, lemon, orange, mango, pineapple and acidic Grenada more fat combustion algae."

Really?

Grenada, for example, contains of small amounts of Ascorbic acid and citric and small amounts of boric acid. Citric acid is a common ingredient in any food product that requires a "taste" and Ascorbic acid is more commonly called vitamin C.There is nothing here to suggest Grenada has incredible powers of fat burning.Even for the rest of the ingredients.

Frankly, these guys could have become a little more creative here.Grapefruit, for example, contains a flavonoid called narignin is a discontinuous ingredient ingredients weight for years, mostly for its ability to reduce cholesterol levels.Bitter orange can be standardized for Synephrine it is not an ingredient which shows much more than the effects of more subtle weight loss, but its inclusion would indicate at least that retailers have completed a basic research in the formulation of their products.

acid 6 fruit and 1 burning fat, yet one-named algae?

Give me a break.

And don't forget... certainly nothing to indicate that this mix 7 ingredient works strength and power for an indeterminate period together synergistically to provide results beyond the sum of each individual.

Therefore summarize Slim Force 7...

None of the claims are based on what that either remotely resembling evidence b.c is for this reason the aforementioned NAD investigation was envoyé.Les retailers have lied out and out of the State of this description of the mechanical efficiency of the product produit.La research is incredibly vague b.c is often a sign of a "scam" product.There seems to be absolutely no thought in the formula .c ' is as if retailers thought, "hey, let's capitalize on the superfruit enthusiasm and make a sum of money".Offering a certain value in their product seems to be of lesser importance.It is relatively easy to create a product with some merit (i.e. throw a little caffeine and green tea with a couple of moderators for sugar in the blood and a nootrophic), but these guys have not bothered to do so.

Bottom line? as with any product, it is to the retailer to justify its revendications.Ils have fait.Si recent studies really validate this product, don't think they have exhibited front and Center?

SlimShots appetite kills Review: SlimShots ™ work that published?

2010-10-20T12:30:00.000-07:00

SlimShots ™, served in a container that resembles a disposable single serving coffee cream is a Palm and the blend oats claimed to increase the feeling of satiety and suppress appetite. According to retailers, feel you full and eat less... without feeling "distorted" boring.

Taking the product appears fairly;simple for first week 2 "rounds" per day are required: one breakfast and one at the déjeuner.De then top, a morning single dose is all it is recommended.

Retailers say SlimShots ™ are clinicaly proved to work from the first day.

So... do they?

I guess that you are seated, then I'll go ahead and say...

Yes, there is some actual clinical signs, "honest-to-goodness" which indicates that this mixture of Palm and oats is useful for the suppression of appetite and satiety - just as claimed (see Int J OBEs Elationships Metab. obesity 2001 oct; 25 (10): 1487-96, Int J OBEs Elationships Metab. obesity 2000 Nov; 24 (11): 1419-25, Eur J Clin Nutr. April 2002; 56 (4): 368 - 77, International Journal of obesity (2007) 31, 942-949).

Of course, none SlimShots ™ web sites reviewed come to draw your attention to the study (see Eur J Clin Nutr. September 2006; 60 (9): 1081-91) is inconsistent with these data positives.Elle says...

"In contrast to previous studies, it was no evidence of an effect of short or medium term Olibra emulsion on the consumption of food or appetite."

But credit must be given where credit is due, and to this day, the majority of the study, the data have been positifs.Cela said, we are still dealing with a couple of problems...

Firstly, clinical studies was were performed on SlimShots ™ - formula as you have probably already noticed - but on a product called "Olibra".

SlimShots ™ formula contains the same concentration of palm oil and oats as Olibra?

It would certainly make sense so he can do, but I cannot confirm this certainty.

Secondly, the mixture of palm oil and oats appears only to help increase the feeling of satiety and reduce appetite.According to the number of calories you eat, it can help you lose weight.

However, for some people, even managed to achieve the announced "20-30% reduction" in caloric intake, it cannot be required to lose caloric deficit weight.

Thirdly, SlimShots ™ is a little on the expensive side.

If the product was $ 20, it would be useful to give a "coup" (pardon the pun) just to see how useful they are.Priced at retail for $40, I am not sure that I would be that interested - especially when a fiber low-cost complement as glucomannan (which can be purchased online for less than $10) will reduce your appetite, increase satiety, and - as that demonstrated in multiple clinical studies - help lose weight (click here for the review of glucomannan).

Finally, feedback from customers on SlimShots is not exactly great.Although the user reviews and testimonials on SlimShots are anecdotal, most people find that they have nothing to suppress their appetite.

SlimShots ™ can work as an appetite - the "can" is strongly emphasized here - but frankly, there are more cost-effective ways to achieve the same thing.

SoloSlim Fat Burner Review: SoloSlim ® really effective?

2010-10-20T06:30:00.000-07:00

According to the advertising I reviewed, SoloSlim is the once-daily weight loss pill that's...

"... designed to help you safely slim down."

Unfortunately, I highly doubt that's the case. Why? There are several major problems with SoloSlim®. Let's start with the first...

1) First of all, Health Canada has issued a product alert as a result of a Hong Kong Department of Health warning. Seems SoloSlim® is contaminated with a sibutramine-related chemical (sibutramine is a prescription weight loss drug). Not good.

2) Next, SoloSlim® claims its single-capsule dosage is enough to provide dramatic results and last you through an entire day. The problem here is that the medicinal plants, food compounds and herbs that are typically found in weight loss products are much like pharmaceutical drugs; they need to be present in a potent enough dosage to have any effect.

Advertising your product as a "once-a-day, single-capsule" solution to weight loss may sound convenient, but in reality, you are all but ensuring most ingredients simply cannot be present in doses high enough to have any effect.

As an example...

The SoloSlim formulation contains glucomannan, which in essence is a fiber supplement. The good news is that there is some real, clinical evidence that indicates it may be helpful for weight loss. However, it needs to be taken in substantial amounts—the study I just referenced, for example, uses 1 gram of glucomannan 3 times daily, prior to meals.

That's the equivalent of 6 rather large, 500 mg capsules.

Uh-huh.

So we can be pretty darn sure that SoloSlim contains nowhere near the amount of glucomannan shown to be helpful in the various clinical studies. If it did, a single capsule would be too large to swallow.

3) Although the ingredients are revealed, just how much of each is included in the formula is not.

It is therefore impossible to determine if any of the ingredients are present in a dosage strong enough to elicit any effect. Basically, it makes it next to impossible to truly assess the value of this formula.

To be fair, most ingredients in this formula do not need to be present in as large a dose as the glucomannan. That said, most of the ingredients have relatively little supporting data behind them... at any dose. Here's a brief breakdown of some of the more promising remaining ingredients...

Citrus aurantium (standardized for synephrine): Once thought to be a credible alternative to ephedra, studies have shown synephrine to be spectacularly "unspectacular" for weight loss. Fucoxanthin: The good news is there is a small amount of promising evidence that indicates Fucoxanthin is useful for weight loss (see Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Jul 1;332(2):392-7, Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2008;17 Suppl 1:196-9). The bad news is that to date, any published material has been based on animal studies. Additionally, there's the problem of low bioavailability of these compounds in humans. This study (see Br J Nutr. 2008 Aug;100(2):273-7) concluded...

"... results indicated that the plasma response to dietary epoxyxanthophylls was very low in humans even after 1-week intake of epoxyxanthophyll-rich diets."

L–Carnitine Tartrate: Used in fat burners almost forever, l-carnitine, even when used at extremely high doses—much higher than present here—shows relatively little weight loss effect. And the special "tartrate" version? There's no evidence it's any more (or less for that matter) effective than the regular stuff for weight loss. Decaffeinated green tea (standardized for EGCG): Green and tea and one of its critical components, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG for short) are one of the few bright lights in the natural weight loss supplement world. And while studies have shown that EGCG is beneficial to dieters, it really needs to be combined with caffeine and the other catechins naturally present in green tea to offer the greatest fat burning benefits (Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 26, No. 4, 396S-402S).

In other words, this formula would benefit more from caffeinated green tea. The web site advertising boasts about the "stimulant free" nature of SoloSlim® (i.e., no caffeine, no ephedra), but that boast "rings" a little hollow, given the inclusion of synephrine in this formula—it's an ingredient with well-established stimulant properties (see Ann Pharmacother. 2006 Jan;40(1):53-7. Epub 2005 Nov 29).

At $39.99 per bottle, you're really not getting a heck of a lot of value for your money. For much less, you could buy a better formulated product, or a potent dose of the more promising ingredients—like glucomannan and green tea, for instance. Remember—the convenience of a single daily dose may sound appealing, but it virtually guarantees the majority of ingredients are not present in doses high enough to be helpful.

SomnaSlim Review: The Best Night Time Diet pills?

2010-10-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

"Lose weight in your sleep", boasts the advertising for the night time diet pill SomnaSlim, "or get your money back, guaranteed!"

Wow! Now that's taking the whole "losing weight is easy" thing to an entirely new level.

Nonetheless, it's not difficult to see why such claims such as this one manage to ensnare customers. It is, after all, an appealing thought; as you sleep comfortably, SomnaSlim's unique blend of herbs works unobtrusively in the background, incinerating fat and transforming your body into a lean, mean, sexy machine. A night time diet pill? Lose weight while you sleep? Where do I sign up?

Of course, this is nothing but fantasy. Both your metabolic rate and your caloric requirements are at their lowest when you're sleeping. And there is no miraculous blend of herbs that is going to crank up some internal fat burning furnace while you're dreaming of hot fudge sundaes and endless buffets.

But what about a product that helps you sleep better? Will that help you lose weight? After all, in the SomnaSlim FAQs it states...

"Did you know that there is a correlation between not enough sleep and gaining weight? Somnaslim will help put you to sleep and burn fat...at the same time!"

Well, there is a study (Arch Intern Med. 2005 Jan 10;165(1):25-30) that does confirm that reduced amounts of sleep is associated with overweight and obese status.

However, the authors of this study torpedo the SomnaSlim statement when they state...

"We caution that this study does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship between restricted sleep and obesity. Investigations demonstrating success in weight loss via extensions of sleep would help greatly to establish such a relationship."

Ooops. I guess the SomnaSlim retailers either missed this, or decided to conveniently overlook it.

That said, is there any merit to the SomnaSlim formula? Let's have a look at what's in it...

Garcinia cambogia (200 mg): Standardized for hydroxycitric acid, an early study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA. 1998 Nov 11;280(18):1596-600) indicated that hydroxycitric acid has no positive weight loss effects, concluding... "Garcinia cambogia failed to produce significant weight loss and fat mass loss beyond that observed with placebo."

Melatonin (2 mg): An antioxidant, this ingredient is well known for its role in sleep regulation.

Plus a 1200 mg strong blend of the following...

Valerian root: Commonly recognized for its use as a natural sleep aid, although research suggests it appears to work best when used in conjunction with hops. Glucomannan: A fiber supplement that has shown benefits for weight loss, albeit at much higher doses than what is included in this product. Decaffeinated green tea: Green tea, because of its unique blend of EGCG, caffeine, and various other polyphenols, happens to be a pretty useful weight loss supplement. However, to my knowledge, all studies validating green tea's effects on weight loss have been performed on versions containing caffeine. There is no proof decaffeinated versions work anywhere near as well. In fact, because of caffeine's well-established effects on the CNS, we can be nearly positive that it does not. Aloe Vera: The SomnaSlim web sites states "there are too many benefits of Aloe vera to list them all here." Really? While preliminary research data indicates it may offer additional benefits, the only truly established one is the one you already know about; the benefit it offers your skin when used topically. Passion Flower: A mild sedative and sleep aid. Phase 2: Advertised as a "carb blocker", a recent UCLA study on Phase 2® concluded... "Clinical trends were identified for weight loss, inches lost from the waist, energy, and decrease in triglycerides, although statistical significance was not reached. The reason that significance was not achieved was the small number of subjects who completed the study and the wide variability of the results within each group. Further studies with larger numbers of subjects are necessary in order to definitively demonstrate effectiveness."

Whoop-dee-do. Hardly a weight loss miracle.

Chitosan: advertised as a fat blocker, clinical data shows chitosan offers little to no weight loss benefits (see Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004 Sep;28(9):1149-56, Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005 Jul 20;(3):CD00389, Singapore Med J. 2001 Jan;42(1):6-102, J Am Coll Nutr. 2006 Oct;25(5):389-94). Gymnema: In doses of 400 mg per day (many times what is included in this product) gymnema has demonstrated antidiabetic effects. Animal studies also indicate it may inhibit the ability to taste sweet or bitter. 5-HTP: Often used as an alternative treatment for depression. At high doses (900 mg/day) it has been shown to help improve appetite control and weight loss. In this formula, it is unlikely to be present as any more than "label dressing" dosages.

As you can see, the bulk of the SomnaSlim ingredients included to encourage weight loss either have not been proven to do so at all, or are present in dosages far below what has been proven useful in published clinical studies. As a weight loss product, SomnaSlim is a bust.

Frankly, the value of this formula lies with the melatonin and valerian root combination, which will probably help most people sleep more soundly. Despite this, there are still two major problems with SomnaSlim...

It is retailed by an anonymous company. We're not fans of companies who do not reveal who they are; there's only one good reason for not doing so, and that's to avoid accountability to the consumer. How can you get a refund from a company if the only information they provide to you is an e-mail address that they can ignore as they wish? $15 a bottle is incredibly expensive when you consider that you can buy a three month's supply of melatonin and a three month's supply of valerian root for less than $10 at a reputable online retailer.

At the end of the day, the take home message here is a simple; there is nothing in this formula that justifies it being advertised as a "night time diet pill."

Species Nutrition Lipolyze Review: usnic acid is not benign!

2010-10-19T06:30:00.000-07:00

I was just over at BodyBuilding.com checking out some of the more popular fat burners when I came across Species Nutrition's Lipolyze. Apparently, it's one of the top selling "stimulant free products." However, that's not really why I decided to review it. The reason why I think it's important to discuss this product is because it contains an ingredient we haven't really covered yet... usnic acid.

It's this ingredient that's behind Species Nutrition's claim that Lipolyze is a "calorie wasting" supplement.

You see, usnic acid—which is derived from the simple lichen—is being advertised as an "uncoupling agent." Basically, what this means is that usnic acid ramps up and enables the "energy creation" processes in the cell, which manifests itself as heat and consequentially, an increase in the metabolic rate.

Of course, as a discerning consumer, you might well ask... "is there any evidence to back this up?" The answer is that the only positive evidence available to date has been obtained through animal studies (see Nat Toxins. 1996;4(2):96-102).

There is no human-based data to validate these claims. Worse, anecdotal reports indicate usnic acid may well be highly toxic to the liver. Animal studies (J Ethnopharm 2004;90:381-7) already demonstrate usnic acid's toxic effect.

One study (see Ann Intern Med. 2002 Apr 16;136(8):590-5) investigated the possible link between the usnic-acid-based fat burner called LipoKinetix and the hepatoxicity displayed by 7 of its users. It concluded...

"The use of LipoKinetix may be associated with hepatoxicity. Despite extensive evaluations, no other cause for hepatoxicity could be identified in the seven patients studied."

So there are two "take home" lessons here. First, the evidence justifying usnic acid's use as a fat burner is pretty flimsy indeed. Second, there appears to be some valid issues regarding its toxicity, especially in the liver. As our scientific and technical advisor Elissa put it...

"Usnic acid looks to be potentially nasty stuff. While a dose in this range is probably safe, I'd also be willing to bet that a "safe" dose would be less effective. Nonetheless, it's a little scary to see an ingredient like this being used, when there is little evidence of its efficacy, and no good estimate of what a safe level of intake might be, for both short and long-term use."

This is hardly an ingredient you want to mess around with (it's also a perfect example of why "all natural" ingredients aren't necessarily benign and harmless).

What else will you find in Lipolyze?

1) Green tea extract: Standardized for EGCG, one of the most important green tea catechins. Evidence indicates EGCG does elevate the metabolism at a dosage of 300 mg/day (J Am Coll Nutr. 2007 Aug;26(4):389S-395S). A daily 3-capsule serving of Lipolyze contains well over this amount. It's too bad Lipolyze doesn't contain caffeine though; other studies suggest EGCG is more effective when combined with stimulants (see J Am Coll Nutr. 2007 Aug;26(4):396S-402S).

2) Propionyl-L-Carnitine: L-Carnitine has been used in fat burners since dinosaurs roamed the earth. Evidence showing it is helpful is conflicting, and the only positive clinical data has been obtained with vastly greater amounts of carnitine than is included in this product. Additionally, there's no evidence to indicate this particular form of carnitine is any better at its job than the "ordinary" stuff.

3) Vitamin E: In vitro animal studies indicate the toxicity of usnic acid can be mitigated by the addition of an antioxidant like vitamin E (see Biochem Pharmacol. 2004 Feb 1;67(3):439-51). I can think of no other reason for this ingredient to be included.

4) Guggulsterones Z & E: Derived from guggul, the Z & E isomers are two of the most important, and thought to offer the greatest benefits. A small body of evidence indicates guggulsterones may also have value as a fat burner (see J Postgrad Med. 1995 Jan-Mar;41(1):5-7) specifically by increasing thyroid T3 hormone levels.

5) C-AMP: Also called "cyclic AMP" this compound is known as a cellular regulator. Theoretically, supplementing with cAMP (or the appropriate herbals - i.e., coleus forskohlii or clary sage extract) should ramp up the metabolism and even boost thyroid levels. Any studies I've seen to date show that cAMP boosting products have a relatively insignificant effect on weight loss.

Lipolyze is an average, but not particularly inspired product. Its value lies in its EGCG and guggulsterones content, either of which you could purchase for significantly less money. Usnic acid is the dark horse here, and given the very distinct possibility of hepatoxicity, this is not a product I would mess around with lightly.

Sports One Ma Huang PR Review: Legal ephedra?

2010-10-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

According to the product advertising I reviewed, Ma Huang RP "is the Ephedra supplement you need to meet your weight loss goals".

Hmmm. But isn't ephedra illegal?

You betcha it is. So what the heck is up with Ma Huang RP? Is it the real deal?

Well consider these two pertinent details...

1) BodyBuilding.com, the online retailer who is the primary online retailer of Ma Huang RP (and thousands of other products) has been in the cross hairs of the FDA for some time now. In September 2009 their warehouse was raided, and more recently, BodyBuilding.com cooperated with the FDA to pull 65 supplements suspected of containing anabolic steroids from their shelves.

All these things considered, I have a very difficult time believing BodyBuilding.com would be foolish enough to sell a real ephedra-based product, as there's no doubt the FDA is watching them very carefully. This would be akin to shooting yourself in the foot.

2) When you review Ma Huang RP's product label one thing you will notice is that the ephedra does not appear to be standardized for ephedra alkaloids—and it's these alkaloids to which ephedra's appetite suppressing and metabolism-boosting effects are attributed. This very likely means this product contains no ephedra alkaloids at all, which dramatically decreases the value of this product.

Bottom line? In my opinion, the only way this product can be retailed on BodyBuilding.com at this point is if it does not contain ANY ephedra alkaloids at all. If it's true, it's pretty underhanded, but it's not the first time a company has claimed to have a "legal ephedra supplement" (check out Ephedra 5 as an example). In fact, it's pretty scummy behavior either way—either the product contains ephedra and is illegal, or it contains no ephedra and you're being ripped off.

Given that the ephedra element of this formula is a bust, what else is in Ma Huang RP? Good question...

Bitter orange (standardized for synephrine): Once thought to be a credible alternative to ephedra, published research has not been kind to synephrine. Anecdotal evidence suggests it may have some appetite suppressing qualities, but this has not been borne out by any credible studies. Guarana (standardized for caffeine): Not surprising to find this here—caffeine has a well established record as a mild thermogenic, and does deliver mild weight loss results (see Am J Clin Nutr. 1989 Jan;49(1):44-50, Am J Clin Nutr. 1980 May;33(5):989-97).

It also cheaply and effectively addresses the most common complaint of dieters; lack of energy.

Plus a 400 mg strong blend of the following 11 ingredients...

White willow bark: In the old days, white willow bark was used as the herbal form of salicin, and comprised the third element of the good old ephedra / caffeine / aspirin stack. In this formula (which is unlikely to contain ephedra for the reasons outlined above) there is no evidence it offers any benefit, short of the anti-inflammatory effects inherent to salicin. L-Tyrosine: An amino acid which happens to be the precursor of several important neurotransmitters (l-dopa, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine) which are important contributors to mood, cognitive performance, as well as combating stress. And yes, there is evidence that l-tyrosine has a positive effect on mood (see full tyrosine review for accompanying clinical references) and cognitive performance.

Unfortunately, these results were obtained with dosages that vastly exceed what is present in this formula. For example this study (which showed an improvement in cognitive function) was performed with 100 mg/kg tyrosine.

To put that in perspective a 200 lbs. man would need to take about 9 grams, or 9000 mg of tyrosine to obtain this effect. Obviously, there's certainly no reason to believe this ingredient serves as nothing more than label dressing in this formula.

Ginger Root: may soothe stomach duress. Ginger contains gingerols, which are chemically related to capsaicin. It does demonstrate some mild thermogenic and metabolism-boosting characteristics.

Some small animal studies performed on zingerone (a component of ginger) have been positive for weight loss (Yakugaku Zasshi. 2008 Aug;128(8):1195-201) albeit the dosage used (170 mg/kg) is too high to be transferred into humans (a 180 lbs. person would need to take about 14 grams a day).

Ginger also seems to accelerate gastric emptying... the opposite of the sort of thing dieters want (Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 May;20(5):436-40). Unfortunately, the aforementioned study was conducted with 1200 mg - 800 mg more ingredients than included in this entire 11-ingredient element of the formula.

Magnesium Phosphate: Phosphate is the "currency" of cellular energy metabolism. Short term phosphate supplementation has been shown to improve endurance performance in a number of studies (although not all). Acetyl-L-Carnitine: Has been used in fat burners for years, despite the fact evidence showing it has benefit for weight loss is contradictory, and usually only obtained when taken in multi-gram doses. Green Tea Extract: Green tea is one of the few weight loss supplements that shows great promise and has some decent clinical evidence validating its effects. However, its effectiveness is largely dependent upon its potency, dosage, and whether it is standardized for the appropriate catechins. It's impossible to tell whether it is in this formula, although with only 400 mg to be divided among it and 10 other ingredients, it's very unlikely green tea adds very much to this formula. Acetyl- L-Tyrosine: Including this ingredient is redundant, since tyrosine is already included in this formula. Additionally, there's no evidence this acetylated version is any more effective. Acacia Rigidulata Extract (Leaves): Although not revealed what role it plays in this formula, acacia is often standardized for hordenine, and used as a highly selective substrate for MAO-B (which would improve—theoretically anyway—the efficiency of the phenyethylamine also included in this formula). Theobromine: Similar to caffeine in structure but less potent, this ingredient is often included in fat burners on the premise it offers similar weight loss effects as caffeine. While it's a credible supposition, there have been no clinical studies validating theobromine's weight loss effects. Phenylethylamine (PEA): While not displaying any thermogenic properties, PEA is an "amphetamine-related", mood-elevating chemical naturally present in foods like chocolate and was once thought to be the reason people were "chocoholics."

Unfortunately, PEA is too rapidly metabolized by the enzyme monamine oxidase (MAO) to be of much use. That's why most products focused on squeezing the most from PEA also contain natural monamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI's), and to its credit this product does contain an ingredient which may help here (acacia) although its doubtful either ingredient is present in a dosage strong enough to elicit any effect.

PEA has been successfully used as a treatment for depression at the relatively low dose of 10-60 mg, but treatment is accompanied by the drug Selegiline, which acts as a MAO-B inhibitor.

Of course, since there's only 400 mg to be divided among these ingredients, this discussion of ingredients is mostly moot—we can expect the majority of them to be so under-dosed as to offer little more than "label dressing".

So what's the bottom line on Ma Huang RP?

Even if the remainder of the product's formula was potent and ground-breaking (which it is not), I could not in good conscience recommend this product. It either contains an illegal ingredient, or it does not, but maintains that it does. Either way, this is hardly confidence-building, nor is it indicative of a company that has your best interests at heart. Their credibility is extremely questionable; this not a company I'd trust with my hard earned dollars.

Thermodrenix Review: Does someone learn the truth about Thermodrenix?

2010-10-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

Before reviewing Thermodrenix, I thought it would be fun to see what UltimateFat Burner.com's competitors were saying about the product. I performed a search over at Google, and began to read. I can't say I was surprised to find that every single one of the "review sites" I checked out was trumpeting Thermodrenix's amazing fat burning powers, its patented ingredients (most sites said 6 patented ingredients, but Thermodrenix only contains 3), its honest approach to marketing, yada, yada, yada.

That ought to tell you something.

Because not one is able to see beyond earning a commission from a referred sale by telling you the real truth about this product.

First of all, the claim "The Most Effective Clinically Proven Diet Pill Ever Created ...Guaranteed" is a complete and utter falsehood.

No peer-reviewed studies have been performed on Thermodrenix; just some of the ingredients (several of which are hardly fat burning home runs, as you'll see in a moment). As our scientific and technical advisor Elissa put it...

Most people would think, "proven ingredients = proven supplement blend" but this there are some unproven assumptions underneath this assessment. For starters, when it comes to supplements, 1 + 1 does not always equal 2. In other words, if taking compound A results in X surplus pounds of fat lost; and taking compound B results in Y surplus pounds lost, taking A + B does not necessarily result in a loss of X + Y pounds. Ultimately, all the different pathways converge: so pushing the system from multiple directions doesn't guarantee a superior result.Likewise, it's assumed that there is no conflict between the different compounds, and that there's a linear relationship between short and long term results (i.e., a compound that results in - say - 5 extra pounds lost in a 6 week period, means 10 extra pounds should be lost in 12 weeks, 15 pounds after 18 weeks, and so on).

Secondly, just because the retailers of Thermodrenix don't use doctored "before and after" shots, fabricated testimonials, and an autoship program doesn't mean Thermodrenix is any more effective than any product that does. This is simply another marketing strategy.

And for a company that claims to be so forthright and honest, it's interesting that there are no contact details for Blackstone Health Sciences provided; no company information, no corporate web site, and no street address for where they can be located. All that's provided is an e-mail address. In my experience, this is never a "good thing." And it's hardly the sign of a "forthright and transparent" company.

The company claims it has a "clean slate with the FTC" and zero complaints with the BBB, but since they also indicate they are a new company, this isn't necessarily an indication of stellar customer service and ethical business practices. It's more likely they haven't been around long enough or are too small to attract the attention of regulatory bodies — should they actually be engaging in nefarious practices.

The fact that the Thermodrenix ingredients profile is completely revealed is positive — assuming what's on the label is actually in the bottle — since we can confirm that the amounts included in the formula correspond to the amount used in the clinical studies performed on the ingredients. And what's in it?...

1) SuperCitrimax: A single serving of Thermodrenix gives you 1,400 mg of SuperCitrimax, meaning a full day's serving (2,800 mg) correlates to the amount used in the positive clinical study (see J Med. 2004;35(1-6):33-48). That's good.

Don't get too excited though; if you check the study, you'll see that individuals participating were restricted to 2,000 calories per day. They also walked 30 minutes per day, 5 days out of 7. Total weight lost? An average of 5.4% in bodyweight over the course of 8 weeks.

A two hundred pound man would have lost 10.8 lbs., or 1.35 lbs. per week. That's well within the realms — actually probably less — than what you can expect to accomplish on your own with a more rigorous training program and a slightly more restrictive diet.

That's why you don't see any ridiculous claims (i.e., lose 20 lbs. in 30 days) on the Thermodrenix web site; manufactured ones would be much too easily disproved, and realistic ones aren't likely to entice the visitor (would you be excited by a product that promised to shed 10 pounds in 2 months, even if it were an accurate assessment of the product's capabilities?)

2) Green tea: Here's where the Thermodrenix formula gets a little incoherent; it seems a little odd to include a decaffeinated version of green tea standardized for EGCG along with a caffeinated version — and I've never seen a green tea extract with 50% caffeine.

That aside, green tea does show some great promise as a weight loss aide (see the full green tea review for complete verification), and this product does contain a hearty-enough dose. Caffeine too, is well known for its thermogenic properties (see Am J Clin Nutr. 1989 Jan;49(1):44-50, Am J Clin Nutr. 1980 May;33(5):989-97), and is a smart addition to any fat burner.

3) Forslean® (coleus forskohlii): The patented version of coleus forskohlii, a cAMP stimulators. Camp is a "cellular regulator." In other words, this compound is required to "spark" many intercellular processes. An increased concentration of camp can have such "total-body" effects as raised thyroid hormone levels and increased fat burning.

While the effects of coleus forskohlii and a corresponding positive effect on weight loss have been established in one study (Journal of Obesity Research August 2005, "Body Composition and Hormonal Adaptations Associated With Forskolin Consumption In Overweight and Obese Men"), the results were not overwhelming.

Another study was less positive (Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2(2):54-62, 2005). It concluded...

"Results suggest that CF (coleus forskohlii) does not appear to promote weight loss but may help mitigate weight gain in overweight females with apparently no clinically significant side effects."

4) Gymnema Sylvestre extract: In the correct dosage, preliminary evidence seems to indicate this ingredient may affect blood glucose levels by reducing its absorption in the intestines. More evidence is needed to properly rate the effectiveness of this ingredient as a potent fat burner. It also may inhibit the ability to "taste" sweet or sour flavors. According to the Thermodrenix web site...

"Gymnema, when combined with Super Citrimax, was extremely effective in helping subjects lose fat, decrease their appetite, and increase fat oxidation."

Uh, not really. When you review the specifics of the study, you'll see that it was performed with a combination of SuperCitrimax, 400 mg of Gymnema (there's only 250 mg in this formula) and niacin-bound chromium (not included in this formula at all) and compared to SuperCitrimax used in isolation. There was not a dramatic difference between results attained by the study participants using the combination of ingredients and those simply using SuperCitrimax.

Thermodrenix should either contain a full 400 mg of gymnema and the niacin-bound chromium (to make it compatible with this study), or it should simply leave out the gymnema altogether.

5) Bioperine: A common ingredient to many supplements, its role is to enhance the bioavailibility of certain supplements through increased absorption. See the full review for more details.

Alright, now that we've been through the ingredient list, what is the bottom line?

Frankly, there's really not a whole lot wrong with the Thermodrenix formula. SuperCitrimax is a helpful, but not earth shattering ingredient, and it's present in the correct dosage. Green tea and caffeine — pretty much total "no-brainers" for any fat burner — are also present in potent doses. Gymnema and Forslean don't add much to this formula, but they don't detract from it either. It ain't a revolution in a bottle by any means, but it's not bad either.

So what are the problems with Thermodrenix?

First and foremost, the price. $70 is an outrageous price for a product like this. For example, here's what you could buy at a reputable online retailer like BodyBuilding.com for under $35...

This would allow you to experiment with the appropriate doses of the more promising ingredients in Thermodrenix, and still have over $30 left to take a friend out for lunch! At $35-$39, Thermodrenix might be worth experimenting with, if you could confirm the retailer was genuine and that you would have a positive purchasing experience. But at this price, it's not worth purchasing.

The second problem with Thermodrenix?

Whenever supplement companies nearly fall over backwards in an attempt to convince me how honest they are, I get a bit worried. All it does, in my opinion, is raise doubts in my mind. But I'm a suspicious bugger, and I may be wrong. So here's where you can weigh in and help...

Ultimate review Trim: is Really The Ultimate Fat Burner Trim?

2010-10-16T06:30:00.000-07:00

Ultimate Trim claims to be the "Ultimate Fat Burner", allowing users to "lose 20 lbs. fast" with its "triple action weight loss formula." I found this last statement to be at odds with a comment made a mere 3 paragraphs later...

"...in order for any weight loss fat burning system to work, the solution must address the four key components of weight loss."

So is this a triple or quadruple action product?

The web site itself is typical of products like this; it features a mix of personal testimonials (all sporting impeccable grammar), quotes from Oprah and Dr. Nicholas Perricone regarding several "key" ingredients of the product, an offer for a free trial and the logos of several recognizable media outlets (CNN, FoxNews, etc.).

Of course, neither Oprah or Dr. Perricone endorse Ultimate Trim, and it hasn't been featured on any of the news channels featured prominently on the site. It's all part of the retailer's effort to add credibility to their product's claims.

In scouring UltimateTrimDirect.com I could find no information about the company providing this breakthrough product; no physical address or contact number is provided. An e-mail address and contact form are your only links with whomever is behind this company. This is never a good sign.

And check out the "About Us" link... there's no information there, just a re-posting of the company's money back guarantee, which customers allege isn't honored anyway.

So is there anything to the Ultimate Trim claims? Is there any reason to spend $70 on this product? Let's have a look at the product formulation...

1) Caralluma Fibriata: The Ultimate Trim sales copy makes much ado over the "fat burning powers" of this "wonder" ingredient. Despite all this, I was only able to find one positive study on Caralluma (see Appetite. 2007 May;48(3):338-44. Epub 2006 Nov 13). It concluded...

"While there was a trend towards a greater decrease in body weight, body mass index, hip circumference, body fat and energy intake between assessment time points in the experimental group, these were not significantly different between experimental and placebo groups. Caralluma extract appears to suppress appetite, and reduce waist circumference when compared to placebo over a 2 month period."

While positive, I would hardly describe the results of this study as a rip-roaring endorsement of Caralluma's amazing fat burning and appetite suppressing powers. Incidentally, it also appears to be the only published, peer-reviewed study on Caralluma's possible benefits for dieters.

Additionally, the clinical study calls for 1 gram (1,000 mg) of Caralluma daily — and we can't confirm whether or not Ultimate Trim contains that much active ingredient (the daily intake of the proprietary Ultimate Trim blend comprises 1464 mg of ingredients).

Although Caralluma is listed first (ingredients are listed on labels in order of prominence), there are 5 other ingredients included here as well. In essence what that means is that if Caralluma is included in a dose strong enough to replicate the rather underwhelming results shown by the study above, the other 5 ingredients will be present in such a low dosage as to comprise little more than label dressing.

2) Green tea extract (50% EGCG): Green tea and an essential catechin thereof, EGCG, have been shown to be helpful for weight loss (read the full review of green tea here!). As I just indicated however, if Caralluma is included in a dose potent enough to have any effect, it's very unlikely there's enough green tea here to do anything -- especially considering there are still an additional 4 ingredients in the formula.

3) Cocoa extract: Ultimate Trim labels itself the "feel good" fat burner, probably on the basis of this ingredient. Usually this claim is based on the fact that cocoa extracts contain phenylethylamine (PEA), which is a chemical cousin of amphetamine. Unfortunately, PEA is metabolized by the enzyme monamine oxidase, preventing all but the tiniest amounts from entering the bloodstream.

In this formula the cocoa extract is standardized for l-tyrosine, theobromine, caffeine and a few other goodies. While caffeine is a proven thermogenic, and tyrosine has mood-elevating characteristics in multi-gram doses, it's doubtful any of these ingredients are present in high enough amounts to elicit much of an effect.

4) Cayenne: probably standardized for capsaicin, a chemical that gives chile peppers their "heat." The theory is that capsaicin "revs" up your metabolism by creating heat, thus burning off extra calories. However, this study (Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2007 Jan;292(1):R77-85. Epub 2006 Jul 13) says it best...

"Capsaicin has been shown to be effective, yet when it is used clinically it requires a strong compliance to a certain dosage, that has not been shown to be feasible yet."

In other words, in order for capsaicin to have an effect on your metabolism, it has to be taken in doses much too high to make it practical.

5) ATP: Or adenosine triphosphate. It's a nucleotide present in all cells in the human body. Its roles are many and complex; it's involved in everything from cellular metabolism, muscle contraction, cardiac function to the metabolism of glycogen in the liver. Does ATP help with weight loss? If it does, it isn't reflected in any clinical study I could find (I did find it helps mitigate weight loss in small cell lung cancer patients).

Additionally, any "benefits" offered by the tiny amount of ATP included in this formula are likely compromised by the caffeine also present; caffeine and other xanthines are competitive antagonists of adenosine on cell surface receptors (Anesthesiology 2002;97:938-43).

6) Slimaluma™: The patented version of the Caralluma (see ingredient #1) which comprises the majority of this formula. Including a small amount of it here seems silly and redundant.

At the end of the day what you're left with is a single ingredient that has only one credible study validating its effectiveness (Caralluma), and indeterminate amount of one other useful ingredient (green tea). The remainder of the formula adds relatively little value.

Can you lose 20 lbs fast with Ultimate Trim? There's absolutely no evidence to indicate this is even remotely possible. For 50% of the cost of this product, you can buy much better formulated products that come with a real guarantee.

There are several other problems...

In short this product is overpriced, over hyped, and distributed by a company with a far from stellar record of billing and marketing practices.

Viper dymatize Review: All Day energy Plus Fat Burning?

2010-10-15T12:30:00.000-07:00

Viper is the "hardcore" fat burner brought to us by Dymatize Nutrition, a company that's built its reputation manufacturing no-nonsense body building supplements like protein powders, weight gainers and branched chain amino acids among others.

Dymatize claims Viper offers both a rapid release and extended release formula, allowing users to experience an immediate "surge" of energy, followed by a sustained, steady release of energy that lasts most of the day.

So... what's in Dymatize's Viper?

In addition to a hearty dose of Vitamin B12, each capsule boasts a 707 mg proprietary blend of...

1) Dyma-CocoXan™: This is Dymatize's own invention; it's a cocoa extract that contains xanthine, theobromine and added synephrine. In other words, it contains...

a) Caffeine: a well known and common thermogenic, there is some evidence it offers mild weight loss benefits (see Am J Clin Nutr. 1989 Jan;49(1):44-50, Am J Clin Nutr. 1980 May;33(5):989-97) in addition to an energy boost.

b) Synephrine: Another stimulant, this one derived from the citrus aurantium fruit. Originally it was thought synephrine offered weight loss benefits on par with the now outlawed ephedra, although clinical evidence has now demonstrated that is not the case. Anecdotal evidence seems to suggest synephrine has mild appetite suppressing characteristics, although this has not yet been demonstrated in any peer-reviewed studies.

c) Theobromine: Another "caffeine-like" stimulant, although not nearly as potent. No clinical studies verify theobromine's effects on weight loss.

2) Guarana Extract (99% Xanthine Guaranine): Although some believe this is a phytochemical unique to guarana, it is actually very similar to caffeine in chemical structure.

There's little doubt that it plays the role of a stimulant in this formula, and offers benefits probably close to or on par with regular caffeine.

3) Phenyalanine: An amino acid similar in structure to many "feel good" brain chemicals, phenyalanine can be converted into tyrosine or phenylethylamine, another mood-elevating compound that is commonly found in chocolate.

4) The B-In-B Matrix: contains a whopping 13 ingredients. Because the entire Viper formula contains a mere 707mg of ingredients, and because this matrix appears fourth on the label (ingredients are listed in order of prominence) most of these ingredients in this "matrix" are present as "label dressing" only (i.e., it makes the label appear impressive, but is not present in a dose strong enough to elicit any effect).

Zingiber: Ginger contains gingerols, which are chemically related to capsaicin. It does demonstrate some mild thermogenic and metabolism-boosting characteristics.

Ginger also seems to accelerate gastric emptying... the opposite of the sort of thing dieters want (Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 May;20(5):436-40). Unfortunately, the aforementioned study was conducted with 1200 mg - 500 mg more ingredient than that present in the entire Viper formula.

Cayenne: Cayenne (capsicum) is often used to improve digestion. Topically as a cream, it can be used to treat arthritis. However, it may improve the efficiency of the circulatory system, as well as elevating the internal body temperature, and increasing fat burning ability through thermogenisis.

There is a small body of evidence that indicates that cayenne consumption can indeed elevate the metabolism (Br J Nutr 1999;82:115–23, Br J Nutr 1998;80:503–10).

Unfortunately, it's only at much higher doses (one study used 10 grams consumed along with meals!) that any effect is realized.

Yohimbe HCL The standardized extract of the bark of the African Yohimbe tree is yohimbine (this ingredient appears to be improperly labeled; it should be yohimbine HCL). This compound is often used as a natural aphrodisiac. It is also sold as a drug (in the U.S., a popular brand is Yohimex containing 5.4 milligram of yohimbine hydrochloride per tablet) and is used to treat impotency, dilate the pupil of the eye, and stimulate fat loss (studies indicating weight loss are promising but not revolutionary -- see Isr J Med Sci. 1991 Oct;27(10):550-6). Because only a few milligrams of yohimbine are necessary to elicit an effect, it is quite possible this ingredient is included in an effective dose.

Because it can cause unpredictable effects on blood pressure, Yohimbe should be approached with caution.

Bioperine™: A standardized black pepper extract, usually included to improve the bioavailability of certain ingredients. Maximowizia Chinensis Extract: Normally labeled as "Schisandra chinensis", a powerful adaptogen. Phaseolus Vulgaris Extract: Commonly used as a carb blocker, data showing white kidney bean's effectiveness for weight loss is contradictory. Regardless, even positive studies used almost 500 mg of extract, which means that it's only present in Viper as label dressing. R-Alpha Lipoic Acid: Biologically active form of alpha lipoic acid, a powerful antioxidant and blood sugar moderator. 5-Hydroxy L-Tryptophan: Often used as an alternative treatment for depression. At high doses (900 mg/day) it has been shown to help improve appetite control and weight loss. Guggul Extract (Commiphora Mukul 2.5% Guggulsterones): From our glossary...

"Guggulsterone – either in the form of standardized guggul extracts or “E & Z” guggulsterones – are often added to fat loss supplements, although the evidence suggests guggul isn’t a weight loss miracle."

Rhodiola Rosea Root Extract: An adaptogenic herb used in Russian folk medicine, there is some evidence rhodiola has positive effects on physical/emotional stress—at a dosage of 340 or 680 mg/day over a 6-week period. Tyrosine Ethyl Ester: A precursor to several neurotransmitters and the thyroid hormone thyroxine, tyrosine is often added to weight loss products to enhance focus and possibly fat burning, although clinical data validating the latter is in short supply. Propionyl-Carnitine Ethyl Ester: Carnitine has long been used in fat burners, despite the fact that clinical data is inconsistent. This form of carnitine appears to exhibit superior antioxidant and heart protecting characteristics. DymaMine3™ (Thiamine Disulfide / Thiamine Trisulfide): Thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1, plays an important role in energy metabolism, and is thought to play a role in appetite suppression. This novel, potent version of thiamine is being touted as a potent enhancer of physical and mental energy—especially when combined with caffeine (as it is in this formula).

So there you are... the complete Viper formula, ingredient by ingredient.

Because of its proprietary blend, it's difficult to assess the true value of this formula.

Most ingredients in the 13-ingredient strong "B In B matrix", for example, are unlikely to be present in doses anywhere near what's been proven effective.

In my opinion, Viper would be a better product if three-quarters of the ingredients in this matrix were dropped, and the more promising were included at useful dosages.

Other ingredients likely to be present in useful dosages (caffeine, synephrine, yohimbine, etc) are relatively ordinary, mainstay ingredients.

To be fair, the fat burning element of this product is incredibly understated in the product advertising I viewed.

For example, on BodyBuilding.com, 99% of the product write up focuses on this product's energy-boosting characteristics and the combination of the immediate, plus the extended release formula.

If it's some added energy you're looking for, I have no doubt that Viper will deliver. The combination of caffeine, guarana, theobromine, synephrine and yohimbine HCL makes that pretty much a no-brainer. Depending how effectively the extended release formula works, Viper may offer a nice, all-day energy boost with no "crash."

Most products on the market offer a 21-day supply of product. Although Viper seems a bit pricey (about $39 at BodyBuilding.com) for a product that's basically a glorified caffeine/synephrine/yohmbine blend, a bottle lasts 6 and half weeks at the recommended two-cap per day dosage, which means comparatively, it is actually pretty reasonably priced.

What are the best natural appetite suppressant?

2010-10-15T06:30:00.000-07:00

If you're on the quest for the best natural appetite suppressant, you're not alone; a large percentage of dieters and our visitors have made it clear that such a supplement would be of great value to them.

That said, what are your options when it comes to natural appetite suppressants? As you'll see, there are plenty of supplements that are advertised as such, but relatively few that have a significant body of peer-reviewed, published clinical data behind them.

Let's take a look at some of the more commonly advertised appetite suppressants...

Description: A cactus native to South Africa, this protected species is "claimed" to be able to suppress the appetite thanks to the action of the novel P57 molecule.

Possible issues: Because hoodia is an endangered species that takes several years to grow to maturity, there is a great likelihood that the majority of hoodia products on the market don't contain any hoodia. According to Mike Adams of NewsTarget.com, up to 80% of the Hoodia sold on the market is counterfeit, with 60% of the products sold in the U.S. failing laboratory verification.

Study status: No peer-reviewed, published clinical data exists to demonstrate the appetite suppressing qualities of hoodia.

Interesting stuff: In December 2004, PhytoPharm teamed up with Unilever (who owns SlimFast, Knorr, and Hellman's, among other things), and committed to bringing the active P57 molecule to the market within 3 years.

At the end of 2008 (as announced in this document) Unilever terminated its relationship with PhytoPharm and the development of a hoodia-based weight loss product—making it even more difficult to believe that's there's any real merit to hoodia for weight loss.

Anecdotal reports: Some people report appetite suppression when using credible hoodia-based products. Our "in the trenches" product tester Amie experimented with hoodia and wrote about her experiences here! In short, she found that hoodia curbed her appetite significantly, but nevertheless, didn't end up losing weight.

Recommendation: Real, quality hoodia products (like the Hoodoba brand) are expensive and have little in the way of scientific evidence to validate their effectiveness. Is hoodia worth trying just to see?

It's a decision you have to make. It's certainly not your most cost effective option, and certainly not recommended if you're on a tight budget.

Description: Derived from citrus aurantium (also known as "bitter orange"), synephrine is a chemical "cousin" of ephedra. After the ephedra ban, it replaced the ephedra content of many popular weight loss supplements, on the assumption it would work in a similar manner.

Possible issues: Synephrine is often used in "stimulant free" weight loss formulas. This, despite evidence showing it is a stimulant, and does elevate both blood pressure and heart rate.

Study status: Clinical data shows synephrine demonstrates extremely modest benefits at best. One study concluded...

"There is little evidence that products containing C. aurantium are an effective aid to weight loss."

Anecdotal reports: Some users find synephrine is a helpful appetite suppressant.

Recommendation: Not exactly a winner, but it is cheap (around $14 at BodyBuilding.com for 180 caps, or a 2 months supply) if you'd like to experiment with it as an appetite suppressant.

Description: The popular name for a small Brazilian tree, Cordia salicifolia. It is marketed as a weight loss supplement and as an appetite suppressant.

Possible issues: N/A

Study status: No peer-reviewed, published clinical data exists to demonstrate the fat burning or appetite suppressing qualities of Cha de Bugre.

Anecdotal reports: Some users, including our own scientific and technical advisor Elissa, have found Cha de Bugre to exhibit moderate appetite suppressing characteristics.

Recommendation: Not much science supporting it, but cheap enough to experiment with (as little as $10 at iHerb.com - use the coupon code FAT259 to get $5 off your first order).

Description: Occasionally labeled as "konjac" or "amorphophallus konjac", glucomannan is an un-absorbable polysaccharide that is derived from the konjac root. In short, it is a source of fiber. There are many glucomannan based products on the market, including PGX Daily and Lipozene.

Possible issues: Glucomannan pills can occasionally get stuck in the esophagus and cause a blockage. One study bears this out, indicating that glucomannan-based supplements can pose a hazard for individuals with a history of upper gastrointestinal pathology.

Study status: There is some clinical data to validate glucommanan's ability to increase satiety, lower LDL cholesterol, blood lipid levels and blood sugar levels (especially in diabetics) and help with weight loss. See the full glucomannan review for accompanying clinical references.

Anecdotal reports: Some users find glucommanan helps them feel full longer, and eat less at mealtimes.

Recommendation: Cheap and worth a try (a 180-capsule bottle is just under $10 at BodyBuilding.com). If the capsules are too big for you, break them open and sprinkle them over your food.

Description: Native to India, this plant's leaves have been used as a traditional natural remedy for diabetes. In weight loss products, it's used to inhibit the ability to taste sweetness as well as the intestinal absorption of glucose. It may also have an "anti-diabetic" effect. Not a "true" appetite suppressant, but may help in this manner, if it does suppress sweetness.

Possible issues: N/A

Study status: There is a small body of preliminary evidence indicating gymnema may indeed provide benefits for dieters. One problem though; the majority of studies showing the inhibition of the ability to taste sweet or bitter were performed primarily on rats and mice (for more accompanying study references, please see the glossary listing).

Anecdotal reports: We have received no anecdotal reports on gymnema.

Recommendation: Up to you if you'd like to experiment. A 6-week supply is pretty reasonably priced (about $14 at a reputable online retailer like BodyBuilding.com).

Description: An Indian cactus marketed as an appetite suppressant.

Possible issues: N/A

Study status: One study validates caralluma's weight loss and appetite suppressing benefits, although they are relatively modest.

Anecdotal reports: Customer testimonials and feedback on Dex-C20 (a caralluma-based supplement) and Slimaluma® (the patented version of caralluma) is mixed; some folks found it helpful for appetite suppression, others found it did nothing.

Recommendation: It's cheap enough to experiment with (under $15 for 60 caps) should you think it is warranted. Try Now brand's SlimaLuma Plus (which also contains green tea extract and yerba mate) for two weeks and see if it helps.

Description: A highly nutritious protein derived from milk, and used by bodybuilders for its anti-catabolic properties.

Possible issues: Casein is potentially allergenic, although most milk allergies are formed during early childhood.

Study status: Casein protein offers numerous documented benefits (see the full review for accompanying clinical references) but nothing has been documented pertaining to appetite suppression or satiety.

Anecdotal reports: Because casein is a slow-digesting protein, some people find supplementing with a casein protein can help them feel full longer, thus reducing their appetite.

Recommendation: If you're already using a protein supplement, it might be worthwhile to switch to a quality casein based product. For individuals not supplementing with a protein powder, and have no interest in doing so, perhaps one of the other options on this page would be a better choice.

Palm/Oat Oil Blend (SlimShots)Description: A blend of oil derived from palm and oat sources, and served in small "shots" (the size of a disposable coffee creamer) retailers claim this special concoction can increase satiety and suppress appetite.

Possible issues: N/A

Study status: Yes, there are several studies that indicate this oil blend is helpful for appetite suppression and satiety (see the SlimShots review for accompanying clinical references), although not all studies are positive.

Interesting stuff: It's impossible to tell whether commercial palm/oat oil appetite suppressant products contain a potent enough dosage, or one that corresponds to the positive clinical studies referenced in the full SlimShots review.

Anecdotal reports: Mixed, but more negative than positive. Some of our visitors have found this product helpful, others not. Click here to read user reviews and testimonials on SlimShots!

Recommendation: Although some visitors have reported finding SlimShots and other similar products at bargain prices on occasion, they are generally a fairly expensive product. It's hard to make a recommendation when we're not convinced you'll receive much value for your dollar. Ultimately then, it's a decision you have to make.

Description: More commonly known as "Korean Pine Nut Oil", Pinnothin is advertised as an appetite suppressant (it is thought to stimulate several appetite suppressing hormones—cholecystokinin and glucagon-like peptide 1).

Possible issues: N/A

Study status: Very little published data exists for this ingredient, and what little there is (see Lipids Health Dis. 2008 Feb 28;7:6) demonstrated mediocre results at best. Our scientific and technical advisor Elissa summed it up best when she reported...

"The results are pretty underwhelming—2 g of Pinnothin taken 30 min before a buffet lunch reduced food intake by 9% - by weight in grams - and energy intake by 7%. The latter figure averaged to a whopping 50 calories."

Anecdotal reports: We have received no anecdotal reports on the appetite suppressing qualities of PinnoThin.

Recommendation: There's no reason to recommend experimenting with PinnoThin at this time.

Description: A supplement (called "sprinkles") that you "sprinkle" onto your meals, to increase satiety (the feeling of "fullness") and decrease appetite.

Possible issues: Purchasing Sensa from the official web site may add you to a recurring billing program, especially if you "try it free" (click here to watch our video of the "free trial scam").

Study status: Much ado is made on the official Sensa web site about the "clinically proven" status of the Tastants products. There are all sorts of problems with this, the most obvious one being that this was an in-house study that has never been published in a peer-reviewed journal. Please see the full Sensa Tastants review for a complete discussion of this issue.

Anecdotal reports: Mixed reviews on the products effectiveness, and plenty of billing issues.

Recommendation: There's no reason to recommend experimenting with Sensa Tastants at this time.

Yerba Mate / Ilex paraguariensis: South American Slimming sensation?

2010-10-14T09:30:00.000-07:00

Yerba mate (sometime labeled as an officer of bridge or Ilex paraguariensis) is a shrub of South America in the Holly family. It is commonly used to create an infusion of tea as"called"maté." Both dry leaves and branches can be used in infusion, and it can be served hot or cold.

Interest to us, however, is common use of Yerba Mate products weight amaigrissants.Pourquoi is included and is there a good reason for it?

The yerba mate contains caffeine alkaloids xanthine theobromine, theophylline - is the common stimulants that are the reason the most probable.Après all the positive effects of caffeine on weight loss is well established (see Am J Clin Nutr. 1989 Jan; 49 (1): 44-50, Am J Clin Nutr. 1980 may; 33 (5): 989 - 97).

The yerba mate is a decent source of caffeine, and even if the force and power varies, it provides approximately half of the caffeine in coffee.

Theophylline and theobromine are also challenging, although they have a lesser effect on the central nervous system (CNS) than caffeine.

The yerba mate is also a source of a compound that can demonstrate some benefits for loss of poids.Recherche, chlorogenic acid is, however, in the early stages and was performed on the animals to date (see BMC complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2006, 6: 9).

Nevertheless, the studies showing yerba mate, to be an effective weight loss agent were concluants.Dans study, yerba mate combined guarana and damiana has resulted in an increased feeling of satiety and delayed gastric emptying (see J Hum Nutr Diet. 2001 Jun; 14 (3): 243-50).

An animal study showed reduced obesity hired a fatty diet (Arch Biochem Biophys 2008 Feb 26).

On the other hand, this study (Am J Clin Nutr 2004 April; 79 (4): 529 - 36), who examined the clinical evidence for weight loss "natural" multiple AIDS - including the yerba mate - concluded...

Evidence for most dietary supplements as aid in the reduction of body weight is hardly convaincante.Aucun journals supplements can be recommended that you use over-the-counter.

Instead of these data, and based on the fact that the yerba mate displays potent antioxidant properties, I would not shy away from any product which contains the yerba maté in a supporting role weight loss.

However, at this time, it has no conclusive evidence that the yerba mate provides weight loss benefits than those due to caffeine - and perhaps - chlorogenic acid content.Any retailer who makes such claims is not made on the basis of existing evidence.

Zovatol Fat Burner Review: No substantiated top claims & A Ticket price!

2010-10-14T06:30:00.000-07:00

The Zovatol fat burner appears to be sold online, mostly via eBay. The Zovatol.com web site contains minimal information—the terms and conditions of the "free trial" offer, which, not surprisingly, includes "participation" in a recurring billing program. We are not fans of any product that uses the "free trial" scam to "rope" customers into a program that sends them a fresh supply of product every 30 or 90 days whether they want it or not. In fact, we've even created a video to document this common and deceptive scam.

You can watch it here!

So what's the scoop with Zovatol, dubbed the "Thermogenic Fat Burning Breakthrough" by retailers? Is there any evidence to validate any of the claims made for the product?

It's probably not going to surprise you to discover that no studies have been performed on this product, nor is there any evidence it has any positive effect on weight loss.

Zovatol contains a couple of useful ingredients, but since the dosage of these is not revealed, it's impossible to determine if they are present in a potent enough dosage to elicit any effect. Let's have a closer look "under the hood" of the Zovatol formula and see what we can find...

1) White and green teas: Green tea is one of the few "fat burners" that shows some real promise for weight loss. In the appropriate dosages (and standardized for the appropriate catechins, i.e., EGCG) it elevates the metabolism, inhibits the activity of the enzyme amylase, and provides amazing antioxidant activity (for a full review of green and tea and to view accompanying clinical references, click here!).

The problem is that we do not know how much green tea Zovatol contains, nor do we know if it is standardized for these critical catechins and caffeine. So it's impossible to assess the value it provides to this formula. You'd think if the product contained an ample amount of this critical ingredient, the retailers would be happy to share this information with the world.

And what's the deal with "white tea?"

Well, it comes from the same plant as the green tea (camellia sinensis) but it is harvested earlier, before the leaves are fully opened and the leaves are covered with a fine white hair (hence its name).

White tea has a lighter, sweeter taste than green tea, tends to be lower in caffeine and higher in antioxidants, and has undergone very little processing.

There's no doubt it probably provides many of the benefits provided by green tea. However, the positive weight loss studies I've viewed have been performed on green tea, not white tea.

And clinicians have attributed much of green tea's weight loss effects to the combination of a critical catechin (EGCG) and caffeine. Since white tea contains much less caffeine, it may not be nearly as effective a weight loss aid.

And of course, just like the green tea, we have no idea how much the Zovatol formula contains.

2) Caffeine: According to the sales page I saw, Zovatol contains "just the right amount to take off your water weight and heighten your metabolism without giving you the jitters." Not sure what this means exactly; caffeine is a diuretic, but its well-established effects on weight loss are a result of an elevation in metabolism (see Am J Clin Nutr. 1989 Jan;49(1):44-50, Am J Clin Nutr. 1980 May;33(5):989-97) not a dramatic shedding of "water weight."

Once again, it's not revealed whether "just the right amount" of caffeine is actually enough to elicit a response. Theoretically, Zovatol could contain several hundred milligrams, or it may contain hardly any at all.

Who knows?

3) Capsaicin (from hot peppers): According to the retailer, this fat burner "revs up your metabolism to help you blast fat faster." That statement is contradicted by this study (Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2007 Jan;292(1):R77-85. Epub 2006 Jul 13) which says...

"Capsaicin has been shown to be effective, yet when it is used clinically it requires a strong compliance to a certain dosage, that has not been shown to be feasible yet."

In other words, in order for capsaicin to have an effect on your metabolism, it has to be taken in doses much too high to make it practical.

The retailer also states (in regards to capsaicin)...

"... works synergistically with the other ingredients for maximum fat burning."

Unfortunately, there is no clinical evidence to validate this statement.

4) Yohimbe (usually standardized for yohimbine and other alkaloids): Zovatol retailers claim that western scientists have found that yohimbe (derived from the bark of a western African evergreen tree) is an "excellent thermogenic." A few studies bear out Yohimbe's positive effect on weight loss (Isr J Med SCI 1991 Oct;27(10):550-6).

However, its effects are not dramatic -- although yohimbe is certainly an ingredient you can "feel" (yohimbe is a stimulant but some users notice feelings of cold / shivering / goose bumps) which is probably why many supplement retailers add it to their compilations.

What's the bottom line on Zovatol?

It's high priced. It has a very ordinary ingredient profile of indeterminate potency and strength. It appears to be marketed via a "free-trial" offer that adds customers to a recurring billing program. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that we do not recommend Zovatol.

A high quality green tea extract stacked with caffeine tabs would likely provide greater results for a third of the cost.

Ultimate Nutrition Red Zone Fat Burner Review

2010-10-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

Red Zone, from Ultimate Nutrition, is the fat burner that claims to "delay exhaustion and burn fat". The "delayed exhaustion" element of the formula is largely attributable to the "fatigue-delay" complex which consists of two ingredients: beta alanine and coenzyme Q10.

That said, let's take a thorough look at the complete Red Zone formula and see how it measures up...

1) The "Fatigue-Delay" complex: A full 3-capsule serving of Red Zone delivers 1030 mg of the following two ingredients (according to the advertising copy I reviewed, the "precise blend of COQ-10 and beta alanine that have been clinically studied to extend workouts.")...

Beta Alanine: More commonly found in pre-workout formulations and body building training supplements like Isatori's H+Blocker, there's plenty of clinical evidence that shows beta alanine reduces training fatigue (see here, here, here, and here!).

If there's a problem, it's the fact that the doses used in these studies are much higher than what is found in this product (3-6 grams daily is the norm). It is extremely unlikely therefore, that this relatively low dose of beta alanine will deliver results on par with the studies referenced above.

Coenzyme Q10: A powerful antioxidant that has been used experimentally to treat both cardiovascular and mitochondrial diseases. Some retailers—like Ultimate Nutrition—claim coenzyme Q10 can increase energy and boost training performance. Unfortunately, the evidence suggests otherwise; for those with normal mitochondrial function, coenzyme Q10 has little or no effect whatsoever (see here, here, here, and here!).

2) The "Calorie-burning" complex: This 795 mg blend boasts 8 ingredients, which pretty much guarantees that none of them are going to be present in a dosage strong enough to elicit any effect (just like with pharmaceutical drugs, the compounds present in fat burners must be present in a specific dosage if the user is to experience some benefits from them. That is not going to be the case here).

Cayenne Pepper (Fruit): Cayenne fruit (the active ingredient of which is called "capsaicin") is often used to improve digestion. Topically as a cream, it can be used to treat arthritis. However, it may improve the efficiency of the circulatory system, as well as elevating the internal body temperature, and increasing fat burning ability through thermogenisis.

There is a small body of evidence that indicates that cayenne consumption can indeed elevate the metabolism (Br J Nutr 1999;82:115–23).

Unfortunately, it's only at much higher doses (one study used 10 grams consumed along with meals!) that any effect is realized. This study (Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2007 Jan;292(1):R77-85. Epub 2006 Jul 13) says it best...

"Capsaicin has been shown to be effective, yet when it is used clinically it requires a strong compliance to a certain dosage, that has not been shown to be feasible yet."

In other words, in order for capsaicin to have an effect on your metabolism, it has to be taken in doses much too high to make it practical. Asian Ginseng Powder (Root): A well-known adaptogen, although studies validating its effects on atheletic performance are mixed. White Willow Powder (Bark): In the old days, white willow bark was used as the herbal form of salicin, and comprised the third element of the good old ephedra / caffeine / aspirin stack. In ephedra-free fat burners like this one, there is no evidence it offers any benefit, short of the anti-inflammatory effects inherent to salicin. Red Tea Extract (Leaf & Stem): It's hard to say for sure, but it's likely this refers to rooibos tea, which, although high in antioxidants and phenolic compounds, isn't in the same family as green or oolong tea and has no demonstrated weight loss effects. Kola Nut Powder (Seed): Animal studies have shown kola nut has fat burning properties, but for humans, the main benefit kola nut offers is as a diuretic and a source of caffeine (kola nut can contain between 2-4% caffeine. Evodia Extract (Fruit): a compound derived from the Chinese fruit Evodia Rutaecarpa. It's claimed to burn fat by increasing the body's production of heat, as well as reducing the body's ability to store fat.

Although a preliminary animal study shows promising results, to date there's no evidence showing evodiamine works in people.

Ginger Powder (Root): Ginger contains gingerols, which are chemically related to capsaicin. It does demonstrate some mild thermogenic and metabolism-boosting characteristics, although compliance to high dosage is likely necessary.

Ginger also seems to accelerate gastric emptying... the opposite of the sort of thing dieters want (Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 May;20(5):436-40).

Black Pepper Extract (Fruit): Usually added to fat burners and other supplements on the basis it improves the bioavailability of certain ingredients. Some make the argument that it elevates the metabolism as well, although there's little evidence to validate this argument—at least when used at the dose typically found in products like this.

3) Power enhancing complex: 500 mg of the following two ingredients...

PowerGrape®: A proprietary Bordeaux grape extract which acts as a powerful antioxidant. Powergrape makes other claims as well; at the 400 mg/day dosage (incidentally, the amount included in Red Zone) it increases oxgenation of the muscles, and protects muscles against lesions caused by physical exericse.

Apparently, these benefits are backed by clinical studies, although these appear to be performed "in-house", and not published in a reputable journal where the methodologies and conclusions can be contested by qualified professionals. Nonetheless, it's well established that grape extracts are potent antioxidants.

Caffeine Anhydrous: Caffeine has a well established record as a mild thermogenic, and does deliver mild weight loss results (see Am J Clin Nutr. 1989 Jan;49(1):44-50, Am J Clin Nutr. 1980 May;33(5):989-97). It also cheaply and effectively addresses the most common complaint of dieters; lack of energy. According to the Red Zone advertising, there is 100 mg of caffiene in a single dose (the equivalent of a cup of coffee's worth).

So there you have it. Red Zone in a nutshell.

Frankly, it's a bit of a bizarre formulation with an odd focus on potent antioxidants (Coenzyme Q10 and PowerGrape).

While no one is going to argue to possible benefits of antioxidant supplementation—despite the fact that none pertain to weight loss specifically—it's not usually what customers are looking for when they purchase a weight loss supplement.

The inclusion of low dose beta alanine too, is perplexing. At the appropriate dose (around 5 grams, or 5,000 mg), it's a great addition to pre-workout and bodybuilding supplements. At this dose, in a fat burner? I have no idea what Ultimate Nutrition was thinking.

And the ingredients included precisely for fat burning? A tepid, under-dosed and/or backed by poor or preliminary cinical evidence group of ingredients.

It's not that Red Zone is a bad product, it's just that Red Zone can't decide what it wants to be, and in an attempt to be "everything", fails on all accounts.

On the other hand, the small amount of customer feedback posted on BodyBuilding.com is largely positive, although no one seems to be touting its amazing thermogenic properties.

That said, we'd love to hear from Red Zone users. How did you like it?

To find a specific product review, use the search function on the top right hand side of this page, or the alphabetical listing to the right of this table.

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Cellucor T7 Extreme Fat Burner Review: Efficient It?

2010-10-13T06:21:00.000-07:00

Cellucor's T7 Extreme is, according to the advertising I viewed...

"...specifically designed to decrease body fat by increasing BMR (basal metabolic rate) and increasing the body´s ability to convert fat into instant heat energy."

This, the product advertising goes on to say, is largely due to...

"...its use of fucoxanthins..."

Really?

Let's take a closer look at T7 Extreme and see what ingredients it contains exactly, and what the existing scientific literature says about them.

I was pleased to note that T7 contains a mere 4 ingredients, but less pleased that Cellucor has decided to disguise the fact that its product contains a mere sprinkling of them. Yes, the label appears impressive, boasting 96,000 mcg of ingredient. Unfortunately, 96,000mcg is the equivalent of 96 mg, which is next to nothing.

Sidebar: Mcg or "micrograms" are typically used to label ingredients present in dosages less than a milligram. 500 mcg, for example, would be .5 mg. For a company to use "mcg" when "mg" is the logical choice... well, it's a clear indication that they're trying to disguise the fact their product contains so little ingredient.

So what's T7 Extreme contain?

1) Zinc aspartate: Zinc has important antioxidant, immune and anti-inflammatory properties . More importantly (at least from a bodybuilding perspective), zinc plays a role in normal reproductive and sexual functions for both men and women.

It doesn't play any significant role in weight loss, and supplementation is only beneficial if you're deficient in zinc, which is not normally an issue. Additionally, most supplements containing zinc aspartate usually offer up 30 mg per serving—which would leave a paltry 66 mg to be divided up amongst the remaining 3 ingredients.

2) Fucoxanthin: A carotenoid present in seaweed and other marine vegetables. There is a small amount of promising evidence that indicates Fucoxanthin is useful for weight loss (see Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Jul 1;332(2):392-7, Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2008;17 Suppl 1:196-9). The bad news is that to date, any published material has been based on animal studies.

Additionally, there's the problem of low bioavailability of these compounds in humans. This study (see Br J Nutr. 2008 Aug;100(2):273-7) concluded...

"... results indicated that the plasma response to dietary epoxyxanthophylls was very low in humans even after 1-week intake of epoxyxanthophyll-rich diets."

The question then becomes...

If the human body has such real difficulty accessing this compound, how effective can it be as a fat burner?

This is a question that can only be answered in a peer-reviewed, published study.

And of course, nothing like that exists yet.

If there's any silver lining here, it's that the positive animal studies used relatively small amounts of this ingredient, meaning there may be enough fucxoxanthin in this product to elicit an effect, should there actually be one.

Still, we don't know exactly how much is included here, although given the 96 mg serving size, it can't be much.

3) Salix matsudana extract: Salix matsudana is a species of willow native to China. Certain chemical constituents (polyphenols, actually) have been isolated from the leaves and demonstrated (in preliminary Chinese and Japanese animal studies) to have anti-obesity action (Phytother Res. 2003 Dec;17(10):1195-8, Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2000 Sep;25(9):538-41).

Two problems here; first, these are animal studies, and not necessarily applicable in humans. Second, the apparent effective dose seems quite high—570mg/kg in this study. Even if Salix matsudana is helpful in humans (and this is mere speculation) the HED (human equivalent dose) would be significantly higher—and many times the size of the entire 96 mg T7 ingredient profile.

Conclusion?

Label dressing. Looks impressive on the label, but included at a dosage too low to offer any benefit (should there be any).

4) 3,5-Dihydroxy Phenylacetate: Sounds less impressive when described as a water soluble B9 vitamin. According to Cellucor, because of its similarity in structure to thyroid hormones precursors, it has an ability to increase the activity of thyroid, elevate the metabolism, and therefore encourage weight loss.

Uh-huh.

I guess I would ask Cellucor a few questions about this assertion; first, upon what clinical evidence are they basing this claim, and two, if such evidence exists, what dosage is required, and is an appropriate amount in the product?

So there you have it. Cellucor's T7 Extreme in a nutshell.

So what's the verdict?

As you can see, the claims for the product are based entirely on speculation. Speculation mostly, that the positive results bourne out in animal studies will also apply to humans.

None of the weight loss ingredients in this product are backed by any credible human research.

In addition to that, at least one, and possibly more of the ingredients in this product are under-dosed, even if we are to presume a positive correlation between animal studies and human results.

Of course, that doesn't mean T7 Extreme does not work.

It may.

But there's no proof that it does. And the onus is on Cellucor to provide that proof.

So, despite the impressive sounding advertising spiel, what you're left with is little more than smoke and mirrors.

And when you're forking out your hard-earned money for a product, you deserve more than that.

Just my opinion, of course.

To find a specific product review, use the search function on the top right hand side of this page, or the alphabetical listing to the right of this table.

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Kindergarten meals get failing grade

2010-09-30T21:15:00.000-07:00

A box lunch audit performed by dietician Shannon Crocker in 4 classes of Ontario, kindergarten has left to be desired.

Cold Hot-Dog, treats gummy, sweet fruit beverages and packaged cookies have been by the courts in these lunch pales Dora and Diego (children have lunch pales more?).

Here are a few other undesirable results of this survey of 82 lunches.

85% of the breakfast had no vegetables at all.Almost each container were a delight sweet and some up to five.Only five lunches included milk, but most of them had at least a drink sweet fruit - flavoured few or zero children nutritional value.Most had that a single drink to get through the day, while some had nothing to drink all.92% did not have a pack - despite some lunches with spaghetti and meat sauce that would be prone to bacteria, cooler if left for is réchauffer.déjeuners many did not provide enough food for the day were school children. Crocker has a theory on this property;

If a child eats much, parents could wrap small amounts of food or busy morning let little time to assemble lunches, money can be a factor, or he has not much food in the fridge so far here. Source

This course is about on several levels.It stresses the need for education and access to healthy food for children.The socioeconomic status of the schools in question was not mentioned, but it goes without saying that children should have access to healthy food.

This is more complicated by the issue of sponsors food wholesale and a skewed perception of what is considered to be "healthy" suite.

I think that parents can take a few simple steps and inexpensive to stimulate the nutritional quality of their children.it lunches need only seconds to include some baby carrots or other tranchés vegetables (with Al-hummus dip or red pepper, for example), an Apple, whole grain with cheese and tuna on entiers.Et grain bread sandwich crackers, it takes no time to include a sweet drink away.

If all else fails, get detective John Kimble to teach your class.

Image credit:Universal Pictures

Please help: Ex-infirmière, herbalists, bold and Confused! [Forum]

2010-09-30T20:15:00.000-07:00

Please read this entire. I'm not lacking knowledge by any means. Simply, I believe that I am missing something and would love some advice to pot maybe my memory.

I am 41, 5 ' 7 weigh 210 aspect as I am only about 180. But, Im done with the appearance of body builder, I want to lose weight and tone. I have tried everything. I think there is something wrong that I can't get. I do not drink any soda, I drink drinking water all day, Cup of hot tea to sunset (without sugar). I can't eat any bread, processed foods, sweets and I actually do of salt. I love spicy food, take a multi vitamin each day. Do pilates 3 times a week, yoga, twice a week. And walk the big doggies 3 - 5 times per week 3-5 miles each time. I am very busy, active person. Only perhaps sleeping 6 hours a night and the Im ok with that, almost never feel DRAINED or tired. Is - it not drink any alcohol. Ride bike at the grocery store and eat mainly fruits and vegetables and fruit. I eat Buffalo instead of hamburger.And I have a small stomache where I eat 4-5 small meals a day, great meal hurt me and it will bloat me.Je do that daily fibre too.

I do not know if Im forgetting something? Oh-Im I eat approximately 1200-1500 calories per day have kept a log log-so now what? I will lose 5 kg, then get 7 back? I ate this way for years - but it seems Im really soon win? It must be something wrong medically? I tested bloodsugar too just in case and Im darn pretty normal. Stay around 80-112. Please someone, I would like anyone to show me the light. What I do wrong? Or what is the problem?I had thyroid tested 6 times!They say that a normal level?I am therefore perdu.Merci!

Resources for eating right? [Forum]

2010-09-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

Hello
I recently published another post about weight loss prior to obtaining a speaker. My problem is that I work FT and I get home later sometimes, and I am tired and lazy when it goes to the meal. So I ate Lean kitchens have not seemed to help me lose weight. I eat their cause, they are so easy and false controlled but I hear leaders of salt. So, what is good to eat? My previous post, people suggested eating fruits/vegetables. I appreciate that now I need to know what to eat. Can someone recommend a diet or resources for quick recipes. I can't eat salad for a month but honestly if that will work great.Once I get pregnant, I do not eat salads also because I want to make sure that the baby will make nutrition.Je take a vitatmin meet daily but is it enough?

I am a white female, 5 ' 6, 155 kg, 32 years old, and I want to lose about 20 kg before the end of October. I always wanted lean legs as is where my lies weight: butt, hips and now I am See cellulite in my arms, I have never had (have it on my thighs). I help me guys. I'll also try and drink plenty of water - how much? I am clueless. I also try and wheel every day, which I am not consistent in the because I try and go to the night and I "m tired."I am not morning but how to change and wake up at 6 am to go do jogging! Can anyone help with, please!I feel gross.One of the worst parts is that I feel muscle under fat but cannot lose.

Thanks for reading! I'm frustrated!