My stupid, dumb friend...

[ST Dragon]

I recently discovered that a friend of mine that is pumping iron at the gym, doing Kick-Boxing & running around the tracks trying to make the perfect body, is using Ephedrine every once in a while.

He offered me a pill so I could get "High" as he said & he guaranteed that it will act as energy booster, & enhance my athletic performance in water polo.
I refused of course.
I've heard some wild stuff about Ephedrine & I really don't understand why he's using this stuff? He isn't a professional athlete, so he couldn’t be expecting to get any money from it, to justify risking his health by using that shit!
I guess he's just too stupid & dumb to realize what he is’s doing, or his ambition of having a great body & strength to show off at the beach this summer, is flooding his mind.
I know he’s been using this stuff for years now!
That is sad.

Any way, this is what I found on the net:

Ephedrine is widely used for weight loss, as an energy booster, and to enhance athletic performance. These products often contain other stimulants, such as caffeine, which may have synergistic effects and increase the potential for adverse effects. Ephedra is often touted as the "herbal fen-phen

Ephedrine alkaloids are amphetamine-like compounds used in OTC and prescription drugs with potentially lethal stimulant effects on the central nervous system and heart. The FDA has received more than 800 reports of adverse effects associated with use of products containing ephedrine alkaloid since 1994. These serious adverse effects, include hypertension (elevated blood pressure), palpitations (rapid heart rate), neurophathy (nerve damage), myopathy (muscle injury), psychosis, stroke, memory loss, heart rate irregularities, insomnia, nervousness, tremors, seizures, heart attacks, and death. The agency has proposed to prohibit the marketing of dietary supplements containing 8 milligrams or more of ephedrine alkaloids per serving.

hhmm..
No thanks.
I better warn my pal!

[TWITCHDOCTOR]

Just tell him that it would be a lot safer to sacrifice his parents and chop off his wee-wee, all for the glorification of the OverFiend.

(source: The Legend of OverFiend) anime movie

[Ganelon]

Looks like he won't be getting a real job anytime soon if he keeps that up... That's pretty weak but hey, it's just the masculine side of extreme image consciousness.

[Super Laydock]

All I can say is that I once was at multiple day music festival and was EXTREMELY tired on the second day after having visited several concerts...that night however was 1 concert I REALLY wanted to see as well
(by a band called Placebo...some of you may know them)
My friend and I went to a booth on the festival ground and bought these things called "Super Ephedra" (which were sold as food supplements and reading the story above I assume is the same stuff as mentioned...not sure though). About an hour before the concert I took one pill and to my amazement I got enough energy to go and enjoy the concert.
Earlier I was even so tired that I couldn't stand up and stuff.
The pills helped me through that night and gave me enough energy to enjoy the concert!
I used up the other pills next day and never bought them again though...

Please note I am NOT recommending these pills, just stating they helped me out that day and I am not regretting taking them...

[MadSteelDarkness]

Heh, I used to use ephedrine here and there during my freshman and sophomore years in college (12 loooong years ago ). I took way too much on one occasion and got pretty sick, so that was that.

But boy, was I ready for those 7:00 AM classes!

Errr.... just say no, kids...

[TWITCHDOCTOR]

Would these pills be the "same with a different name" energy/weight loss pills known as Formula 1?
If so, I never took any, but I have a friend that used to take em. He stopped when they were pulled from store shelves.

[Nemo]

It couldn't be too bad, the FDA just reallowed its sale after they abruptly banned it a few years ago. We used to sell products containing it at work all the time, thousands of people bought and used it without issue. It's like anything, if you abuse it, it can be harmful. Obviosuly someone with heart problems, high blood pressure, etc. shouldn't use it, but it clearly states on the bottles for these people not to use it.

[GaijinPunch]

Ephedrine isn't illegal, and really isn't that powerful either. If you need to study or pull an allnighter at work every now and again, 1 -2 isn't going to kill you. Using them on a regular to work out though, will cause a crutch. Get off the ephedrine, and your performance will fall. It is nothing like cocaine or any flavor of methamphetamine --- those will prevent you from getting/keeping a job.

[The n00b]

This ephedrine sounds like bad stuff. May I recommend creatine though? I used it for awhile back in college and it did wonders for my running and abs. Almost everyone on the track was taking it back then.

[Diabollokus]

I'm in to pumping iron and martial arts myself and have a great deal of knowledge of sports supplements its practically my profession.

I've come across ephidrine variants a few times, they were pulled from americans shelves becasuse a few fat guys in there 50s decided to lose weight by speeding up thier heart rate and metabolisim, they took to much and had heart attacks if your friend is young, fit and strong in the heart He'll have no problems if sticks to the dosage.

If you are concerned I recommend an alternative product from my former sponsoring company, maximuscle they have 2 products in that range thermokick and thermobol get your friend to check em out, they are much safer not as strong.

Its still on UK shelves though.

Creatine is pretty safe no records of long term side effects, Used for ab training? were you relying on the increase in muscle size due to water rention? creatine improves endurance enabling greater muscle strain, thus greater definition. 80% of olympic athletes take creatine.

I have a similar problem with a rugby friend hes taking testosterone shots, and is jepordzing his chances of passing drug tests for the national u21 squad.

If your friend is happy is that not all that matters?

[landshark]

Creatine is pretty safe no records of long term side effects, Used for ab training? were you relying on the increase in muscle size due to water rention? creatine improves endurance enabling greater muscle strain, thus greater definition. 80% of olympic athletes take creatine.

Just make sure that you don't over-exert or overstrain when you are on your energy high. I used to take this before climbing, but stopped (didn't want to worry about possible side effects). It'd be easy to fuck up a tendon or something similar.

[ST Dragon]

I'm in to pumping iron and martial arts myself and have a great deal of knowledge of sports supplements its practically my profession.

I've come across ephidrine variants a few times, they were pulled from americans shelves becasuse a few fat guys in there 50s decided to lose weight by speeding up thier heart rate and metabolisim, they took to much and had heart attacks if your friend is young, fit and strong in the heart He'll have no problems if sticks to the dosage.

If you are concerned I recommend an alternative product from my former sponsoring company, maximuscle they have 2 products in that range thermokick and thermobol get your friend to check em out, they are much safer not as strong.

Its still on UK shelves though.

Creatine is pretty safe no records of long term side effects, Used for ab training? were you relying on the increase in muscle size due to water rention? creatine improves endurance enabling greater muscle strain, thus greater definition. 80% of olympic athletes take creatine.

I have a similar problem with a rugby friend hes taking testosterone shots, and is jepordzing his chances of passing drug tests for the national u21 squad.

If your friend is happy is that not all that matters?

Well if all that counts is being happy, one could be happy by eating & drinking like a pig all day, or taking drugs or shooting people for the fun of it. That doesn't justify you doing it!

I'm not convinced that only if you're fat & old you're in danger by using this type of dietary supplements. All sites I've read were very clear about the side effects, regardless age or health of the athlete that is going to use this stuff.
After all doing sports with high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, heart rate irregularities & possible muscle injuries all caused by some pills, is not a very good idea.

Besides I don't understand why a healthy person that's doing sports not professionally should use all this shit?
I've been a swimmer since age of 6 & play water polo since 14 & I have a better body than this friend of mine & from most people that pump iron for that matter & I never used any of this stuff, except the regular food I eat.

Most people that pump iron all day & take these pills are usually people that started doing sports at an older age & want to catch up quickly so that they can be fit for the beach.

Best & safer way to lose fat quickly is bicycling a few km per day (preferably uphill! ) & water polo/swimming (not being a smoker helps a lot of course.

[Diabollokus]

lol

I'm competitve in a few sports so I train not only for fun and as a social thing but to kick ass cos I like it

I ment from a psychological point of view your friend is obviously concerned with how he looks probably dosen't help telling him your in better shape and you do less lol, good ole genetics.

Obviously as already highlighted too much will do damage but bare in mind the reasearch articles are written based on abuse and not sporting success.

It like that stupid doctor who claimed too much protein is bad for you makes me want to find his family. That myth is hurting the world.

Your right if you are training naturally and in good health you don't need these supplements but many nutrients i.e. protein cannot be supplied in the right quantities based on RNI and DRV guidlines. 55 g of protein a day for a male ridiculous for an athlete.

The safest way to lose fat quickly is to not lose fat quickly, lose anymore than 2-3 pounds a week and your arteries are in for a hard time

prevention is better than the cure as its easiert to manage dietary intake rather than expenditure but one question what is your friends % body fat? remember around 15% is normal in UK that is, america is big.

[ST Dragon]

Of course I don't tell him that I'm better than him, but water polo/swimming can be a lot more intense than gym & kick boxing, so I don't consider my self doing less than him.
I don't know what my mate’s body fat in % is, but in relation to most guys out there he's fit.
His problem is that he's very greedy & eats large quantities of food (Especially protein & chocolate) because he believes that he needs more protein & energy.

A girl I used to go out with had finished dietetics in the university & she's now doing her masters in athletic dietetics. She told me that it’s an absolute myth that when you exercise & do sports, your needs in protein increases. A well balanced diet is much more effective than eating large quantities of meat like most body builders do.
So that doctor you're referring to is not totally wrong.

[Diabollokus]

Yes protein increase isn't an issue when your training only to improve endurance, repair muscle tissue and preserve lean muscle.

However you need large quantities of protein to build muscle thats undisputed fact. Just look at dorian yates, hes the guy whose going to take schwarzeniggers record he himself attributes his sucess to 80% nutrition. personally I think its his superior steroids.

Your friend however is doing to much endurance related activity to achieve high levels of muscle mass so his protein levels shouldn't be an issue.

Most body builders don't eat high quantities of meat as its too expensive 300-400g a day of protein from steak ain't cheap. Its all powders and whey poly-peptide isolates that have an added advantage of no Saturated fatty acids common in red meat not too mention the link between colon cancer, then again chicken and fish have almost nil sfas.

Nutrition is a constantly changing field what people learn from a few years ago is now becomming outdated even the best surgeons are continually retrained.

I come from a strength and power related sector within the industry so my recommendations will be catered to predominately men with intentions of icreasing muscle mass and decreasing body fat through training so my methods are probably a little more extreme than your former girlsfriends.

Nearly did dietitics myself but I want to work directly with athletes on a 1 to 1 basis rather than in a clinic. Has your friend got a job yet if so whats she doing I'm always interested in hearing another line of work similar to my own.

Regards

Diabollokus

[PaCrappa]

Thank you Diabollokus. The voice of reason. Ephedra and ephedrine are about like caffiene x 2. Nothing. Nothing at all. I used to be very very serious about both skateboarding and snowboarding. I took ephedra (avoided 'ephedrine' because it sounds all chemicaled out) every day for years (92-99) and I never had a single problem. Keep in mind that I was snowboarding and smoking weed all day long (skateboarding in summer) and drinking and partying all night long, six days a week. I wasn't ever aware that there was some health problem with this stuff or that it had been taken off the market. It really is junior bush league stimulation at best.

Diabollokus' assessment sounds just about right. Some slobby fatasses wanted a shortcut and decided that constantly ODing on speed would help them shed some of those ever so dreadful and disgusting pounds and they wound up blowing out their weaksauce oreo coookie hearts. That doesn't sound sad or dangerous, sorry.

And for the record, taking supplements and busting your ass all for the sake of looking pretty is some seriously pussified bullshit. I feel blessed that I don't have to associate with anyone so vain.

Pa

[Acid King]

800 reports of adverse affects in a sea of millions of people taking millions of doses is not much to worry about. They've probably had more reports about aspirin than that. Anyways, they put a warning right on the bottle that if you have heart problems you shouldn't take it. If you're too stupid to listen to them and die, then you have no right to complain.

[The n00b]

Thank you Diabollokus. The voice of reason. Ephedra and ephedrine are about like caffiene x 2. Nothing. Nothing at all. I used to be very very serious about both skateboarding and snowboarding. I took ephedra (avoided 'ephedrine' because it sounds all chemicaled out) every day for years (92-99) and I never had a single problem. Keep in mind that I was snowboarding and smoking weed all day long (skateboarding in summer) and drinking and partying all night long, six days a week. I wasn't ever aware that there was some health problem with this stuff or that it had been taken off the market. It really is junior bush league stimulation at best.

Diabollokus' assessment sounds just about right. Some slobby fatasses wanted a shortcut and decided that constantly ODing on speed would help them shed some of those ever so dreadful and disgusting pounds and they wound up blowing out their weaksauce oreo coookie hearts. That doesn't sound sad or dangerous, sorry.

And for the record, taking supplements and busting your ass all for the sake of looking pretty is some seriously pussified bullshit. I feel blessed that I don't have to associate with anyone so vain.

Pa

Still better than being a fatty who pops pills all day, needs 3 cups of coffee to wake up, never reads anything besides Entertainment Weekly, poisons his/her body with everything from a McDonald's menu, drinks too much, and lives to harass people at work.

I'll take a heaping serving of "pussified bullshit" any day of the week. Now roids is a different story....

[ST Dragon]

Yes protein increase isn't an issue when your training only to improve endurance, repair muscle tissue and preserve lean muscle.

However you need large quantities of protein to build muscle thats undisputed fact. Just look at dorian yates, hes the guy whose going to take schwarzeniggers record he himself attributes his sucess to 80% nutrition. personally I think its his superior steroids.

Your friend however is doing to much endurance related activity to achieve high levels of muscle mass so his protein levels shouldn't be an issue.

Most body builders don't eat high quantities of meat as its too expensive 300-400g a day of protein from steak ain't cheap. Its all powders and whey poly-peptide isolates that have an added advantage of no Saturated fatty acids common in red meat not too mention the link between colon cancer, then again chicken and fish have almost nil sfas.

Nutrition is a constantly changing field what people learn from a few years ago is now becomming outdated even the best surgeons are continually retrained.

I come from a strength and power related sector within the industry so my recommendations will be catered to predominately men with intentions of icreasing muscle mass and decreasing body fat through training so my methods are probably a little more extreme than your former girlsfriends.

Nearly did dietitics myself but I want to work directly with athletes on a 1 to 1 basis rather than in a clinic. Has your friend got a job yet if so whats she doing I'm always interested in hearing another line of work similar to my own.

Regards

Diabollokus

She worked in a hospital. Now she's getting her master's degree & will be specialized in athletic dietary.

Dietary supplements of any kind should not be used by any healthy person. Exercise & proper diet is enough.

[Diabollokus]

lol

determined to get the last word in eh?




























































































































































Supplements Rock.