# Thermogenic Supplementation and Fat Loss in Resistance-Trained Males: A Randomized Controlled Trial
## 2 Materials and Methods
### Materials and Testing  
At baseline and post-testing (after 8 weeks of resistance training), participants were assessed on 3 different variables: body composition (fat mass and lean body mass), bench press 1-RM, and back squat 1-RM. A description of participants' characteristics at baseline are available in Table 2.  
Body Composition: The Body-Metrix BX-2000 A-mode ultrasound (IntelaMetrix, Livermore, CA, USA) equipped with a 2.5 MHz probe was used to evaluate body composition. This device has been recognized as a reliable method for estimating lean body mass in male athletes, demonstrating comparable accuracy to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) [35]. Measurements were taken at seven standardized anatomical locations, including the chest, midaxillary, triceps, subscapular, abdomen, suprailiac, and thigh.  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline \multicolumn{1}{c}{**Portricipal Characteristics**} & **TS** & **Placebo** & **Total** \\ \hline Age & 21.5 \(\pm\) 5.0 & 21 \(\pm\) 2.0 & 21 \(\pm\) 3.8 \\ Height (cm) & 177.8 \(\pm\) 6.3 & 176.2 \(\pm\) 6.4 & 177.1 \(\pm\) 6.3 \\ Body-Mass (kg) & 78.2 \(\pm\) 11.2 & 79.2 \(\pm\) 11.6 & 78.6 \(\pm\) 11.2 \\ Fat-Mass (kg) & 9.5 \(\pm\) 4.5 & 9.6 \(\pm\) 4.7 & 9.6 \(\pm\) 4.5 \\ Body Fat \% & 12 \(\pm\) 4.8 & 11.8 \(\pm\) 4.4 & 11.9 \(\pm\) 4.5 \\ Lean Body Mass (kg) & 68.7 \(\pm\) 9.2 & 69.5 \(\pm\) 8.4 & 69.1 \(\pm\) 8.7 \\ Squat Strength (kg) & 126.8 \(\pm\) 22.8 & 130.4 \(\pm\) 22.2 & 128.5 \(\pm\) 22.3 \\ Relative Squat Strength (kg/kg) & 1.6 \(\pm\) 0.2 & 1.7 \(\pm\) 0.2 & 1.6 \(\pm\) 0.2 \\ Bench Strength (kg) & 98.3 \(\pm\) 20.2 & 100.5 \(\pm\) 10.2 & 99.3 \(\pm\) 16.1 \\ Relative Bench Strength (kg/kg) & 1.3 \(\pm\) 0.2 & 1.3 \(\pm\) 0.1 & 1.3 \(\pm\) 0.1 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 2: Descriptive characteristics of the participants at baseline (mean \(\pm\) SD).  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline \hline \multicolumn{1}{c}{**Monday (S)**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Wednesday (H)**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Friday (P)**} \\ \hline
**Exercise** & **No. of Sets \(\times\) RM** & **Exercise** & **No. of Sets \(\times\) RM** & **Exercise** & **No. of Sets \(\times\) RM** * \\ \hline Back squat & 4 \(\times\) 3–6 & Back squat & 4 \(\times\) 10–12 & Back squat & 4 \(\times\) 6 \\ Bench press & 4 \(\times\) 3–6 & Bench press & 4 \(\times\) 10–12 & Bench press & 4 \(\times\) 6 \\ Shoulder press & 4 \(\times\) 3–6 & Barbell row & 4 \(\times\) 10–12 & Lat pull-down & 4 \(\times\) 6 \\ Lat pull-down & 4 \(\times\) 3–6 & Deadlift & 4 \(\times\) 10–12 & Deadlift & 4 \(\times\) 6 \\ Chin-ups & 4 \(\times\) 3–6 & Barbell curl & 4 \(\times\) 10–12 & Barbell curl & 4 \(\times\) 6 \\ Dips & 4 \(\times\) 3–6 & Triceps & 4 \(\times\) 10–12 & Dips & 4 \(\times\) 6 \\  & pressedowns & & & \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}  
* Repetitions at 60% 1-RM. RM: repetition maximum (maximum that could be lifted for indicated number of repetitions).  
\end{table}
Table 1: Resistance training workouts over 8-week study period.  
These values were then used to estimate fat mass and lean mass percentages utilizing the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) 7-site skinfold equation.  
Bench Press and Back Squat 1-RM: The 1-RM for both the bench press and back squat was assessed using standardized procedures recommended by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) [36]. Participants began with a light warm-up set (\(\sim\)10 repetitions) at a low resistance, followed by progressively heavier warm-up sets consisting of 3-5 repetitions with brief rest periods in between. Once adequately warmed up, participants proceeded to 1-RM testing, during which the weight was gradually increased. For the bench press, increments ranged between 4.5 and 9 kg, while for the back squat, the weight was adjusted in 13.6 to 18.2 kg increments. The heaviest successfully completed lift was recorded as the individual's 1-RM for each exercise.