Opinions on ECA Stack Please

[DeaCerte33]

Hi all! I posted this in the supplements section but didn't get any responses. Seems like there's more people around here, and this does qualify as a fat-loss question!

What are some opinions on ECA stacks. I have taken them before, but briefly, and I understand the potential side effects. I have an impossible time getting up and moving in the morning, which is when I want to do my cardio, and I think the ECA stack might give me a kick in the AM when I need it. That would be the only time I'd take it, and at it's lowest dosage.

I'd like to order some before you can't anymore, so does anyone have a preferred brand? Has anyone used it with good results? I'm looking at the hydroxydrine at bodybuilding.com. Any input would be great!

Thanks,
Beth

[brownguy]

You can find most of the answers to your question in this thread.

http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/s...hlight=ephedra

The general consensus was that it's better to do without. There are also a couple of other threads where ephedrine is mentioned. Just use the search function on the menu bar to find them.

[corbint]

ECA stacks should only be entertained after you have perfected your diet, cardio, and lifting routines and feel that you need the minimal help they give you. Also, ensure you understand the potential risks, and also that you dont have any pre-existing heart conditions that could be aggravated from their use.

I had a similar issue with getting up early. I couldnt, for the life of me, get out of bed before 7:15am. But, I started going to bed earlier, and changed my bodies clock, and now can easily get up between 5:15 and 5:50am, without even using an alarm clock. Ensure you getting enough sleep and you might find that its easier to get up in the morning!

[DeaCerte33]

Originally Posted by brownguy

You can find most of the answers to your question in this thread.

http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/s...hlight=ephedra

The general consensus was that it's better to do without. There are also a couple of other threads where ephedrine is mentioned. Just use the search function on the menu bar to find them.

Thanks for that link. I did use the search, but searched for "ECA stack" and got no results.

I realize what everyone is saying - that there's no "need" for it. But damn if it doesn't give me a good rush in the morning and gets me up for a workout.

[DeaCerte33]

Originally Posted by corbint

I had a similar issue with getting up early. I couldnt, for the life of me, get out of bed before 7:15am. But, I started going to bed earlier, and changed my bodies clock, and now can easily get up between 5:15 and 5:50am, without even using an alarm clock. Ensure you getting enough sleep and you might find that its easier to get up in the morning!

It's not the actual getting up, it's the sleepiness I have in the morning. Even if I get 9 hours of sleep, I still feel lethargic and groggy. It hurts my workout, and the ECA seems to wake me up.

Perhaps my internal chronometer will start to change.

[moeamaya]

I may be the only person on these boards that suggest using an ECA stack. Honestly the first time I cut was in Mar 2002 and I used the original Xenadrine RFA-1. Man was that thing potent, the only side effects I felt were difficulty sleeping. On the flip side, I had a ton of energy I was able to do two 45-min slow cardio sessions a day; better quality workouts, and NO HUNGER CRAVINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I nearly maintained all my lean mass at 140 and got down to 7%.

However, last semester I tried just a slight reduction in calories to get down to around 10%, summer after hs graduation was tough on the gut. I saw John was successful without and stimulants so I went ahead and did this round with out em. I had unbelieveable hunger cravings even though I was in a "vegan style" environment. I had to bump my daily calories all the up to 2200kcal and I only weighed 150lbs. I hated going to the gym because I was so damn tired and I would still sleep around nine hours a night. At this time I was using MAX-OT while I was trying to shed a few pounds. On Oct 16th, I went into the gym to do my shoulder and tricep workout. I did some warm-ups and everything felt fine. I went on to do my working sets and as I struggled to get the DB into position my shoulder started to hurt but I continued up anyway and then I had a rush of blood to my head and I wanted to hurl. I tore a ligament or something in my shoulder and i just ran out of the gym.

I didnt even start doing leg workouts til last month and I have lost a considerable amount of mass. I am down to 140 at around 10% bf. I am gonna continue gaining lean mass til summer 2005. And when I do cut I plan to use some energy stimulant.

If you have similar problems to me I recommend SAN Tight or Lean System 7 and IF you would like SAN Ephedra 25.

~moe

[OmeN]

I havent had much luck in terms of "fat loss" on a proper ECA stack, however I find it graet for training, really helps me and my mind since I cant concentrate on ECA so the workouts are over quicker
However I hear that a legal SAN version called "Tight" is actually very good, its not trying to be an ECA stack but does some things slightly differently, I'll get some next week and see how it goes.
[I just seen that your in the states so your law's are different, but have a look into TIGHT and see what others think on other forums]

[bv0id]

Originally Posted by corbint

ECA stacks should only be entertained after you have perfected your diet, cardio, and lifting routines and feel that you need the minimal help they give you. Also, ensure you understand the potential risks, and also that you dont have any pre-existing heart conditions that could be aggravated from their use.

I had a similar issue with getting up early. I couldnt, for the life of me, get out of bed before 7:15am. But, I started going to bed earlier, and changed my bodies clock, and now can easily get up between 5:15 and 5:50am, without even using an alarm clock. Ensure you getting enough sleep and you might find that its easier to get up in the morning!

I agree....get everything else in order and then give it a try. Start with a small dose and see how you respond. I've been taking EC on and off over the past 2 years without any problems. IMO, the reason most people are afraid of this combination is because of the media over emphasising the negative side effects, which in some cases are often not even accurate.

A couple of things I've learned about ECA. The A is not neccesary. The potential synergystic properties of Asprin with EC is not enough to make me include it in the stack.

A typical dose for me is 24mg of eph/ 200mg caff. In Canada, you can only purchase the 8mg tabs of ephedrine ( a good thing actually because it is easy to manimpulate the dose).

The kick or buzz you experience when taking the stack may start to disappear through continued use; however, the thermogenic properties of EC will not diminish.

Make sure to take time off from it. I usually go 5 days on, and 2 days off for 3 weeks, and then a complete 4th week off.

When it comes to sleep, I could not agree more with the above statements. I think EC is actually a bandaid solution to your problem. You're trying to cure the symptoms and not fix the underlying issue.

If I had money to purchase a supplement that will help me get up in the morning, it would most surely be ZMA. Do some research on this. My supplements always include ZMA. I get such a deep sleep with this product, I awake after 7 hours of solid (dream filled) slumber, wide eyed, bushy tailed, and ready to pound it out in the gym.

Long winded response, hope it helps.

[BiT]

Sorry, but I just don't believe in "upper" supplements. I've taken some before and on them I've had some super intense workouts.

Yes they do give amazing rushes, and the sleepiness isn't too bad once you get used to it. This is the kicker though and why I don't want to every touch anything like it again. After my first 30 day bottle ran out, I had to go and immediately buy another bottle. I mentally felt I couldn't achieve as an intense a workout without the stuff.

During my second bottle I had to increase dosage to continue getting the "hi", I was getting at first.

When I tried to get my third bottle, this was when ephedra just got banned from Canada, and the shop I usually go to, to get the stuff was sold out of all my regular product.

I figured, "meh, I'll try a workout without the stuff see how I do". I can tell you right now that it wasn't a very good lifting session. My intensity and attitude were horrible and I couldn't get the proper pump to get my system going.

So when I got home, I was feeling like crap because it didn't feel like I was able to hit any of the muscles I was working out. I then tried to call all local stores to see if they still had any of the product about, and they all told me the same thing, they were sold out.

At this point, I was so demotivated that I started to go to the gym less and less. Eventually I stopped all together.

Now I'm a little older and a little wiser. I feelings here is that if you need to take any uppers to give you that "extra" push, then you'll eventually always find yourself needing a "push".

For those that still need an edge and don't want to take any supps, I strongly suggest in investing money for a good quality mp3 player, and d/l some high NRG dance music. You'll understand what I mean when that kick ass beat starts playing and your adrenaline starts pumping.

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by bv0id

A typical dose for me is 24mg of eph/ 200mg caff. In Canada, you can only purchase the 8mg tabs of ephedrine ( a good thing actually because it is easy to manimpulate the dose).

Not to act like a n00b and reopen an old dead thread... but I understand that this is a common dosage, but how many times per day? Hydroxycut recommend$ building to a total of 9 pill$ per day (3x3), and of course, compared to a true EC(a) stack, sounds like the modern stuff is pretty weak... probably no better than a No-Doz alone.

I see that the recommended dosage for Bronkaid (25mg E/S) is 1 every 4 hours, no more than 6 per day, so it seems that a morning/afternoon (6-8 hour spread) dosage would be reasonably conservative (allowing for the caffein in the mix).

[CASD]

I'm using NRG time release and it helps with the workouts thats all I need if for...energy early in the morn.

[hrlykid]

speaking of xenerdrine NRG.. has anyone taken it? and what are the results?? does it "kinda" Work?? some what worth trying?? im debating on just trying it for some morning energy at school...?? thanks