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Building an ECA STACK for Weightloss

When people think of weightloss pills they immediately think of those hyped-up, highly-marketed, over-commercialized “Miracle Pills” that you see everywhere such as Hydroxycut or TrimSpa.

What DOES NOT WORK

They spend $50 on a bottle of pills and try taking them for a few weeks only to find out that they didn’t lose any weight at all.

If you did lose weight taking these pills then you really need to pat yourself on the back!

Because these type of pills do very little and 99% of what you achieved was done by you changing your diet, exercise, or lifestyle.

So avoid these types of pills, especially TrimSpa because that is probably what caused Anna Nicole Smith’s death…

I am only kidding about that!

But with these types of pills you paid around $5 for the ingredients and $45 for the marketing to promote these pills.

So which active ingredients in the Hydroxycut label above actually cause the fatloss???

GENERAL
Calcium (156 mg) - nope.
Chromium Picolinate (133 mcg) - is a very, very weak fat burning substance especially in a dose as small as 133 mcg.
Potassium (218 mg) - nope.

PROPRIETARY
Hydroxagen Plus (1.32 g) - nope - nothing but a variety of herbal extracts (leaf, root, and fruit).
HydroxyTea (414 mg) - not really - Green, White, and Ooolong Tea along with some anhydrous caffeine totalling 200 mg of caffeine.

So does Hydroxycut work using an insiginficant 133 mcg of Chromium Picolinate per dose and 200 mg of caffeine? The amount of chromium picolinate in this bottle is worth 99 cents and the amount of caffeine is worth $3.00 when bought in raw ingredient form. So why not spend the $3.99 on the raw active ingredients rather than $50 on the over-marketed bottle?

What DOES WORK

ECA STACKS - (Ephedrine, Caffeine, Aspirin)

Ephedrine is the primarily component in the ECA Stack. Ephedrine acts both as a beta agonist and stimulates the release of norepinephrine. Increased circulating norepinephrine in the body then acts on white adipose tissue by increasing cAMP levels. This causes a thermogenic effect, raising body temperature and increasing the user’s metabolism in conjunction with the rest of the stack. It is also a bronchial dilator because it opens up the breathing passages, bronchi tubes, and alveoli in the lungs and allows for more oxygen to be absorbed through regular breathing. This increase in oxygen also increases the fat burning process.

The FDA recently banned Ephedrine for use as a weightloss supplement, but they do allow this supplement to be taken as an OTC remedy for asthma. These pills should almost always contain 25 mg of Ephedrine HCL each and be coupled with 200 mg of Guaifenesin.

Caffeine is a secondary component in the stack. It is a mild stimulant which increases body actions like heart rate, blood pressure, and metabolism. It makes a person feel more awake and alert. Caffeine also is an appetite suppressant and a diuretic. This means it makes a person make more urine (the waste liquid a person makes).

Aspirin is the last component in the stack. It helps balance the energizing affects of the caffeine and the ephedrine and aids in muscle and workout recovery.

DOSAGE

Typically ECA stack are consumed two or three times per day.

In either a 1:10:10 or 1:10:15 ratio of ephedrine:caffeine:aspirin.

These ratios vary across studies and across users but despite variance they all seem to be effective.

Usually, no more than 25 mg of ephedrine, 200 mg of caffeine and 325 mg of aspirin is consumed in a single dose.

It is not recommended that the stack be taken past late afternoon as this may contribute to insomnia.

WHERE TO BUY

Ephedrine can be purchased HERE for $11.50 for a pack of 24 pills containing 25 mg of Ephedra.

Caffeine pills can be bought at your local supermarket or drug store and typically only cost $3 per bottle if you buy the store brand. I usually stick with the Walgreens or Safeway brands (called Stay Awake). One box contains 25 pills containing 200 mg of caffeine each.

Aspirin pills can also be bought at your local supermarket or drug store and typically only cost $1 per bottle if you buy the store brand. Again I usually stick with the Walgreens or Safeway brands and it also runs around $1 for a bottle of 36 pills containing 325 mg of Asprin.

Thus not only is this entire stack MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE than those highly marketed alternatives, its also MUCH CHEAPER!

Ephedra $11.50 + Caffine $3.00 + Aspirin $1.00 = $15.50 TOTAL COST!

It’s amazing how much you save when you focus on the raw ingredients without paying for the marketing and hype behind the susbstances.

HOW TO MAKE AN ECA STACK

Step One

Buy ephedrine online, at your local gas station, or at your local supplement store. It is easier to buy and find online, because its sale is regulated. In gas stations, ephedrine is sometimes in the glass cases on the counter, sold as an energy booster. In some stores you can find ephedrine marketed as a bronchitis medication; if you buy it in this form, you will have to show ID and purchase limited amounts. Ephedrin on its own has strong energizing affects. The pills should contain 25 mg of Ephedrine HCL each and be coupled with 200 mg of Guaifenesin.

Step Two

Find caffeine at your local grocery store or Wal-Mart. Caffeine comes in yellow pills, and is usually kept in the medication aisle. A pack of 24 tablets will usually run about $5. Caffeine can make you jittery. In this stack, it makes the energizing affects of the ephedrine more powerful.

Step Three

Purchase coated aspirin. Aspirin can be tough on your stomach when used every day. Coated aspirin tends to lessen these effects. Aspirin is also optional in this stack. It’s in it to help balance the energizing affects of the caffeine and the ephedrine. It also helps to aid in muscle and workout recovery.

Step Four

Take one of each pill at the same time, usually in the morning and usually prior to a workout. Start with one dose a day for a week to test your tolerance. Move up to two doses and three if you feel your body can take it. This should be done in a cycle. It should be cycled off every six weeks so your body doesn’t get used to it and it maintains its effect.

Above is a picture of a subject who did one 6 week cycle of an ECA Stack without changing his diet, exercise, or lifestyle. He was able to lose 8 lbs and go from 14% bodyfat to just under 9% bodyfat.

IMPORTANT TIPS

The ECA stack will help you lose fat within the first couple weeks even if you’re not exercising. Of course, it will be most effective when combined with a good diet and exercise.

Ephedrine will suppress your appetite. Try to keep eating to give yourself enough energy to work out and give something for the ephedrine to burn.

Ephedrine will burn fat, but it will also burn muscle if you’re not lifting weights or maintaining the proper diet.

RISKS

The use of ephedrine and caffeine can raise blood pressure, so users who already have hypertension need to be careful that the stack doesn’t raise their blood pressure to dangerous levels – especially during exercise. The good thing is that the presence of aspirin in the stack does thin the blood and counteracts this partially.

Insomnia, dry mouth irritability, stress, headache, dizziness, irregular heartbeat and increased thirst are some of the other side effects of the ECA stack. Ephedrine has been linked to death causing many countries to outlaw or control it. The risk of ephedrine has caused many people to try “ephedrine free” stack formulas. There is no proof that any of these formulas are effective, but a great deal of evidence exists to support the effectiveness of the ECA stack, but with risks.