Review: Abdominal cuts green revolution: abdominal profile cuts?

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

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!

Reviewing USP Labs' products are a little more fun to review than the standard fare we usually encounter here at UltimateFatBurner.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?

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.

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.

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!

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 UltimateFatBurner.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?

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?

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!