Stimulant vs. Non-Stimulant Fat Burners (The Difference)

Lisa Lorraine Taylor, BSc, CPT
Published by Lisa Lorraine Taylor, BSc, CPT | Staff Writer
Last updated: March 20, 2024
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In my years as a personal trainer, I've guided countless clients through the maze of choosing the right fat-loss supplements. It's a personal journey for each individual, and I've seen firsthand how the choice between stimulant and non-stimulant fat burners can impact their weight loss journey.

Are you better off with a non-stim fat burner, or do you pick supplements with powerful stimulation?

Or maybe something in between?

As a personal trainer, this is something I carefully plan with clients.

And here’s how my clients and I approach the decision.

Quick Summary

  • To optimize weight loss, one must choose between stimulant fat burners, which can suppress appetite and boost fat burning, and non-stimulant fat burners, which are better for long-term use without jittery side effects.
  • Stimulant fat burners contain caffeine and other methylxanthines that can induce thermogenesis and enhance mental focus but may lead to jitters and desensitization over time.
  • Caffeine can increase metabolic rate by 3-11% and enhance fat burning by up to 29%.
  • I find that cycling between stimulant and non-stimulant fat burners and a balanced diet and exercise offers a sustainable approach to managing weight.

Difference Between Stimulant & Non-Stimulant Fat Burners

Close up image of a pill

The main difference between stimulant and non-stimulant fat burners is their caffeine content. A non-stimulant fat burner avoids all caffeine-like ingredients and instead focuses on non-stimulants that may also boost your metabolism into processing more body fat.

When it comes to losing weight, achieving a calorie deficit is essential. Creating a calorie deficit forces your body to tap into its fat reserves, leading to weight loss.

Therefore, incorporating a suitable fat burner that supports your calorie deficit goals can be beneficial in optimizing body composition.

Stimulant fat burners contain caffeine or similar compounds that promote thermogenesis, potentially reducing body fat. Be cautious, as high doses can cause nervous system agitation.

In many cases, a non-stim fat burner is a more suitable product for long-term use.

More on this shortly.

3 Common Types of Stimulants

Supplements coming out from different bottles

Throughout my career, I've seen the rise of various stimulants in fat burners. Here are the three types I've seen make a difference in my clients' energy levels and fat loss efforts.

1. Caffeine

By far, the most common stimulant is caffeine anhydrous. It’s what you find in your morning brew and what can kick-start your brain into action.

2. Taurine

Taurine is becoming more popular in supplements like fat burners because it’s not as potent and is a good alternative for people who are sensitive to such ingredients.

3. Green Tea Extract

While green tea has very little caffeine, a strong enough dose can have a stimulating effect on your brain and metabolism.

3 Benefits of Stimulants

A wide variety of supplements compressed with each other

I've observed my clients experiencing these three benefits from stimulants, and I've felt them, too, during my own cutting phases.

1. Appetite Suppression

Studies have shown that stimulants may help suppress hunger, which may help people to reduce their food and calorie intake [1].

2. Fat Burning

Caffeine and green tea have been shown to trigger your thermogenic metabolism, which raises your core body temperature by burning off more calories.

3. Mental Stamina

Staying focused on everyday tasks and your exercise program is another benefit that you shouldn’t underestimate.

3 Downsides of Stimulants

Top view of different kinds of pills

While the benefit for your metabolism may be significant, these may come at a cost.

1. Jitters

Products with high doses of stimulants sometimes cause jitters, especially in folks who tend to drink a lot of coffee.

2. Cardiac Impacts

Stimulants tend to directly impact your heart rate and can cause high blood pressure. It’s part of why coffee wakes you up in the morning, but large doses can cause problems for people with heart conditions.

3. Desensitization

The longer you take stimulating ingredients, the more your body may get used to them and not react to the supplement anymore. That’s why you should take regular breaks from stimulating fat burners.

And those are the main reasons why folks sometimes choose a non-stim fat burner.

Benefits Of Non-Stimulant Fat Burners

Spilled supplements coming out from a bottle

A non-stimulant fat burner supplement has the obvious benefit that it won’t make you jittery or keep you awake at night.

But we want to focus on two common ingredients in these fat burners that could give you fat-reducing results.

1. Acetyl L-Carnitine

L-carnitine is an amino acid you’ll often find in pre-workouts. It plays a role in delivering fatty acids to your muscle cells, which use them as fuel for exercise.

2. Cayenne Pepper Extract

The Cleveland Clinic expresses that pepper extract has been shown to work almost as well as stimulants do for fat-burning effects [2].

“Some research suggest that capsaicin acts as a thermogenic chemical, which can produce heat to stimulate your metabolism and help you burn fat.”

- ClevelandClinic.com

Downsides Of Non-Stimulant Fat Burners

Red and Blue pill on a wooden platform

Overall, a non-stim fat burner doesn't have many bad side effects, but that doesn't mean it's always the best choice when you're trying to lose weight.

Something non-stimulants tend to not do as well is provide appetite suppression.

While adding fiber and ingredients like Garcinia Cambogia might impact your appetite and blood sugar levels, our experience has been that they don’t work the same as stimulants.

For some people, that mental stimulation is also a major attraction to help them stay motivated during workouts.

And that’s something that is missing in a stimulant-free fat burner.

Making The Right Choice

A spilled medicine and a guy thinking

So, you’ll find supplements with and without stimulating effects that work well to reduce your fat storage.

And here’s the way we suggest you decide.

Mental Boosts

If you’re not sensitive to stimulating effects and enjoy a mental boost, then choose a stimulating fat burner, but stick to the recommended serving size and timing.

If you’re overly sensitive or don’t fancy giving up a few cups of coffee, then stick with a caffeine free fat burner.

Supplements Cycling

And finally, there is an option to choose both types of fat burners and cycle them. That would mean taking a stimulating fat burner for 3 weeks, followed by a non-stimulating one for 1 to 2 weeks.

Hormones in Fat Burning Processes

Fat burner ingredients can influence key hormones, modulating metabolism and lipolysis for effective weight loss.

Hormonal manipulation through supplements requires a careful approach, as hormonal balance is essential for fat-burning and maintaining a healthy weight in the long term.

You can do that through the following:

  • Regulation of adrenaline and noradrenaline
  • Influence on insulin sensitivity
  • Modulation of cortisol and its effect on abdominal fat
  • Interaction with thyroid hormones and basal metabolis

Sugar Burner vs Fat Burner

Deciding on the right supplement, especially in the context of weight loss or fitness, can be significantly influenced by understanding whether you are a "sugar burner" or a "fat burner." These terms describe how your body primarily generates energy:

Sugar Burner

  • Energy Source: If you're a sugar burner, your body primarily relies on carbohydrates for energy. After eating carbs, they are converted into glucose, which is used for immediate energy needs.
  • Characteristics: As a sugar burner, you might find yourself needing to eat more frequently, especially carbs, to maintain energy levels. You may experience energy dips and cravings when you haven't eaten for a while.
  • Dietary Habits: A diet high in carbohydrates supports a sugar-burning metabolism. If you often crave carbs and feel sluggish or irritable when you haven't eaten them, you might be more of a sugar burner.

Fat Burner

  • Energy Source: Being a fat burner means your body prefers fats as its primary energy source. This involves metabolizing fat into ketones, which are then used for energy.
  • Characteristics: Fat burners often experience more stable energy levels throughout the day and may not feel hungry as often. This is because the body can tap into its fat reserves for energy.
  • Dietary Habits: A low-carb, high-fat diet, like the ketogenic diet, encourages the body to become more efficient at burning fat. If you find that you can go longer periods without eating and don't experience significant energy drops, you might be more of a fat burner.

FAQ

Should I Choose a Stimulant or a Non-Stimulant Fat Burner?

You should choose between a stimulant or non-stimulant fat burner based on your sensitivity to caffeine, desired effects, and health goals. Stimulants can offer quick energy boosts, while non-stimulants are better for sustained use without side effects.

Should I Combine Stimulants with Non-Stimulant Fat Burners?

No, don't combine stimulant and non-stimulant fat burners simultaneously, as it may lead to overstimulation and could negate the gentler effects of non-stimulants.

Fat Burner vs Fat Binder: What's the Difference?

Fat burners are supplements designed to increase metabolism, reduce fat absorption, and enhance fat burning during exercise. Fat binders, on the other hand, are supplements that work by binding to dietary fat in the digestive tract, reducing the amount of fat absorbed by the body.


References:

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4843092/
  2. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/add-some-kick-with-cayenne-infographic/
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About The Author

Dr. Kristy Dayanan, BS, MD
Dr. Kristy Dayanan, BS, MD
Medical Doctor
Education: University of Perpetual Help System, JONELTA Foundation School of Medicine
Lives in: Davao City, Philippines
Learn more about our editorial policy
Dr. Harshi Dhingra, MBBS, MD
Dr. Harshi Dhingra, MBBS, MD
Medical Doctor
Education: Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences
Lives in: Bathinda, Punjab, India
Learn more about our editorial policy

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