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If your workout goal is to shed excess fat and create a more defined body, you should check out thermogenic pre-workout supplements.
Many people don't trust fat-burning products due to the huge number of intrusive ads promising magical results without any effort on your part.
But choosing the best thermogenic pre-workout is not about lying on the couch, eating sweets, and losing weight at the same time.
This is a case where taking a supplement in conjunction with a nutrition plan and vigorous exercise can help you reach your goals more quickly.
In our research we researched on group of people to check on their results after a month of taking thermogenic fat burner, and then we were able to complied the list below of pre workout for weight loss. Disclaimer: Every physique is different and results may vary.
You can check out the list of the best thermogenic pre-workouts, which was compiled by our team.
Let's get started.
Our Top 3 Best Thermogenic Pre-Workout Supplements
#1st Best Choice
Pre Series Lean by Transparent Labs is a great option for building muscle mass. It's formulated with BCAAs that increase strength, promote muscle growth, and are involved in metabolism. Its one of the quality supplements for weight loss aiding and building lean muscles.
Key features:
• Contains beta-alanine to delay neuromuscular fatigue
• Has citrulline malate for muscle endurance
• Contains caffeine and BioPerine to reduce appetite and burn more calories
Editor's Choice
This pre-workout is suitable for workout weight loss and also gives a good boost of energy for improved workout performance also improves mood and focus. It contains L-citrulline DL-malate and creatine for muscle building.
Key features:
• Increases metabolic rate and reduces hunger
• Improves strength and performance
• Transparent composition; no proprietary blends
• Also Great Pre Workout for Women
#2nd Best Choice
This pre-workout helps burn more calories, reduce appetite, and improve your athletic performance.
Key features:
• Contains L-citrulline for performance and muscle growth
• L-theanine and L-tyrosine reduce anxiety and improve concentration
• Contains B vitamins for energy and muscle tone
The Best Pre-Workout Supplements For Weight Loss
1. LEAN Pre-Workout by Transparent Labs
Specifications:
Form: Powder
Flavor: Blue Raspberry, Orange, Sour Grape, Tropical Punch, and more
Special ingredients: Citrulline malate, caffeine, BCAAs
Diet feature: Vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO
This Transparent Labs Lean pre-workout is a great option to make sure you don't lose muscle mass while you're pursuing weight loss, making it a great supplements for weight loss.
The pre-workout contains BCAAs that not only help increase strength during workouts and build muscle but also participate in metabolism.
Plus, beta-alanine postpones neuromuscular fatigue during exercise, making you more productive, and may also help reduce body fat.
And the supplement also contains ingredients such as caffeine, which increases the number of calories burned, and BioPerine, which is responsible for reducing appetite.
Its a great fat burning pre workout, if you are also looking to add lean muscle mass.
Pros:
Contains citrulline malate for muscle endurance
Has BCAAs for muscle building and better metabolism
Increases exercise performance
6 flavor options available
No artificial flavors or sweeteners
Cons:
Contains beta-alanine, which may cause skin tingling
2. 4 Gauge
Specifications:
Form: Powder
Flavor: Fruit Blast
Special ingredients: L-citrulline DL-malate
Diet feature: No artificial sweeteners or ingredients
This overall Best Thermogenic Pre Workouts to support your fat-burning goals, 4 Gauge includes caffeine and red beet. Caffeine increases metabolic rate while the protein and fiber in red beet reduce appetite and increase satiety. [2]
Also, the combination of caffeine and L-theanine will improve focus and give you a good energy boost for training.
This effect is enhanced by Rhodiola rosea, which helps you fight fatigue, both physical and mental, and contributes to a good mood and better concentration. [6]
The pre-workout includes L-citrulline DL-malate. This ingredient stimulates protein synthesis, which is essential for muscle growth and helps to increase physical performance. [7, 8]
There's also creatine, which increases muscle mass, strength, and performance during workouts. [9]
Pros:
Increases metabolic rate and reduces hunger
Provides a good energy boost for workouts
Improves strength and performance
Suitable for building muscle mass
Reduces physical fatigue and improves mood
Does not contain proprietary blends — completely transparent composition
Cons:
Only one flavor option available
Specifications:
Form: Powder
Flavor: Berry
Special ingredients: Red beet powder, caffeine, L-citrulline
Diet feature: Vegan, allergen-free, gluten-free, soy-free, non-GMO
The pre-workout is great for both strength training and cardio workouts due to the presence of caffeine. Caffeine has several training benefits: it boosts energy, improves concentration, and improves mood. However, caffeine is also good for weight loss because it increases the body's metabolic rate and helps you burn more calories leading fat loss. Thus acting as weight loss supplement.
Also included is red beet powder to help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight thanks to protein and fiber, which reduce appetite and help you stay full longer.
Our Video Review :
This pre-workout also includes good doses of ingredients that can help improve athletic performance.
L-citrulline stimulates protein production and reduces the breakdown of amino acids, so it has a positive effect on muscle growth, performance, and endurance. And L-theanine and L-tyrosine reduce anxiety and improve concentration during strenuous exercise.
Pros:
Reduces appetite and helps you feel fuller longer
Boosts metabolism & calorie burning
Contains L-citrulline for performance and muscle growth
Reduces anxiety and improves concentration
Contains B vitamins for energy and muscle tone
No artificial flavors or sweeteners
Cons:
Only one flavor option available
High price per canister unless buying a set
Specifications:
Form: Powder
Flavor: Orange Pineapple, Lemon Lime, Watermelon, Black Cherry, and more
Special ingredients: L-citrulline, BioPerine, caffeine
Diet feature: Sugar-free, no fillers or dyes
Thermogenic pre-workouts often have lower levels of stimulants, as high energy levels are not the primary goal. Therefore, you may not have enough energy for prolonged training and exercise.
Nitro Surge Shred Thermogenic Pre-Workout solves this problem. It is formulated with 180 mg of caffeine and 90 mg of L-theanine for an energy boost and improved concentration and metabolism. And theobromine helps boost cognitive energy.
The pre-workout also contains L-carnitine, which improves cognitive function and promotes higher energy levels by transporting fatty acids into the mitochondria.
Pros:
Gives a good boost of energy and improves concentration
Contains substances that accelerate metabolism and burn fat
Has L-citrulline for muscle building & overall endurance
Contains BioPerine to reduce hunger
6 flavor options available
Good price
Cons:
Insufficient amount of vitamins and minerals
Specifications:
Form: Powder
Flavor: Fruit Punch, Cherry Limeade, Icy Blue Razz, Raspberry Lemonade, and more
Special ingredients: Beta-alanine, caffeine anhydrous
Diet feature: Sugar-free
The taste of pre-workout supplements isn't always good, which is unfortunate for a product you'll consume regularly. But Cellucor C4 Ripped tastes great and does not contain sugar.
It also one of the best tasting pre workout.
It contains 150 mg of caffeine to help burn calories faster and provide energy, relieve fatigue, and improve concentration during exercise.
It also contains ingredients such as capsicum and L-carnitine to help with weight loss.
Plus, this thermogenic pre-workout contains vitamins B and C for energy and overall health.
Pros:
Contains beta-alanine for a stamina boost
Suitable for lengthy workouts
Contains multiple fat-burning ingredients
Contains a good vitamin complex
Great taste and zero sugar
Cons:
Contains proprietary blends
Beta-alanine may cause skin tingling
How Do Thermogenic Pre-Workouts Work?
Thermogenic pre-workouts affect a biological process in the body called thermogenesis, which is responsible for the production of heat energy. [1]
To generate heat, thermogenesis speeds up our metabolism while increasing the number of calories we burn.
Thermogenic pre-workout supplements are formulated with ingredients that enhance thermogenic processes in the body, thereby promoting fat burning. Thermogenic ingredients can be caffeine or green tea extract, for example.
Fat-burning pre-workout supplements also include hunger suppressants so you can better control your appetite.
What Pre Workout Ingredients to Look For?
Since the main effect expected from fat-burning pre-workouts is getting rid of excess fat, it is necessary to choose ingredients that will help you reach this goal.
If you choose a pre-workout with effective ingredients, you can see results sooner.
The Pre workouts for weight training which can also aid in fat burning.
Let's take a look at what ingredients you should look for when buying a best pre-workouts for your needs.
Caffeine
In addition to its well-known invigorating effect that helps you cope with fatigue and increase energy levels, caffeine has properties that help with weight loss. It increases the metabolic rate and thus aids in fat burning. [2]
Green Tea Extract
Green tea extract can also help with weight loss as the catechins and caffeine in it regulate the hormones that accelerate thermogenesis. This means that the body burns more calories. [3]
Capsicum/Cayenne
Capsicum in cayenne pepper, like the substances discussed above, affects metabolic rate. [4]
L-Carnitine
L-carnitine's function is to help transport fatty acids to cells where they are processed for energy. It can increase the body's ability to burn fat and lose weight.
Although studies of this property of L-carnitine have conflicting data, as no such effect has been recorded in people of normal weight, the results of some studies have shown weight loss in obese people as well as in older people. [5]
Rhodiola Rosea
Rhodiola rosea reduces physical and psychological fatigue and improves mood and concentration. [6]
L-Citrulline DL-Malate
This ingredient helps increase muscle mass. It stimulates the synthesis of the protein required for muscle building and increases physical performance so you can train for longer. [7, 8]
Creatine
This is often added to pre-workouts to help increase muscle mass, strength, and performance during sports. [9]
Fat Burning Pre-Workouts vs. Regular Pre-Workouts
Pre-workouts are used to improve energy levels, performance, endurance, concentration, and focus during workouts and to speed up recovery after exercise.
These properties are common to most of these supplements, including thermogenic pre-workouts.
But there are differences between thermogenic pre-workouts and other pre-workouts.
The purpose of thermogenic supplements is to help you burn more calories by speeding up your metabolism and controlling your appetite.
Fat-burning pre-workout supplements' main task is to help you burn fat, not build muscle.
They usually contain less caffeine and less of other stimulants such as BCAAs.
They also contain smaller doses of ingredients that help synthesize protein for muscle building and smaller doses of substances that help you recover faster after strong physical exertion.
Regular pre-workout supplements, on the other hand, include more ingredients that promote muscle building and recovery.
If you're looking to build muscle, thermogenic pre-workouts can delay you in reaching your goal, but if your main desire is getting rid of excess fat, they're the best option.
When Is the Best Time to Take Thermogenic Pre-Workouts?
Thermogenic pre-workouts, like other pre-workout supplements, need to be taken approximately 30 minutes before training for the ingredients to take effect during exercise.
But since their main task is to burn fat, you can also take them on days when you are not planning to go to the gym.
In this case, they should be taken in the morning 30 minutes before breakfast—this will speed up your metabolism for the whole day.
Drawbacks of Thermogenic Pre-Workouts
There are certainly benefits to thermogenic pre-workouts that help you reach your fat-burning goals faster, but they also have their downsides.
Here's what you need to know before you decide to use a fat-burning pre-workout.
Don't rely on them alone
Thermogenic pre-workouts are not a magical solution to weight problems.
When choosing a thermogenic pre-workout, you need to understand that if you do not add a diet and exercise plan to your daily routine, the effect of taking the supplement will be minimal.
These pre-workout supplements can be great at helping you achieve your goals, but only if you use them correctly.
Side effects
Although the amount of caffeine in thermogenic pre-workouts is usually not very high, you may experience certain side effects with prolonged use or due to individual sensitivities.
For example, caffeine can cause insomnia, anxiety, irritability, indigestion, and more.
Other ingredients in fat-burning pre-workouts can also cause side effects.
May be ineffective
Because nutritional supplements are not regulated as medicine by the FDA, the amount, safety, and effectiveness of their ingredients are not reviewed by the FDA. [10]
This means that thermogenic pre-workout supplements may include ingredients that are simply not beneficial or doses that may not be sufficient to help you meet your goals.
In addition, the supplements may contain ingredients that carry certain risks to your health, especially if they're included at doses higher than the established norm.
It is also worth remembering that some of the ingredients in pre-workouts are not well understood and simply do not have a recommended dosage.
To minimize the risks associated with poorly understood ingredients and potential side effects, I recommend reading the product label carefully before purchasing.
This is what I did when choosing products for the list of best thermogenic pre-workouts. Each product is safe, effective, and free of banned substances.
Choosing a quality thermogenic pre-workout with good ingredients can help you lose weight faster and avoid an unpleasant experience.
FAQs
Do thermogenic pre-workout supplements work?
Yes, thermogenic pre-workout supplements work and can help you burn more calories and better control your appetite, but they are not magic solutions. To have a visible effect, they need to be combined with a specific diet and workout plan.
Do thermogenic pre-workout supplements give you energy?
Yes, you can boost your energy levels using thermogenic pre-workout supplements. However, thermogenic pre-workouts might give you less of an energy boost than other pre-workouts will because the former contain lower doses of stimulants.
Can a thermogenic pre-workout help you lose weight?
Yes, thermogenic pre-workouts can help you lose weight because they include ingredients that help burn fat, reduce appetite, and improve your performance during exercise.
Are thermogenic pre-workouts dangerous?
Many safe thermogenic pre-workouts can be found on the market, but there are unsafe supplements as well. Most often, the risk has to do with possible side effects, so the best option to be safe is to read the label carefully and not exceed the recommended daily dose of the product.
Conclusion
A properly selected thermogenic pre-workout supplement, combined with a nutrition plan and workouts for weight loss like HIIT (high intensity interval training), can help you achieve your weight loss goals in a shorter time frame.
The best supplement that is suitable for burning fat and also allows you to get energy, improve concentration, and build muscle mass is the thermogenic pre-workout by 4 Gauge.
It does not contain proprietary blends, so you'll know the amount of each ingredient. This will give you better control over your athletic performance.
Aditya Sahu ‧ CPT & Head Coach
Aditya is an ACSM certified personal trainer with more than 7 years training various people and transforming people's lives. He has written various publications for various sports and fitness magazines.
References:
- Erica Julson, MS, RDN, CLT, Can Thermogenic Supplements Help You Burn Fat?, retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/thermogenics
- National Library of Medicine, Metabolic effects of caffeine in humans: lipid oxidation or futile cycling?, retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14684395/
- National Library of Medicine, Does tea extract supplementation benefit metabolic syndrome and obesity? A systematic review and meta-analysis, retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31174941/
- National Library of Medicine, Combined medium-chain triglyceride and chilli feeding increases diet-induced thermogenesis in normal-weight humans, retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23179202/
- National Library of Medicine, The effect of (L-)carnitine on weight loss in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27335245/
- National Library of Medicine, Rhodiola rosea in Subjects with Prolonged or Chronic Fatigue Symptoms: Results of an Open-Label Clinical Trial, retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28219059/
- National Library of Medicine, Citrulline stimulates muscle protein synthesis in the post-absorptive state in healthy people fed a low-protein diet - A pilot study, retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24972455/
- National Library of Medicine, Influence of L-citrulline and watermelon supplementation on vascular function and exercise performance, retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27749691/
- Thomas W Buford et al., International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: creatine supplementation and exercise, retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2048496/
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, What You Need to Know about Dietary Supplements, retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/what-you-need-know-about-dietary-supplements