If you have been going to the gym for long enough, you must have heard of clenbuterol. This popular fat burner is part of the stack of pharmacological agents for cutting that nearly all professional bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts use.
The habits of professionals, both good and bad, are usually quickly adopted by bodybuilding and fitness amateurs. Today, girls take clenbuterol for weight loss, boys for definition, and those suffering from excess weight take it to normalize their condition.
But how good is it as a fat burner? And is it safe?
There are mixed opinions.
Some claim that clenbuterol is incredibly effective for weight loss and cutting and is no more harmful than other fat burners, while others anxiously press the “Danger” button.
In this article, you will learn what clenbuterol is, what it is used for in bodybuilding and fitness, how it works, how effective it is for weight loss and cutting, whether it can be taken for weight loss by women, and what the possible side effects of its use are.
But first – a warning in the form of our favorite axiom:
Remember: any fat burners (clenbuterol is no exception) are not as magical as our imagination tends to attribute to everything we pay money for and that promises to relieve us from years of pain. Pills will never do the work of organizing a lifestyle that long-term weight loss requires (if you have weight issues) or the strict discipline needed if you are an athlete looking for definition.
The cost of using clenbuterol for weight loss, like any other fat burners, is the risk to health and serious side effects.
What is Clenbuterol?
Clenbuterol (clenbuterol hydrochloride) is a powerful stimulant that acts on the nervous system, increasing metabolic rate and activating the fat-burning process.
It also has the ability to preserve muscle mass from destruction and even stimulate its growth.
It is often mistakenly placed in the same category as anabolic steroids, although it is not one. In most countries around the world, it is banned for distribution and use, and is also on the list of doping substances in sports and bodybuilding in particular.
Clenbuterol was developed in 1970 as a means to stimulate muscle growth in livestock in agriculture 1. Later, it was banned for this purpose in most countries, as the byproducts of its metabolism found in meat are toxic to humans and can lead to poisoning 2,3.
Another well-known use of clenbuterol is as a medication for treating respiratory diseases in pets, particularly horses. It acts as a bronchodilator, meaning it relaxes the muscles along the airways, making breathing easier.
For some time, clenbuterol was widely used as a medication for asthma and other respiratory diseases in humans. Today, it has been replaced by safer and more effective analogs.
– But how did a medication for horses end up on the shelf of pharmacological products for cutting in bodybuilding?
Initially, clenbuterol was used to stimulate muscle mass gain in livestock and to treat lung diseases in horses.
Clenbuterol in Bodybuilding
As clenbuterol was used, other curious properties were noted. In particular, it:
- has fat-burning effects;
- penetrates muscle cells and improves protein synthesis, helping to preserve muscle mass from catabolism during cutting;
- there is an opinion that it has anabolic effects: i.e., it stimulates muscle growth.
In reality, today clenbuterol is better known as a fat burner in bodybuilding than as a medication in medicine. In terms of effectiveness, it is very similar to ephedrine, but has a significantly longer duration of action (up to 26 hours compared to 4 hours for ephedrine) 4.
Clenbuterol is widely used by professionals in bodybuilding who take steroids during cutting, as well as by amateurs who quickly adopt trends from the world of professional sports.
This does not mean that it works only in conjunction with steroids. No. We mentioned this simply because it is often thought that way.
On the contrary, most often the course of clenbuterol begins after stopping the use of steroids a few weeks before competitions, as it helps to preserve muscle mass from breakdown.
Scientific studies on both animals and humans confirm 5 that clenbuterol increases the rate of internal metabolism and, as a result, is effective for weight loss (fat burning).
Let us remind you that the lion’s share of daily calories (~70%) is accounted for by internal metabolism, and its activation is one of the most effective methods for weight loss. See more here.
Scientific research also indicates that clenbuterol, while not an anabolic steroid, can stimulate muscle growth 7-9, protect muscles from breakdown, and increase the rate of muscle strength recovery after injuries 10,11.
The protective effect against muscle catabolism is observed even with very strong calorie restriction (up to 50%) of food over a long period 12, which is especially important during cutting in bodybuilding.
Clenbuterol is used in bodybuilding as a drug for cutting, which also has anti-catabolic effects, helping to preserve muscle mass from breakdown during a strict diet.
Mechanism of action of clenbuterol for weight loss
Clenbuterol acts on the same receptors in our body that are sensitive to adrenaline (beta-2 receptors).
This provides a dual effect: it opens the airways, improving breathing, and increases the rate of internal metabolism.
The action of clenbuterol as a fat burner does not consist of directly “attacking” fat cells. No.
By stimulating the metabolic rate, it raises body temperature: the more calories are converted into heat, the fewer remain in the body. This is a basic law of energy conservation from school physics textbooks.
On the other hand, an elevated body temperature itself accelerates metabolism and the use of fat cells for energy.
That is, the mechanism of action of clenbuterol is very simple in essence, and the same as that of other thermogenics, for example, capsaicin.
But clenbuterol has one feature that distinguishes it from other common fat burners (caffeine, green tea, ephedrine): a significantly longer duration of action. After entering the body, its half-life (the time it takes for the concentration in the blood to decrease by half) reaches 26 hours, and traces of its presence can be detected for up to 48 hours 4. For comparison: the duration of caffeine’s action is 4-6 hours.
From the perspective of weight loss, the long presence of a stimulant in the body is good. But from the perspective of side effects, it is undesirable. In particular, it becomes the cause of one of the most common side effects – insomnia.
As a fat burner, clenbuterol acts by stimulating the rate of internal metabolism. Its duration of action is significantly longer than that of other fat burners – up to 26 hours.
How effective is the fat burner clenbuterol for weight loss?
So, scientific facts and professional experience indicate that clenbuterol does indeed work as a fat burner. But how effective is it?
Most often, the effect of taking clenbuterol is estimated as an increase in metabolic rate of about ~10%. It is difficult to determine the origin of this figure. But let’s assume that it is true, considering that the action of other fat burners is characterized by a similar figure.
Is 10% a lot or a little? At a basal metabolic rate of 2500 kcal, that is 250 kcal.
In terms of food, 250 kcal is equivalent to: half a chocolate bar, a few cookies, a piece of cake …
If we assume a linear relationship between the value of the caloric deficit and the amount of fat burned, then 250 kcal would be equivalent to losing 200 grams of fat per week: 200 g = 250 kcal * 7 (days) / 9 kcal (caloric value of 1 g of fat).
This means that just on clenbuterol, one could lose 0.8 kg in a month, and in a year – 9.6 kg. Not bad. If it weren’t for one BUT.
Firstly, the duration of clenbuterol intake should not exceed 4-6 weeks – this is the time required for the body to develop resistance to its action 6, i.e., as this drug is used, tolerance develops and it gradually becomes less effective.
This can be avoided by regularly increasing the dose. However, there is still a strict limit on the duration of clenbuterol use for weight loss over the course of a year and the maximum allowable dose to avoid side effects. More details on this can be found in the article How to take clenbuterol for body drying.
Typically, a course of clenbuterol lasts no more than 6 weeks. During this time, it can help burn approximately 1.2 kg of fat.
But this can also be achieved solely through diet if you start drying out 2 weeks earlier… without the risk of clenbuterol side effects.
The effect of clenbuterol for weight loss is equivalent to half a chocolate bar..
For everyone planning to lose weight solely by swallowing clenbuterol pills, it is very important to read the following very carefully.
Clenbuterol can only be an addition to proper nutrition and training for weight loss
Yes, professional bodybuilders use clenbuterol during body drying. This is a fact. But they DO NOT dry out solely due to this drug.
Body drying in professional bodybuilding is a combination of diet, training, and drugs. The priority is exactly in the listed sequence. All three components are necessary to achieve maximum fat burning: 3-4% body fat, which is considered normal for competition participation.
This is unnatural for the body and is not healthy. NOBODY among them ever MAINTAINS such a body fat percentage CONSTANTLY and does NOT take clenbuterol and other drugs REGULARLY throughout their life.
Many mistakenly believe that it is enough to just swallow a clenbuterol pill and relax, as it will do everything for you. This is not the case.
Even when using clenbuterol, you must adhere to a diet. Otherwise, you will not be able to lose weight/dry out. Moreover, the degree of self-restraint and control will be no less than without it.
We recommend: Diet for body drying and nutrition program from natural bodybuilder Layne Norton
So the question is: why take clenbuterol?
The answer: to enhance the effect of the right steps in body drying (diet + training) that you are already taking. But NOT to replace them.
It is NOT possible to LOSE WEIGHT FOREVER solely through clenbuterol. However, it can enhance the fat-burning effect by activating the metabolism speed.
– Will clenbuterol help those who suffer from obesity or overweight to lose weight?
No. Like other fat burners. Forget about it. The only way for you is to change your lifestyle, eat properly, and be physically active. Moreover, nutrition comes first. Start here: What to do to lose weight? or how to lose weight without sports.
You cannot lose weight permanently just by using clenbuterol. No professional ever takes it regularly. It is only an addition to a proper diet and training for short-term weight loss during body cutting.
Can women take clenbuterol for weight loss?
Typically, in bodybuilding and fitness, clenbuterol is used in the last 8-10 weeks before competitions, but by the time the course begins, the athlete is already sufficiently cut due to diet. This is important.
Here are the key phrases: “in bodybuilding”, “before competitions”, “already sufficiently cut”.
– Can clenbuterol be recommended for weight loss to ordinary women, men, who want to get rid of fat?
Hardly.
Look at the effectiveness calculation of clenbuterol above and our recommendations.
To achieve the same effect, it is enough to cut out an extra 200 calories a day from your food.
Moreover, even if you start taking clenbuterol pills, you won’t be able to do it constantly due to habituation and possible unpleasant side effects. Is it worth the risk then?
But no one forbids it, nor can they. Try it, but don’t hope for a miracle. Better yet, study our recommendations on how to lose weight properly.
Clenbuterol for weight loss is not recommended for ordinary people with excess weight simply because it cannot be taken constantly.
The harm of clenbuterol to health and possible side effects
The harm of clenbuterol is mainly explained by its stimulating effect on the nervous system, which negatively affects mental health and heart function.
From a biochemical perspective, taking clenbuterol leads to the depletion of potassium from the body and the amino acid taurine, which is believed to be the cause of muscle pain and cramps 13-15.
How serious is potassium loss? More serious than it may seem.
The depletion of potassium and other minerals is accompanied by the use of diuretics during body cutting, and it is enough to say that for this reason they are considered one of the most dangerous types of sports chemistry. See here why.
Among other side effects of clenbuterol:
- nausea
- insomnia
- dizziness
- skin rashes on the face
- headaches
- vomiting
- irritability
- increased sweating
- heart hypertrophy
The full list of side effects of clenbuterol is much more impressive, among them – even death.
In general, their manifestation is individual, but some of them are experienced by almost everyone who uses it. Sometimes they can be so unpleasant that one has to stop the course of clenbuterol intake.
For more details, see the material Side effects of clenbuterol for weight loss.
The harm of clenbuterol to health is associated with its stimulating effect on the nervous system. Also, when consumed, some important minerals and amino acids are excreted from the body.
Conclusion
Clenbuterol hydrochloride is a decent thermogenic, but like all fat burners, it is not a magic pill that will do all the work for you.
Its effectiveness in terms of calories is comparable to a small portion of your favorite sweets.
Even if you decide to take it for weight loss, you will only achieve a temporary effect and possibly some side effects. Losing weight permanently and without harming your health, without changing lifestyle habits (mainly nutrition) is impossible.
Clenbuterol can enhance the effectiveness of a proper diet and training in fat burning. But it cannot replace them.
Clenbuterol should not be used constantly. Only for a short period of preparation for competitions. For those who consider it as a fat burner to lose weight and did not catch the hint: you will not be able to lose weight and maintain it with clenbuterol by taking it constantly throughout your life.
Clenbuterol helps accelerate the fat-burning process and get rid of the last few percent of fat when you are already sufficiently lean due to diet.
When taking it, it is very important to adhere to the recommended dosage schemes. Yes, it is not the most dangerous sports chemistry drug on earth, but exceeding dosages will inevitably lead to negative side effects, among which.. even death. It’s not worth a few extra kilograms of fat.
