Some of my regular readers might be wondering why I’ve written up a Performance Lab Sport fat burner review when I generally advocate not trying to take shortcuts.
I certainly believe that dedication to a strict diet and exercise routine are the solution to all fitness goals.
But when I started to hear both positive and negative reviews of Performance Lab, I had to dig a bit deeper to see if it’s worth trying out.
As it turns out, it’s a supplement that has the potential to work, as long as you avoid some common mistakes that I’ve seen people make from time to time.
Before I get to those, let’s start with some info about the product and company.
The company behind Performance Lab Sport fat burner is called Opti Nutra. One of the main concepts behind this brand is claimed to be quality ingredients backed by science with a transparent label.
I have to say, that in the world of weight loss supplements, it’s too common to find products that hide behind a proprietary label, which is something I have always been critical of.
So, thumbs up for being upfront on the label.
What Opti Nutra also claims to have solved is creating a range of sports and health nutrition supplements (including protein, BCAAs, carb boosters, and vitamins) that are easier to stack.
As a result, you should be in a situation where you could see benefits in performance, recovery, and possibly even weight loss by combining a few of their products.
Ingredients List
My initial research into the company gave me some positive signs, so I took a closer look at what’s in it.
1 - S-Hydroxy B-Methylbutyrate (HMB)
HMB has been tested in clinical trials where results indicate that it helps with reducing the risks of muscle wasting [1]. This is a common side effect, especially during net negative calorie diets or fasted exercise and training.
Clinical tests have also indicated that HMB may also encourage fat burning as an energy source for muscle maintenance.
“HMB is a leucine metabolite that is generally utilized to promote muscle-building and increase physical activity.” - Gaea Marelle Miranda, M.Sc. Clinical Psychology, Human Behavior.
2 - Coleus Forskohlii (Forslean)
Coleus Forskohlii is a root herb and the only known source of the active ingredient forskolin. In the context of Performance Lab’s fat burner, it’s listed under the branded name of Forslean.
While Opti Nutra claims that it may help directly with triggering thermogenesis and fat burning, my own research showed that it possibly has more effects on your metabolism in a supportive role [2]. I still think that it may be a positive ingredient in helping to keep weight off.
3 - Cayenne Pepper Extract (Capsimax)
Performance Lab fat burner contains cayenne pepper extract in the form of the branded Capsimax. Numerous trials have shown that cayenne pepper helps to increase your body’s metabolism through thermogenesis [3].
When combined with a healthy and balanced diet, it does look like this increases people’s chances of sustained weight loss.
4 - Black Pepper Extract (Bioperine)
Black pepper extract, under the brand name Bioperine, has been shown to have two supporting benefits. On the one hand, it may help your body to absorb nutrients more efficiently.
But it has also been shown to increase thermogenesis, which could help to burn more calories [4].
How Does Performance Lab Fat Burner Work?
I’ve hinted at the effects of the supplement ingredients, but it’s worth bringing them all together to make it easier to understand why those ingredients were chosen.
Whether you’re trying to lose some unwanted love handles, or you need some help during a cutting phase, the first thing to note is that black pepper and cayenne have been chosen for their potential ability to trigger thermogenesis.
This is a slight increase in body temperature through the burning of additional calories [5].
The forskolin then helps you to maintain weight loss, so that you may not see that constant yo-yo effect on the scales.
What performance athletes will particularly be interested in is that Performance Lab Sport fat burner aims to help maintain muscle mass through the inclusion of HMB.
This is a common problem during fasted training and exercise, where a negative intake of calories may result in some loss of muscle mass [6].
So, to summarise the possible effects, when used as recommended: you may be able to lose some unwanted fat, be more successful in keeping it off, and potentially avoid losing some of your muscle mass.
This supplement is also our #1 recommended non-stimulant fat burner.
How Do You Take It?
What a lot of people like about Performance Lab fat burner is that it delivers the active ingredients in convenient capsules. And I’ll tell you why that may be important.
Opti Nutra recommends that you take 2 to 4 capsules about half an hour before exercise.
What you would want to avoid is taking a heavy supplement shake, just as your about to hit the gym.
Also, the capsules are easy to keep on you in a purse or bag so that you could spread the dose out over an entire day.
Pricing And Where Should You Buy It?
Performance Lab Sport fat burner comes in bottles of 60 capsules, which is enough for about a month on the standard dosage.
This will cost you $50, but you get a 5% discount if you order 2 bottles and a 10% discount for 3 bottles.
When it comes to sports supplements, whether it’s protein, minerals, or a fat burner, the only safe place to shop is directly from the manufacturer or a licensed reseller.
There have been many instances where even larger online retailers have ended up stocking fake diet products [7].
At best, you could end up with something that isn’t effective, or you could be taking something that may harm your body.
Customer Reviews
I had seen some clients report some effective use, but I wanted to see what people were saying online.
So I spent about 5 hours reading through Performance Lab Sport fat burner reviews, and I found some that are quite inspirational.
About 2 years after giving birth to my second baby, I was struggling to get back in shape. I was eating a healthy diet, but I just didn’t have the time to go to the gym more than twice a week.
My friend recommended Performance Lab to me, and I have found that it helps to burn a few extra calories. In the past 3 months, I have lost 12 pounds of body weight.
Sarah, 33 from Albany, NY
I’m generally quite fit, but when I started training for a triathlon, I was struggling with losing bodyweight without a reduction in muscles.
I had tried fasted training, but it wasn’t until I started taking Performance Lab supplements that I got the results I needed. I liked that it helped with appetite suppression, and because it doesn’t have caffeine, I didn’t get any jitters.
Karen, 28 from Augusta, Maine
I’ve been a tech worker for the last 15 years, and my busy life got me close to obesity and diabetes.
I started working with a personal trainer and nutritionist, who both recommended I try some natural fat burner products.
Within about 6 weeks, my blood glucose levels stopped spiking, and 6 months into my new life, I have lost 40 pounds.
Jenny, 38 from San Jose, California
For years, I’ve been trying every possible diet and exercise routine to get just a little bit of lean muscle definition. But all the products I could find seemed to be geared towards bodybuilders or extreme fat loss.
I had strict criteria: the supplement had to be vegan, effective, safe, and contain a formula without stimulants like caffeine. The only one I could find was Performance Lab, and I have found it to be rather effective.
Judy, 31 from Fargo, North Dakota
Performance Lab Sport Fat Burner Benefits
From my experience working with many of my clients and friends, I have identified the following benefits.
Thermogenesis: A slight increase in body temperature, which burns more energy stored in body fat.
Appetite Suppression: Many online comments state that you may have fewer hunger cravings.
Caffeine-free: Stimulants are not an option for many people who suffer from jitters or trouble sleeping.
Muscle Maintenance: Losing body fat often results in some muscle wasting, which Performance Lab seems to have solved with added HMB.
The positive effects of HMB for trained individuals depends on two things: the volume of work you're doing in the gym, and how long you supplement.
Nick Coker,
Sports Nutritionist
Possible Side Effects
Safety should always be one of your top priorities when it comes to any kind of supplement products. If you’re going to ingest it, you don’t want to take any kind of risk.
The good news is that I have verified all the ingredients with my dietitian, and they are generally deemed safe to take on a day to day basis.
The only side effects I came across were a few women had some intolerances to some ingredients.
That’s why I would recommend starting with a small dose initially, just to find out if it agrees with your body and metabolism.
Pros and Cons
Performance Lab claims to have been designed by choosing substances that have been extensively tested in clinical trials.
I was able to find many studies on substances like cayenne pepper extract and Forslean that would confirm that it has the potential to boost fat metabolism.
There are also quite a few people I work with who find it works to suppress hunger during fasted training, which could help you to stay motivated a bit longer. Always a bonus!
Pros
CONS
The only thing I would say is that other companies seem to have better discounts available for ordering in bulk.
FAQ
What makes Performance Lab’s SPORT Fat Burner unique?
Do you have to exercise to take Performance Lab’s SPORT Fat Burner?
Is Performance Lab’s SPORT Fat Burner vegan-friendly?
Can Performance Lab’s SPORT Fat Burner be taken with other supplements?
Other related articles:
Should You Buy Performance Lab Fat Burner?
Whether you need extra motivation to lose some unwanted fat in a sustainable way, or you need an edge with your fasted training for a competitive race, I think that Performance Lab may be a solution for you.
It’s not a magic pill that allows you to sit on the couch all day with a box of donuts.
But I have found that many of my clients report being able to deal with hunger cravings more effectively, while at the same time having more energy throughout the day.
Make sure you let me know on social media how it works out for you.
Performance Lab Fat Burner
Refenrences:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10966150
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2129145/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5426284/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17987447
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/thermogenesis
- https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpts/27/6/27_jpts-2015-098/_article
- https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-warns-customers-that-supplements-on-its-site-are-fake-2019-7?r=US&IR=T
