I remember how popular thermogenic tablets were about five years ago. Back then, they were mostly just fancy capsicum (pepper) capsules. You’d sweat tremendously, your metabolism would accelerate, and your appetite would diminish.
The use of thermogenic pre-workout supplements is growing in popularity. There aren’t many thermogenic pre-workout pills available right now. However, as individuals become more aware of the benefits of thermogenesis, I believe this will change.
There is no such thing as a “perfect” workout supplement. If you want to lose weight and tone up, you must exercise! With that in mind, here’s what you should know about thermogenic pre-workout supplements before you start using them.
What Are Thermogenic Pre Workout Supplements?
Pre-workout pills are designed to provide you energy so you can exercise harder and for a longer period of time. Pre-workout supplements can also help you improve your mental focus, grow more muscle, and boost your metabolism. If you’re unfamiliar with pre-workout supplements, I recommend reading this pre-workout supplement guide.
A subcategory of supplements is thermogenic pre-workout supplements. They provide the same boost in energy and focus as pre-workout pills, but they also contain ingredients that increase your metabolism through a process known as thermogenesis.
What Is Thermogenesis?
The process of producing heat via metabolism is referred to as thermogenesis.
For example, we use food as fuel to heat our bodies. This is why we grow more hungry when it is cold outside. More food is needed to keep our bodies warm in the cold weather!
Certain foods have been scientifically proven to naturally increase thermogenesis in the body (such as chili peppers).
How Thermogenesis Helps Fat Loss
Consider a thermostat as one of the best examples of how thermogenic drugs work for fat loss. The higher the thermostat setting, the more energy you consume.
Your body works in the same way as a thermostat does. As a result, “simply enduring chilly weather qualifies as exercise,” according to an Atlantic article.
You burn about 800-1000 calories every day to keep your body warm, depending on the temperature and your body. A slight increase in thermogenesis can lead to a big increase in calories burned.
Unlike many other forms of energy expenditure, thermogenesis allows for the selective burning of fat. As if that wasn’t enough, thermogenesis reduces appetite, allowing you to eat less and lose even more weight.
Difference between Thermogenics and Pre Workouts
Many of the ingredients in thermogenics and pre-workout supplements are the same (like caffeine). They are, nevertheless, fundamentally different.
Pre-Workout Meals:
- The goal is to provide you enough energy to work out.
- Encourage focus while exercising.
- BCAAs, for example, are commonly utilized to aid with muscle growth and recovery.
- Nitric oxide and other ingredients may be included to boost protein synthesis and nutrient delivery.
Thermogenics:
- The goal is to boost metabolism.
- Non-stimulant ingredients that boost fat-burning are often used.
- Pre-workout drinks typically have less caffeine than post-workout drinks.
- Not as concerned with muscle development
- To counteract the effects of decreased hunger, substances that boost immunity may be used.
If you want to work out harder while also shedding weight, use a thermogenic pre-workout.
What Ingredients Have a Thermogenic Effect?
When reading the labels of thermogenic pre-exercise supplements, it may be difficult to distinguish which compounds are for thermogenesis and which are for energy. There are far too many chemicals to name, but here are some of the most frequent thermogenic substances found in supplements.
Caffeine
Caffeine is the active ingredient in nearly every pre-workout and thermogenic supplement. Caffeine has been found in numerous trials to enhance metabolism and fat burning.
Caffeine does more than just boost energy (which will help you workout harder so you burn more calories). It allows your body to burn more fat while retaining muscle mass.
Of course, drinking too much coffee over a long period of time might be harmful to your nervous system. You must exercise vigorously in order to burn off the caffeine. Otherwise, you’ll feel worried and sick.
Caffeine can be found in foods other than coffee extract. Caffeine-containing compounds used in pre-workout supplements include:
- Green tea
- Yerba mate
- Theobromine
- Cacao
Green Tea Extract
Green tea has a thermogenic effect since it contains caffeine. Green tea, on the other hand, has weight loss properties that go beyond caffeine.
It has been demonstrated that polyphenol antioxidants promote thermogenesis. They also boost nervous system health and are a good coffee alternative.
CLA
Conjugated linoleic acid is a type of fatty acid found primarily in animal products. Its popularity stems from its proven ability to target fat deposits. It primarily boosts metabolism via thermogenesis, but it also has various other benefits.
L-Carnitine
L-carnitine is an amino acid that is required for the synthesis and metabolism of energy. It is commonly used to boost mental focus, but it also aids in fat oxidation.
Capsicum/Cayenne
This is a popular thermogenic supplement. Anyone who has eaten chili peppers knows how they may elevate your body temperature!
Capsicum is the chemical in chili peppers that produces “heat.” Capsicum’s thermogenic effect has been shown not just to boost metabolism and fat burning, but also to linger for a long time after exercise.
Just keep in mind that excessive doses of capsicum may induce gastrointestinal irritation.
Thermogenic Pre-Workout Supplements Facts
When Should You Use Thermogenic Pre-Workout Supplements?
In general, take the vitamin 30 minutes before exercise. This is ample time for the supplement to work.
How to Get the Best Results from Thermogenic Pre Workouts
One of the benefits of thermogenic pills is that they increase the number of calories burned not only while exercising, but also afterward.
Your body continues to burn calories even after you stop exercising. This is referred to as a high post-exercise oxygen consumption. The number of calories burned after exercise, on the other hand, varies depending on the type of exercise performed.
With your thermogenic, you will burn more calories by:
- Increasing the intensity of your workout (for example, run instead of stroll!)
- Weight training, rather than just aerobics, is recommended for weight loss.
- Exercising for long periods of time
Side Effects of Thermogenic Pre Workouts
The majority of the potential harmful effects of thermogenic pre-exercise supplements are due to the caffeine concentration. Some of them are high in caffeine and can cause problems like:
- Jitteriness
- Anxiety
- Difficulty sleeping
- Need to use the restroom more
- Excessive sweating
If you’re not used to consuming coffee, ease into it before workouts. You are not obliged to strictly follow the dosing guidelines (but avoid exceeding the recommended dose!).
Begin slowly with a 14 or 12 dose. If you don’t have any symptoms and need a bigger effect, gradually increase to the full dosage amount.
Cycling Thermogenic Pre Workouts
I’m not aware of any evidence that thermogenics like cayenne lose their potency over time. However, your body will begin to develop a caffeine tolerance.
To ensure the effectiveness of your pre-workouts, you should cycle them. There is a lot of conflicting information about how often you should cycle off pre-workouts. Some experts recommend alternating pre-workouts every 6-8 weeks. Others advise alternating 2-3 weeks on and 2-3 weeks off.
As a general rule, stop using pre-workout supplements after you no longer feel the “tingly buzz.”
Increase your dose solely to build tolerance to the stimulants. When you’re used to exercising on 4 scoops of pre-workout, it’s difficult to exercise without it.
Important: Drink More Water!
Thermogenics raise your core body temperature and speed up your metabolism. They will cause you to sweat substantially more than usual.
If you’re not careful, thermogenic pre-workout supplements will dehydrate you. Dehydration reduces performance and hence cancels the benefits of exercise. Make an attempt to drink one gallon of water per day.
Top Thermogenic Pre Workout Supplements
1. Evlution Nutrition ENGN Shred
2. Six Star Explosion Ripped
3. MuscleTech VaporX5
4. NitroSurge Shred
5. ThermoPre 2-in-1 PreWorkout Thermogenic
6. Cellucor C4 Ripped
The Winner?
Because of its good component profile and inexpensive price, Evlution Nutrition ENGN Shred wins when it comes to giving energy and stimulating fat-burning.
Try ThermoPre if you want something softer on your energy levels. You’ll like its stress-relieving properties as well as the way it stimulates your metabolism.