Top 3 Fat Burners
Fat burners that work! After I had changed my work routine I found that I wasn’t burning enough calories to maintain a fat level that I had maintained previously.
Therefore, I wanted to establish which are the best fat burner supplements on the market to help give me and you that additional help.
LAST UPDATED: January 2021 by Ben.
Top Fat Burners
It is documented by the World Health Organization that there are over 1 billion overweight adults globally. [1]
This is a serious public health issue which needs to be addressed.
Cost of being fat
Also consider that on, average medical expenditure for those people who are classified as obese or overweight is $732 higher per year than people who are considered a normal weight! [2]
Fat is Expensive
If you are overweight, you are losing more and more money than your healthier counterparts.
What’s the additional expense?
It could be your insurance premiums going through the roof..!
Or, if medical insurance is covered by your employer, your wage could be adjusted to compensate for the higher premiums.
Don’t believe me?
Take a read of this quote from a reputable study…
‘Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we find that the incremental healthcare costs associated with obesity are passed on to obese workers with employer-sponsored health insurance in the form of lower cash wages…A substantial part of the lower wages among obese women attributed to labor market discrimination can be explained by their higher health insurance premiums.’ [3]
Being overweight could be making you poor, and, this may affect the rest of your family.
Fat & Your Self Esteem
In addition to the more serious health and financial concerns, aesthetically, we all want to blitz those stubborn traces of fat that make our stomachs and lower backs look less toned regardless of the hard work in the gym and nutritional sacrifices that we have made.
Everyone has their problem areas that make us feel less confident whilst on the beach or in the pool.
As we know, fat cannot be spot targeted. So, regardless how many crunches you do, that stomach isn’t going to lose those rolls. [4] [5]
With some careful food planning, we can start to create a calorie deficit and chip away at the unwanted weight.
The Dietitians Association of Australia suggests that good weight management is down to being committed to a healthy lifestyle that should be adhered to throughout your life. [6]
They have some useful tips to ensure that you do not become overweight, these include:
- Be physically active
- Stop eating when you are full and eat when you are hungry
- Variety of foods including cereals, breads, fruit, vegetables and lean meats
A number of things may be the root of your problems and these fat burners can help you achieve your personal goals.
They can even be part of your cellulite treatment regime!
Fat burner supplements have developed massively over recent years due to new scientific evidence coming to light, this means fat burners are now a must have supplement to help you:
- Develop those visible abdominal lines we all crave
- Ensure you have the energy to hit the weights room and running track
- Reduce food and sugar cravings preventing you reach your peak
I spend lots of hours researching nutrients and their effects on the body. I spend lots of additional hours combing through nutrient profiles of different supplements evaluating their ability to offer any benefit.
After thorough analysis of over 200 fat burners I have discovered which are the best performers, based on personal experiences and the available evidence for each nutrient.
Top Fat Burner Summaries
I want to give you the low down on each of these fat burners so you know what’s great about them and other areas to consider just to ensure you make the right choice when choosing a supplement to compliment your fat loss regime.
Instant Knockout
There’s plenty to shout about when it comes to this fat burner from Instant Knockout.
With 10 ingredients spread across a daily dose of 4 pills, this provides the punch your metabolism needs to start burning more calories.
The hit list:
- Increases metabolic rate
- Helps reduce DOMS
- Improves focus & attention
- Provides energy
- Helps prevent over eating
- Can treat cellulite
With all of these areas being covered by the extensive nutrient profile it makes it hard to even consider anything else.
Any issues?
It is only available to buy direct, but shipping is free and fast.
This is not as cheap as lots of fat burner supplements you can find online, but this is a premium product that offers great results and a big number of proven ingredients.
PhenQ
PhenQ looks serious. Not in an aggressive way, just a very professional, very clinical and almost pharmaceutical way.
That makes sense, because it includes 9 clinically proven ingredients that are able to help stimulate fat burn, improve muscular anabolism, reduce DOMS and improve energy.
It’s shaping up to be a winning formula!
Hot:
- 9 clinically proven ingredients
- Transparent nutrient profile
- 100% and safe
- No banned substances
- Stimulates fat burn
- Blocks fat absorption
- Increases energy
Not:
The daily dose is lower than some other fat burner supplements, however, it is full with effective and beneficial ingredients. There isn’t ahidden proprietary blend either.
You also get an additional free supplement, this is called Advana Cleanse but you do need to spend big until you get it.
SHRED CBD
Who would have thought that a CBD supplement would make it to our best fat burner guide?
However, CBD, and specifically SHRED CBD is making waves out in the market, and it is not a surprise to see why considering its CBD purity and low THC.
What’s great:
- 0.1% THC
- Zero health concerns
- Legal
- Increases thermogenesis
- Uses stored fats for energy
- Can help prevent obesity
- Calorie control
- Anti-inflammatory
Downsides:
This is quite expensive and there isn’t a money back guarantee.
Furthermore, at present while the product is manufactured, stored and delivered from inside the USA, payments are made in British pounds sterling, this is because it is a UK company.
However, when the payment is processed it is automatically converted to USD.
Also consider these fat burners…
Take a look at the other great fat burners which have surpassed all expectations by offering proven nutrients and good value.
They are worth trying yourself.
Fighters Core
This supplement is aimed at the new ‘gym’. Where people now train using fighting techniques, strongman lifts, and CrossFit.
Fighters Core was developed to trigger fat loss but also maintain muscle development so you can create a strong yet lean body.
In the cross hairs:
- Replace lost vital minerals
- Reduce metabolic syndrome
- Increase HDL and decrease LDL
- Improve energy
- Prevent the conversion of carbohydrate to fat
- Increase thermogenesis
- Reduce BMI
- Raise serotonin levels
- Fat stores used for energy
A carefully selected number of nutrients ensures that not only can this fat burner support fat loss, it also increases energy while making you feel better and maintain muscle.
Break new ground and become functionally fit, not just great at bicep curls.
Any issues?
There’s no money-back guarantee with Fighters Core.
Performance Lab
Pros
Performance Lab SPORT Fat Burner is proven to:
- Boost metabolism
- Break down fat
- Increase performance
Performance Lab is built with the highest grade quality nutrients with evidence to support their claims.
Manufacturing guidelines are surpassed to provide a fat burner that can be trusted and includes ingredients that are capable of improving body composition.
Each ingredient has the scientific research and evidence to ensure that both men and women can benefit from them, in the correct doses.
Well regarded ingredients that include:
- Coleus Forskholii
- Cayenne Pepper
- HMB
These ingredients are then all supported with black pepper extract also seen as BioPerine in some cases which can then help your body absorb all of the nutrients for the greatest impact.
I found that Performance Lab when combined with a better and more consistent diet as well as a training regime that now includes cycling to and from work helped me lose fat.
It is also refreshing to see that there is not one ingredient included whereby the evidence is based on ancient Chinese or tribal rituals yet lacks actual science.
There’s no proprietary blend either which is found in many fat burners.
However, in essence a proprietary blend merely conceals the amount of each ingredient included in the supplement and is a industry scam.
Not only that, it is manufactured in facilities located within the USA or the UK which surpass the Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).
This means you know what you are taking and that it was manufactured in a safe manufacturing plant and the capsules are vegan!
Cons
This is a premium product so the price reflects this, however, there are multi-buy deals available to make it better value overall.
You can only buy this direct, this instills a level of confidence, safety and security but sometimes its good just to get everything from Amazon or eBay or even your grocery shop.
Bring your fight to unwanted fat! Read my review, here.
Head straight over to their website to read more:
>>www.PERFORMANCELAB.com<<
Hunter BURN
Although new to the scene, Hunter BURN is making a lot of noise and for good reason.
Hunter BURN is a premium fat burner supplement which offers high doses and high purity which is marketed to people who want the best and something just a little bit special.
A daily dose of 6 pills and over 4000mg ensures that your body is getting the all it needs for optimal results.
Where it excels:
- Cuts fat
- Helps maintain lean muscle mass
- Improved focus
- Can prevent metabolic syndrome
- Calorie control
- Blocks carbohydrate absorption
- Cardiovascular protection
It is the wide range of benefits that makes Hunter BURN so impressive. While it is focused on fat loss, it also attacks other areas that contribute to weight gain such as calorie control and blocking carbohydrate absorption.
Encouraging lean muscle mass is also another building block to a greater level of body composition.
Any issues?
A premium product with high doses and a large number of pills also carries a premium price to cover the increased manufacturing and research costs. As such, this is not cheap.
However, it is loaded to the brim with ingredients that have evidence demonstrating their worth.
Hourglass
Pros
Hourglass is able to assist with:
- Increases in energy
- Stimulant
- Raise metabolism
This does have nine proven ingredients to stimulate fat loss.
Plus there’s Cayenne, B6, B12 and Glucomannan which are all found in Instant Knockout.
The popular and effective Green Tea extract makes an appearance as does Bioperine for improved absorption.
There’s also Vitamin D3!
Cons
Each ingredient is useful and proven to help.
The only problem is the lack of a few other ingredients that would have increased performance.
Ingredients that include:
- Caffeine
- Fenugreek
- Green Coffee
- Zinc
It is marketed towards women which may put men off from buying this but it’s good for both sexes.
Read my review here for more.
For more info, head over to the website:
>> Hourglass <<
LeanBean
Pros
Leanbean will:
- Increase Energy
- Increase focus
- Stimulate fat burn
Not the most complete fat burner out there but with a line up of effect ingredients there’s a lot of potential, a few tweaks here and there could make it a #1 contender.
Plus no proprietary blend.
However, it does contain some great and well regarded proven ingredients that are able to stimulate fat burn and take some of those extra calories off that should work toward getting your unwanted weight down.
Having ingredients such as:
- Green Tea
- B12
- Green Coffee
These are all included in Instant Knockout.
Yet, this also goes on to include Carnitine as found in ADIPHENE and also Synephrine which is also a mild fat burning ingredient.
Cons
There’s a few ingredients here that do not have a full plethora of evidence backing their effectiveness. These may not offer much benefit.
Raspbery Ketone and Acai Berry are the offenders. Often Caffeine is found in high doses in fat burners but this relies on the the Green Tea and Green Coffee.
It is marketed towards women which may put men off from buying this but it’s good for both sexes.
Read my review for more.
For more info, head over to the website:
>> Leanbean <<
My Story…
I went through a stage of approximately 3 to 4 years of long commutes to work, long hours at work plus other commitments which led me to putting on weight in all of the wrong places and I just could not increase my muscle mass.
Nothing was consistent about my diet, nutrition, training or progress. I was up and down constantly.
The only one constant was my stress levels and tiredness.
This really highlighted the fact that there are many different variables involved which can have a really negative impact on your weight loss or even just trying to maintain the weight you like to be at.
It can be a totally frustrating experience and one that see’s no end in sight.
Part of the problem, as it was with me, maybe a lifestyle issue…
I had chosen to work 60 miles away from home which meant a 4 hour combined daily commute in the car.
I also chose to continue playing rugby which took up more time.
My relationship at the time entailed another 40 mile drive in the opposite direction from work whilst trying to maintain some sort of weight training regime.
It all took its toll on me and after 4 years I was completely exhausted.
Mentally and physically, not to mention financially.
However, while these are contributing factors, there are other mechanisms that can effect our weight control.
Plateau
You may feel you have reached your limit, exercising and a strict diet is no longer making headway.
You have hit a wall that seems unimpeachable, nutrition isn’t having an effect and you are sure it is down to hormones.
Time
We are all busy these days, if you are short of time a fat burner can be the accelerator you are looking for.
I was struggling to maintain any sort of family or other relationships not to mention other commitments due to time spent commuting, working, playing rugby or trying to uphold a consistent training regime.
Time I could have spent cycling or enjoying myself relaxing was spent sat behind the wheel of the car like a zombie for 4 hours per day.
Age
With age, metabolism slows down and so do testosterone levels meaning that it is easier to hold on to unwanted fat. [7]
Not only that, with age comes more commitments and responsibility.
Have you hit 30 and then with a shock realized you have 2 children (where did they come from?!) or now you are at a certain stage and age in your life that dating people now actually come with children?
Yes, if you get to your 30’s it isn’t uncommon to date someone with children from past relationships.
This is not an issue and can be a great thing, but it comes with responsibility and time spent with your new partner and children.
You may have other financial commitments; car, house, boat, phone…etc the list goes on.
To maintain the lifestyle you want probably involves more work, longer hours maybe even more jobs.
Stress
Stress is a huge contributing factor to weight gain. [8]
Stress and inflammation are the causes behind chronic disease such as obesity, therefore, a build up of stress is not ideal nor healthy.
While you may not notice it, you may actually eat additional foods to cope or drink more which can gradually pile on the extra calories. [9] [10]
This creates a double whammy effect that can be hard to combat.
Once the weight sets in, it is harder to create that calorie deficit required, especially if you become used to eating a snack mid morning and then again mid afternoon.
This is physically and mentally challenging.
High levels of stress also affect hormones such as testosterone and therefore inhibits its production. [11]
Low levels of testosterone for both men and women can have a detrimental effect on normal bodily function.
What Next?
If you feel that regardless of your workout and regime that those little stubborn areas are being fucking stubborn.
Fat burners can be the final piece in the jigsaw that can help you reach your deserved peak.
These fat burners tested and recommended are all legal and natural so there’s no cheating involved which means your conscious and record stays squeaky clean.
However, it is not a quick and easy route, I personally am enjoying my recent fat loss journey but I still have a bit more to do until I am really happy.
Unless you are a full time sponsored athlete, you will find it difficult to put in all of the time and training required to sculpt rock hard, movie star abs.
Not only that, the meal prep alone will take as just as long!
However, what the effective fat burner can do is just provide that extra edge.
It can help burn that extra 100+ calories that you would not have done that day getting closer to that calorie deficit or increasing your deficit more so.
How do fat burners work?
An effective fat burner with the correct, scientifically proven ingredients can help do the following:
- Reduce fat cell size
- Increase your energy levels
- Prevent food cravings
Sounds great, how so?
Quite often many fat burners are not particularly effective, that is because new ingredients are released or products with ingredients lacking much research or proof are readily available on the market.
However, we are looking at the supplements that include proven and well regarded ingredients such as Caffeine and Green Tea.
Below are the key components and activities that a proven fat burner and these three fat burners offer:
Thermogenic
One of the great discoveries for fat loss are thermogenic ingredients. [12]
These ingredients raise your body temperature which in turn raises your metabolic rate.
An increased metabolic rate burns more calories than you would do normally.
Let’s face it, the war on weight loss is about ensuring that the calories your burn is greater than the calories you consume.
So more calories burned, even if it is a tiny bit more than those you have processed from food and drink will be gradually helping you lose that unwanted excess weight.
‘The activation of thermogenesis and energy expenditure are thought to be related to metabolic changes, because obese or overweight people have low thermogenic activity.’ [13]
More Energy
Can you remember when you were a kid and had loads of energy? Then you became a teenager getting involved in sports and you looked skinny.
You felt like you had energy to burn yet now that has dried up?
Well, if a fat burner has the right stimulating ingredients included it can help raise your energy levels that means you can run around the track, or hit the gym after work.
More exercise is again the pathway to burning more calories than you consume and burning that excess fat.
Plus, if you are feeding yourself a particularly low calorie diet, the extra energy provided by fat burners can get your through that slump.
‘…appears to increase metabolism immediately following ingestion…’ [14]
Feeling Fuller
Certain fibrous ingredients such as Glucomannan can help the body prevent craving foods that you might previously snacked on between meals.
This will stop you reaching for the vending machine to fill up on calorie filled yet un-nutritious junk food.
‘Supplementation of the diet with functional fiber supplements may significantly augment high-fiber eating strategies by further promoting satiety and reducing cardiometabolic risk factors.’ [15]
Any ingredients to look out for?
Let’s list a few here for you that you may wish to look out for when choosing a fat burner supplement.
There’s many ingredients whereby the results are based purely on anecdote and hearsay. these types of ingredients should be avoided.
Do not buy a product that does not include a wealth of scientifically proven ingredients such as the examples below:
Green Tea
- Clinical studies suggest that the catechins in green tea extract may boost metabolism and help burn fat. [16]
- One study found that the combination of green tea and caffeine improved weight loss and maintenance in people who were overweight and moderately obese.
- Green Tea has recently been proven to help alleviate cognitive decline and insulin resistance that is paired with a high fat diet and also a diet high in fructose corn syrup.
Caffeine
- Research conducted by a Chinese team who used a wealth of data from over 34,000 participants discovered that one or two cups of coffee per day actually lowers the risk of cognitive decline.
- It stimulates the central nervous system (CNS), heart, muscles, and the centers that control blood pressure to give you an extra boost and hit that PB.
- Caffeine helps increase resting energy expenditure and increases fat oxidization. [17]
Cayenne Pepper/Capsicum
- Capsicum is known to boost metabolism, causing the body to produce extra heat and burn more calories for fuel due to its thermogenic properties.
- It also has an ability to increase insulin sensitivity which can help the way carbs are stored.
- Studies have demonstrated that the capsaicinoids that are constituents of chilli peppers enhance the metabolic rate. [18]
Vitamin B6
- B6 is essential to improve nutritional status which can enhance fat-free mass. [19]
- B6 is able to improve the way your body can synthesize energy as well as absorbing amino acids to help build muscle – more muscle means more calories burned.
- Fats and carbohydrates are regulated better which can help you control calorie input as well as the necessary extra calorie expenditure required for weight loss.
Chromium
- I bet you have never heard of this, and to be fair it is not as well known as anything such as caffeine or or B vitamins when it comes to torching fat, however, it has its place. Chromium helps control insulin to carb storage control.
- Chromium is also able to help boost energy while also increasing the metabolism of sugar and fat stores. This in turn can improve physical performance.
- There’s a link between low levels of chromium and a heightened risk of a heart attack.
- Chromium can be found in nuts, whole grains and vegetables such as green beans and broccoli. You should always ensure that you get these foods in your diet foremost, but if you cannot, a supplement with chromium is the next best thing. [20]
Which ingredients should we avoid?
There are obviously the main culprits that are claimed to burn fat but actually have no body of proof other than a witch doctor saying so.
However, those sort of ingredients, although a waste of time and money can be harmless.
The real issue is the inclusion of ingredients that are sometimes found in fat burners which can be dangerous to health.
Here we list the most popular one’s that seem to fly under the radar and are included in some fat burners on the market.
So, if you see any of these included, take heed of the warnings in place!
Yohimbe Hydrochloride
- Not to be mixed up with the Yohimbe extract which is from the bark of a tree found in central and west Africa.
- Yohimbe HCL is a man made substance which is not actually legal to sell as a dietary supplement in the USA.
- Can heighten the risk of a seizure or heart attack.
- Can increase the symptoms of schizophrenia and taking yohimbe can actually make you psychotic.
- Those suffering from PTSD can experience symptoms that are worse.
- Breathing can become more difficult. [21]
Raspberry Ketones
- Evidence for raspberry ketones being effective has been observed in a test tube, there’s no human studies available. [22]
- Oral supplementation will not help you reduce fat levels.
Crocus Sativus
- Yes, this is known as Saffron, the expensive ingredient in some curry dishes.
- It is though that crocus sativus works by releasing serotonin which in turn can help reduce snacking.
- There’s a very high margin of error with this. It is thought that even a double dose of 60mg per day could harm the body.
- The issue is that with so many supplements consisting of a proprietary blend we have no idea how much is contained which can result in an unwanted overdose.
- There is the risk of miscarriages if supplementing saffron when pregnant. [23]
Top Fat Burner Final Thoughts
First and foremost we must understand and appreciate that the best way forward to lose weight is through effective calorie control combined with a progressive exercise regime that will enhance calorie expenditure.
However, to help improve calorie burn further, an effective supplement containing proven ingredients that are able to increase the metabolic rate and energy levels can assist with your weight management plan.
These are the top rated fat burner supplements on the market today.
Author: Ben graduated from university with a BA(Hons) in 2005. He has always been interested in weight training, plays rugby, loves cycling his fixed gear bicycle, likes skiing, is obsessed with cars and is a member of the Army Reserves. He even enjoys loaded marches.
By utilizing his proven analytical skills in his career and being underwhelmed by many supplement products, Ben established this site to help readers understand and he wanted to expose what exactly is included in the supplements you are using.
This page is supported by scientific studies cited at the bottom of the text.
References
[1] https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/63854/WHO_NUT_NCD_98.1_%28p159-276%29.pdf
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14527256
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4224588/
[4] https://wit.edu/fitness-recreation/why-cant-spot-reduce-fat
[5] Regional fat changes induced by localized muscle endurance resistance training. Ramírez-Campillo R, Andrade DC, Campos-Jara C, Henríquez-Olguín C, Alvarez-Lepín C, Izquierdo M. J Strength Cond Res. 2013 Aug;27(8):2219-24. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e31827e8681. PMID: 23222084
[7] [Aging, basal metabolic rate, and nutrition]. Shimokata H, Kuzuya F. Nihon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi. 1993 Jul;30(7):572-6. Japanese. PMID: 8361073
[8] Stress-induced cortisol, mood, and fat distribution in men. Epel EE, Moyer AE, Martin CD, Macary S, Cummings N, Rodin J, Rebuffe-Scrive M. Obes Res. 1999 Jan;7(1):9-15. PMID: 10023725
[9] Alcohol consumption, weight gain, and risk of becoming overweight in middle-aged and older women. Wang L, Lee IM, Manson JE, Buring JE, Sesso HD. Arch Intern Med. 2010 Mar 8;170(5):453-61. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2009.527. PMID: 20212182
[10] https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/77/5/1312/4689849
[11] https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/jenniferlerner/files/sherman_lerner_testosterone_cortisol.pdf
[12] Body fat loss achieved by stimulation of thermogenesis by a combination of bioactive food ingredients: a placebo-controlled, double-blind 8-week intervention in obese subjects. Belza A, Frandsen E, Kondrup J. Int J Obes (Lond). 2007 Jan;31(1):121-30. Epub 2006 Apr 25. PMID: 16652130
[13] Thermogenic capacity of human periaortic adipose tissue is transformed by body weight. Vargas D, López C, Acero E, Benitez E, Wintaco A, Camacho J, Carreño M, Umaña J, Jimenez D, Díaz S, Lizcano F. PLoS One. 2018 Mar 19;13(3):e0194269. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194269. eCollection 2018. PMID: 29554135
[14] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2225411015000474
[15] Is There a Place for Dietary Fiber Supplements in Weight Management? Lyon MR, Kacinik V. Curr Obes Rep. 2012 Jun;1(2):59-67. Epub 2012 Apr 13. PMID: 22611521
[16] Antiobesity effects of green tea catechins: a mechanistic review. Rains TM, Agarwal S, Maki KC. J Nutr Biochem. 2011 Jan;22(1):1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2010.06.006. Epub 2010 Nov 5. Review. PMID: 21115335
[17] Caffeine and coffee: their influence on metabolic rate and substrate utilization in normal weight and obese individuals. Acheson KJ, Zahorska-Markiewicz B, Pittet P, Anantharaman K, Jéquier E. Am J Clin Nutr. 1980 May;33(5):989-97. PMID: 7369170
[18] Capsaicinoids supplementation decreases percent body fat and fat mass: adjustment using covariates in a post hoc analysis. Rogers J, Urbina SL, Taylor LW, Wilborn CD, Purpura M, Jäger R, Juturu V. BMC Obes. 2018 Aug 13;5:22. doi: 10.1186/s40608-018-0197-1. eCollection 2018. PMID: 30123516
- [19]
Vitamin B6 status improves in overweight/obese women following a hypocaloric diet rich in breakfast cereals, and may help in maintaining fat-free mass.Rodríguez-Rodríguez E, López-Sobaler AM, Navarro AR, Bermejo LM, Ortega RM, Andrés P. Int J Obes (Lond). 2008 Oct;32(10):1552-8. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2008.131. Epub 2008 Aug 5. PMID: 18679411
[20] https://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/chromium-supplements
[22] https://examine.com/supplements/raspberry-ketone/
[23] Toxicology effects of saffron and its constituents: a review. Bostan HB, Mehri S, Hosseinzadeh H. Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2017 Feb;20(2):110-121. doi: 10.22038/ijbms.2017.8230. Review. PMID: 28293386
