all of these products are collectively known an ECA stack (Ephedrine, Caffeine, Aspirin). Some of them have different ratios and other voodoo products that don't do anything, but the Ephedrine/Caffeine combo is what has been shown to be effective. Ephedrine or caffeine taken individually will have the effect of raising your metabolism and accomplishing fat burning, but, when taken together in the proper ratio (1 ephedrine : 10 caffeine) they have been found to have a synergistic effect (i.e. a larger effect than a simple sum of their individual effects).
Ephedrine can be safely dosed with most people. People with prexisting heart conditions, those taking MAOIs, and people on anti-depressants should not take Ephedrine. Sometimes heart conditions can lie silent though so it's best to have a full physical beforehand.
Ephedrine and caffeine both trigger the beta adrenergic receptors (mimicking adrenaline) so that's what brings on the increased energy levels and jitters. Your body quickly adapts to this though, and you will find that before long you will not notice these effects. However, the thermogenic properties of the stack will continue.
That said, it is best not to dose every day. Long-term studies are not available, so best to stay in the realm of moderation. Cycle on one day and off the next. Also, it's best to quit all together for a few months or so to give your body a break.
Most of the kids that died from ephedrine were stupid rave kids looking for the next high. They ingested WAYYYYY to much and then overexerted themselves dancing (not to mention any other substances they might have ingested). If you follow the advice on the label, you will most likely be fine.
However, it is true that because these products are considered herbal supplements and therefore not regulated by the FDA, they vary widely in their potency. There's another reason to not go above the recommended dosage.
And it cannot be understated that there's no such thing as a miracle pill that makes you lose weight. You will find that the ECA stack by itself will not give you much in the way of results. You can't continue being lazy and eat everything in sight and expect to lose weight. Like mztykal said, he used Ripped Fuel along with a lot of physical exercise (along with a semi-decent diet I'm sure) to lose those 60 pounds. I guarantee you that the majority of that weight loss was from the diet and exercise--the Ripped Fuel only contributed a little. Notice he said he stopped taking the ECA stack, and then gained the weight back "due to laziness"... Weight loss isn't permanent, unfortunately. A permanent lifestyle change is lot more effective in the long-run than periods of heavy weight loss followed by periods of laziness in which it is all gained back.
You'll probably see the best results if you give yourself a day off from dieting every week (or two weeks) and eat everything you want. This helps your body avoid the starvation mode, which it will easily revert to if it notices a drastic decrease in calories. In this mode, your body becomes super-efficient, squeezing every last drop of energy out of the food you eat (it's obviously a leftover remnant from the days of famine). This will also give you the needed mental break from having to restrict your caloric intake so much. It also gives you the satisfaction of being able to eat the foods you love with a minimal impact on weight.
Also, don't go heavy into the weights if you've been out of the loop for a while. Always best to do it in moderation so you don't hurt yourself and also to keep yourself from getting too bored or exhausted with it.
l2c
