What is “The Fat Loss Cycle”?

The Fat Loss Cycle from Gaspari Nutrition is a two-part product that is intended to get the aggressive body builder or fitness athlete looking extra shredded on competition day.  The Fat Loss Cycle contains two Gaspari products in one box – Mitotropin and Cytolean V2.  Mitotropin is to be taken for 4 weeks to start off, followed by 4 weeks of Cytolean V2.

The Fat Loss Cycle Ingredients

Here is the massive ingredient listing for Mitotropin and Cytolean

Mitotropin Uncoupling Complex 1275mg

• N-Acetyl L-Carnitine, Flax Seed Powder, Undaria Pinnatifida Extract (Standardized For 10% Fucoxanthin), Grape Seed Extract (Standardized For 50% Kaempherol), Capsicum Annum Extract (Standardized For 40% Capsiate), 3,3′ Diiodo-L-Thyronine, 3,5-Diiodo-L-Thyronine.

Thermophoric Lypolytic Acceleration Blend 1774mg

• L-Tyrosine, Beta-Phenylethylamine, Green Tea Extract (Standardized For 50% Polyphenols & 30% Catechins) Caffeine Anhydrous USP, Green Coffee Bean Extract, Hordenine, Evodia Rutaecarpa Extract (Standardized For 10% Evodiamine), Synephrine, DL-Phenylalanine, Ginko Biloba Extract, Uncaria Rhynchophylla, Sinofranchetia Chinesis, Huperzine-A.

Free Radical Attenuation Matrix – 158mg

• Turmeric (Curcuma Longa Root), Artichoke Extract (Standardized For 15% 3-0-Caffeoylquinic Acid), D-Alpha-Tocopherol, L-SE- Methylselenocysteine

Cytolean V2

Lipolytic Drive Complex 565mg

• Green Tea Extract
• Pericarpium Extract
• Citri Reticulatae
• B-Phenylethylamine HCL
• Paullinia Cupana Extract

Psycho-Corticoid Optimization Matrix (420 mg)

• Caffeine
• Lactium (aS1-casein tryptic decapeptide)
• 7b-OH (7b-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone),
• Chinese Boxthorn Extract
• Bioperine
• Huperzine A.

While we could probably spend a lot of your time discussing what each of these ingredients is supposed to do for you, you probably just want to know if this formula will “work.”  It certainly does seem to have what it takes to help you get a little extra-shredded but this presupposes that you are already pretty shredded.  If you are over-weight, this is not a formula you should be taking as it could seriously put your health at risk.

The Fat Loss Cycle Pros

• Very potent thermogenic blend

The Fat Loss Cycle Cons

• Designed primarily for athletes already in peak condition
• Not really any cheaper as a package deal – about $70.

The Fat Loss Cycle Conclusion

This package deal is obviously a better value than buying either product alone, but with a name as big as Gaspari you’re going to be paying a little extra anyway.  While this is a great product for athletes who are looking to get rid of that extra bit of fat and to get pumped before competition, we don’t recommend this for most people.

What is QNT Riptek?

Riptek is a fat burning weight loss supplement from QNT, a very large Belgian company which produces supplements primarily for the body building community.  Riptek is intended to increase your body’s ability to metabolize fat as well as to reduce your appetite. Now, these are both side effects of just plain caffeine, so is there more to Riptek or is it just as flashy as the fitness models it sponsors?

QNT Riptek Ingredients

Riptek contains 9 different ingredients in a dosage that amounts to less than half of one gram.  Ingredients like glucomannan, for instance, are known to be effective only in doses of at least one gram.  This casts some serious doubt on whether the formula contains a legitimate blend or if the best ingredients are here just for show. Here is the full ingredient list:

CapsiShred XII – Thermogenic Fat Loss Accelerator Complex – 414mg

• Capsimax Plus Blend (Proprietary Blend of Caffeine, Capsimax Capsicum Fruit Extract, and Piperine (Black Pepper))
• Glucomannan
• Nicotinoyl-GABAm Picamilon
• Berberine HCL

Adipotex C3G – Proprietary Targeted Lipolytic Complex – 50mg

• Purple Corn
• Acai Berry Extract
• Resveratrol

QNT Riptek Pros

• Some excellent ingredients for weight loss

QNT Riptek Cons

• Weak dosages of some of the best ingredients
• No satisfaction guarantee

QNT Riptek Conclusion

Though we do love some of the ingredients here, this product appears to be cutting costs when it comes to actually giving you what you need to lose weight.  It seems certainly reasonable that some might experience some pretty good results with this blend, but so do people on placebos.  The price would be decent if it contained higher concentrations of the better ingredients, but without a guarantee and as it is, we don’t recommend risking your money here.

What is 180 Targeted Thermogenic?

Good question.  Is it really as the company claims a “recent scientific breakthrough using ancient herbs” that will significantly change your body?  One thing is for sure – the product contains a lot of stimulants.  It is meant to be a fat burner as well as an appetite suppressant to help you burn calories and keep from eating more.  Priced at $70 per bottle, this would appear to be a high-potency product, but will the extra stimulants (and extra money) really get you healthier and happier with your appearance?

180 Targeted Thermogenic Ingredients

The product doesn’t liste specific concentrations, but each pill contains 610 mg of:

• Caffeine
• Caralluma Fimbriata (stem)
• Emblica Officinalis (berry)
• Olive leaf
• Coffee Arabica L (bean)
• Rauwolscine (Yohimbine)

In what is primarily a blend of caffeine and other stimulants mixed with some fiber, this is a very strong thermogenic compound.  It may be too strong for some and could cause side effects such as nervousness, irritability, headache, nausea and sleeplessness.  As the exact concentration of olive leaf (and the rest of the ingredients) isn’t included, it isn’t clear that this formula really provides those extra benefits, but overall it is sure to boost your metabolism.

180 Targeted Thermogenic Pros

• Strong thermogenic blend

180 Targeted Thermogenic Cons

• Unpleasant side effects when used as directed (on an empty stomach).
• Very expensive  for the ingredients – $70 per bottle

180 Targeted Thermogenic Conclusion

If you’re really looking to “do a 180”, this product seems like it might be a quick way to do it.  However, to compare this little analogy to driving in a car, sometimes pulling a 180 isn’t always the safest way of turning around.  The ingredients and strong potential for negative side effects increase the risk of you “crashing” in terms of your health. It is usually better to look for the safer approach, but even if you’re into quick solutions, without a satisfaction guarantee this one doesn’t get our vote.

What is the Almased Synergy Diet?

The Almased Synergy Diet is a powdered drink mix that is meant to be used while pursuing a fasting regimen.  According to Almased, “the quicker the initial weight loss at the beginning of a diet, the longer the lost weight stays off. And only consuming water and other liquids naturally leads to fast weight loss.”  This statement isn’t all-together true and definitely doesn’t promote a healthy weight loss philosophy, but it is true that if you don’t eat anything for a while you’ll lose weight.  Big surprise, we know.  Is this the right mix to keep you healthy and happy while you’re not eating?

Almased Synergy Diet Ingredients

The Almased formula is a very generic one in most every respect.  It contains ingredients which are basically household items and can be bought very cheaply if you buy them separately. These include:

• Soy Protein Isolate
• Honey
• Skim Milk Yogurt Powder

The drink mix also includes a mild vitamin complex (contains no more than 50% DV of any given vitamin) including:

• Vitamin C
• Niacin
• Vitamin E
• Zink Oxide
• Vitamin B2
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin B1
• Vitamin A
• Copper Gluconate
• Folic Acid
• Manganese Sulfate
• Sodium Selenite
• Potassium Iodide
• Biotin
• Vitamin D3
• Vitamin B12

Now, this is certainly an excellent blend of ingredients and if you’re looking for something healthy to drink while you’re “fasting” then this really does appear to be a great option.  Our only concern with the ingredients is that they don’t appear to justify the price of $35 for 10 days worth.

Almased Synergy Diet Pros

• Healthy vitamin complex
• Prevents muscle loss when fasting

Almased Synergy Diet Cons

• Just over-priced

Almased Synergy Diet Conclusion

If you have the will-power to pursue a “fasting” diet, then it is probably a good idea to supplement it with at least some nutrient-rich drink in order to stay healthy.  You’re also going to want to drink plenty of water.  While we like that Almased has produced a protein/vitamin formula for your convenience, we think a much cheaper substitute would be a generic vitamin juice and drinkable yogurt.  There isn’t anything to justify spending this kind of money on soy, yogurt and honey.

What is New Nordic Mulberry?

Mulberry, the prosaically named weight-loss supplement from New Nordic, is a simple extract of the white mulberry leaf.  The company is based in Denmark and markets a version of this product (Zuccarin) on its official website.  This version is sold in the US through online sites like GNC.

New Nordic Mulberry Ingredients

The sole ingredient here is

• 400 mg of White Mulberry leaf extract

The label clarifies that this ingredient is standardized to 1% 1-Deoxynojirimycin.  What does this do?  Well, as the label simply states, it “blocks sugar absorption.”  There is scientific evidence backing this up, of course, but it doesn’t really mean that it’s a miracle weight-loss ingredient.  What this may do is help you to absorb less of the sugar you eat, but if you’re trying to lose weight you’ve probably already gone sugar-free.  In any case, it shouldn’t make a significant difference to help you lose more weight.

New Nordic Mulberry Pros

• Proven to block some level of dietary sugar absorption

New Nordic Mulberry Cons

• Expensive for a very mild product
• No mention of satisfaction guarantee

New Nordic Mulberry Conclusion

Though this is a nice, simple little supplement with proven benefits, it simply is not powerful enough to be worth the money.  We would like to see the extract included with other ingredients that can more completely aid your weight loss goals, but $30 is too much to pay for just one ingredient in an arbitrary dosage.

What is Sera-Pharma cliniCal?

cliniCAL from Ser-Pharma Labs is a two part diet supplement that is meant to help you lose weight round-the-clock. With AM and PM formulas, it is supposed to help you sleep better at night, thereby reducing stress and cortisol levels (a major factor involved in hunger) and also giving you the energy you need to get through each day.  Is the formula effective and worth the $45 for a month’s supply?

Sera-Pharma cliniCal Ingredients

Though there is no information available about the actual dosage or specific concentrations, cliniCAL is reported to contain amounts of the following ingredients:

• Chromium
• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• Capryllic acid
• Glutamine
• Glucommanan
• Hoodia
• Papaya
• Uva ursi
• Green tea
• Apple cider vinegar
• Grapefruit
• Magnesium
• Zinc
• Copper
• Tribulus terrestris
• Fenugreek
• Longjack
• Kudzu root
• DIM
• Red clover extract
• Avena sativa
• Pygeum extract
• Stinging nettle leaf
• Saw palmento berry
• Black pepper extract

It is difficult to really speculate about the effects of all these ingredients in the AM/PM blends of cliniCAL because the company offers so little information about the product.  The company claims that the PM formula helps you sleep better, but we don’t see a lot of herbs which are known to be safe and effective for that.  Herbs like longjack and tribulus are supposed to increase testosterone levels, but this probably isn’t the kind of hormonal shift you want.  Aside from this, the company claims the other main effect of the product is to decrease water weight – which explains the diuretics.

While we are usually excited about products containing glucomannan and hoodia, this product may only contain trace amounts as it doesn’t really claim their effects as the primary purpose of the product.

cliniCal Pros

• All natural formula

cliniCal Cons

• Very little information to confirm effectiveness
• Mainly a diuretic

Sera-Pharma cliniCal Conclusion

Though the product does have a somewhat unique strategy for weight loss by targeting different body processes at night and throughout the day, there just isn’t enough information about it to get a recommendation.  There also doesn’t appear to be a satisfaction guarantee on the $45 you’d be spending.  Nice idea, but not developed enough to trust.

What is Cellucor WS1 Extreme?

According to Cellucor, their WS1 Extreme weight-loss product was designed to “regulate insulin levels and therefore prevent the insulin spikes that lead to fat storage.”  While this strategy is scientifically sound, it is by no means original or “extreme”.  The product contains omega-3 fish oils as well as some chemicals with anti-inflammatory properties.  This may be beneficial for your general health, but by no means does it seem to be an extreme weight loss supplement.

Cellucor WS1 Extreme Ingredients

Unfortunately, the exact concentrations are not listed.  The sole proprietary blend includes a little less than 2 grams total of:

• Vitamin A
• EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) – anti-inflammatory effects
• DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) – similar to EPA
• Acetyl – L – Carnitine – Better-absorbed form of L-Carnitine which may help improve deterioration of brain cells.
• Bitter Gourd Extract – in eastern medical tradition, may improve lipid metabolism
• Tetradecylthioacetic Acid – may reduce the amount of dietary fat that is stored
• Vitamin K1 (Phylloquinine) – A vitamin used to counteract anti-coagulants

Cellucor WS1 Extreme Pros

• Satisfaction guarantee
• Source of omega 3 fatty acids

Cellucor WS1 Extreme Cons

• Possible side effects – muscle cramps, diarrhea, gas/bloating
• Not really a weight loss formula

Cellucor WS1 Extreme Conclusion

Despite what appears to a rather harmless and even healthy formula, what you’re really looking for is a way to effectively lose weight.  Losing weight and staying healthy go hand in hand, so we certainly would recommend many of the other “extreme” products which are packed with stimulants.  We like that this is a stimulant-free approach, but there really isn’t any evidence that WS1 Extreme will make it easier for you to lose weight or be worth nearly the $63 price tag.

What is Cellucor Extreme Transformation Kit?

The Cellucore Extreme Transformation Kit is basically a bulk-discount version of three different Cellucor products, including D4 Thermal Shock, T7 Extreme, and their own version of generic whey protein – IsoPro Ultra Lean.  The theory behind this kit as a worth-while weight loss strategy is that “all three products complement each other and aid in increasing metabolic rate, suppressing appetite, enhancing energy and improving overall health.”  It is true that each product contains some great ingredients for these purposes, but is it worth the price?

Cellucor Extreme Transformation Kit Ingredients

D4 Thermal Shock – 1093 mg

• Emblic Myrobalan Extract
• Caffeine (250 mg)
• White Willow Bark Extract
• Octopamine HCL
• Yohimbine
• Evodiamine
• Sclareolide
• Vinpocetine
• Passion Flower Extract
• N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine

With a very significant dose of caffeine as well as yohimbine this should certainly provide a “shock” and may make you a little jittery even.  However, the most of the ingredients (octopamine, evodiamine, vinpocetinem and even yohimbine) are lacking in significant scientific evidence for their contribution to weight loss.

T7 Extreme – 146 mg

• Fucoxanthin
• Zinc Aspartate
• Salix Matsudana Extract
• 35-Dihydroxy Phenylacetate

Fucoxanthin is an excellent ingredient known to reduce your dietary fat uptake, but it is unclear whether an effective dose is included here.

IsoPro Ultra Lean

• Whey Protein Isolate
• Natural and Artificial Flavor
• Prohydroxy (Protease I, Protease II, Amylase, Lipase, Maltodextrin)
• Beet Juice Powder
• Acesulfame Potassium
• Sucralose

This is about the same as a generic whey protein mix, but is supposed to taste better (which we think must depend on the person – it isn’t all that impressive).

Cellucor Extreme Transformation Kit Pros

• Convenient combination of protein/weight loss supplements
• Satisfaction guarantee

Cellucor Extreme Transformation Kit Cons

• Very expensive
• Most ingredients lack scientific background

Cellucor Extreme Transformation Kit Conclusion

Fundamentally, each of the products in the kit contain ingredients necessary to pursue at least some level of a body “transformation”, but as they also contain a number of ingredients with very tenuous scientific backgrounds.  As the specific dosages are not listed, we can’t say for sure that it would be worth its price tag – and when you’re talking about spending $120 for a weight loss package, you’ve gotta be sure.  More likely this is a way to get you to buy more of their product while still feeling like you’re getting a discount.  Not the best value we’ve seen.

What is Celluscience Anti-Cellulite Beaute Intensive?

First and foremost, you should know that the CelluScience company does not consider this a weight-loss product.  This is a supplement that is intended to decrease the appearance of cellulite, which is a phenomena not completely understood by science at this point.  The basic theory is that by helping promote healthy levels of estrogen and catecholamine hormones, as well as blood flow in on the surface of the skin, the uneven appearance in the skin known as cellulite will disappear.

Celluscience Anti-Cellulite Beaute Intensive Ingredients

The formula consists of two proprietary formulas:

Vascolarys Complex – 1126.00 mg

• Grape Seed Extract
• Fish oil
• Borage oil
• Butcher’s Broom extract
• Olive extract
• Ginkgo Biloba Extract
• Gotu Kola Extract
• Yellow Sweetclover extract

Fortecell Complex - 316.00 mg

• Folic Acid
• Selenium
• Lipoic Acid
• Phospholipids
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin E
• Orange essential oil
• Bladderwrack extract
• Rosemary essential oil

This formula is meant to be taken 3 times daily for at least 3 months, followed by 90 days of 1 pill per day.  The company recommends you continue the cycle throughout the year.

Beaute Intensive Pros

• Addresses a difficult cosmetic issue with some cases of success

Beaute Intensive Cons

• Highly expensive
• Not a weight-loss product
• No real satisfaction guarantee

Celluscience Anti-Cellulite Beaute Intensive Conclusion

The formula may very well help improve some cases of cellulite mildly and with some excellent vitamins the formula should be safe and beneficial for long-term use, but if you add up the cost of what the company actually says is necessary to achieve ANY results, you’re going to be spending hundreds of dollars a year for a difference that you might only be able to notice when looking at some before/after photos of your backside.  Results take more than 90 days to achieve and if you want a refund you have to ask for it “if you find a reason” within 30 days and you’ll still be deducted $20 off your refund for “processing.”  Not worth the hassle.

What is Revolution Labs Abdominal Cuts GREEN?

At first glance, Revolution Labs’ new version of Abdominal Cuts, “green”, looks only to be the same product but…well, green colored. The formula has a few key differences than the original but still claims to significantly reduce fat deposits in the hips, abs, and thighs.  Just like the original, it is also to be taken three times each day, preferably with a meal.

Revolution Labs Abdominal Cuts GREEN Ingredients

The proprietary blend of the green version is actually over 700 mg less than the original.

1645.00 mg -

• Vitamin E
• Safflower Oil
• Conjugated Linolenic Acid (Pomegranate Seed Oil)
• Alpha Linoleic Acid (from Flax Seed Oil)
• Wakame (source of Fucoxanthin)
• Gamma Linoleic Acid (from Borage Oil)
• Sesame Seed Oil
• Grape Seed Oil

Most of the ingredients are identical to the original, but the inclusion of fucoxanthin definitely caught our attention.  This is an excellent all-natural extract from seaweed (wakame) that has been shown to reduce the amount of fat your body can absorb from your diet.  Though it is an effective “fat-blocker”, the fact that this

Abdominal Cuts GREEN Pros

• Contains fucoxanthin
• Organic, all-natural ingredients

Abdominal Cuts GREEN Cons

• No evidence for effectiveness
• No satisfaction guarantee

Revolution Labs Abdominal Cuts GREEN Conclusion

By no means is this a bad product.  It is an excellent source of a number of important fatty acids and as a vitamin supplement this might be a great, if over-priced, option.  It is sold for about $45, which is the kind of price where you’d expect it to actually help you lose weight.  We aren’t convinced you’ll be getting enough help for your dollar here.