7 Ways To Make Your Fat Burner More Effective

Laurence Grigorov is director of a residential property development company based in Johannesburg, South Africa that specialises in modern, luxury apartments, cluster units and bespoke homes.

Laurence Grigorov enjoys training at the gym in his spare time. This allows him to both destress and maintain a healthy physical condition. Laurence Grigorov firmly believes that a healthy body and well-rested mind are crucial in order to maintain a high level of work focus and to deal with the intense

If you're taking a fat burner but still not seeing the weight loss you want, it's time to troubleshoot. While these supplements can help you lose body fat, they won't work unless the rest of your lifestyle is on point. Get the most fat burning for your buck by following these seven steps!



1. Get On Track

You can't simply pop a pill and make up for poor nutrition and a lack of training. A high-quality fat burner will make your journey easier, but to get the most from its effects and really torch calories, it's critical that you first get on track with a well-designed fitness program. Find a solid workout plan and stick to it like it's your job.

Keeping your diet locked in is critical, too. Since fat burners are thermogenic, which raises calorie burn, sometimes people think they counteract the consequences of french fries, pizza, or ice cream. Unfortunately, it's not that easy. If you eat that donut at the office, you'll still have to get to the gym to work it off. The pills just help you get more out of that work.

Set yourself up for success by removing temptation from your life. A fat burning supplement can help you control cravings and feelings of imaginary hunger, but if you constantly expose yourself to your cravings, you're never going to win.



2. Eat Enough Protein

To make sure that you see the most fat loss possible, make sure that you're also taking in enough protein to maintain lean muscle mass.



Many of the fat burners on the market will reduce your appetite. If they cause you to lower your calorie intake and you don't get sufficient protein, loss of muscle mass could begin to occur. You simply should not take your protein intake any lower than 1 gram per pound of body weigh when aiming for fat loss. So, while you can cut back on carbs and fats, you have to eat your protein regardless.

Taking in as few calories as humanly possible might help you maximize your weight loss, but not all that weight will be body fat. To look ripped but still strong, you have to keep a high protein intake to spare those physique-forming muscles.



3. Timing Your Dose Right

Since fat burners can give you energy and suppress your appetite, taking them at strategic times of day will help you get the most from them. To raise your energy and kick fat burning into gear, take a stimulant fat burner at the time of day you most need a kick in the pants. This might be first thing upon waking, or about 30 minutes before training, as you would take a pre-workout. To take advantage of the appetite-suppressing properties of your fat burner, take it at your hungriest point during the day when you tend to struggle. One strategy is to take it 30 minutes prior to a meal so you feel more satiated.

Alternately, take one of your doses when you don't have a meal planned for a few hours to help carry you through. When it wears off and you start getting hungry, you'll know your next meal is coming soon and you'll be more likely to hold out.



4. Drink Up

Fat burning pills elevate your metabolism, so as a side effect you sweat more when taking them. Also, stimulants like caffeine tend to have a diuretic effect, so you may find yourself visiting the bathroom more often. These conditions can lead to a state of dehydration and slowed metabolism.

Drinking at least 3-4 quarts of cold water per day will not only keep you hydrated, but has also been shown to increase metabolism and support fat loss. It's recommended that you drink at least 1 cup of water with each dose of a fat burning supplement to ensure optimal absorption and hydration support. If you're training in a hot environment and sweating for long periods, you may need to double your water intake.



5. Cycle Your Fat Burner

The body becomes desensitized to some ingredients over time, and this is exactly what happens with fat burning supplements. In response, many people will up their intake to keep getting weight-loss results. But this approach will backfire. Overuse of caffeine and similar ingredients can lead to high levels of cortisol (that unwanted hormone that breaks down muscle and causes fat storage), especially under the stress of dieting. Adding to this side effect, your body can respond by slowing down your natural metabolic process to compensate. So now you're burning fewer calories, which totally defeats the purpose of taking a weight-loss supplement.

To avoid these counterproductive side effects, you should cycle this supplement. Take it for 2-4 weeks and then take two weeks off before starting again. Your body will reset and be more sensitive, so you'll get better results when you resume taking it. The best way to know if you need a break from your fat burner is by assessing how you feel when you're on it. If after several weeks you find that you no longer get the "kick" you used to from a regular dose, or you're noticing the above side effects, then it's time to take a break—not more product.



Keep in mind, weight-loss supplements were never designed or intended to be a regular part of a diet. They're intended to help you reach a goal, whether that be to prepare for a competition, jump-start your weight-loss efforts, or break through a plateau. Once your weight-loss goal is attained, lifestyle is the only way to keep it maintained. If you feel you can only maintain your physique with the aid of a fat burning supplement, take a step back, reassess, and choose a more sustainable goal.



6. Don't Shrug Off Sleep

Sleep and fat loss go hand in hand. Some people turn to fat burners to get the energy to work out because they're constantly in a state of sleep deprivation. Unfortunately, this approach can lead to increases in blood cortisol and decreased testosterone, which will significantly hold you back in terms of muscle gain and fat loss.

Sleep is necessary for repair, recovery, and hormonal balance. Shoot for eight hours of deep sleep nightly, but if you have a heavy training load or are stressed out you might need more.

If you find that your fat burners are hindering your sleep, don't take anything stimulant based after your lunchtime dose, or switch to stimulant-free products entirely for a while. Also limit any other sources of caffeine to before 6 p.m., like coffee, soda, or pre-workout supplements.



7. Choose The Right Formula

None of these tips will matter if you're not taking the right kind of fat burner for your needs and goals. Different fat burners serve different purposes. For example, if you're primarily looking for hunger control, 

select a fat burner that contains hoodia as one of the ingredients. Hoodia is one of the most common supplements used to support appetite control. If it's energy you're after, you'll want to choose a fat burner that has ingredients like caffeine, synephrine, or yohimbe. These are stimulants that are intended to give you a boost of energy to carry you through the day.

A key word for this group of fat burners is "thermogenic," which literally means "heat producing" and refers to the fact that your core body temperature might rise, allowing you to possibly burn more calories throughout the day and use stored fat as fuel.

Fat burning products are generally categorized as stimulant or stimulant-free. Stimulant fat burners will have caffeine, synephrine, yohimbe, or other similar ingredients. Many of them also contain non-stimulant thermogenic and appetite controlling ingredients in the mix. Stimulant-free fat burners only have non-stimulant thermogenics and appetite suppressants. Their effects are more subtle, but they're a better choice if you're sensitive to caffeine or have high anxiety.

If you do choose to go stimulant-free, keep an eye out for green tea extract, which is in a gray area. While green tea is often included in stimulant-free formulas, it does contain small amounts of caffeine. This amount of green tea won't be noticeable for most people, but if you're extremely sensitive to caffeine you might feel it. Try a small amount first to see how you tolerate the green tea.

No two fat burners contain the same mix of ingredients. In addition to this, no two metabolisms are the same. Each person stores fat and burns it differently. Just because your friend got great results from a certain product doesn't mean you will. Keep trying different formulations until you find one your body likes.



Words & image courtesy of http://www.bodybuilding.com/

The Yacht Club in Cape Town

As director at a residential property development company based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Laurence Grigorov keeps abreast of development news and information. Future and upcoming developments in various fields offer Laurence Grigorov an insight in potential residential and commercial market trends and changes.

The Yacht Club, Amdec Property Development’s latest project, was recently opened. Valued at R1.5 billion, this prestigious mixed-use property includes 170 luxury residential apartments, 6,000m2 of premium-grade office space spanning two levels, and Africa’s first AC Hotel by Marriott.

Recognising the need to provide a quality mixed-use development and aligning with the City of Cape Town’s call for ‘the right developments in the right locations’, Amdec Property Development acquired the 11,816m2 strip of vacant land on the Cape Town foreshore in 2015. The scheme was launched in September of that year, sold out in 14 months and construction was completed within an impressive two-year period.

Much design work was done over a number of years before Kevin Gadd Architects (working in conjunction with Scott Johnston Architect) were appointed to complete the brief of the developers. Strict architectural guidelines were in place on the site which had informed important parameters such as heights, allowable uses, allowable GLA as well as a number of other formal requirements.

The site is in the Roggebaai Canal Tourism Precinct situated on the Foreshore of Cape Town. It extends from the V&A Waterfront through a dock for some 1.6km to the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The rezoning of this area was completed in 2001, allowing for a maximum bulk apportioned between a number of specified land uses including residential, entertainment and hotel accommodations.

Words and image courtesy of Architect & Builder magazine.

Jewel City in Johannesburg

As director at a residential property development company based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Laurence Grigorov has a keen interest in local and international architectural and development news and information, keeping abreast of the latest trends and designs in the these fields.

A new project which Laurence Grigorov is excited for has recently been unveiled in the CBD of Johannesburg. It is the R1.2bn redevelopment of the Jewel City precinct by Divercity Urban Property Fund and GASS Architecture Studios.

This massive urban redevelopment project on the outskirts of the Maboneng Precinct in Johannesburg’s eastern CBD will breathe new life into the previously walled-off former centre of the diamond and precious metals trade in Johannesburg. The complex consists of six city blocks of industrial buildings, some dating back to the 1930s. The entire area was closed off to the public in the mid-90s and has remained an isolated and forgotten node for decades. Jewel City involves the reinvention of this pre-existing industrial complex as an open, vibrant mixed-use precinct that will introduce a socially and economically more sustainable dimension and new diversity to early inner-city rejuvenation projects such as the Maboneng Precinct.

The developers see Jewel City as a catalytic project that will enhance the eastern CBD’s urban potential, introducing crucial facilities that include new affordable residential space, a school, healthcare and retail facilities such as pharmacies and a supermarket, a gym and other recreational facilities that help to sustain an inclusive, prosperous and wholesome urban social, economic and cultural life in the inner city. Jewel City has been envisioned as an opportunity to undo apartheid-era spatial divides and transform the inner city in a way that also addresses much needed access to resources and economic opportunities in the face of a dire need for housing.

The industrial heritage of the buildings will be honoured not just through the lightness of the architectural interventions to the façades and by exposing the expressive minimalism of their industrial materiality – off-shutter concrete, brickwork and steel – but also through the naming of each building, which includes refence to their former incarnations as a centre of the diamond and gold trade, but reframed as more inclusive and representative of South Africa’s broader history.

The quality of the public space and the broader architectural character of the precinct is designed not only to catalyse and support a greater diversity of people within the precinct, but also to invite and encourage further investment into the CBD. More broadly, the development opens up the potential for other key nodes of urban development such as Maboneng, the planned Absa Precinct and further developments along Fox Street to merge and form an integrated walkable city.

Sustained by a belief in the transformative potential of urban design and architecture to catalyse economic and social energy, dignity and prosperity, GASS Architecture Studios has re-envisioned this all-but-defunct industrial complex into a series of thoughtful interventions that breathe new life into Johannesburg’s CBD, while remaining respectful of its heritage.

Words and image courtesy of Architect & Builder magazine.

Eight Frank Lloyd Wright Sites Named to UNESCO World Heritage List

Laurence Grigorov, who is director of a Johannesburg-based property development company, often looks for inspiration from international architectural design trends. This allows Laurence Grigorov to continually keep the development projects evolving.

An architect who Laurence Grigorov has always admired is American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

The World Heritage Committee, meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, has officially inscribed The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, which includes eight major works spanning 50 years of Wright’s career, on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The sites in the group inscription span Wright’s influential career. They include Unity Temple (constructed 1906-1909, Oak Park, Illinois), the Frederick C. Robie House (constructed 1910, Chicago, Illinois), Taliesin (begun 1911, Spring Green, Wisconsin), Hollyhock House (constructed 1918-1921, Los Angeles, California), Fallingwater (constructed 1936-1939, Mill Run, Pennsylvania), the Herbert and Katherine Jacobs House (constructed 1936-1937, Madison, Wisconsin), Taliesin West (begun 1938, Scottsdale, Arizona) and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (constructed 1956-1959, New York, New York).

There are more than 1,000 World Heritage sites around the world, and the group of Wright sites is now among only 24 sites in the U.S. The collection represents the first modern architecture designation in the country on the prestigious list.

“This recognition by UNESCO is a significant way for us to reconfirm how important Frank Lloyd Wright was to the development of modern architecture around the world,” says Barbara Gordon, executive director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy. “There are nearly 400 remaining structures designed by Wright. Our hope is that the inscription of these eight major works also brings awareness to the importance of preserving all of his buildings as a vital part of our artistic, cultural and architectural heritage. All communities where a Wright building stands should appreciate what they have and share in the responsibility to protect their local—and world—heritage.”

The eight inscribed sites have played a prominent role in the development and evolution of Modern architecture during the first half of the 20th century and continuing to the present. UNESCO considers the international importance of a potential World Heritage Site based on its “Outstanding Universal Value,” which in the Wright series is manifested in three attributes. First, it is an architecture responsive to functional and emotional needs, achieved through geometric abstraction and spatial manipulation. Second, the design of the buildings in this series is fundamentally rooted in nature’s forms and principles. Third, the series represents an architecture conceived to be responsive to the evolving American experience, but which is universal in its appeal.

In 2015, the U.S. nominated a series of 10 Wright-designed sites to the World Heritage List. At its meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, in July 2016, the World Heritage Committee decided to “refer” the nomination for revisions. Over the past two years, the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy worked with the council of sites and leading scholars to revise the nomination and rework the justification for inscription.

Laurence Grigorov is often influenced by both contemporary and classical design trends and ideas and uses these as inspiration in the company’s architectural style.

Words & image courtesy of www.architectmagazine.com

Healthy Nutrition on the Go

Laurence Grigorov is director at a leading residential property development company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company specialises in high-end luxury residential developments.

As an avid sports fan and someone who enjoys exercise, Laurence Grigorov visits the health club regularly to maintain both his physical health as well as enjoying the mental benefits form regular exercise. Laurence Grigorov believes that diet is an important aspect to physical health.

Sticking with your diet is easy—if all you do is stay home and cook your meals. The fact is, no one has that sort of lifestyle, and at times, you may be on the run all day. So, how do you keep from caving and grabbing something from the vending machine or a fast food joint when you're busy?

If your diet falls off the rails far too often because you're out and about, these tips are for you. There are plenty of great food options that are portable, don't need to be refrigerated, and will help you get and maintain an ideal body composition. You just have to find them.



Protein Bars

Protein bars are fast and easy, and you can eat them in all of 3 minutes. They've come a long way since the good old days, when they were hard and tasted like a piece of chalk combined with cardboard.

Today's protein bars could easily trick you into thinking they're actually candy bars, and they can be found in just about any macro combination you desire. Whether you're on a very-low-carb, high-fat diet plan or need something that's got more balanced nutrition, there is a protein bar out there for you. Plus, if you prefer to eat your calories rather than drink them, bars tend to be the better choice over protein powder.



Single-Serve Protein Powder Packets

Protein powder is the next option. It can be a perfect solution for anyone who's on the go and doesn't have time to sit down and eat. It doesn't matter where you are or what you have going on, you can use protein powder. Just shake and drink. Save money by portioning single servings of your preferred protein powder into small containers or re-sealable bags rather than buying ready-made single-serve packets.



Trail Mix

While commercially prepared trail mixes aren't always the best option as they can be loaded with sugar and additives, your homemade version is a different story. Make your own trail mix with some almonds, cashews, a few dried cranberries (or other fruit), and dark chocolate bits, as well as some whole-grain shredded wheat cereal.



Cereal And Protein Milk

Bet you never thought of cereal as a portable food, but it can be. Here's what to do.

In one container, put your choice of healthy cereal—bran flakes, oat bran, or another high-fiber, low-sugar option. In another container, put a scoop of your favorite vanilla protein powder or get a single-serve packet. Now all you need to do when you're ready to eat is mix the protein power with some water in a shaker cup and pour that over your cereal. It's quick and easy, and you'll get a great balance of carbs and protein.



Hummus And Veggies

While you can't let this one sit out for days without being in the fridge, it should easily go for a few hours without trouble. Hummus with veggies is a great on-the-go snack option for those who want to feel that they're eating wholesome foods. While protein bars and powders can give you great nutrition and meet your protein needs, they aren't whole foods. If whole foods are what you crave, this is an excellent option.

The vegetables will supply you with plenty of dietary fiber to keep you feeling full, combined with important antioxidants you need to feel your best. The hummus supplies complex carbohydrates combined with a little bit of protein to ensure your blood glucose stays stable. Together you have a winning combination.



Canned Tuna And Crackers

Finally, let's not forget the option of canned tuna and whole-grain crackers. Tuna is a fantastic source of high-quality protein and should never be overlooked. When you combine it with the crackers, you have a terrific protein-carb balance that will keep you energized all day long.



Need more fats? If you're on a muscle-building plan and want to boost your calorie and fat intake, no problem. Just opt for canned salmon instead. You can now find small tins of canned tuna and salmon that have pop-off lids, making them ideal for taking with you on the go.

So, don't let your busy schedule stop you from eating healthy. It really isn't an excuse. Plan ahead and be prepared. Then, get ready to watch your body transformation unfold before your eyes.



Words and image courtesy of http://www.bodybuilding.com/

Svart – World’s First Powerhouse Hotel in Norway

Laurence Grigorov, as director of a residential property development company, finds ideas and inspiration from international architectural designs for projects that the company is involved in. Laurence Grigorov has been developing luxury residential projects in Johannesburg, South Africa for nearly 15 years. He is highly influenced by modern design trends and attempts to instil these inspirations in the upcoming projects.

In collaboration with Arctic Adventure of Norway, Asplan Viak and Skanska, Snøhetta has designed “Svart” the world’s first Powerhouse* hotel, at the foot of the Svartisen glacier that runs through Meløy municipality in northern Norway. The name “Svart”, meaning "black" in Norwegian, is a direct tribute to the deep blue ice of Svartisen and the Svartisen name. As the word for "black" and "blue" are the same in old Norse, the name is a reference to the natural heritage of Svartisen, its precious glacier and its natural surroundings.

Compared to an equivalent hotel built in accordance with modern building standards in Norway, the new hotel reduces yearly energy consumption by approximately 85%. The hotel is thus the first of its kind to be built in compliance with the Powerhouse standard and will also become the world’s northernmost Powerhouse building.

Building in such a precious environment comes with some clear obligations in terms of preserving the natural beauty and the fauna and flora of the site. It was important for us to design a sustainable building that will leave a minimal environmental footprint on this beautiful Northern nature. Building an energy positive and low-impact hotel is an essential factor to create a sustainable tourist destination respecting the unique features of the plot; the rare plant species, the clean waters and the blue ice of the Svartisen glacier, says Founding Partner at Snøhetta, Kjetil Trædal Thorsen.

The circular body of “Svart” extends from the shoreline by the foot of the Almlifjellet mountain and into the clear waters of the Holandsfjorden fjord. The circular shape provides a panoramic view of the fjord and an experience of living in proximity with nature.

The construction is inspired local vernacular architecture in the form of the “fiskehjell” (A-shaped wooden structure for drying fish) and the “rorbue” (a traditional type of seasonal house used by fishermen). The rorbue reference translates into the hotel’s supporting structure which is built from weather resistant wooden poles stretching several meters below the surface of the fjord. The poles ensure that the building physically places a minimal footprint in the pristine nature and gives the building an almost transparent appearance.

To reach the Powerhouse standard, several cutting-edge design choices have been made. For example, the architects have conducted an extensive mapping of how solar radiation behaves in relation to mountainous context throughout the year to optimize the harvest of energy. The result of the study has been an importance premise for the circular design of the hotel, and both hotel rooms, restaurants and terraces are strategically placed to exploit the Sun’s energy throughout the day and seasons. The hotel’s roof is clad with Norwegian solar panels produced with clean hydro energy reducing the carbon footprint even further. Due to the long summer nights of this area, the annual production of solar energy will be significant.

Materials with low embodied energy have been used to reach the Powerhouse standard. Embodied energy is the amount of energy that is required to produce, transport, build and replace materials and products that go into a building. Embodied energy is highest in materials produced with energy derived from fossil fuels. The use of wood in construction and cladding minimizes the environmental impact of the building, and typically energy-intensive materials such as structural steel and concrete have been avoided as much as possible.

The hotel also uses geothermal wells that are connected to heat pumps. These are used to heat the building, thus reducing the building’s total energy consumption.

Words & image courtesy of www.architectmagazine.com