IFBB Pro Chris Tuttle breaks down Animal Cuts

Animal Cuts Explained

Animal Cuts brings me way back to my youth. I can say without bias that I have used it with good results before I was even thinking about competing in bodybuilding. I just wanted to get leaner for summer. My first experience with Animal Cuts was when I was 16 years old. The guy who worked at GNC at the time recommended I give it a shot. I used it consistently for two and half weeks and, without much change to my diet or exercise program, I noticed a leaner, drier look. My friends pointed this out to me initially, as I was less perceptive to subtle changes in my own physique when I was younger.

The last time I used this product was for research purposes in the Animal Cuts testing program. I was told to keep my diet and training consistent and run the supplement as directed at two servings per day: one serving in the morning fasted and the other serving 4-6 hours later. After the two weeks, I was down about 4.4 lb. In the two weeks prior to starting the supplement regimen, I had been following the same calorie deficit and lost 3 lb. This allowed a good comparison on how I felt during the two weeks doing the same cardio, diet, and training with and without Animal Cuts. The most noticeable changes were increased overall energy, lower cravings, increased training stamina, and a drier appearance.

There are eight complexes in Animal Cuts’ formulation. Out of the eight, I noticed the stimulant complex and the CCK boosting complex the most. Nothing is better than having more energy and a lower appetite during a dieting phase. While the other complexes absolutely made a difference, those effects were more subtle. For example, you might not notice a difference with the cortisol blocking complex since you might be starting with lower levels of cortisol. It’s best to try to keep cortisol at the start of a dieting phase at reasonable levels. When calories are low and training output high, the body can become stressed as recoverability diminishes. Managing fatigue and regulating recovery becomes essential for continued fat loss and maintaining muscle. Chronically high cortisol can result in feeling very fatigued which can negatively affect weight training. If training performance dives hard, you will lose muscle over time. It is essential to manage fatigue and get those hard workouts in.

It is important to note that you should use Animal Cuts in conjunction with a diet that is in a calorie deficit along with weight training and cardio. Supplements are intended to “supplement” an already sound nutrition and exercise program. Cuts requires a two per day dosing, and to be cycled three weeks on followed by one week off before repeating. It is important to take that week off. The body is very adaptive, so efficacy with anything always decreases gradually over time.

Below I briefly describe the eight complexes and their ingredients. This will give you a better understanding of what you are taking and why.

cuts explained


Stimulant Complex

Stimulants have been proven to increase fatty acid mobilization by accelerating fatty acids out of storage and into the mitochondria to be used as fuel. Another positive effect with stimulants come from the increased daily calorie burn as a result of being more active. The more energy you have the more you tend to move. This can account for a large increase in calorie burn in the form of NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis).

  • Caffeine anhydrous
  • Kola nut (seed)
  • Guarana (seed)
  • Yerba mate (leaf)
  • Raspberry ketones
  • Coleus forskohlii extract (root)
  • Evodiamine

Metabolic Complex

These tea extracts help facilitate fat loss outside the means of stimulation. They work by improving glycemic control by slowing the release of blood glucose, increasing fat mobilization, and increasing calorie expenditure.

  • Green tea leaf extract
  • Oolong tea leaf extract
  • Black tea leaf extract
  • Coffee bean extract
  • White tea leaf extract

Thyroid Complex

This complex is critical when following a calorie deficit. Following a low-calorie diet for an extended period of time can affect thyroid function. The body is very adaptive and tries to conserve energy in order to counter the lower calorie intake. These key ingredients can help maximize thyroid function during lower calorie periods.

  • L-Tyrosine
  • Olive leaf extract
  • Salvia officinalis (leaf)

Water Shedding Complex

These ingredients can help purge the body of excess water by having a mild diuretic effect. This gives the body a drier look. Most diuretics make you feel tired due to electrolyte losses, but these have a potassium-sparing effect. Although electrolyte loss should not be an issue, you should still maintain adequate fluid intake when dieting and taking Animal Cuts.

  • Dandelion root (taraxol, taraxerol)
  • Uva ursi leaf (arbutin, methyl-arbutin)
  • Hydrangea root
  • Buchu leaf
  • Juniper berry fruit
  • Celery seed

Nootropic Complex

These ingredients support optimal cognitive function by increasing oxygen to the brain while increasing neurotransmitter output. This helps with focus, memory, creativity, and motivation, which is extremely useful during a dieting phase.

  • DMAE
  • Cocoa powder
  • Bacopa monniera
  • Huperzine

Cortisol Inhibiting Complex

Again, managing cortisol is essential during a dieting phase. High cortisol levels can interfere with thyroid function, glucose metabolism, and sleep quality which can slow the rate of fat loss. These ingredients can help offset those effects.

  • Ashwagandha root extract
  • Eleutherococcus senticosus root
  • Phosphatidylserine
  • Magnolia bark extract

CCK Boosting Complex

These ingredients help stimulate the release of the appetite suppressant hormone cholecystokinin. This can lead to lower appetite when following a reduced calorie diet—an absolute must in a fat burning supplement.

  • Cha-de-bugre
  • Apple pectin
  • Cinnamon bark

Bioavailability Complex

The body may have difficulty absorbing some compounds, so these ingredients help by increasing absorbability of other compounds when ingested.

  • Ginger root
  • Cayenne
  • Grapefruit peel
  • Quercetin
  • Nairingin
  • Piper nigrum extract

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