energy bars a joke?

[LeeD]

I guess my idea and practice of a couple of cups of coffee at 8AM with breakfast, then tennis from 10-1 without further intake is not the best of concepts...

[Ronaldo]

Anyone remember the ECA stack? Get pumped, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZqfUzax3kE

[rdis10093]

why is redline made for working out then though? is anyone else on her familar with it? it is different though, because you have to be 18 to buy it and you can't be ten lbs over weight if you consume it. why would a coperation make a product that is made for working out if you cant be overweight to use it. I still dont understand the physics of it.

[pvaudio]

Because it is effectively a fat burning stack in drink form. Your four big fat burning supple ments are E,C,A and Y. That's Ephedrine, Caffeine, Aspirin and Yohimbine/Yohimbe. In combination, they are usually ECA and ECY. The aspirin is used because ephedrine and caffiene is a strong vasoconstrictor. Aspirin helps to counteract this or in other words, lets you get the benefit of the stims without the heart problems. ECY, however, is rarely recommended anymore because it's simply too potent. The redline drink is a highly concentrated CY drink. Although you don't need to be 18 to buy it (http://www.amazon.com/Redline-Energy.../dp/B0018C2RKK), it's not recommended for sale to the very overweight because it is actually dangerous unless you understand its contents. If you have any form of heart or neurological condition, it's misleading to simply label it an energy drink because they do not disclose the amount of each ingredient. When you're overweight, you're more likely to have elevated blood pressure as it is. These two stacks are meant for athletes who need to cut a relatively small amount of fat in a shorter period of time, NOT for people who simply want to lose weight. They would not be cardiovascularly fit enough in most cases.

If you're wondering how I know this, yes, I tried many MANY fat loss tricks in my day including the above two. Pop a vasopro ephedrine and a no-doz and go for a swim, and you'll be freaking buzzing. I don't recommend this.

[Swerve]

Before running a 5K or half I feel like a Clif Bar, multigrain bagel, or oatmeal can do the trick. You just have to remember to eat at least 2 hours before you're about to do a physical activity because it takes your body time to process that food.

[KineticChain]

Its simple.. energy drinks contain drugs (stimulants) that make you a bit jittery. Despite their name they do not provide much actual energy other than the sugars. You drink "energy drinks" to remain alert, you do not drink them for a source of caloric energy.

Energy bars, on the other hand, are food that your body can break down for energy. Energy bars don't contain the stimulants that energy drinks do.

Moral of the story.. if you're about to play a match or engage in any kind of activity that demands a lot of energy.. eat some food. Energy bars are food that typically contain a lot of calories that you're body can use for energy.

[rdis10093]

thanks again guys. I think I have made up my mind.

[Pbarrow]

Pvaudio. Do you know if the 5 Hour Energy stuff has the same ingredients and warning? I down one of those occasionally before a match and feel like a
I get a "buzz" of alertness and energy. The reason I like them is the amount of fluid is so small, can't imagine drinking a whole can of sweet tasting drink and then exercising.

[tinyman]

Originally Posted by rdis10093

why is redline made for working out then though? is anyone else on her familar with it? it is different though, because you have to be 18 to buy it and you can't be ten lbs over weight if you consume it. why would a coperation make a product that is made for working out if you cant be overweight to use it. I still dont understand the physics of it.

Liability protection. If someone doesn't meet those conditions and take it anyways, it helps them should problems occur. This is particularly big with children who take this and/or similar products. Recommending products to children is a liability nightmare. Same with the 10lbs over or more; they still expect that people will take it - and they don't really expect any problems to normally occur... but enough users, and lawsuits will pop up.

5 hour energy does not contain Y, assuming that there is no contamination of product. For the most part, it is just a caffeine source, with some niacin (B3), a large B12 hit (useless), glucoronolactone & malic acid (think krebs).

Originally Posted by SNS

Glucuronolactone is a natural metabolite of glucose and helps regulate the formation of glycogen. Since it helps protect glycogen stores and their syntheses, it is considered an ergogenic aid that can help with athletic & exercise performance and recovery. It also may help remove metabolites that could potentially be hepatotoxic (liver damaging).
Glucuronolactone is commonly seen included in many store bought energy drinks. It is also contained in many ergogenic aids, and pre-workout supplements.

From a supplement company, SNS Nutrition's writeup on their glucuronolactone 500mg/cap.

[TheCheese]

That's because Monsters have caffeine.

[pvaudio]

Originally Posted by Pbarrow

Pvaudio. Do you know if the 5 Hour Energy stuff has the same ingredients and warning? I down one of those occasionally before a match and feel like a
I get a "buzz" of alertness and energy. The reason I like them is the amount of fluid is so small, can't imagine drinking a whole can of sweet tasting drink and then exercising.

5-hour energy is a complete sham in my opinion because they lie blatantly. They say, or said, that the shots have no caffeine in them. Each bottle has more than twice the caffeine than a cup of black coffee or that of a caffeine tablet. I personally would not take caffeine before exercising unless you mean to take a caff supplement, but that's another conversation entirely.