It is my pleasure to document my journey with the latest topical fat burner out there. I have had the good fortune of being comped a bottle of the new Andro Shred from Muscle Gelz, a truly unique blend of 7-keto DHEA, Phosphatidyl Serine (PS) and green tea, delivered in a topical carrier.

Like its predecessor, Andro Hard, this topical product literally dries in seconds without a ton of manual labor rubbing it in. Two days ago I applied my first four pumps in the morning after a shower. Unlike Andro Hard, this topical appears to have a more lotion-like appearance. Part of me wonders if a moisturizing component has been added to avoid excessive skin dryness that can be felt with some topicals.

There are no noxious odors to this compound, nor is there necessarily a fragrance. I applied the formula to my abdomen and upper trunk to allow for a wide delivery area.

I am not clear if this product has any local effect, or if the benefits are all systemic. Normally with a transdermal hormonal product, one would avoid the abdominal wall due to the enzymatic conversions leaning more to the estrogenic side in that area versus the upper trunk being more androgenic. But since the intended use of this compound is not androgenic hormonal benefits, I think one would be safe hitting the abs with it.

I find the formula truly fascinating. For years we have heard that 7-keto DHEA has thermogenic properties that could be realized if bioavailability was good. Given that oral bioavailability of most DHEA variants is in the single-digit percentile in plain powder form with no enhanced carrier, I cannot say that I’ve ever seen any benefits from oral versions of 7-keto in the past. It will be interesting to see what this blend does via topical administration.

The nice thing about 7-keto is that it does not have stimulant properties and should not put undue stress upon the Central Nervous System.

This product will be a bit of a throwback to the Primordial Performance days for me. Many people who were around when this now-defunct company sold its product called EndoAmp would remember the benefits of Phosphatidyl Serine upon cortisol levels and HTPA regulation. Primordial made a powdered version of a PS product with a pretty hefty dose.

Unfortunately, the product never agreed with my lower GI and it gave me terrible diarrhea. I am excited to see a topical formula so hopefully I can realize the benefits without the GI upset.

The incorporation of camellia senesis, better known simply as green tea, is also interesting to me. For years we have heard that it can burn fat. According to Muscle Gelz, it can help mobilize fat from fat cells and that the active compounds can boost the effects of other fat burning hormones.

I applied my first four pumps on 8/8/17, and another four later that night. I can’t say I felt anything the first day.

Yesterday I applied four pumps in the morning and another four in the afternoon. I thought perhaps I felt the beginning of a heating sensation in my center section, but nothing over the top. I believe transdermals take time to build up to a steady level in your system, and overall the delivery system is slow, smooth and consistent.

Today I applied some and am sitting down feeling a bit more heated in the core, perhaps. It’s hard to tell just yet if my mind is playing tricks on me. The proof will come in the workouts.

I am not much of a sweaty person by nature. It takes a hell of a lot to get me sweating. If I am sweating more easily, it will be a telltale sign if this product is doing its job.

Currently I am sitting at 13.8 percent bodyfat. The lowest I have ever been is 10.4. I will be using electronic bodyfat monitoring throughout the time I am on this and will be re-incorporating a lot of the HIIT training I’ve been neglecting the past few months.

Stay tuned for more updates and thanks for reading.