Fat burners

What is a fat burner?

A fat burner is a dietary supplement containing active ingredients that, in combination with a properly adjusted diet and physical activity, promote body fat loss and weight loss. These substances make better use of body fat as a source of energy, use more energy to generate heat, or reduce appetite.

How do fat burners work?

The active ingredients in fat burners usually work based on only one of the body mechanisms mentioned above. Thus, to maximize the desired effect, complex fat burners use the so‑called synergistic effect, which is simply the combination of multiple active ingredients in one fat burner. Thanks to this, the following can occur:

• Promote the release of fatty acids from adipose tissue and their subsequent use as a source of energy (especially during physical activity),
• increase heat production and thus increase total energy expenditure,
• a reduction in appetite and thus food intake, and
• due to the stimulatory effects of certain substances, encouragement to train better and therefore to expend more.

Fat burning

Miracles cannot be expected from fat burners, and it is important to remember that nothing is free. If you're trying to lose or reduce weight, the general recommendations you should heed are:

• Adherence caloric deficitthat is, that energy expenditure is higher than energy intake,
• regular physical activity,
• sufficient protein intake to maintain muscle mass,
• and then include a fat burner in your supplements.

We cover the topic comprehensively in one of our articles, where we will give you comprehensive advice, how to burn fat effectively.

With physical activity, there is no need to check the right heart rate for weight loss, both high- and low‑intensity exercises can be included in the workout, but always so that the person can handle the entire workout. Regularity of physical activity is important.

When to take a fat burner?

As already mentioned, fat burners work best in conjunction with physical activity. It is most often recommended to take a fat burner about 30 minutes before the start of physical activity. Timing relative to the last meal before activity is also important - for more efficient and faster absorption, it is advisable to leave a time gap (unless it causes digestive problems for more sensitive individuals).

Fat‑burning substances

The following active ingredients are most commonly found in complex fat burners:

• Caffeine is one of the most popular psychoactive substances and stimulants, which also acts as an effective fat burner. Caffeine promotes thermogenesis, or heat production, in the body.
• Synephrine increases, through the activation of specific receptors, the rate of thermogenesis and also the overall energy expenditure. It also partially reduces appetite.
• EGCG indirectly prolongs the effectiveness of substances that promote the elimination of fatty acids from adipose tissue. Green tea extract works best in combination with other substances.
• CLA a.k.a. conjugated linoleic acid is a substance of natural origin that is found in small amounts in milk fat and meat. CLA regulates the formation and storage of fat cells in the body.
• Carnitine is a substance inherent in the body that helps transport fatty acids to the mitochondria where they are burned and used as an energy source. Carnitine thus helps to increase the potential for fat burning. However, its supplementation only makes sense for people with a deficiency (vegetarians, individuals on a keto diet).

In addition to these substances, various forms of chromium, ginger or cinnamon are also found in fat burners, which prevent the rise of insulin in the blood and thus the feeling of hunger or sweet cravings. Guarana or capsaicin, especially known from chilli, also help with additional thermogenesis. Better absorption of green tea extract is aided by bioperine, a substance found in pepper.

How to choose a burner?

If you don't own a Little Chemist kit and you don't want to mix your own burner, the easiest solution is to reach for complex burners that rely on the synergistic effect already mentioned. The most common combination is caffeine, synephrine and EGCG, which together have one of the highest fat‑burning potentials. Other additives usually increase the rate of thermogenesis, promote fat cell metabolism or counteract the oxidation of the active ingredients.

And that's exactly what our Vilgain Fat Burnerwhich contains only 8 substances, none of which are just "for decoration". Among other fat burners we would recommend Grenade Thermo Detonator or its hardcore version Black Ops.

What to look out for when choosing?

The "guaranteed weight loss" from the comfort of your living room without any movement, the unique formulas of fat burners for women or belly burners. There is no such thing, and probably won't be, without exercise and a proper diet, it's just not possible. Men and women may be different, but when it comes to burning fat, we're all pretty much the same. And when someone invents a topical fat burner, they'll probably win a Nobel Prize.