For those who engage in bodybuilding, it is common knowledge that the cutting phase is the most grueling and dreaded aspect of the process. You have to eat lesser, lose weight, burn fat, and get lean. And you are expected to do all this without losing all the muscle you spent the last few months creating. If you are a veteran, then you know that no new training patterns, fad diets, or miracle pills are going to make cutting easier. There will be sweat, there will be hunger, and there will be pain.
Perhaps there are certain things you could do to make your cutting phase slightly less miserable. These tried and tested tips have been passed down to us by many professionals in the past, and they seem to know what they are talking about when it comes to the cutting phase.
- Hunger is a reality, and the best way to deal with it is with water. While there is the additional bloating, it can be dealt with during your workout. The water would also help you push a little harder and lose a few more calories, and it is an excellent accessory to the small meals you would be taking.
- Cook yourself. Sugar and extra salt are not your friends and you must satisfy yourself with small but meaningful meals, no one knows your taste as you do. Ready meals would have extra fat and carbs and you could do without them.
- Get ready to confront the feeling of hunger. If there is a test of endurance and patience, the cutting phase will be it.
- Cheat meals may be the highlight of your week but avoid splurging. Remind yourself that you would have to work that much harder and stop promising yourself a better meal sometime later on. The disappointment would hurt you in ways you cannot imagine.
- Cardio is key. You already know your level of calorie intake and you adjust that to create a deficit. Pair that with cardio to increase fat burning. Your metabolic rate would be heightened, and this would ensure greater weight loss.
- Engage in lifting weights and low-rep exercises that help build muscle mass. This also encourages fat loss. The more muscle mass, the better you cut.
- All sugar is bad – even the artificial kind. It is absorbed quickly into the body, and what is not used is stored as fat. Replace with fiber and high-protein.
- Caffeine is a friend. Consider using a pre-workout formula that adds caffeine to its formula. This improves focus and concentration and gives you the extra push before you begin your session.
- Find a supplement that helps. You have many options available to you, and a good supplement would help you push through stubborn plateaus and reach goals quicker.
Speaking of supplements, you could go the synthetic way (steroids or SARMs), or you could go natural. Natural supplements are better as they do not interfere with any professional aspirations you have, and they work with your body rather than chemically altering it. To aid your cutting phase, here are three of the best fat burners available in the market. But are they all the same, or is one better than the others? Let’s find out.
Animal Cuts vs Hydroxycut Advanced vs PrimeShred: What Are They?
#3 – Animal Cuts
Animal Cuts are a Universal Nutrition production. A dietary supplement designed for fat burning, Animal Cuts claims to boost metabolism, suppress appetite, and increase muscle definition. In addition to all this, the fat burner also includes a nootropic complex that supports brain health, mood, and concentration. Animal Cuts can be used by both men and women and its unique combination of ingredients helps the body to shed fat while preserving muscle mass. As a thermogenic fat burner, the Animal Cuts formula can naturally boost the body’s ability to burn fat and calories but also uses certain components that allow muscles to keep their size and structure. The company also has a range of products for bodybuilding, like non-stim fat burners, Creatine Chews, and stacks for weight loss or definition.
Animal Cuts has a unique delivery system. Unlike other fat burners, Animal Cust comes in little packs that contain pills. If you wish, you could remove the 2 solid red pills, and Animal Cuts can be used as a pre-workout, too. For full fat-burning benefits, take 2 packs a day, every day for 3 weeks. 1 pack must be taken as soon as you wake up and the other 5 to 6 hours later. After 3 weeks, take a week off, after which you can start the cycle again. You should take a small meal with the second dose and stay well-hydrated while using the product.
#2 – Hydroxycut
Previously marketed as Hydroxycut Black, Hydroxycut Advanced is backed by scientific research and clinical studies. With the use of its secret weapon – C. canephora robusta, a green coffee extract, Hydroxycut Advanced claims to give you cuts like never before. This fat burner states that increasing metabolism is key to fat loss, and that is what Hydroxycut Advanced can do. A simple, no-nonsense formula, this fat burner makes no claims of boosting anything other than your confidence. All it promises is more energy, a revved-up metabolism, and greater focus.
The Hydroxycut Advanced formula is potent, to say the least. That may be why the manufacturers recommend that you assess tolerance for the product. On days 1, 2, and 3, it is recommended that you take 1 capsule twice a day. If there are no issues, start taking 2 capsules twice a day henceforth. Avoid taking the fat burner within 5 hours of bedtime and take care not to exceed 4 capsules a day or 2 capsules a day on the first 3 days. Also, it helps if you were to avoid snacks.
#1 – PrimeShred
Health Nutrition Limited is registered in England and Wales, and PrimeShred is a hardcore fat burner meant for both ladies and gents alike. Using the magic of thermogenesis, Prime Shred aims to help you get a leaner and toned body without affecting energy levels or muscle mass. PrimeShred is the only one of the three fat burners that guarantee you will smash through plateaus and burn off those last few stubborn pounds of fat. PrimeShred also acknowledges that the cutting phase is no walk in the park and does what it can to amplify energy even with your calorie-deficit diet. It also gets your hormones in line to accelerate the rate at which calories burn. PrimeShred prides itself on being vegan and vegetarian-friendly. It is also soy and gluten-free and non-GMO.
PrimeShred capsules must be taken 3 at a time, 20 minutes before breakfast on both training and non-training days. You can continue to use the supplement till you attain the desired results.
Visit here to learn more about PrimeShred, the so-called efficient and effective fat burner.
What Do These Fat Burners Claim to Do?
Considering that Animal Cuts, Hydroxycut Advanced, and PrimeShred are all considered some of the best fat burners, and for that reason, they all have some benefits that overlap. Whether these products actually deliver on these claims is yet to be seen.
| Animal Cuts | Hydroxycut Advanced | PrimeShred |
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What Fat-Burning Ingredients Do These Supplements Use?
There are two ways to test the efficacy of a fat-burning supplement. One is a closer look at the ingredients, and two is customer reviews. There is also a third of clinical reviews using the said product, but none of these products were subject to such trials, as is common with any natural supplement. Also, because all three supplements claim to be thermogenic fat burner pills, you can expect some common ingredients as well.
The Animal Cuts Formula
Many can think that Animal Cuts went slightly overboard with the formula. There is nothing wrong in adding ingredients that work, but when you add too many ingredients that do the same thing, there is a chance of dosing more than intended. The official website states that each pack delivers approximately 8500 mg, and with 2 packs a day, the grammage is quite extreme. Animal Cuts divides its impressive ingredients list into groups called complexes.
The Stimulant Complex, 750 mg
This group includes caffeine anhydrous, Kola nut, Yerba Mate leaf, Raspberry ketones, Coleus Foskohlii Extract and Evodiamine. This group alone is 750mg. This group alone provides more than enough caffeine to aid fat-burning and weight loss. This amount of stimulation would also improve athletic performance, enhance energy levels, and clear fatigue. The main intent of this complex is to boost metabolic rate, which would enhance fat oxidation.
The Metabolic Complex, 750 mg
It is from here that Animal Cuts wanders into the realm of unnecessary additions to its recipe. Including coffee beans, black tea, Oolong tea leaf, and green tea leaf extract, Animal Cuts wants you to get the most out of your cutting phase, but many may consider this as overkill. The most effective weight-loss agent is green tea, which is included here. The addition of the other teas and coffee beans is extra. Also, tea and coffee beans add to the caffeine content of the product.
The Thyroid Complex, 350 mg
Consisting of l-tyrosine, olive leaf extract, and salvia officinalis or sage, the thyroid complex intends to fix your metabolic rate.
- L tyrosine enhances the function of the thyroid gland to quicken metabolism.
- Olive leaf and sage have a similar effect on the rate at which energy is produced. The amino acid does a pretty good job on its own; the rest is extra, again.
The Water Shedding Complex, 800 mg
Dandelion root, Uva Ursi leaf, Juniper berry, and Celery seed make up this complex. These herbs are all diuretics that fight water retention. They all increase urine production and help to stop bloating caused by water weight.
The Nootropic Complex, 500 mg
DMAE, Cocoa powder, Huperzine A, and Bacopa Monnieri are all mild central nervous system stimulants. DMAE can be found in several fat burners and bodybuilding products, and even in many nootropic supplements, as it can improve mood, boost memory, and improve brain function. It also helps to improve focus. The other three ingredients have the same effects.
The Cortisol Inhibiting Complex, 300 mg
Ashwagandha and Siberian ginseng, which have testosterone-boosting and nootropic benefits, are misfits in fat burner supplements. They help to deal with stress, but so do DMAE, Bacopa Monnieri, Huperzine, Dandelion root, and L-Tyrosine. With so many components doing the same thing, the addition of this entire complex is a waste.
The CCK Boosting Complex, 300 mg
This complex includes Cha-de-Bugre, Apple Pectin (fruit), and Cinnamon (Bark). Another extra complex adds nothing new and simply replicates the work done by other complexes.
The Bioavailability Complex, 500 mg
Using registered ingredients Ginger Root, Cayenne, Grapefruit, Quercetin, Naringin, and Piper Nigrum Extract, this complex increases nutrient absorption levels. Cayenne aids weight loss by inducing thermogenesis but comes with a variety of health benefits for the whole body. The addition of other ingredients to this group is unclear, though.
As impressive and effective as this may seem, the supplement label mentions a very long list of conditions. The simplest of which is not to use the product if you are pregnant or nursing. The label also mentions ‘reproductive harm,’ and your guess is as good as ours. Possibly because of the sheer number of ingredients, there is a rather long list of possible side effects. These include nervousness, irritability, headaches, insomnia, and elevated heartbeat. If you or your family has a history of thyroid or liver disease, enlarged prostate, high blood pressure, glaucoma, difficulty urinating, or a plethora of other medical issues, you must speak to a physician before you begin the use of the Animal Cuts supplement. The same is true if you are on any prescription medications. For such an impressive fat burner, the fact that it is not available for use by most is quite disappointing.
The Hydroxycut Advanced Formula
Caffeine Anhydrous & Robusta Coffee Bean Extract, 204 mg and 200 mg, respectively
The role of caffeine is the same here as it was for Animal Cuts. Hydroxycut prides itself on the addition of the Robusta Coffee Extract because the bean has a high level of chlorogenic acid, which promotes weight loss. The best part is that this coffee bean is a non-stimulant and would not add to the caffeine hit that Hydroxycut Advanced already provides. Depending on your dosage, your total caffeine intake would range between 200 to 400mg.
MCT Oil, 200 mg
Primarily an alternative remedy for diabetes and insulin sensitivity, MCT oil can also help reduce body fat, increase the rate at which it is burned, and reduce fat storage. It may also increase the rate at which calories are burned and used.
Yohimbe Extract, 30 mg
The jury is still out on whether Yohimbe root can aid fat loss. It is usually used as an alternative remedy for male sexual function. Some claim that Yohimbe works best when consumed on an empty stomach, while others state that there was no difference in body fat content.
Black Carraway Extract
These tiny nutrition bombs are high in fiber and micronutrients. Fiber aids appetite suppression and supports the fat-burning endeavor by stopping you from consuming more calories.
Purslane Extract
This low-calorie but high-nutrition herb is an excellent addition to cutting supplements as they provide much-needed nutrition without the unwanted calories. Purslane can help you with losing weight and keep your BMI, sugar, and cholesterol levels in check.
Maitake Mushroom
The addition of Maitake is unclear. Maitake may reduce hunger pangs, but that is still a hypothesis being tested.
Chicory Extract
Chicory is a mild laxative and decreases swelling. It could also help the body detoxify. The presence of fiber can reduce body weight.
If you are concerned about the 400mg caffeine content per serving, Hydroxycut offers a non-stim formula as well. Whether it is as effective as a fat burner is the subject of another review. But the fact that the brand has made that option available is thoughtful, to say the least.
The PrimeShred Formula
PrimeShred formula has some components similar to Animal Cuts and Hydroxycut Advanced like Green Tea Leaf Extract, DMAE, L-Tyrosine, Green Coffee Bean Extract, Caffeine Anhydrous, and Bioperine. There are some original additions, though.
L-Theanine, 250 mg
This component is a sign of a good fat burner supplement. Naturally found in tea (Animal Cuts has it but refused to acknowledge it, and some mushrooms), this amino acid naturally reduces cortisol levels, aids sleep, helps you relax, increases cognitive function, boosts the immune system, reduces blood pressure, and aids weight loss efforts. Theanine then tops all of this off with enhanced focus. All you would need from a high-quality fat burner from one ingredient.
Rhodiola Rosea Root, 250 mg
This herb has the peculiar quality of melting stubborn fat deposits like belly fat, thighs, and hips. It can also improve blood sugar and cholesterol levels while fighting inflammation in the body.
Vitamin B Complex, 15 mg of Vit B3, 1.3 mg of Vit B6 and 24 mcg of Vit B12
The vitamin indirectly helps you lose weight. The way your food is metabolized and used plays a key role in fat loss or accumulation. B vitamins are known to increase the efficiency with which the body metabolizes food. Effective metabolism enhances energy production and reduces fatigue.
Cayenne Pepper fruit extract, 200 mg
This one component can curb hunger, boost metabolism, induce thermogenesis, and burn calories at an increased rate. All of this is thanks to capsaicin, a compound found in the fruit. Animal Cuts also has this ingredient in one of its blends, but again, it has failed to highlight the benefits and the amount in which this ingredient has been used.
So, Which Is the Best Fat Burner?
There is no easy answer and the ultimate decision is yours. But what we can do is give you the facts.
#3 – Verdict on Animal Cuts
Animal Cuts has great reviews online are next to great. The average rating for the thermogenic fat burner was 4.2. However, very few users did not like the product claiming that it did not work for them but the others were rave reviews.
However, we have to talk about the formula. Firstly, it is a fat burner and does not need frills. If Animal Cuts simply concentrated on being a good fat burner, it could have avoided a few issues. Like the fact that the formula is too heavy, and there are too many ingredients, the use of which is also unexplained. Some ingredients have nothing new or more to add to the product, which makes its addition unnecessary. With many ingredients and amounts unclear come greater chances of allergies and drug interactions.
There are also side effects to look forward to, which stem from the massive dose of caffeine. Daily, up to 400 mg of caffeine is considered okay; anything more is too much. Animal Cuts has a significantly high caffeine content due to the nature of the product; however, a few allowances can be made. The blends do not mention individual doses of the ingredients. So, it is unclear if the doses are safe or effective.
#2 – Verdict on Hydroxycut Advanced
Hydroxycut Advanced does not have as many problems. The only complaint that users have has to do with the fact that the product is strong and the caffeine needs some getting used to. Some experienced jitters but overall, it is a decent fat burner. The only complaint is that of side effects like insomnia, jaundice, indigestion, and heartburn. There is also a high incidence of drug interactions with medications for asthma, diabetes, and antidepressants.
#1 – Verdict on PrimeShred
PrimeShred has found a balance between the number of ingredients and caffeine. Do not be fooled, it has a pretty good amount of caffeine too but this is the only fat burner that adds l-theanine to balance out the effects of caffeine. Theanine can help reduce the unwanted effects of caffeine while enhancing the benefits of caffeine. Reviews claim that there is a chance of you feeling overstimulated, so it would be advised that you take the product with a meal.
There is a lot of information to process, so to make it easier, here is a quick recap of all the information we have.
| Animal Cuts | Hydroxycut Advanced | PrimeShred | |
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| Audience | Men and Women | Men And Women | Men and Women |
| Side Effects or Warnings | It cannot be used if you or your family have a medical history. Side effects like dehydration, nausea, and nervousness are common. | Side effects like increased heart rate, heartburn, jitters, and insomnia are common. | It may cause diarrhea, indigestion, sleeplessness, and nausea if overdosed. |
| Dosage | 2 pill packs a day | Day 1-3: 2 pills a day. Day 4 onwards: 4 pills a day. | 3 capsules a day. |
| Where to Buy? | Amazon, GNC, Walmart, or its Official Website. | Amazon, GNC, Walmart, or its Official Website. | PrimeShred is only sold on its Official Website, visit here! |
| Price | One-time purchase: $43.95. Subscription: $39.56. | One-time purchase: $34.99. Subscription: $27.99. | 1 bottle: $59.99. 3 bottles: $119.98. 5 bottles: $179.99. |
| Refund Policy | 90-day guarantee on purchases made from the official website only. | Return requests can be made within 60 days of purchase. | 100-day money-back guarantee. |
FAQs
Q1. Are these fat burners habit-forming?
Ans.: No, none of these fat burners are habit-forming. This distinguishing feature suggests that these drugs do not give consumers a tendency toward reliance or addiction. These organic substances—which could include nutrients and natural agents produced from plants—have the ability to speed up metabolic processes without increasing the likelihood of habit-forming usage patterns brought on by prescription medications used for lessening appetite.
Q2. Are they safe to use?
They are all made with natural ingredients but the caffeine dosages are pretty high. It would be advisable to limit caffeine products for as long as you use any of these fat burners. It is also advisable that you speak to your healthcare practitioner before you start the use of natural supplements. This is especially true for Animal Cuts.
Q3. Can they be used outside a bodybuilding scenario?
Ans.: The short answer is, yes, they can. However, these formulae are designed for high-intensity training that bodybuilders engage in. For regular fat burning, you would not need this potent formula. The caffeine in them is no joke, and subjecting your body to such high doses is no joke.
Verdict
When looking around for the best fat burner for your cutting phase, the number and types of weight loss products make the decision-making process all the harder. We compared three popular brands, and of them all, PrimeShred was found to be the smartest choice. This no-nonsense, no-frills fat burner can help you meet your cutting phase without too many problems. It curbs appetite, uses thermogenesis to burn fat, revs up metabolic rate, and even makes amends for the high caffeine content. PrimeShred is the way to go.
Fat burning made efficient and effective. Click here to buy from the Official Website.
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