By Anthoney J. Andersen – Steroidal.com
As we enter the New Year, people are flocking back to the gym and searching for new ways to get themselves back into shape and shed those unwanted pounds that were piled on during the holiday season.
But what are the best ways to burn off the fat and tone up your body? Where do you start?
Not to worry, the following will dive into a unique fat burning combination that will help you achieve your fitness goals, while delivering you with your dream body and starting 2016 off with a bang.
THE CAFFEINE HIGH
Roughly half of Americans start their day with a cup of coffee, and according to a recent study, working out after downing a cup of java, may add a weight loss advantage. The Spanish study – published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism – found that trained athletes who consumed caffeine pre-exercise burned around 15 percent more calories for three hours post-exercise, compared to those who ingested a placebo.
Researchers found that the dosage that triggered the best results was 4.5 mg of caffeine per kilogram of body weight.
For example, for a 150-pound woman (68 kg), that’s roughly 300 mg of caffeine, which is equivalent to the amount in 12 ounces of brewed coffee – a quantity you may already be sipping each morning.
According to Health.com, here are three reasons you should consider enjoying caffeine (if you’re not already) as part of an active lifestyle:
LESS PAIN
Scientists at the University of Illinois discovered that athletes that consumed the caffeine equivalent to two to three cups of coffee one-hour before a 30-minute bout of high-intensity training reduced their risk of perceived muscle pain and cramping. The conclusion was that not only will caffeine provide you the sustainable energy needed to push yourself harder during your strength training exercise, but will ultimately result in better improvements in muscle strength and/or endurance.
IMPROVED CIRCULATION
A recent Japanese study tested the effects that caffeine had on circulation in people who were not regular coffee drinkers. Participants were given a five-ounce cup of either caffeinated coffee or decaffeinated coffee. Scientists began to gauge the individuals’ blood flow in their fingers – a measure of how well the smaller blood vessels work. In the end, the scientists concluded that those who drank regular caffeinated coffee experienced a 30 percent increase in blood flow during a 75-minute period, compared to those who consumed the decaffeinated coffee.
If you’re a bodybuilder or exercise enthusiast, you know that better circulation leads to more oxygen flow to your muscles, which will lead to a more intense workout.
INCREASED MUSCLE FUEL
A study in the Journal of Applied Physiology, found that a small dose of caffeine post-exercise might also be beneficial, especially in endurance athletes who perform day after day. The research found that instead of consuming only carbohydrates post-workout, that a carb/caffeine combo has much more of an impact on the way the body stores muscle glycogen.
Researchers found that the carb/caffeine combo resulted in a 66 percent increase in muscle glycogen four hours after intense, glycogen-depleting exercise. Glycogen, which is the form of carbohydrate that gets stockpiled in the muscles, serves as a vital energy chamber during exercise, which increases the body’s power strength moves and endurance.
THE EPHEDRINE SURGE
It should first be noted that supplements containing ephedrine/ephedra are extremely powerful and should not be taken by people who suffer from any type of heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes, enlarged prostate, or anyone taking MAO-inhibitor drugs for depression or appetite suppression.
Ephedrine is one of the four active components of the herb Ephedra. Ephedrine has the ability to induce fat loss by increasing the amount of fat available for fuel, as well as by increasing heat expenditure. It has also been responsible for increasing the metabolic rate in humans by five percent.
As bodybuilders and athletes, one thing we all have in common is the desire to build muscle – whether it’s lean muscle, or the kind of muscle that shreds your current wardrobe to pieces.
However, it’s not all about building more muscle, you also want to have low body fat levels. Let’s be honest, what is the point of having more muscle if layers of fat cover it up?
A FORCE TO BE RECKON WITH
Ephedrine has been regarded as a fairly potent thermogenic compound, but it was found to be even more effective when combined with caffeine and aspirin. It’s true that caffeine is also a fairly good thermogenic compound, but it hardly measures up to ephedrine.
When the two are combined haphazardly (in random amounts), their thermogenic qualities are addictive. However, when the two are combined in fairly specific ratios – 200 mg caffeine to 20 mg ephedrine (taken three times daily) – the results are quite remarkable.
When aspirin – 300 mg of it per each ephedrine/caffeine dose – is thrown into the mix, the results are further enhanced.
Aside from burning fat, this stack has also been shown to have “nutrient-partitioning” effects: animals that were fed the mixture obtained the same growth on a 20 percent lower energy intake, but gained 10 percent more muscle and 30 percent less fat than animals that were not fed caffeine and ephedrine.
Apart from turning calories into heat instead of storing them as fat, the combination may actually debilitate the body’s ability to form fat. Caffeine, by itself, increases blood adrenaline levels, thereby increasing lipolysis (the breakdown of fat). The use of caffeine and/or ephedrine may also increase strength and focus during workouts – a lot of bodybuilders take these compounds for this reason.
CONCLUSION
This powerful stack – when combined with a disciplined diet and exercise regimen – can help you achieve that “cut/ripped” look, by burning away that unwanted body fat.
Just remember, if you suffer from any medical conditions – especially heart trouble – it is highly important that you consult your physician before taking caffeine and/or ephedrine supplements. Also, do not exceed the recommended dosage of any drugs or herbal products containing caffeine or ephedrine.
Play safe.
