Fat Burners/Energy/Etc, etc.

[mrbeefy]

OK New Question:

I've tried a lot of the Fat Burners, etc., ECA stacks.
Dialene4, Synephrine, Ephedrine, Lipo6, etc, etc.

Now...due to my current health, I REALLY have to start being picky. High BP, Rx Meds.

Just about everything you pick up says either DO NOT USE if you have high BP, or check with your MD (who will then tell you don't use it due to your high BP!)

Anyone have any suggestions for fat burners, energy supplemnts to help make it through workouts, etc. that WON"T elevate the BP?

Thanks!

Frank

[youngblood]

My suggestion for a fat burner without raising BP significantly? The treadmill.

Why risk your health? All weight loss is, is a calorie vs. calorie principle. In your "state of health," no need to chance it. If you're not losing weight fast enough, up the activity level. Pretty simple, and not as risky as possibly killing yourself with a risky fat burner.

Anyone need change for my two cents?

[beckie]

I wouldn't recommend you use anything Frank-I can't-last time I tried guggelsterones and my metabolism went wacko for 3 months so no more of any fatburners for me! With all your meds you know you have to be extremely careful so I would do exactly as you doctor says.
you could try L-carnitine,that won't raise your BP,but its not scientifically proven either

[RUBICON19]

youngblood said:

My suggestion for a fat burner without raising BP significantly? The treadmill.

Why risk your health? All weight loss is, is a calorie vs. calorie principle. In your "state of health," no need to chance it. If you're not losing weight fast enough, up the activity level. Pretty simple, and not as risky as possibly killing yourself with a risky fat burner.

Anyone need change for my two cents?

AGREE

[QuietBob]

rubicon19 said:

youngblood said:

My suggestion for a fat burner without raising BP significantly? The treadmill.

Why risk your health? All weight loss is, is a calorie vs. calorie principle. In your "state of health," no need to chance it. If you're not losing weight fast enough, up the activity level. Pretty simple, and not as risky as possibly killing yourself with a risky fat burner.

Anyone need change for my two cents?

AGREE

Yep.
Most fat burners are just energy enhancers/appetite suppressants with caffeine or its derivatives. A big problem with them is that you acclimate to them, then have to take more for the same effect, which leads to more... which is too much stress to the system (cortisol, etc.). I've pretty much given them up with the exception of the occasional Animal Cuts (doesn't amp me out; although I also drink a lot of coffee and am not very sensitive to caffeine).
As the man said, diet and fat loss is a calorie thing.

Bob

[mrbeefy]

Thanks Everybody....good "food for thought".

Will keep ya'll updated on what I decide, and where to go with this from here.

Watch my journal

[EBA84]

Totally agree with everyone else here. I haven't used any type of fat burner except cardio and diet for at least 10 years.

Not worth it Frank. Especially with the scare you just had. Just diet harder or add more cardio.

[mrbeefy]

Thanks Eric, and everyone else too!

Part of my conundrum is that the increased cardio is difficult for my knees, etc., and I hesitate on caloric intake so that I don't lose lean mass.

I do agree that most of these supplements are very controdictory to your health.

I have a bottle of Menatonin at home (helps sleep), that has this disclaimer on the bottle:

If you have any medical condition whatsoever, consult your physician before taking this product.

Well...I guess they wanted to cover ALL thier bases!

Again, thanks for the input!

[QuietBob]

Don't worry so much about losing lean mass. These days its all about be shredded on stage. The gold usually goes to the most ripped guy onstage (within reason).
It's a mental hurdle to get over for most of us because we like lifting to "be big," but come showtime you have to put that aside and focus on conditioning if you want to do well.

[EBA84]

I have the same problem with my knees and too much cardio. Try switching to an elliptical machine if you don't already do that or a stationary bike. A lot less pounding on the knees.

[Tim Wescott]

I drink coffee and haven`t taken anything else in years either.

Eris is on the money with the eliptical.............virtually no impact at all on the joints.

[mrbeefy]

Got it guys!

Bob: I understand about the conditioning, and that also leads to good health in return too.
I've seen guys on stage that are ripped, but way too skinny IMO. I've seen guys on stage with a LOT of mass, but no cuts, vascularity, abs, etc. Too "round" & smooth IMO. I'm not saying I want to look like Markus Ruhl, but the look of Sean Ray, Danny Padilla, Lee Labrada would be acceptable!

Eric: You're right on! I do use the elliptical a lot. As long as there is a constant contact with my foot, and the pedal, my knees are ok. Even the bike causes some disconnect and pain. The only problem with elliptical, is that anything over 20-30 minutes starts to get to my hips and lower back. Might need more frequent cardio, at 20 min or less.

TIm! I do the coffee thing too, but trying to keep the caffeine thing monitored do to my BP. I once had 2 cups of coffee, and without thinking, popped one can (equals two servings) of Redline! BAD NEWS. Felt like I wanted to burst out of my skin, jitters, shaking, nausea. Lesson learned....almost the hard way!

Thanks for all the great input guys.
I think I know the key to almost all of my questions = PATIENCE!


Frank

[beckie]

I find splitting the cardio up less mind numbing too Frank-last comp I did one morning and one afternoon session and that kept my metabolism going as well

[chanman83]

I'll throw in my 2 cents here too. To me Fat burners are like what they say "supplements" as not really needed but helps. I also use the analogy its like baking a cake where to make a great cake you need the BASE first aka your diet and then anything else you want to add icing, designs, etc are the supplments. If your base is crap aka your diet then anything else you try and use to cover it up won't work. This is something I've learned in my short 4 year exp bodybuilding and thus in this sport I still haven't mastered but thats how I see it.

I'm with beckie as I also sometimes split my cardio sessions because at like 5am there isn't really any HOT girls to look at so if i can rock it in like 35 to 45 mins ill do the rest at night after my workout cause I know at that time.. I got some extra motivation

GL to ya frank I know you'll get it done!

[kdog]

chanman83 said:

. To me Fat burners are like what they say "supplements" as not really needed but helps.

So true!!! BTW, that Redline is some crazy stuff... The first time i tried it, i was sweating after 3 sips... Anyway, alot of the herbal fat burners are not examined by the FDA, meaning that not only could they adversely effect your BP, but also it is not known if any of your medications interact with the SUP... It is a pretty big risk, especially for BB's who insist on knowing EXACTLY what is going into their bodies....

[hossjob]

Beefy, try the ALRi Venom series minus the Hyperdrive.

That would be:
Special Tactics
Lean Dreams
T-X

I had lots of success with these.

[Intensity]

What else to add excepted that I agree! Dont put your health at risk… you can get the job done without any fat burners! For sure, it can help in some situations since I know some athletes who had great results with it, but personnaly, I've never used any, and I've never prescibed any to my clients. I like Youngblood's comment as it is completely a calories in versus calories burned equation!