01dragonslayer
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By: Matt Weik
To say that this topic is extremely controversial is an understatement. But to start things off, we need to get one thing out of the way and that is topical fat burners are not a miracle cream or lotion.
If you think slapping some fat burning cream on your stomach while sitting at 45% body fat, living a sedentary life, and eating fast food for 90% of your meals is going to get you rock-hard abs, you’re dreaming. No supplement, cream, or lotion on the market works unless you put in the work too!
In order for you to see any types of results and allow topical fat burners to give you a boost, you’re going to need to be focused and committed to living a healthy lifestyle that consists of regular exercise and a clean diet (where you are in a caloric deficit to support your weight loss efforts). There’s no other way around it. Anything less will give you less than stellar results… if any at all.
With that out of the way, let’s dig into the subject of topical fat burners, how they work, and what you can expect to see and experience from their use.
The role of a topical fat burner is to help take the areas where a cream or lotion is applied and aid in oxidizing the subcutaneous fat (the layer of fat under your skin) so that it can be used as energy by the body. For instance, rather than your body using glucose to fuel your body, it pulls from the excess fat that has been oxidized which can fuel you both mentally and physically and provide you with a sustained energy source.
The role of a topical fat burner is multifaceted as many things are going on once a topical cream or lotion is applied to a specific area of the body.
One reason why the body stores fat in specific areas is due to reduced blood flow. For example, think of your stomach and love handles. We, unfortunately, spend a good portion of our day seated behind a desk, in a car, on a couch, etc. Blood flows to the parts of our body that demand it and your stomach is not one of them and therefore does not get various fat-burning hormones shuttled to the area like you may experience with other regions of your body (such as your arms and/or legs).
When you apply a topical fat burner, they have the ability to increase blood flow and you may even feel a warm sensation at the site you applied the cream or lotion (thus, the feeling of “burning fat”). The increase in blood flow to a specific area can help with the mobilization of fatty acids.
Additionally, many topical fat burners increase lipolysis which helps break down and release fatty acids which can then fuel your body during exercise or during a fasted state (such as if you were implementing an intermittent fasting protocol).
To go along with lipolysis is an increase in cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate). cAMP is a derivative of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) which is used as an energy source by the body. The role of cAMP is being a chemical messenger which can aid in regulating sugar and fat metabolism. Both cAMP and lipolysis mentioned above go hand in hand. When cAMP is increased it can boost lipolysis as well to further increase the breakdown of fat.
With that being said, using a fat burner gel is great for those striving to remove stubborn body fat around their:
Topical fat burners are extremely convenient and easy to use. They are also a great option for individuals who cannot handle or do not prefer supplements (fat burners) that contain stimulants as they can cause side effects such as jitters, elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, nervousness, difficulty sleeping, and a crash in energy when the effects of the stimulants wear off.
Such creams and lotions tend to dry quickly, apply easily without a messy clean-up, and some are even scented.
The best time to apply a topical fat burner would be after a shower or bath when the pores of your skin are open and the cream/lotion can more easily pass through the layers of your skin and directly attack subcutaneous fat.
If the area you wish to apply the cream or lotion to is extremely hairy, it’s ideal that you trim or shave the area to ensure the hair does not interfere with the application and absorption.
When applying, start with a small dime-size amount or as directed by the packaging. It should go without saying but do not apply a topical fat burner to your face or other sensitive areas of your body (genitals) and do not ingest the product.
To say that this topic is extremely controversial is an understatement. But to start things off, we need to get one thing out of the way and that is topical fat burners are not a miracle cream or lotion.
If you think slapping some fat burning cream on your stomach while sitting at 45% body fat, living a sedentary life, and eating fast food for 90% of your meals is going to get you rock-hard abs, you’re dreaming. No supplement, cream, or lotion on the market works unless you put in the work too!
In order for you to see any types of results and allow topical fat burners to give you a boost, you’re going to need to be focused and committed to living a healthy lifestyle that consists of regular exercise and a clean diet (where you are in a caloric deficit to support your weight loss efforts). There’s no other way around it. Anything less will give you less than stellar results… if any at all.
With that out of the way, let’s dig into the subject of topical fat burners, how they work, and what you can expect to see and experience from their use.
How Do Topical Fat Burners Work?
As mentioned above, topical fat reduction isn’t some potion or spell created by wizards to magically make stubborn body fat cells disappear by simply rubbing it into your skin (but wouldn’t that be nice?).The role of a topical fat burner is to help take the areas where a cream or lotion is applied and aid in oxidizing the subcutaneous fat (the layer of fat under your skin) so that it can be used as energy by the body. For instance, rather than your body using glucose to fuel your body, it pulls from the excess fat that has been oxidized which can fuel you both mentally and physically and provide you with a sustained energy source.
The role of a topical fat burner is multifaceted as many things are going on once a topical cream or lotion is applied to a specific area of the body.
One reason why the body stores fat in specific areas is due to reduced blood flow. For example, think of your stomach and love handles. We, unfortunately, spend a good portion of our day seated behind a desk, in a car, on a couch, etc. Blood flows to the parts of our body that demand it and your stomach is not one of them and therefore does not get various fat-burning hormones shuttled to the area like you may experience with other regions of your body (such as your arms and/or legs).
When you apply a topical fat burner, they have the ability to increase blood flow and you may even feel a warm sensation at the site you applied the cream or lotion (thus, the feeling of “burning fat”). The increase in blood flow to a specific area can help with the mobilization of fatty acids.
Additionally, many topical fat burners increase lipolysis which helps break down and release fatty acids which can then fuel your body during exercise or during a fasted state (such as if you were implementing an intermittent fasting protocol).
To go along with lipolysis is an increase in cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate). cAMP is a derivative of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) which is used as an energy source by the body. The role of cAMP is being a chemical messenger which can aid in regulating sugar and fat metabolism. Both cAMP and lipolysis mentioned above go hand in hand. When cAMP is increased it can boost lipolysis as well to further increase the breakdown of fat.
How Can A Topical Fat Burning Cream Help?
- Boost fat burning at a specific site
- Convert stored body fat into usable energy
- Discourage cells from holding onto and storing fat
- Increase thermogenesis
- Elevate fat-burning enzymes
- Reduce bloating and water retention
Who Can Use These Lotions and Creams?
While a fat burner gel can be used by anyone, it’s a good idea to speak with your doctor before using any cream or lotion to make sure it will not interact with any medication(s) you may be on or any condition you may have with your skin.With that being said, using a fat burner gel is great for those striving to remove stubborn body fat around their:
- Abdominals
- Obliques
- Lower back
- Legs
- Chest
- Hips
- Glutes
Why Would You Want to Use Them?
When you exercise, you can’t spot reduce in the sense of telling your body where you want the fat loss to come from. However, through the use of a topical fat burner, you can pinpoint those trouble areas of your body that you'd like a little help with.Topical fat burners are extremely convenient and easy to use. They are also a great option for individuals who cannot handle or do not prefer supplements (fat burners) that contain stimulants as they can cause side effects such as jitters, elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, nervousness, difficulty sleeping, and a crash in energy when the effects of the stimulants wear off.
Such creams and lotions tend to dry quickly, apply easily without a messy clean-up, and some are even scented.
How Should A Topical Fat Burner Be Applied?
Before you apply the cream or lotion to a large area, it is advised that you test a small area first to ensure you do not have any reactions to the product.The best time to apply a topical fat burner would be after a shower or bath when the pores of your skin are open and the cream/lotion can more easily pass through the layers of your skin and directly attack subcutaneous fat.
If the area you wish to apply the cream or lotion to is extremely hairy, it’s ideal that you trim or shave the area to ensure the hair does not interfere with the application and absorption.
When applying, start with a small dime-size amount or as directed by the packaging. It should go without saying but do not apply a topical fat burner to your face or other sensitive areas of your body (genitals) and do not ingest the product.