EAC Stack

[Taleigh21]

How do you calculate the correct number of ephedrine, asprin and caffine pills to take, when doing an eac stack?

If it is based on body weight, I weigh 155 lbs.

I am opting to take a stack, rather than use any sort of commercial thermogenic product.

Comments??

[sana]

it's not weight based but you do need to be aware of how your body reacts to the stack so that you don't over do it. if you feel too many sides from any amount of dose, cut it down. it's not an exact science, but it's about knowing your body.

it's typically:
25mg ephedrine
200mg caffine
normally perscribed dose of asprin (i think it's like 200mg also)

i had read an article a while back (and if i can find it i'll post it here) that talked about not taking any stimulant containing asprin pre-workout b/c of its effects on protein synthesis - meaning, it might actually hinder your gains.

[YellowJacket]

Sana is correct, ditch the aspirin....inhibits the body's inflammatory response, thus recovery.

[sana]

here's the article, it was posted by str8flexed on EA and i think a few other boards.

ECA stacks... the Evil of the "A"
Haven't been here in awhile... figured I'd come back with a bit of a bang. I posted this on another board... and may end up turning it into an article sometime.
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I see that alot of you are currently taking ECA stacks before your workouts. May I suggest that you ditch anything containing aspirin (when taken pre workout) let me explain.

When you workout your body sends signals (i.e. releases hormones) which "tell" your cells that damage has occurred. Many of these hormones work by attatching to a receptor and then starting a signal cascade which activates "local messengers" and "secondary" hormones (i.e. prostoglandins and cAMP).
One group of local messengers are called prostoglandins. Prostoglandins are inflamitory hormones which signal the cell that the tissue has been damaged and to begin synthesizing protein. In the case of muscle tissue... lifting causes and inflammatory response to the tissue damage done by lifting. This causes prostoglandins to be synthesized and these prostoglandins continue the messege cascade, "relaying" the message to the nucleus to start DNA transcription, and thus protein synthesis. This is a good thing... it is one of the things that makes us grow.

Now a little about how prostoglandins are synthesized. They are synthesized from an essential fatty acid called Arachnidonic acid. It is called essential because your body cannot produce it from scratch. Most of the arachnidonic acid is made by converting your dietary intake of Linoleic acid to Arachnidonic acid. Most of this arachnidonic acid is stored your cells phospholipid bilayer. When you workout induced hormone (I don't know the specific hormone) attatches to the cell surface receptor, it causes phospholipase 2 to become active. This enzyme then liberates Arachnidonic acid from the phospholipid bilayer. Cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX1 and COX2) then catalyze the conversion of Arachnidonic acid to the eicosinoids PGG2 (via COX1) and this is then converted to PGH2 via COX2.

Aspirin is a covalent inhibitor of these enzymes. This means it actually attatches to the active site via an actual bond. Once it is attatched the enzyme is said to be "inhibited" and can no longer catalyze the reaction. Thus, prostoglandins cannot be synthesized, and the messege will not be sent to the Nucleus to begin protein synthesis. This has been confirmed in several experiments that show COX inhibitor administration (this includes aspirin, acetominophin, and ibuprofin) knock the exercise induced 76% rise in protein synthesis back down to baseline levels.

Thus my suggestion is to not take ECA within 5 hours of your workout. If you feel you must take a stimulant pre-workout, make sure it does not contain aspirin or any derivitave (white willow bark, et. al)

So lets recap...
Hormone signal -> phospholipase 2 active-> release of AA from membrane-> COX conversion of AA to prostoglandins(this is where aspirin stops the pathway) ->signal for protein synthesis-> protein synthesis

Peace

Link to thread

[YellowJacket]

Yea... now let's hide from Torchy :)

[Taleigh21]

Excellent, thanks for you help everyone! One more question about this...how many times a day would I take the stack?? And, what times are most beneficial??
Thanks.
Taleigh

[sana]

twice a day. morning, and noon is how i did it (similar to other thermos). you might feel more sides from the stack than the commercial thermos.

but like i said, just be weary of your own body and sides ;)

[rubberduckyo]

Sheesh! I'm jealous. I've always had a hard time with sides on any type of thermogenic. I gave up on them all together a long time ago. I'm probably overdosing or something but I could never get it right. :(

[rubberduckyo]

That's a thought. Thanks, girly. Hadn't looked into Hydroxycut. Got frustrated and resigned myself to not being able to take them. I'll def check into this. I'll let ya know what luck if any I have. :)

[rubberduckyo]

Hahaha! I started out with a stack using "mini-thins" as the ephedra source. 'Bout lost my mind with sides. :( Too strong for me I guess but just mentioning as the product is touted as a bronchial decongestant. ;)

I'll have a look see and thanks again. :)

[Liftingchic]

Good info.. thanks sana..and yellow..