Performix SST
Pros
- Formula is potent
- Positive feedback
- Beautiful product
- Go with the SST powder for something intense
Cons
- The negative feedback tends to be quite bad.
- SST makes some people sick/dizzy etc.
- Expensive
- The "female" thing for Glow is silly marketing fluff
Performix SST Review – Powder and Glow
This review looks at the following three products from the Performix SST range:
- Performix SST – the company’s original capsule fat burner
- Performix SST Powder – a fat-burner pre-workout
- Performix SST Glow – a fat burner for women that includes skin health ingredients
Love them or hate them, Performix’s SST product line is growing
Performix have kept SST as the flagship product of their diet and weight management category for a number of years now, and for good reason. It’s sold consistently well since it first appeared.
“Suspension Super Thermogenic” – SST – hints at the technology the company puts into the capsules.
- TERRA Pod Ballistic Beadlets: they’re basically little blue balls that contain the majority of the formula’s active ingredients and also function as individual time-release capsules.
- Diffusion Carrier Oil: this is the clear fluid portion of the formula which contains Conjugated Linoleic Acid. The blue balls float in this fluid inside the clear capsules.
Performix SST is basically the epitome of the category I call “boutique fat burners”.
So much work has gone into the design, the technology, the overall aesthetics of the product that it’s hard to believe it’s just a weight loss pill.
For me, I fluctuate between hating the whole concept, and having some capricious, materialistic desire to own many many bottles of the stuff.
Generally speaking, I dislike it when supplement companies go the super-science route for their fat burners.
It’s particularly annoying when they call bog-standard ingredients like caffeine by their full scientific designation (it’s 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine by the way).
However, Performix do it with such over-the-top style that I can’t help but admire them for it. And I almost want to buy their products just to look at them!
But enough of that! You want to know if SST slices fat as sharply as it looks.
So let’s get to it.
Performix SST – What Does It Do?
Firstly, much of the supposed efficacy of SST is down to the delivery system. In fact, the company believes that while dosage is important, it’s useless if the active ingredients aren’t delivered properly, fully absorbed and released over a sustained period of time.
The second thing of note is Performix’s use of a proprietary blend for the formula. That tactic is becoming a bit old-hat in the sports supplement industry as more and more customers demand to know what, and how much of it, they are ingesting.
On the manufacturers’ side, they have often employed the proprietary blend strategy in order to hide the truly dismal dosages of the key ingredients, while trying to convince you that it’s all about keeping their secret recipe out of their competitor’s hands.
These days, people are less inclined to believe such a ruse, and most companies are waking up to it.
I’m not necessarily saying that’s the case with Performix SST, I’m merely explaining why proprietary blends look to be on the way out.
In fact, the technical aura of SST might be slightly ruined if it didn’t have the “secret sauce” vibe.
The third major thing of note is the stimulants. There’s a bunch. Don’t get me wrong, there’s other elements to the product, for sure, but its main mechanism for fat burning is definitely through stimulation of the central nervous system (CNS).
Lastly, I’d like to highlight SST’s cognitive function enhancing aspect. It contains a few of ingredients known for working in concert to boost alertness, focus, mood and subjective well-being.
Ingredients – Performix SST Formula
The formula is all packed into the Performix Suspension Super Thermo Complex, which comes up to 1172mg per 2 capsules.
Two capsules is the maximum daily total Performix recommends.
As mentioned earlier, that SST Complex is made up of two elements: the blue balls and the clear liquid. Here’s what they consist of:
TERRA Pod Ballistic Beadlet (blue balls)
- Caffeine Anhydrous [200mg]
- Ashwagandha (as Sensoril®)
- Bitter Orange / Citrus aurantium (as Advantra Z®)
- Synephrine HCl
- Huperzine-A
- Yohimbine HCl
- Mucuna Pruriens
- BioPerine®
Diffusion Carrier Oil (clear fluid)
- Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT)
- Safflower Oil (78% CLA)
Even though it’s a proprietary blend, we’re not completely in the dark about the proportions of each ingredient.
New regulations have forced companies to state the quantity of caffeine in their products whether they want to or not.
Existing rules for proprietary blends also means that we know the first inclusion on the list is the largest quantity and the last ingredient is the smallest.
With that in mind, Caffeine at 200mg should be the biggest dose, followed by Ashwagandha, and so on until we reach BioPerine – which is added for enhanced absorption of the other ingredients – at the smallest dose.
Furthermore, the dosages of Synephrine HCl, Huperzine-A, Yohimbine and Bioperine are usually in the single figure milligrams or very close to it due to the potency of the first three.
Therefore I’d estimate that the Diffusion Carrier Oil containing MCTs and CLA accounts for over half of the entire formula weight.
Is that a bad thing?
Not necessarily. Like I said, there’s some strong stimulants in SST and they are all powerful enough to work at low doses.
In combination with one another they will even have a synergistic effect.
For example Caffeine, Ashwagandha and Huperzine-A work synergistically to enhance cognitive function, alertness and mood.
Ashwagandha reduces stress and anxiety related to intense exercise and dieting. It’s known as an adaptogen and is probably the most powerful of its kind. This herb is excellent for your state of mind.
Huperzine-A blocks the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine, a primary neurotransmitter which aids in cognitive function and even muscle contraction force.
Synephrine HCl and Yohimbine are the intense stimulants that can make a big difference in small doses.
Synephrine is a bioactive compound isolated from Citrus aurantium – aka Bitter Orange (which is also in the formula, bringing Hordenine, Octopamine. Tyramine and N-Methyltyramine with it).
It can induce thermogenic fat loss that are additive to caffeine and other stimulants. It does so without increasing the heart rate too much as well.
Yohimbine is probably even more intense and targets fat cells that are found in abundance at stubborn storage sites like the hips, thighs and lower belly.
Caution: Yohimbine is actually used as a reference drug in anxiety and panic disorder studies because it can cause them. It’s a potent stimulant that can have associated side effects and is even more potent when taken alongside other stimulants (which SST contains).
Some people have reported the usual stimulant side effects – nausea, dizziness, headache, heart palpitations – and they can lead to the anxiety and even panic attacks, especially for people who are pre-disposed to those conditions.
Stay clear of yohimbine if you are experiencing anxiety or a related problem. That includes anyone who is on prescription medication, such as anti-depressants.
If you are in good health and are going to use SST, then given the max dose is two capsules, you should take only one on the first day in order to assess your tolerance level.
We don’t know the precise dose of Yohimbine here but it cannot be very high for reasons I’ve previously discussed. In combination with other stimulants it is usually included at around the 2.5mg mark.
I suspect that is roughly how much Performix has added to the formula and I have no reason to worry about the dose as I can take it with no problem.
What’s the Verdict – Is Performix SST Worth It?
It’s pricey for a fat-burner, that’s for sure, but Performix will tell you that’s because of the cutting-edge technology that they’ve literally put into every capsule of SST.
Just holding it in your hands, you can tell it’s a product that’s been conceived, designed and manufactured with intricate care and a lot of dedication.
Technology and aesthetic design don’t mean a whole lot if they don’t get results though, especially at that “boutique” price-point.
Thankfully, those stimulants are some of the best, and I’m a fan of the sensory experience that comes from the Ashwagandha, Huperzine-A and those stims in concert.
Furthermore, I like the sustained released delivery system. It helps the capsules do a lot with very little.
On the issue side-effects, I get mixed feedback from people who have used SST. What I’ve noticed from the vast majority of them is that you’ll likely pitch your tent firmly in one of two camps.
You’ll either love the feeling, or it’ll make you feel dizzy, over-stimulated and possibly sick.
These intense stimulant-based fat burners are not for everyone, but they’re often the strongest for their intended purpose.
I’d be interested to know if you’ve taken Performix SST and what your opinion is?
Did you enjoy the buzz? Can you sense the burn? Or do your just feel like crap?
Let me know.
Before you Go: I’ll quickly take you through the other Performix SST Weight Loss Products in the range.
Performix SST Powder
The Performix SST capsule fat burner is the company’s flagship weight loss supplement but they manufacture several other products, including an SST Powder.
Performix SST Powder is mixed with water to make a drink, the exact same way a pre-workout powder is used.
The formula shares some similarities with the SST capsule recipe but it’s also different enough to almost be a separate product.
This time the proprietary blend is called Performix Super Thermo Suspension and it is 2610mg in weight.
That’s quite the increase in sheer bulk of active ingredients.
There are three notable exclusions when comparing it to the capsule SST product.
- Citrus Aurantium (bitter orange)
- Synephrine HCl
- Mucuna Pruriens
Likewise, there are a few notable inclusions/additions to the SST Powder when comparing the formula to the SST Capsules.
- Choline Bitartrate
- L-Carnitine L-Tartrate
- Theacrine (as TeaCrine®)
- Alpha-GPC
- 3’,5’-Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP)
Furthermore, caffeine has been bumped up to 250mg as opposed to the capsules’ 200mg.
Choline Bitartrate and L-Carnitine L-Tartrate are higher than caffeine on the ingredients list which means that they must both be included at 250mg or more.
Choline bitartrate may help increase acetylcholine production, which can increase cognitive function, focus and potentially even muscle contractions.
The more potent ingredient for this is actually Alpha GPC, which is also in the SST Powder blend. It’s another ‘cholinergic’ compound but one which has been found in studies to be quite powerful.
We don’t know how much Alpha-GPC is in the formula here but it cannot be much as it is below Yohimbine, which by default must be near to single figure milligrams. Alpha GPC is more effective in the 150-600mg range.
However, one can’t discount the possibility of additive effects of the Choline Bitartrate and Alpha-GPC, and particularly when Huperzine-A is in there as well to reduce acetylcholinesterase – the enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter.
Theacrine is another compound with potential stimulant like effects, which may have been added for the smoother, more sustained boost. One study’s results even suggests the nervous system does not build a tolerance to theacrine like it does with caffeine.
The addition of 3’,5’-Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate is quite unique in my opinion. It’s common to find cAMP boosters in fat burners and preworkout supplements. In fact, caffeine is the most common one.
Rarely will you see it added to labels in “pure” form like this.
Note: I would definitely like to run a long cycle on the SST Powder. I generally can’t use supplements for long periods due to the amount of products stacking up for me to test and review, but I’d like to have focused on this one for a while to see what an 8 week cycle could offer.
What’s The Verdict on Performix SST Powder?
Paired with a complimentary non-stim pre-workout formula, SST Powder could provide an excellent fat-burning component.
It’s also a lot cheaper than the SST capsules, which is something to think about when you’re ordering multiple products.
It’s up to you how much stock you put in the super swanky sounding delivery system of the Performix SST capsules. It’s something you’ll have to take at face value because it’ll absolutely never by 3rd-party tested for efficacy.
Additionally, the SST Powder is arguably more impressive in terms of ingredients and fat-burning potential. Given that it’s cheaper, there’s an argument to be made for buying the powder version and using the twenty odd bucks you save on another product.
We’re not done with SST products yet though.
There’s also:
- Pro Whey + SST
- SST V2X
- SST Cuts
- SST RTD
However, the only other product on the Performix SST line that I want to discuss today is:
Performix SST Glow
Performix call this one a “Female Beauty Thermogenic” and describe it as a “unique performance blend customized specially for women who want to look, feel and be their best”Alternayive
My first reaction to all “female specific” supplement formulas is that there’s no such thing, it’s just a marketing gimmick.
I believe that as well. In SST Glow you have a weight loss pill that is the same as the original SST (the first product discussed in this article) with a few additions to improve the quality of your skin.
The TERRA Pod Ballistic Beadlet technology is otherwise the same as Performix SST and the whole design and aesthetics of the product are once again beautiful.
Can I honestly say this is going to help hydrate your skin while burning fat? – I can’t answer that without a dedicated study.
Once again we must rely on Performix’s trademark delivery system getting higher percentages of lower quantities of key ingredients to the target receptors in your body.
If anyone’s got some real experience with this product then drop a comment on this page because I’d love to hear if your skin health has improved, not to mention how you got on with the thermogenic formula.
Performix SST Supplements – Closing Remarks
Performix doesn’t make budget supplements. They’re not out to provide you with “the basics”, and they don’t appear to care about the open label policy that’s trending across the industry.
Instead, they are sticking to their scientific, cutting-edge tech style. And, if I’m not mistaken, it’s working out for them.
Are they deliberately trying to befuddle you with all the brightly coloured balls sloshing around in clear capsules of fluid?
I don’t think so. I think it’s a marketing strategy, sure, but I also think it’s a genuine attempt at creating something different – an ingredient delivery system that feels and looks as over-engineered as it’s going to get.
They’re asking for a significant amount of money as well. One of the products I haven’t opened up on here – called SST V2X – runs at $76 US on the Performix website. That’s for a month’s worth of pills.
Again, they aren’t for the faint-hearted either, and I mean that literally. Customers who tolerate stimulants well tend to leave positive feedback. Those who don’t tolerate stimulants well are the counterpoint.
Stimulants, especially the ones in Performix products, definitely work for burning fat. There’s no two ways about it. Make yourself sensitive to stimulants (read about how to use caffeine and stimulants here) and they will have an effect.
The trouble is, when you sensitize yourself to such compounds you may have to deal with at least a short adjustment period that isn’t especially pleasant.
Performix will answer your complaint if you have a bad experience, and they will even apologize for it…but they aren’t going to stop making these products anytime soon, because a lot of people want the intensity they provide.
And Performix, quite rightly I might add, will continue supplying that demand.
Please comment here if you have an opinion on, or experience with, these products. Feedback, no matter how positive or negative, is always useful.
Thanks for any comments your drop.