Energy drinks really do work!

[lewis]

My motto is 'if its banned it must be good.'

[Artist]

My motto is 'if its banned it must be good.'

So you use Crack, Smack and all the other banned substances do you then?

This has to go down as one of the most pathetic posts I've read in years. GROW UP!!

All you need to hack Cdo training is that thing between your lugholes. Tis called your brain. Your running a three, six or a nine miler then all you need is food and water in the correct amounts.

Why waste money on stimulants? If you want something bad enough then your going to get it without the aid of anything apart from whats in your head. Positive Mental Attitude. Without it you may as well get a job toasting your balls in an oven at McDonalds.

Artist

[del_boi]

Why waste money on stimulants? If you want something bad enough then your going to get it without the aid of anything apart from whats in your head. Positive Mental Attitude. Without it you may as well get a job toasting your balls in an oven at McDonalds.

Stimulants are for people who are scared of their pain barrier. If you are determined enough then you won't stop.

[Stokey_14]

Why waste money on stimulants? If you want something bad enough then your going to get it without the aid of anything apart from whats in your head. Positive Mental Attitude. Without it you may as well get a job toasting your balls in an oven at McDonalds.

Stimulants are for people who are scared of there pain barrier. if you are determind enough then you wont stop.

Not completely true although I do see where you're coming from, most people and athletes have very little (if any) need for stimulants, though there are some athletes who could possibly benefit from them. I'm thinking power lifters etc.

In 'our' terms, I.E. wishing to join the military, I would say it's definitely not needed, the dehydration, increased heart rate etc just isn't worth the temporary buzz but then I wouldn't go as far as to say that professional power lifters or Olympic lifter are scared of the pain barrier.

Basically, no one need’s supplements, some can be good and worthwhile where as others are completely useless, stimulants for out kind of training (endurance based) I would say where most probably a hindrance rather than an aid that would further our attempts at getting combat ready.

Stokey

[Illustrious]

Stokey, for the most part you are correct but there have been reports of marathon runners basically curling up because they have been drinking so much water while running but havent been getting the salts into their bodies that is needed along with the water. I can't remember where I read it from but maybe someone will know more.

[_chris]

Stokey, for the most part you are correct but there have been reports of marathon runners basically curling up because they have been drinking so much water while running but havent been getting the salts into their bodies that is needed along with the water. I canne remember where I read it from but meh, maybe someone will know more.

More competitive runners have died through this reason than dehydration. Deaths through dehydration: 0. Deaths because of this cause: there was 1 last year in FLM, and is in many other races; so the clear winner.

[ADDiction]

There is something called an ECA stack (ephedrine, Caffeine and asprin) which has been banned in the UK and US (anyone remember Ultimate orange? - i know i do) that improves cardio vascular and muscular performace but claimed a few lives due to heart failure.

An ECA stack is a Bodybuilding cut. You could probably run a PB on it, before the rapid heartbeat, complete exhaustion, and depression sink in.

Nothing beats a Banana, easily digested, easy to keep down when your busting a gut.

[lewis]

My motto is 'if its banned it must be good.'

What I meant was more that some things are a little too effective for their own good so end up being banned. DDT - good as a pesticide, but also kills birdlife, CFCs in fridges - banned, Chemical weapons...

[davidemmerson]

My motto is 'if its banned it must be good.'

What I meant was more that some things are a little too effective for their own good so end up being banned. DDT - good as a pesticide, but also kills birdlife, CFCs in fridges - banned, Chemical weapons...

That makes just as much sense as your first quote. As in none at all.

[Cool Hand Luke]

There is far more evidence supporting the benefits of caffeine for endurance performance than short-term high intensity exercise. I will provide references if anyone needs me to, as I did a study on caffeine and 2000m rowing performance at uni late last year.

However, from personal experience I would recommend when supplementing with caffeine or other stimulants be very careful and get away with as little as possible. When I did my first bodybuilding competition, for 14 weeks on and off an ECA stack was a staple in my diet. Along with this I drank black coffee and sometimes took pre-workout supplements. At the time I did not realise how it may be affecting me because it gave me a good feeling while exercising in a calorie deficit. Since coming off that diet though, I have developed what I think maybe a caffeine allergy. I no longer drink tea, coffee, eat chocolate, as I come down with a whole host of undesirable side effects.

[Tartan_Terrier]

Interesting, any chance you could tell us what these side effects are?

I drink a lot of coffee, and have experienced caffeine overdose a few times (seriously!), but haven't noticed any side effects over the long term, and I certainly haven't developed intolerance for anything (not yet anyway!).

T_T

[Cool Hand Luke]

Interesting, any chance you could tell us what these side effects are?

I drink a lot of coffee, and have experienced caffeine overdose a few times (seriously!), but haven't noticed any side effects over the long term, and I certainly haven't developed intolerance for anything (not yet anyway!).

T_T

To be honest I can't pinpoint when it exactly started happening, but now if I have any form of caffeine no matter how much whether it a bit of chocolate, a coffee, or a pro-plus, I no longer get the desired effects like feeling alert or wide awake, even first thing in the morning. Instead I develop a kind of blurred vision, slight dizziness and hindered co-ordination, and obviously the shakes. Not just minor ones though, these shakes that are quite visible to anyone.

I have not been to the doctors or anything so I'm not sure if it is an official allergy, I don't intend on going either, incase it ruins my chances of getting in the corps.

I don't mind skipping the coffee, tea and red bulls etc, but it's the b****y chocolate that I miss lol.

[Gimpy]

By the way, Dangermouse, on a serious note about knocking one out before training. I can see the benefits there as you'll recieve a spike in testosterone - this is the genetic advantage males have. Like a survival thing.

I'm pretty sure that the opposite is true- when you've got the horn your testosterone is at its highest, then as soon as you blow your load your testosterone levels drop significantly, thus why blokes tend to be more aggressive and agitated when they've been without for a while, but feel relaxed and chilled out after administering a good seeing-to.

If you're going to tonk one out I'd do it after the run and use it as an incentive to run quicker (i.e. "the sooner I get home, the sooner I can scratch Yoda behind the ears").

[faddius]

Caffeine tabs or gels with caffeine extract are often used by adventure racers and ultra runners for two purposes (by-and-large these are very minimal dosages however i.e less than the equivalent of a cup of coffee):

1. Running/excercising for 20+ hours non-stop and not having any rest the mind gets very tired and it helps keep the focus; and

2. It helps the body to burn fat easier after the glycogen has been burnt.

My experience with ultra events is that no supplementation is required for events under 4 hours. If going for longer use Hammer Perpeteum (2 scoops in 600ml water every 2 hours) for up to 8 hours in lieu of solid food as my body digests it much easier. After 8 hours the body can't handle it well and I revert to solid foods such as nuts/doritos. Another fantastic product is Hammer Recoverite for use after ultra events. Apart from that the only supplements I would consider letting near my body would be Endurolytes (electrolytes in tab form) or Nuun flavored electrolytes for water to make more palatable after 4 hours.

Normal training shouldn't require any supplementation however. I presume no here is training for ultras or ironmen?..

[AJtothemax]

By the way, Dangermouse, on a serious note about knocking one out before training. I can see the benefits there as you'll recieve a spike in testosterone - this is the genetic advantage males have. Like a survival thing.

I'm pretty sure that the opposite is true- when you've got the horn your testosterone is at its highest, then as soon as you blow your load your testosterone levels drop significantly, thus why blokes tend to be more aggressive and agitated when they've been without for a while, but feel relaxed and chilled out after administering a good seeing-to.

If you're going to tonk one out I'd do it after the run and use it as an incentive to run quicker (i.e. "the sooner I get home, the sooner I can scratch Yoda behind the ears").

Not really. A lot depends on the individual.
Also, if you refer to your's as looking like Yoda, I'd see a doctor sharpish.