Training & Nutrition - hydroxycut: holy S**T

So I was walking back to the locker room today at the YMCA and I overheard a training singing the praises of that hydroxycut weight loss "supplement" isn't that the same stuff that caused a few people to have seizures awhile back caused by all the caffeine? or am I thinking of something else? these rapid weight loss pills scare me, I thought it was unhealthy to lose more than a pound or 2 a week?

I'm going to weigh on on this one (no pun intended)

Over this past summer (summer of '07) I started riding again; 2001 Gary Fisher Wahoo (don't laugh too much). I was taking Stacker 3 (contains caffeine, lots of it) and eating not even nearly enough as I should have. I went from 275 to 165 (End of september '07). End result: all sorts of loose skin, "skinny fat". Granted I was healthier at 165, but I did it the wrong way. It should have taken me a year to get down to 165... not 4 months.

Now I'm back up to 190. No, I'm not as skinny as I was before, but I look better (at least that's what people tell me) I went to the gym and started lifting weights to start to fill out my extra space in the skin and it's worked a little, but the damage is still there.

Cliffs Notes: No, it's not that bad... if you don't mind the jitters, and loose skin if you lose too much weight too fast.

I'm going to weigh on on this one (no pun intended)

Over this past summer (summer of '07) I started riding again; 2001 Gary Fisher Wahoo (don't laugh too much). I was taking Stacker 3 (contains caffeine, lots of it) and eating not even nearly enough as I should have. I went from 275 to 165 (End of september '07). End result: all sorts of loose skin, "skinny fat". Granted I was healthier at 165, but I did it the wrong way. It should have taken me a year to get down to 165... not 4 months.

Now I'm back up to 190. No, I'm not as skinny as I was before, but I look better (at least that's what people tell me) I went to the gym and started lifting weights to start to fill out my extra space in the skin and it's worked a little, but the damage is still there.

Cliffs Notes: No, it's not that bad... if you don't mind the jitters, and loose skin if you lose too much weight too fast.


Im not sure how this works personally, but i've heard it told to me by more than one woman that coco butter help to tighten loose skin after dramatic weight loss.

They did change the ingredients to Hydroxycut a few years ago. There was a big hooha about these supps and hence some ingredients were dropped. Bit hte new stuff is even better :-p lol

I dont like messing with my heart if I dont have to

Im not sure how this works personally, but i've heard it told to me by more than one woman that coco butter help to tighten loose skin after dramatic weight loss.

Yeah, I've heard that too about coco butter. I just hate the taste of it. I'd stick with real butter... eat a stick-a-day and I'm sure things will tighten right up in a few weeks!

The hydroxycut that was giving seizures a few years back had EPHEDRA and caffeine. Is this combination, which I think is now illegal, that would increase your body temp. to an unsafe point during exercise. Hydroxycut right now has no ephedra, only caffeine.

Ephedra/ephedrine was causing the heart attacks and severe medical problems. It was banned a few years ago.

You don't eat the cocoa butter hahaha.

Ok so having seen the concerns about the "messing w/ your heart". From what I've read, there are several kinds of weight loss pills. Some are stimulants, some are not. Anything w/ caffeine is a stimulant. Look at the ingredients of many of those weight loss pills and you'll see that a LOT of them contain caffeine.

Here's a little info

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/fatloss.htm

Read on that a little bit. Always read the label! Be smart about what you use.

Man, the misconception about ephedra drives me nuts!!! The people that were having problems with ephedra were:
1. Taking more than the prescribed dosage.
2. Not drinking enough water.
3. Being pushed to the limit by idiotic coaches.

I know of a few cases of highschool football players that had heart issue and it was blamed on ephedra. The fact was that they were taking more than the correct dosage, doing 2-a-day practices in Alabama's heat and humidity, and were not allowed to drink enough water during the practice.

Now caffiene is a dieuretic (sp?) so you will retain less water in your body, but as long as you drink enough and watch your body temperature you are fine.

Ephedra is available from multiple online retailers and as long as you follow the directions you should be fine.

Of course, this is an online forum and no one knows who I am so do your own research and make your decision based on that and not my post. It just drives me nuts when supplements like this are banned because some idiot took 4 times the recommended dose and put themselves in a position to get heat stroke and then the supplement is blamed as the cause. It was the moron that didn't follow the directions and standard precautions for working out in a high heat and humidity that is to blame. Ahhhhhh!!!!

Anyway, I have been on Stimerex-ES for about 2 months and have went from 198-188. This has more to do with my work on the bike and eating a little less but the supplement helps as well.

Good luck.

batman -- What you said is definitely true. But realize that any conditioned athlete should not be on this stuff, period. There's no reason it should be prescribed, either. It's like Nathan O'Neill testing positive for a banned appetite suppressant in the 2007 Tour of Elk Grove. What the hell is a domestic pro with a bf% of ~4% doing with a prescription-only appetite suppressant? This is where the breakdown in ethics among Dr's comes into play, but that is for another topic.

Although ephedrine is probably safe for almost everyone who takes it (drugs always have complications with a minority of people), it was not designed for athletes. Period. Part of being a serious athlete involves hard workouts/intervals -- another thing that should not have been combined with ephedra. Dehydration is a common problem in all athletes, too. This is a deadly combination.

In the end, it is irresponsible people trying to gain that last 1% -- substance abuse. Welcome to all sports.

It's abuse pure and simple.
If something works then some people think more works better. And when athletes are pushed about performance and looks the athlete tends to go overboard to stay on top. Couple that with the media jumping on a story and placing the blame on the drug and not the drug user. Same thing with the whole "Roid Rage" thing that went on a few months ago. Blame the drugs without getting facts straight.

I've taken and ECA stack (wiki it) and it works. It's the only fat burner that does work. But with anything there are sides. Now it's hard to come by because the media and the government decided they know more than we know what's better for us.

I've taken proper diet and exercise and it works. It's the only fat burner that does work.

Fixed.

I agree with bat that the ephedrine scare is hype. That said, taking stims to lose weight is, to me, losing weight for weight's sake, not for health's sake. Health is more than a number on a scale or a certain look in the mirror. But to each his or her own says the Libertarian in me.

It's abuse pure and simple.
If something works then some people think more works better. And when athletes are pushed about performance and looks the athlete tends to go overboard to stay on top. Couple that with the media jumping on a story and placing the blame on the drug and not the drug user. Same thing with the whole "Roid Rage" thing that went on a few months ago. Blame the drugs without getting facts straight.

I've taken and ECA stack (wiki it) and it works. It's the only fat burner that does work. But with anything there are sides. Now it's hard to come by because the media and the government decided they know more than we know what's better for us.

E = 1 Bronkaid (http://www.bayercare.com/bronkaid.cfm) tablet (ephedrine)
C = 1 200 mg caffeine tablet
A = 1 81 mg "baby" aspirin

= 1 dose of ECA

All found at your friendly local pharmacy (though you'll need to show ID and sign for the Bronkaid).

That said, it's no magic bullet, does have side effects, and might be dangerous.

I had forgotten! The standard stack: asprin, ephed, and caff. A college staple. Thermogenis inducing and prolonged alertness. Effective? Yes! Cheap? Yes? Safe? I'd say safer and cheaper than any energy drink or "fat burner" out there. disclaimer: use with caution...

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Ephedra is available from multiple online retailers and as long as you follow the directions you should be fine.


Yes, it must be safe if it's offered on the internet. Especially if you follow the directions you find on the internet.

I've taken a hell of a lot of ephedirine (and amphetamine, which is very similar) but I never fooled myself into thinking it was safe. It will help you lose weight, but you'll gain it back when you quit taking it. Guaranteed.