GoFuckYourself.com - Adult Webmaster Forum - View Single Post - How safe are GNC products? (to increase methabolism)

booker · 05-02-2005, 08:28 AM

Furious Female is right, supps like Xenadrine and Hydroxycut, while they do work in reducing weight, have horrible side effects. Worse in some people than others.

Primarily, they do contain huge doses on caffeine, which raises your rest heart rate, which in turn raises your resting metabolism, therefore burning more calories when you're not working out, and giving you an energy boost when you do, so you can do more cardio work. Without a doubt, if you can stomache the stuff, it'll help you lose weight fast, whether you're a fat pig or in decent shape and just want to get cut.

However, the side-effects are scary. Increadibly high heart rate, some people's resting rate has been as high as 160, I read on one credible website. Which in turn means you have an elevated blood pressure, putting extraneous stress on your heart and other organs. I don't have evidence, but my intuition tells me that it most likely hurts these organs and takes days off your lifespan the longer you are on it.

Many people report feeling nervous, anxious or argumentative. Not quite a roid rage feeling, but definitely irritable.

There are other side-effects, including the chance for acne breakouts, dehydration (caffeine is a dieuretic sp?) and a few others.

I'm 26, 6'1" and about 190, lift weights 4-6 days a week and play basketball almost every day. Throw in some racquetball, jogging, biking and golf once in a while. I still have a little gut (that I've been working like a fiend to get rid of) and am by no means muscle bound, but would like to put on some mass. So...

..what I take is the GNC MegaMen multivitimin supp. I take the one that is 2 pills/day, but I rarely take 2/day, usually just one in the morning. Reason being, I think there's so much stuff packed in there, taking the full amount and loading your body up with all those vitamins and minerals is bad for your kidneys, makes them constantly flush out the excess. So I do MegaMen in moderation, but I do think it helps. If nothing else, I haven't gotten sick in nearly 2 years.

I also occaisionally (2-3 times a week) drink a half-dose whey protein shake, also GNC brand. The others (METRx, EAS) seem to upset my stomach, even when taken after a meal. But I don't rely on the shake for the protein I need, just a supp remember. I eat a lot of chicken, tuna, salmon, tilapia, turkey, egg whites and lean red meat (2-3 times a week w/ the red meat).

I also drink a lot of water through the day. 150-200oz isn't unusual from morning to night. I've found the key to that is small doses. If you work at a desk, just get in the habit of taking a sip every few minutes.

The last specific thing that I personally do, because I like it and I think it helps, is drink green tea. I love ancient japanese culture to begin with, but even if you don't, it's worth checking out the various forms and brewing methods of green tea. Some are grassy, some bitter, some aromatic.. I think there are flavored varieties out now too, from Lipton, Starbucks and the like.

I've read that 3 cups of quality green tea per day contains antioxidants and other chemicals that can raise your resting metabolism 3%.

I have no idea who flat that 3% is, by that I mean it might be that someone with a really low metabolism can raise it 3% by drinking tea, because 3% is almost nothing.. whereas someone with a just below normal metabolism may only see 1% increase. Either way, every little bit helps, especially if you're trying to shed pounds.

I almost always have a cup 30min before I lift. I think it has a calming effect, but it doesn't make me tired. Natural green tea has about 1/8th the caffeine of black coffee. I could _almost_ use words like "focused" or "centered" but I will refrain. Give it a try for yourself, a box of tea is like $2.

Hope that helps, any other questions or thoughts, let me know.. my contact info is below, I am always looking to learn more from people's experience, and share my own when it comes to fitness. Cheers.

PS.... in terms of ephedra.. there was actually a recent court decision that said there was no evidence that small-doses were harmful. You'll probably see small-dose ephedra products going back on the market soon. I won't be taking them, too risky if you ask me.. however, if you're really overweight, it might be worth taking them for a few weeks or months, while you get into your steady diet/workout plan, to give it a boost. Seeing the immediate results (and maybe fooling yourself into thinking that they are from the diet and working out, not the ephedra) might keep you on the diet and working out, even after you stop taking ephedra. Tough call, but it's probably better to err on the safe side.

05-02-2005, 08:28 AM
booker Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Baltimore Posts: 1,370	Furious Female is right, supps like Xenadrine and Hydroxycut, while they do work in reducing weight, have horrible side effects. Worse in some people than others. Primarily, they do contain huge doses on caffeine, which raises your rest heart rate, which in turn raises your resting metabolism, therefore burning more calories when you're not working out, and giving you an energy boost when you do, so you can do more cardio work. Without a doubt, if you can stomache the stuff, it'll help you lose weight fast, whether you're a fat pig or in decent shape and just want to get cut. However, the side-effects are scary. Increadibly high heart rate, some people's resting rate has been as high as 160, I read on one credible website. Which in turn means you have an elevated blood pressure, putting extraneous stress on your heart and other organs. I don't have evidence, but my intuition tells me that it most likely hurts these organs and takes days off your lifespan the longer you are on it. Many people report feeling nervous, anxious or argumentative. Not quite a roid rage feeling, but definitely irritable. There are other side-effects, including the chance for acne breakouts, dehydration (caffeine is a dieuretic sp?) and a few others. I'm 26, 6'1" and about 190, lift weights 4-6 days a week and play basketball almost every day. Throw in some racquetball, jogging, biking and golf once in a while. I still have a little gut (that I've been working like a fiend to get rid of) and am by no means muscle bound, but would like to put on some mass. So... ..what I take is the GNC MegaMen multivitimin supp. I take the one that is 2 pills/day, but I rarely take 2/day, usually just one in the morning. Reason being, I think there's so much stuff packed in there, taking the full amount and loading your body up with all those vitamins and minerals is bad for your kidneys, makes them constantly flush out the excess. So I do MegaMen in moderation, but I do think it helps. If nothing else, I haven't gotten sick in nearly 2 years. I also occaisionally (2-3 times a week) drink a half-dose whey protein shake, also GNC brand. The others (METRx, EAS) seem to upset my stomach, even when taken after a meal. But I don't rely on the shake for the protein I need, just a supp remember. I eat a lot of chicken, tuna, salmon, tilapia, turkey, egg whites and lean red meat (2-3 times a week w/ the red meat). I also drink a lot of water through the day. 150-200oz isn't unusual from morning to night. I've found the key to that is small doses. If you work at a desk, just get in the habit of taking a sip every few minutes. The last specific thing that I personally do, because I like it and I think it helps, is drink green tea. I love ancient japanese culture to begin with, but even if you don't, it's worth checking out the various forms and brewing methods of green tea. Some are grassy, some bitter, some aromatic.. I think there are flavored varieties out now too, from Lipton, Starbucks and the like. I've read that 3 cups of quality green tea per day contains antioxidants and other chemicals that can raise your resting metabolism 3%. I have no idea who flat that 3% is, by that I mean it might be that someone with a really low metabolism can raise it 3% by drinking tea, because 3% is almost nothing.. whereas someone with a just below normal metabolism may only see 1% increase. Either way, every little bit helps, especially if you're trying to shed pounds. I almost always have a cup 30min before I lift. I think it has a calming effect, but it doesn't make me tired. Natural green tea has about 1/8th the caffeine of black coffee. I could _almost_ use words like "focused" or "centered" but I will refrain. Give it a try for yourself, a box of tea is like $2. Hope that helps, any other questions or thoughts, let me know.. my contact info is below, I am always looking to learn more from people's experience, and share my own when it comes to fitness. Cheers. PS.... in terms of ephedra.. there was actually a recent court decision that said there was no evidence that small-doses were harmful. You'll probably see small-dose ephedra products going back on the market soon. I won't be taking them, too risky if you ask me.. however, if you're really overweight, it might be worth taking them for a few weeks or months, while you get into your steady diet/workout plan, to give it a boost. Seeing the immediate results (and maybe fooling yourself into thinking that they are from the diet and working out, not the ephedra) might keep you on the diet and working out, even after you stop taking ephedra. Tough call, but it's probably better to err on the safe side. __________________ Xanadu024 (aim) or 286785389 (icq) "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." Last edited by booker; 05-02-2005 at 08:31 AM..