I'm in a bit of a special situation, questions on supplement stack

[mwmorph]

I have a Army PT test to pass on thursday. I need to score 180 and I'm 90% sure I'm almost there but not quite, maybe a minute short of my 2 mile run goal.

I need this just once, since it is for a promotion so I was thinking of doing a ECY stack on Thursday morning (my PT test is Thursday at 1PM).

This is a 1 shot thing

I don't use supplements, only time ever was when I used creatine for a couple months 3 years ago so I'd like to know, what dosage should I be doing in
Ephedrine HCL
Caffeine
and Yohimbine HCL
to get the maximum benefits relatively safely?

Should I take a dose Wednesday too to acclimate my body and test to make sure my heart rate doesn't go up too much? I don't want to lose weight or anything, just need the maximum energy boost under a reasonable safety level for a relatively short amount of time (shouldn't be longer than 1 hour).

 

[BeauJangles]

At this point, you'll either pass based on your preparation or you won't. Last-minute supplements aren't going to shave a minute off your run time or give you the ability to do 100 push ups. Take tomorrow off and rest.

 

[polarmystery]

How old are you?

If you are in fairly good shape (which I'll assume you are), I wouldn't worry and just take the dosage it says too on the bottle. I'd also suggest taking some L-Argenine with an orange for some energy before you go. I think the argenine is like $10/bottle or 90 or something...it should be relatively cheap.

Hopefully SC, TallBill, briks, or one of the other guys will chime in too. They know their stuff :thumbsup:

Originally posted by: BeauJangles
At this point, you'll either pass based on your preparation or you won't. Last-minute supplements aren't going to shave a minute off your run time or give you the ability to do 100 push ups. Take tomorrow off and rest.

This too.

 

[darkxshade]

Supplementation isn't going to do anything for you at this point. I'd say that since you're "almost there" that the best thing you could prob do is to put your heart into it and bang it out. The human body is capable of amazing things when testing its limits. If it's only a one time test and if you're relatively healthy there should be no reason why you wouldn't be able to punish your body and push through the pain. 2 miles is nothing and the harder you push the faster you'll finish it, you may be heaving as you near it but as long as you're mentally prepared you should be golden. Just make sure you're well rested and relaxed for it.

 

[TallBill]

You've gotta be careful taking supps before a PT test. I've seen a bunch of guys do it and lower their score because of an elevated heart rate. I've also see (and done myself) guys raise their score. Personally I used caffeine, beta alanine, and citrulline malate. But I used them for a few weeks before hand to supplement my lifting.

If your test is for the DEP, you probably don't actually have to pass the test. I didn't pass my run, and I got the promotion still.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Some of the Nitric Oxide mixes (NOShotgun, NOXplode) seem to be popular for workout jolts, but I have no personal experience with them. Maybe another option to look into.

 

[StageLeft]

You can either run the test without the supplements, which you ought to do, or you can run it with them and not realize any benefits from them or you can run it with them and get unlucky in your reaction and find that your heart is palpating so badly you wonder if you're going to have a heart-attack.

You will not shave half a minute off your mile time with any but the most exotic and obscene supplements, and even then I bet there aren't any that could do that, even if you had at your command a great chemist.

All the boost you'll need will be supplied by your adrenal glands.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian
Some of the Nitric Oxide mixes (NOShotgun, NOXplode) seem to be popular for workout jolts, but I have no personal experience with them. Maybe another option to look into.

Terrible idea trying them for the first time when needing to run. Work decently for lifting, but not cardio, at least not the first time.

 

[mwmorph]

Thanks for the replies. I'm looking for endurance helpp which is why I chose not to pursue creatine earlier.

I'm not looking for a quick boost during a weight room session, I'm looking to just improve my scores a bit. Last time I took a PT, it was a surprise and I hadn't prepared or even been at 100%, still being worn down from a run before, I just barely failed so I'm just looking for that extra little edge this time, eating better and being actually 100% rested so I can make sure I do it right this time.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: mwmorph
Thanks for the replies. I'm looking for endurance helpp which is why I chose not to pursue creatine earlier.

I'm not looking for a quick boost during a weight room session, I'm looking to just improve my scores a bit. Last time I took a PT, it was a surprise and I hadn't prepared or even been at 100%, still being worn down from a run before, I just barely failed so I'm just looking for that extra little edge this time, eating better and being actually 100% rested so I can make sure I do it right this time.

Your best bet is to fuel your body properly before hand and hydrate.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Using some new supplement for the first time when it matters is a bad idea. It's the same concept as changing up something important during a game, rather than in practice. If a runner goes to change his or her form during a race, it will automatically slow them down because they haven't learned how to utilize it. It's the same situation with supps. What you wrote is a crap-ton of stimulants. You may as well snort some coke beforehand. It will effect you pretty severely. It is better for you to be on the safe side and go au naturale. If, in the future, you find yourself in a similar situation, you can try using the supplements a couple of times in practice and see how it feels. That way if you like the boost, then use them when it matters and if you don't, you don't lose a promotion. Good luck though. Trust your training and work your butt off.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

it's usually a bad idea to try a new supplement before an actual event. if anything i think you should just drink a cup of coffee before the run.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: mwmorph
Thanks for the replies. I'm looking for endurance helpp which is why I chose not to pursue creatine earlier.

I'm not looking for a quick boost during a weight room session, I'm looking to just improve my scores a bit. Last time I took a PT, it was a surprise and I hadn't prepared or even been at 100%, still being worn down from a run before, I just barely failed so I'm just looking for that extra little edge this time, eating better and being actually 100% rested so I can make sure I do it right this time.

Your best bet is to fuel your body properly before hand and hydrate.

Excellent point. Eat right over the next 48 hours and hydrate. That'll do more for you than gorging yourself on expensive supplements.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Beet juice?
http://www.prohealth.com/libra...rticle.cfm?libid=14768

 

[mwmorph]

I have to say you guys are definitely right.

The energy + focus benefits are outweighed by the extra oxygen demands. I had some so I tried it today just working out and it sort of sucks to be honest. I could feel an initial rush and I feel like my mind is extremely focused and clear right now, but putting my heart and brain in overdrive definitely saps oxygen out of your bloodstream faster than I can inhale.

I could feel my heart go crazy in my chest and I think all in all, for my biology, it wasted more oxygen than was gained, my push ups and sit ups were similar, if not just slightly worse, but my 2 mile run time is definitely affected. I didn't even finish since my 2 miles today, though to be honest, the weather is pretty abysmal and I messed up my running pace, it's close to 100% humidity where I am ATM + new jogging route in a unfamiliar park so I couldn't keep pace according to distance.

Back to all natural for me I guess.

On a completely different side note, this is what ritalin must feel like. I feel more focused and alert than I ever have before. I think I'm going to go study some correspondence courses right now.

Ephedrine: Bad for working out, kicks serious ass for studying. I wish I had done this in college.

 

[brikis98]

Good decision mwmorph. You'll probably find it a lot more helpful to eat nice and clean the next few days, get plenty of rest, and then have someone scream at you the entire two miles to make sure you're keeping pace.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: brikis98
...have someone scream at you the entire two miles to make sure you're keeping pace.

Which is actually authorized and in FM 21-20 (Army PT manual).

 

[KoolDrew]

Ephedrine + Yohimbine is a horrible idea.

 

[StageLeft]

Too bad those stimulants are much less impressive on subsequent takes. I still remember the first time I had Ultimate Orange back in the 90's, a stimulant drink for working out. it was insane, I felt very high and super juiced up but could never ever repeat that feeling.