Transparent Labs LEAN Review (2024): The Best Pre-Workout for Cutting?

For this Transparent Labs LEAN Review, we had Olympic lifter Caine Wilkes, OLY, USAW-L1, and GGR senior staff writer test it out. We’ve tried the grass-fed whey protein from Transparent Labs before, so we had to see what their fat burner pre-workout was all about. 

RELATED: Transparent Labs Protein Review

The active ingredients in Transparent Labs preseries LEAN are, according to the company, “developed for a single purpose: to be the most exceptional cutting pre-workout supplement, ever.” Were they successful? Let’s see what Caine had to say. 

Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. GGR also recommends choosing a product that has been third-party tested for quality.

Personally Tested, Honestly Reviewed Supplements

The fitness professionals, dietitians, and personal trainers on our team personally order, open, use, and rate the supplements we test to provide you with a comprehensive picture of what to expect. Our rating is based on our GGR supplement testing methodology. For supplements, we give products a 1-5 rating based on:

• Quality of the Formulation
• Taste/Solubility
• Side Effects
• Third-Party Testing
• Price/Value
• Customer Reviews/Service

We rate supplements based on what research has shown about their ingredients, the expertise of our testers, and our honest experiences with them.

Transparent Labs LEAN Pre-Workout

GGR Score: 4.16

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Product Highlights

• Formulated for those looking to lose weight but maintain muscle mass
• 14 grams of evidence-based ingredients
• Naturally flavored and sweetened with Stevia
• Available in 9 different flavors
• Backed by a 60-day money-back guarantee

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Includes vitamins/micronutrients to support thyroid production
• High levels of citrulline to increase oxygen delivery to muscles
• No artificial sweeteners
• No artificial colors
• 60-day money-back guarantee

Cons

• Bitter and unpleasant taste for some consumers
• Several reports of receiving wrong item

Bottom Line

Transparent Labs’ LEAN pre-workout supplement promises to deliver better endurance, power, alertness, and focus. The fat loss component is less of a guarantee with few reports of an actual change in body composition.

A Quick Look at Transparent Labs LEAN

Transparent Labs products have a reputation for being some of the most high-quality stuff out there. They consistently offer third-party tested protein powder and other supplements with clinically effective doses that are free of artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, and proprietary blends. 

Though PreSeries LEAN is formulated for cutting, there’s also the PreSeries Transparent Labs BULK pre-workout with active ingredients to support weight gain from muscle mass. 

Before You Buy

• Though advertised as a fat-loss supplement, you may only want to take it pre-workout as the caffeine content could give you jitters during unwanted times.
• There is a Transparent Labs stim-free pre-workout, but it lacks the fat-burning ingredients.
• Fat loss from fat burners is still limited in research, so try it with tempered expectations.

Is Transparent Labs LEAN Worth It?

This pre-workout is great for those cutting for fat loss, as it contains active ingredients that may help improve body composition while supporting exercise performance through better blood flow and an energy boost. However, it would be a lot closer to the “best pre-workout for cutting, ever” if it had branched-chain amino acids to help preserve muscle mass, especially considering the price is a tad steep at $1.67 a serving. 

Transparent Labs LEAN Specs

Experience Using Transparent Labs LEAN

“I used TL LEAN multiple times per week while I was training for an international weightlifting competition,” says our tester Caine Wilkes, OLY, USAW-L1, and GGR senior staff writer. “The workouts I did were Olympic lifting and strength training workouts involving snatches, clean and jerks, squats, presses, and pulls. “

Caine also liked the energy and focus. “I’m pretty sensitive to caffeine, so 180 milligrams of caffeine per serving was enough to boost my energy. There were several days where I didn’t feel super motivated to hit the gym but the boost of energy this product gave me helped. It helped with focus, too, and I didn’t experience any significant crash after the workout was over either.”

RELATED: Best Pre-Workout for Focus

Price Per Serving

We rated Transparent Labs LEAN 2.75 out of 5 for a price of $1.67 per serving, which is a bit high compared to the market average. However, the inflated price tag is likely due to a couple of extra ingredients thrown in to promote weight loss, third-party testing, and an overall high-quality brand. 

Formulation

We gave it a 2 out of 5 for formulation due to it containing no creatine, under-dosed beta-alanine, and less than 200 milligrams of caffeine. It’s also advised to take a half scoop to test tolerance when you start, which would also result in you getting shorted on dosages until you get adjusted. 

Citrulline Malate (6 grams): Helps increase blood flow to muscles by boosting nitric oxide, and its clinically effective dose to achieve this effect is 6 to 8 grams¹, so Transparent Labs passes the test.

Beta-Alanine (2 grams): Pre-workout ingredients often include beta-alanine as research suggests it can help you lift more weight² during high-intensity training. However, the effective dose is 4 to 6 grams³ and Transparent Labs LEAN pre-workout contains only 2 grams per serving. 

Betaine Anhydrous (as Betapure) (1.5 grams): There has been some evidence to suggest that supplementing with betaine anhydrous for 15 straight days can help improve muscular endurance⁴.

Acetyl L-Carnitine HCl (1 gram): So here’s the thing. The Transparent Labs website says this ingredient (abbreviated ALCAR) “upregulates dopamine receptor expression and protects against neurodegeneration,” which I guess is just a fancy way of saying it helps improve cognitive function. 

However, the study⁵ they cite was done on rats and we couldn’t find these results in humans. Whatever the case, l-carnitine promotes recovery and helps decrease fatigue in lean muscle tissues, according to human studies⁶.

BioPerine Black Pepper Fruit Extract (5 milligrams): Known as bioperine, black pepper extract is increasingly found in sports nutrition supplements due to its ability to help increase the absorption⁷ of natural substances, like creatine and tyrosine.

Other ingredients: It also includes 1.5 grams of betaine anhydrous, 180 milligrams of theanine, 50 milligrams of theobromine, and 100 micrograms of Huperzine A. 

It would also be nice to see some branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in this pre-workout supplement as studies have shown that they can help preserve lean muscle and even assist with fat loss during a cut or calorie deficit⁸. 

RELATED: Best Pre-Workout With BCAAs

Taste and Solubility 

We gave a rating of 4.5 out of 5 for taste as Caine thought the flavor was OK after trying the sour grape. “If I’m being picky, the flavor was more sour than grape, but it wasn’t an unpleasant flavor,” he said 

He also appreciates the lack of artificial sweeteners: “It’s not overly sweet, and it doesn’t have an overpowering stevia flavor, which is nice. I think many people will appreciate the use of stevia and lack of artificial flavors in the pre-workout as well.” 

RELATED: Best Pre-Workout for Weight Loss

For solubility, we gave it a rating of 4 out of 5 based on Caine’s experience. “I used a shaker cup for the majority of my workouts, and it mixed well enough, though not perfectly. There were usually a few granules at the bottom of the cup when I finished drinking,” he said.

Side Effects

We gave it a rating of 5 out of 5 in this category as Caine did not experience any adverse side effects, but did get some jitters due to his tolerance. “As I’ve said before,” Caine notes, “I am sensitive to caffeine, so there was a workout or two where I felt a little jittery at first, but that was all, and it wasn’t every workout.”

Third-Party Testing 

We gave it a 5 out of 5 here as, like most Transparent Labs products, Transparent Labs LEAN pre-workout is certified by Informed Choice, a third-party lab that sports organizations recognize as being sufficient in testing sports supplements for safety and potency. Since pre-workout supplements are not approved by the FDA, third-party testing is the best way to assess safety. 

Transparent Labs LEAN vs XWERKS Ignite Pre-Workout

XWERKS Ignite Pre-Workout

Xwerks Ignite Pre-Workout

GGR Score: 3.72

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Product Highlights

* Designed to provide sustainable energy without the crash * Uses a blend of caffeine, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, rhodiola rosea, DMAE, L-tyrosine, carnosyn beta-alanine, L-citrulline malate, as well as calcium and magnesium lactate. * XWERKS claims that this product increases muscle growth and repair, enhances focus, and expands muscular endurance and work capacity * Available in 4 flavors

Pros & Cons

Pros

• No crash
• Added vitamins and nootropic ingredients
• Great-tasting

Cons

• Slightly under-dosed
• Expensive
• Contains sucralose

Bottom Line

Xwerks Ignite is a pre-workout supplement with both energy-boosting and focus-enhancing ingredients. It may be a good choice for those who want an effective product with a dose of vitamins.

XWERKS Ignite and LEAN pre-workout have very similar formulations, despite LEAN being more heavily marketed for fat loss. Both are also close in price, lack creatine, and neither has the effective dose of beta-alanine. 

What Transparent Labs has that XWERKS does not is slightly more caffeine, more flavors, twice as much l-citrulline, and, most importantly, is third-party tested. XWERKS is also sweetened with sucralose, an artificial sweetener. 

To learn more, check out our full XWERKS Ignite review.

Customer Experience 

We gave a rating of 5 out of 5 here as we had no issues with customer service and Transparent Labs is known for being responsive via email contact at support@transparentlabs.com or by phone at 1-866-324-9557. 

For a refund, you must email transparentlabs.com within 30 days of receiving your pre-workout supplement, and the product must be unopened. Store credit or exchange may be available if opened.

Ordering Transparent Labs LEAN

When ordering from Transparentlabs.com, shipping is free for orders over $100. Otherwise, standard 5- to 7-day U.S. shipping is $7.99. You can also get free shipping and a 10% discount by enrolling in Subscribe & Save, which you can schedule for delivery every 30, 45, or 60 days.

RELATED: Best Pre-Workout for Beginners

Customer Reviews

We gave a rating of 4.6 out of 5, the same average on the Transparent Labs website based on 2,012 reviews at the time of writing. Not many users commented on its effectiveness for weight loss, but most love the energy it gives and that it’s free from artificial colors, preservatives, and other additives. 

On Amazon, Transparent Labs Lean Pre-Workout is rated 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 161 pre-workout reviews. Many people love how clean the product is, but others complain about the cost and taste. 

Final Verdict of Transparent Labs LEAN Review

We appreciated the combo of pre-workout ingredients like nitric oxide boosters and fat loss compounds, but think the formulation is still a little lacking to be worth the price. However, for those looking for a pre-workout that’s clean and low-calorie enough to be suitable for cutting, it may be worth a try. 

• Pricey compared to pre-workouts with a similar formulation
• Third-party tested with clean ingredients from a trusted brand

Full Rating

Transparent Labs LEAN Pre-Workout

Transparent Labs’ LEAN pre-workout supplement promises to deliver better endurance, power, alertness, and focus. The fat loss component is less of a guarantee with few reports of an actual change in body composition.

Product Brand: Transparent Labs

Product Currency: $

Product Price: 49.99

Product In-Stock: InStock

Editor's Rating:
4.16

Transparent Labs LEAN: FAQs

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.

References

1. Gough LA, Sparks SA, McNaughton LR, Higgins MF, Newbury JW, Trexler E, Faghy MA, Bridge CA. A critical review of citrulline malate supplementation and exercise performance. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2021 Dec;121(12):3283-3295. doi: 10.1007/s00421-021-04774-6. Epub 2021 Aug 21. PMID: 34417881; PMCID: PMC8571142.
2. Hoffman J, Ratamess NA, Ross R, et al. Beta-alanine and the hormonal response to exercise. Int J Sports Med. 2008;29(12):952-958. doi:10.1055/s-2008-1038678
3. Trexler ET, Smith-Ryan AE, Stout JR, et al. International society of sports nutrition position stand: Beta-Alanine. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015;12:30. Published 2015 Jul 15. doi:10.1186/s12970-015-0090-y
4. Hoffman JR, Ratamess NA, Kang J, Rashti SL, Faigenbaum AD. Effect of betaine supplementation on power performance and fatigue. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2009;6:7. Published 2009 Feb 27. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-6-7
5. Singh S, Mishra A, Srivastava N, Shukla R, Shukla S. Acetyl-L-Carnitine via Upegulating Dopamine D1 Receptor and Attenuating Microglial Activation Prevents Neuronal Loss and Improves Memory Functions in Parkinsonian Rats. Mol Neurobiol. 2018;55(1):583-602. doi:10.1007/s12035-016-0293-5
6. Koozehchian MS, Daneshfar A, Fallah E, et al. Effects of nine weeks L-Carnitine supplementation on exercise performance, anaerobic power, and exercise-induced oxidative stress in resistance-trained males. J Exerc Nutrition Biochem. 2018;22(4):7-19. doi:10.20463/jenb.2018.0026
7. Khajuria A, Thusu N, Zutshi U. Piperine modulates permeability characteristics of intestine by inducing alterations in membrane dynamics: influence on brush border membrane fluidity, ultrastructure and enzyme kinetics. Phytomedicine. 2002;9(3):224-231. doi:10.1078/0944-7113-00114
8. Ooi DSQ, Ling JQR, Ong FY, et al. Branched Chain Amino Acid Supplementation to a Hypocaloric Diet Does Not Affect Resting Metabolic Rate but Increases Postprandial Fat Oxidation Response in Overweight and Obese Adults after Weight Loss Intervention. Nutrients. 2021;13(12):4245. Published 2021 Nov 26. doi:10.3390/nu13124245

Destini Moody, RD, CSSD, LD

Destini Moody, RD, CSSD, LD is a sports dietitian and the head of performance nutrition for the NBA G League Ignite. In addition to working with pro athletes, Destini has ghostwritten four weight loss and wellness cookbooks. She also authors online content covering fitness and nutrition topics.

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