Bodybuilding Forums

Thinking about taking 400 mg of caffeine prior to workout, good idea?

Brief post - but to the point I suppose!

Simply no. Avoid caffine, ECA stack whatever. They cost you money, raise your heartrate to additionally high levels and give you the jitters.

There is no simple quick fix, or take a pill that will help you cut. It takes time, regular training and a diet strategy.

I live in England where Ephidrine is still available, and I have used ECA (so even more powerful then taking caffine alone) and yes you do get a rush and becouse of that you feel like you are working harder, but over a prolonged period, there is no discernable difference in fat loss, muscle gained, endurance etc.

I put it down to the rush that you get, the same as off caffine - it makes you think that you are doing something more.

Simple fact is, youre only making your heart beat faster, and if you are training hard, it should be beating fast enough anyway.

My advice is dont bother.

Regards,

10 Bears wrote:I live in England where Ephidrine is still available...

It's still available in the USA, too... but under the brand name "Primatene" and various other products designed for asthma sufferers. My son and wife take it to manage their bronchial symptoms. You have to "sign it out" from the pharmacy, but the only reason for that is to ensure you aren't buying too much in a month. The limit is something like 7g or 9g per person per month without the Feds investigating... but even if the Feds investigate you, if you aren't running a meth lab, you're safe.

Note the tablets are 12.5mg apiece. Typical ECA dose of Ephedrine is about 20-25mg per dose, 2-3x per day... even at maximum dosage, you're only taking about 2.4g per month per person. 100mg per day is typically the "danger zone", though some experts place that danger zone starting at 50mg per day, and manufacturer recommendations place the limit at 30mg per day.

I'd only suggest an ECA stack to help with food cravings when you are deep in a cutting cycle. Although it is both thermogenic and performance-enhancing, the biggest benefit for bodybuilders is actually reducing cravings and keeping your metabolism up when caloric levels are very low toward the end of a cutting cycle.

What about using caffeine pre-workout when you are feeling a bit lazy or lethargic to give you a boost?
Surely that boost will help you push harder, and thus expend more calories in a workout?

I'm not talking about caffeine supplements, maybe just a good ol cup of espresso.

Phailyoor4lyfe wrote:Thinking about taking 400 mg of caffeine prior to workout, good idea?

400 mg seems like a bit much; that's over three cups of coffee.

I personally take around 250mg before each workout of some powder I found online, and I enjoy the workouts far more. There's also quite a difference between the number of reps on an exercise with caffeine, and without (for me). Mark has a post on the blog where he mentions quitting caffeine except for - 120mg? - pre-workout.

Only thing is if you take creatine, I've heard taking creatine while caffeine is in your blood nullfies the creatine's effects. Also, once you're addicted to caffeine, the quality of your workouts (life, really) starts to go down...