Fact checked by Kirsten Yovino, CPT Brookbush Institute
FACT CHECKEDYou can lose weight by eating fewer calories or healthier foods, working out, and getting the right amount of sleep but sometimes you need an extra boost in the right direction. That's where a powerful pre-workout can aid you in going harder and for longer.
There's almost an endless amount of pre-workouts out there, but it can be challenging to decide which ones are truly worth your time and money. As a certified personal trainer and sports nutritionist I bring you the best pre-workouts for weight loss.
Let's get to it!
As a certified sports nutritionist with extensive experience in using pre-workout supplements, I've applied rigorous criteria to create my list of the top pre-workouts for weight loss. My selection process is grounded in evaluating four key factors: the quality of ingredients, dosages backed by scientific research, cost, and overall effectiveness. With my background as a personal trainer, I have personally tried and tested half of these supplements. For those I haven't used myself, I've thoroughly reviewed real customer feedback to ensure a well-rounded assessment.
Next, we'll delve into each product in detail to help you find the one that's most suitable for your needs.
Product Breakdown:
Transparent Labs LEAN is a solid pre-workout powder that is designed to help individuals that are looking to lose some weight. Transparent Labs is a Utah-based supplement company and they have made a name for themselves by really investing in creating products with transparent labels.
As a personal trainer who has personally used a vast amount of pre-workout supplements, I've found PreSeries LEAN to be exceptionally effective for weight loss. This formula is a powerhouse of ingredients including citrulline malate, beta-alanine, and betaine, which are great for enhancing workout performance. What sets it apart from other pre-workout supplements is its potent fat-burning and thyroid support complex. This complex is comprised of acetyl-L-carnitine, chromium picolinate, and zinc. This combination is ideal for targeting stubborn fat areas, while also being mindful of preserving lean muscle mass.
PreSeries LEAN is not just another supplement; it comes in jumbo-sized containers for a reason. Each serving is packed with 21 active ingredients, all working together to provide a vigorous pre-workout boost. The focus is not just on intensifying your workouts but also on systematically aiding fat loss and increasing energy expenditure.
They don’t use any proprietary blends, so you will know the exact amount of every ingredient in this pre-workout formula. While many companies do third-party testing for their supplements, Transparent Labs takes it a step further and actually offers the certificates of analysis and composition on their site for anyone to look at. This is why, based on my professional experience and results, I highly recommend it for anyone looking to optimize their weight loss journey.
PreSeries LEAN is an exceptional "cutting" pre-workout supplement available for men and women alike. The key ingredients, citrulline malate, beta-alanine, betaine, and branched-chain amino acids, are all included in clinically effective dosages and contain zero-colored dyes...
Product Breakdown:
Wrecked pre-workout is formulated using 17 highly effective ingredients to help boost your workout, athletic performance, endurance, muscle pumps, weight loss, and mental focus like you've never experienced before with a pre-workout.
You'll quickly notice that many popular pre-workouts on the market tend to hide behind proprietary formulas or simply don't use enough effective pre-workout ingredients to produce tangible benefits. Wrecked offers 15.5 grams per serving at the 40 serving size and a whopping 30 grams at the 20 serving size which is much higher than most on the market.
One not-so-traditional pre-workout ingredients found in Wrecked is Eria Jerensis which has begun to catch on in some thermogenic fat burner supplements. This helps to improve your mood, boost energy levels leading to better focus and more efficient workouts. We all know that pre-workout products that help to get you zoned in will help you burn more calories.
Wrecked is designed to sharpen every aspect of your workout. It delivers intense, lasting energy, powerful muscle pumps, sharp focus, and explosive power. Plus, it doesn't leave you feeling fatigued after it wears off—there's no crash. Wrecked's effectiveness won’t let you down.
Wrecked is my pick for second best overall pre-workout for weight loss and may help you to achieve your fat-burning goal.
Wrecked is the most stacked pre-workout supplement you'll find on the market. One scoop combines 17 different high-quality ingredients that make up for a 30 grams serving...
Product Breakdown:
The ThermoPre is a supplement that is specifically formulated for women to help boost metabolism, burn off more fat, keep you focused, and help improve stamina.
Developed by a Doctor of Pharmacy, ThermoPRE prioritizes mental clarity, concentration, and alertness without relying on excessive stimulants. This supplement uses all-natural ingredients that are easier on your system than many other supplements on the market today.
What I liked in this pre-workout is the KSM66 combined with the Cognizin. This combination had me feeling locked in throughout my workout.
With 100% potent high-quality ingredients and truly no unwanted additives, this is a supplement that actually works for your body to help fuel the goals you want to achieve.
Thermo Pre simply is a killer natural pre-workout for weight loss with a 100% non-proprietary label, fully transparent label and naturally sweetened with stevia and monk fruit extract.
We liked the fact that they used 300 mg KSM-66 Ashwagandha along with some other clever fat-burning ingredients such as 50 mg of Capsimax (Capsicum Extract) and 100 mg of Yerba Mate powder.
Healthy 2-in-1 pre-workout powder and weight loss supplement for women. Finally, an option without artificial sweeteners, dyes or dangerous stimulants. Trademarked ingredients ensure claims and fast results...
Product Breakdown:
As a sports nutritionist who has personally used Transparent Labs BULK Black, I can attest to its effectiveness, particularly for those needing an extra energy boost. This version of Transparent Lab’s Bulk pre-workout powder stands out with a total 305 milligrams of caffeine. It's a significant amount, especially suited for early morning workouts or for athletes who require a substantial energy surge.
Regarding gender-specific responses to caffeine, it's generally seen that male athletes can metabolize caffeine faster than women, potentially tolerating higher doses with fewer side effects. This makes BULK Black, with its 305mg of caffeine per scoop, a robust choice for athletes seeking a significant energy boost, equivalent to over three cups of coffee.
Another key component I appreciated in BULK Black is the inclusion of 1,000mg of L-tyrosine. This ingredient significantly improved focus and concentration during workouts. L-tyrosine has been shown to mitigate stress effects and enhance mental endurance, which is crucial for pushing through intense training sessions.
Despite its high caffeine and other performance-based ingredients, BULK Black didn’t induce any post-workout crash in my experience, making it suitable even for evening training sessions without compromising sleep quality.
The 4,000mg dose of beta-alanine in BULK Black didn't cause any uncomfortable tingling sensations, though this is a common side effect due to its high dosage. For those sensitive to the tingling sensation associated with beta-alanine, BULK Black might not be the best choice.
PreSeries BULK BLACK is the epitome of a hard-hitting, clinically dosed pre-workout. With 100% formula transparency, proven nitric oxide boosters, hard-hitting nootropics, natural testosterone-supporting...
Product Breakdown:
Alpha Lion Burn is a pre-workout supplement that does more than give you energy and the crappy Beta-Alanine jitters. Alpha Lion Burn is great for those individuals who are looking to lose some weight and get cut for summertime. With the addition 5 trademarked ingredients it can easily put anyone in a thermogenic state.
Alpha Lion Burn also provides a solid boost in energy and focus, on top of the significant increase in thermogenesis. The SuperHuman Fat Burn Matrix offers a brand new patented ingredient on the market called MitoBurn.
Mitoburn is a trademarked ingredient called L-BAIBA, and it is a newcomer as a fat loss aid. It can be beneficial because when you exercise, your body releases a myokine called BAIBA. This ingredient has been shown to reduce blood sugar and increase fatty acid oxidation.
Besides the proven fat-burning ingredients in this formula like various forms of caffeine, I like the fact they are pushing the envelope with new additions.
This isn't one of the cheaper pre-workouts out there nor should it be due to the stacked formula. All in all, this is one of the best fat-burning pre-workout supplements on the market.
A 2-in-1 fat burning pre-workout designed to amplify your caloric expenditure while increasing training intensity. Backed by Science: Featuring research backed ingredients and powered by our novel SXT Energy System, Burn will help you burn more calories...
Product Breakdown:
Evolution Nutrition ENGN Shred is a thermogenic pre-workout that was designed to power your most intense workouts with a crazy pump, intense focus, and even by supporting additional fat loss.
It offers a science-based formula that offers traditional pre-workout energy and a fat burner powder that can help just about anyone to achieve their goals.
Unlike many pre-workouts on the market, Evolution Nutrition also offers five high-quality flavors that don’t taste chalky and will make you want to savor every sip. Plus with high-quality ingredients like Agmatine, Huperzine A, L-Carnitine, Yohimbe, and CLA you won’t regret buying ENGN Shred.
ENGN SHRED offers a wide spectrum of fat-burning ingredients in a completely transparent formula. These ingredients work together to attack fat from multiple angles to support the body’s ability to release it, burn it for fuel, and elevate thermogenesis.
Try the EVL ENGN Shred pre-workout energy and fat burner powder with exclusive ingredients including Beta alanine Agmatine Huperzine A L-Carnitine Yohimbe CLA and much more...
Product Breakdown:
Edge of Insanity is a powerful pre-workout supplement that was formulated and made for stim junkies. Edge of Insanity has been reformulated a couple of times, and they finally have created a product that any stim junkie would be happy with, while also helping you to achieve your weight loss goals.
I've tried this product and can certainly say that it had me bouncing around the gym without any fatigue. I also ended up sweating more when using this pre-workout.
The combination of Yohimbine Hydrochloride, Alpha Yohimbine Hydrochloride and GABA makes this the strongest pre-workout on our list. In fact, on their website, they recommend not using this product as a beginner and I would agree with this sentiment. This is the polar opposite of a stim-free pre-workout; it comes with an intense energy that will allow you to push even harder in the gym, burn more calories, and over time achieve the weight loss goal you have been striving for.
#1 Strongest PreWorkout Powder NOT FOR BEGINNERS contains 8G Citrulline Pumps , 3.2G Beta alanine 350mg caffeine + 5mg yohimbine ,4mg Alpha yohimbe...
Product Breakdown:
The Genius Brand is known for making high-quality supplements that use all-natural ingredients without cutting any corners. Genius Burn is a 2-in-1 nootropic fat burner and weight loss supplement that comes in a capsule and is made with all-natural, high-quality ingredients.
Genius Burn aims to help you combat overeating, speed up your metabolic rate, improve essential brain functions like memory, focus, and mental clarity, and increase energy without using any dangerous stimulants.
Unlike many other brain health and fat-burning dietary supplements loaded with a number of synthetic caffeine compounds, Genius Burn is the diet pill that is marketed as totally safe without cheap, fake stimulants or other banned substances.
It does contain Theacrine, which is an energy booster that is commonly found in pre-workout supplements. Genius Burn will boost your weight loss by increasing your metabolic rate when combined with a healthy diet and good workout regimen.
Genius Burn was formulated to stimulate thermogenesis in the body and assist as a metabolism booster for weight loss. It also includes Sensoril Ashwagandha to help with...
Thermogenesis stems from the Greek word thermos, which stands for heat. All metabolic processes throughout the body produce heat as a thermodynamic inefficiency or as a byproduct. Thermogenesis also refers to the process of heat generation, which is directly related to metabolism and the heat expended in response to the food you eat throughout the day.
The heat your body produces is measured in calories. The greater the thermogenic effect within your body, the more calories you’ll be expending.
In general, there are three different types of thermogenesis:
Thermogenic pre-workouts are all about boosting metabolism and burning calories, so thermogenic pre-workouts are precisely formulated to support your body’s ability to burn fat.
The main benefits of using a thermogenic pre-workout, as compared to a typical pre-workout or a fat burner supplement, is the combined effects of increased energy, focus, and pump, with the added benefits of an enhanced metabolic rate, which allows your body to burn more calories.
Which over days, months, and years leads to weight loss. Which makes these types of supplements a go-to for people whose primary fitness goal is to shed body fat and lose weight.
Thermogenics, fat burners, and pre-workouts for weight loss may include substances that suppress your appetite which leads you to eat fewer calories throughout the day. By working out and eating less you may end up at a caloric deficit resulting in you losing weight.
As we covered above, thermogenic pre-workout supplements can help raise your body's core temperature and speed up your metabolism. This enables your body to burn more calories in a shorter period of time thus reducing your fat mass throughout your body.
For the most part, thermogenic pre-workout supplements are safe to use, as long as you follow the recommended serving size guidelines. However, keep in mind that just like other pre-workouts that aren’t thermogenic, some lifters may experience side effects like nausea, constipation, rapid heart rate, and an upset stomach when taking supplements high in stimulants or other ingredients.
Thermogenic pre-workouts often contain large amounts of caffeine, green tea extract or other stimulants that may cause heart palpitations, dizziness, jitteriness, headaches, and even anxiety attacks. If you're not used to taking pre-workouts, we recommend starting with a half dose as recommended on the back of the package.
Another thing to remember is that thermogenic pre-workouts increase your core body temperature, so we recommend you drink more water as you’ll be sweating more than you usually do. So make sure to keep yourself hydrated.
Just like any other supplements you’re thinking about using, check with your doctor or healthcare provider first to get cleared that it is safe to do so.
Suppose you’re looking to revitalize your metabolism or tweak your usual supplementation routine to support your fat-loss goals. In that case, a thermogenic pre-workout might be the supplement that you need. Thermogenic pre-workouts are typically formulated for the avid gym-goer who trains hard, is frustrated with his results, and is looking for that extra metabolic boost.
If you’re looking to improve your pumps, focus, and give you a boost of energy then we recommend just going with a regular pre-workout. Also, if you’re trying to maintain or gain weight, it would be counterproductive to take a thermogenic pre-workout that aids in weight loss.
Virtually every pre-workout and thermogenic pre-workout supplement will contain caffeine as one of its main ingredients. This is because numerous studies have proved caffeine increases metabolism, provides reliable energy, and fat burning.¹ It also causes your body to release more fat while keeping your current muscle mass intact.
You do have to keep track of your caffeine intake because too much caffeine for extended periods can negatively affect your nervous system. It can cause you to feel jittery and nauseous. So you must be actually working out hard to burn off the caffeine and make sure you can sleep at night.
It's rare that you'll see caffeine-free pre-workouts that are geared towards weight loss. Ad if you come across this, you're most likely to see other types of stimulants in its place.
Yohimbe is a naturally occurring ingredient that can be found in many pre-workout supplements. Yohimbe comes from an evergreen tree that grows in parts of central and western Africa.
Within Yohimbe is a substance called yohimbine, which is a bitter-tasting alkaloid. This alkaloid provides a variety of benefits for those looking to get energized before a workout and burn more body fat throughout the day.
Yohimbe also acts as an Alpha-2 receptor antagonist, which blocks the Alpha-2 receptors found in the body's fat cells. When these receptors are blocked, fat loss becomes more manageable. Yohimbe also increases heart rate to support your body in fat burning, suppressing your appetite, and reducing fatigue. ²
Green tea is one of the best beverages you can drink. Similar to green coffee bean extract, it is loaded with antioxidants and various other compounds that benefit your health. One of those compounds is caffeine, which is a known stimulant that has through research been found to aid fat burning and improve exercise performance. ³ Another compound that green tea has is the number of antioxidants it contains.
Epigallocatechin gallate is one of these antioxidants and is a substance that can boost metabolism. Polyphenol antioxidants in green tea have also been shown to increase thermogenesis and support nervous system health.
Capsaicin is the spicy, active component in chili and spicy peppers, and is commonly used in various spices throughout the world. It has been a trend recently to see how much spice you can handle, capsaicin is what causes the burning sensation in your mouth. Capsaicin as a supplement ingredient is most well known for and commonly used to help improve body composition due to its fat-burning effects.⁴
It also helps by enhancing blood sugar and lipid levels. Supplementing with capsaicin can help treat and even prevent obesity by improving lipid factors, fat oxidation, and satiation when eating.
Most healthy adults should be okay to use a pre-workout for weight loss, but we recommend that you always chat with your doctor before taking any supplements. We also recommend that you make sure you have a foundation down to live a healthier life.
By nailing down your nutrition, sleep, hydration, and exercise regiment, you’re going to be adding a much-needed boost to the quality of your life. If you’re an individual who struggles with some of these aspects and then tries to compensate with a pre-workout then you most likely be setting yourself up for failure.
To find the best pre-workout supplement you need to be aware of a few factors when shopping. Below are just a few of the key points to consider before you purchase the right pre-workout supplement or fat burning supplement.
Pre-workout supplements can energize your body, boost overall health, and aid your metabolism. However, consuming the wrong pre-workout supplement can be frustrating and unsafe, as it can have negative effects on your body.
The best pre-workouts are the ones that are made with only clinically proven ingredients, transparent labels, and accurate doses. It should also be made with proven ingredients to make them more effective.
You probably don't have the time to research every ingredient in the formula but a quick search of 1-3 of the ingredients on websites like Examine.com will tell you if the dose being used is remotely close to what's been shown to work in relevant studies.
Another very important point to be aware of companies using proprietary blends. There's no excuse to hide behind these formulations. Unfortunately many of the most popular brands are still using these shady practices to boost their profit margin and trick consumers.
The market is full of pre-workout supplements from various brands and they all come with different price tags. A big factor for most people looking for pre-workouts is the price factor.
Unfortunately, there is a common misconception that expensive products are the better options. This is not always the truth. Some products are costly because of the process of production, marketing, and other factors not related to quality.
So, if you assume that the highest-priced supplements are best, you might end up getting a non-effective supplement. Though the, we also aren’t saying that the cheapest options are the better option.
We recommend that when looking at the price when shopping for a pre-workout supplement you consider the ingredients and the dosages when trying to find the value of a pre-workout.
Generally speaking, you're looking at $40-$60 for a quality pre-workout these days.
Pre-workout supplements are a huge market and for good reason. The growing demand has resulted in a bunch of new brands appearing in the market.
Which makes it even more important to be careful when shopping for pre-workouts. We recommend focusing on reputable brands that have been around for a while and have great reviews.
A brand’s reputation is vital to a business, so they should be taking great pride in maintaining that image. Good brands want to build trust with their customers by being open with their ingredients and dosages and making sure to use the best processes in making their products.
The processes and safety of a company's supplements should be two of the top factors when choosing a pre-workout. Look for products made in GMP-certified factories or if you're an athlete that competes look for NSF certified to ensure you aren't taking any substances that might be against the rules of your sport.
A great way to know if a supplement is good is if it is third-party tested, which will guarantee its dosages, usefulness, and level of quality. It will also ensure the product undergoes rigorous testing.
When buying any product, make sure to pay close attention to the customer reviews. Most pre-workout brands tend to over exaggerate the benefits of their products and make them sound better than they really are.
Some companies will even claim that their products can help you lose a bunch of weight in a short period of time. To ensure you don’t get scammed by one of these companies, we recommend one of the easiest ways to validate a company's products.
The review section is where previous buyers go to share their experience with the product and either recommend it or tell you to avoid it. We also recommend checking out other websites (like ours), Reddit, social media, and Google to find more reviews on the pre-workout supplement you’re looking at buying.
Here are some answers to common questions about pre-workouts for fat loss...
A thermogenic pre-workout is a supplement that is formulated to increase energy, boost mental and physical performance, and also increase the number of calories burned throughout the day.
The body must burn more calories than you consume daily to lose fat. While working out and healthy eating are the best ways to drop fat, taking a thermogenic pre-workout can enhance the fat-burning process.
Some of the most common compounds to increase your metabolic rate and enhance thermogenesis include caffeine, Garcinia Cambogia, bitter orange, yohimbine, and green tea extract. Many of which are included in the pre-workouts we have listed in this article.
Pre-workout is a supplement that can be beneficial for losing weight, as long as it is paired with a handful of essential factors. These factors play a prominent role in how much weight, if any, can be shed.
To make sure you get the most out of your supplements, you need to focus on diet, exercise, sleep, stress management, and staying consistent. If you are not able to work on these factors then it doesn’t matter what supplements you take, so make sure to commit to your health and work hard.
If you desire to get the most out of your pre-workout that burns the most fat without any severe side effects, then you need to go for the best high-quality option. Transparent Labs LEAN is our top pick for the best overall pre-workout for weight loss.
In our opinion, it has some of the best ingredients, dosages, flavor, and value compared to most pre-workouts on the market. It contains premium ingredients without having any artificial substances, plus the label is entirely transparent, so you can be confident that nothing is being hidden inside this pre-workout.
Yes and no. A pre-workout supplement by itself won’t trigger your body to burn more fat, however, if they contain thermogenic ingredients it can help aid your body to burn more calories.
Pre-workout can help you indirectly to achieve your fat loss goals by increasing your workout performance. The longer you are able to maintain a high level of effort in your workouts, the more calories you’ll be able to burn and over time the more fat you will lose. At the end of the day, weight loss comes down to burning more calories than you are eating.
Obviously based on this article we would recommend taking a pre-workout that has thermogenic ingredients in it, especially one that has a well-balanced formula containing reasonable amounts of thermogenic ingredients, pumping agents, and focus. However, there are other high-quality options out there that can work just as well.
For example, whey protein is a viable option before your workout to help you lose weight. By increasing muscle synthesis, protein powder can help you see small gains in fat-free mass or lean body mass.
Another great option is coffee. Research has shown that drinking coffee, or drinks with caffeine, before exercise can enhance your athletic performance by improving maximal oxygen capacity directly. So you will be able to train harder and for longer, resulting in more gains and more calories burned.
Pre-workout supplements are for everyone that are older than eighteen, pregnant women, and mothers that are nursing. Other than those limitations, anyone who wants to take their workout game to the next level can take pre-workouts.
There is this common misconception that only people that are weightlifters or serious bodybuilders can take pre-workout. While bodybuilders take them to boost energy, endurance, pump and develop muscle, these formulated pre-workout supplements aren’t meant for them alone.
If you are a cyclist, runner, athlete, or simply looking for a better option to further your exercise routine, then you will benefit from taking a pre-workout before you exercise. In addition, if you are someone who is wanting to burn fat a bit faster or are on a diet then pre-workout can help you achieve your goals.
There are pre-workout supplement options out there that can help you in your pursuit of weight loss. These same pre-workouts can also increase the amount of energy you have and how effective your workouts are going to be, and by increasing your energy, enhancing mental & physical performance, and giving you a calorie-burning boost, you will push your workouts to new levels and achieve your fitness goals faster.
Each of the pre-workouts that are on our list is unique in its own way and how well they work will depend on you.
If you have been questioning adding a fat burner to aid in your weight loss journey, you should consider taking a thermogenic pre-workout that contains fat-burning ingredients.
Keep in mind that taking supplements is not a magic substitution that can make up for poor diet choices. It is essential to pair your thermogenic pre-workout with a healthy diet and workout regiment.
More Supplement Resources:
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