[quote]BigRagoo wrote:
Hagar wrote:
BigRagoo wrote:
I’m more familiar with those that have gone to outpatient conselling for that kind of abuse and have done remarkably well.
Some people have it worse than others.
Certainly. It’s just that the people I know that went to inpatient were from alcohol, cocaine, meth, and heroine or heavy opiate abuse.[/quote]
Thats in most the cases but some will take in overeaters, cutters, and gamblers too. There might just be one or two people like that in there with all the drunks and junkies.
Not to side-track from the OP’s fight (great job recognizing the problem and taking action btw), but while reading through the thread I noticed headaches mentioned. I just recently started taking ephedra again (although a lot lower dose) and had a pretty bad headache after my workout on Friday.
I’ve used a lot of ephedra based products in the past (back when it was in all the fat burners like Ripped Fuel and Xenadrine) without any ill-effects. Now that you can’t get those old burners I’ve created my own stack using 24mg E, 200mg C, and 365mg A. I take this twice a day.
After my workout friday I had a pretty bad piercing kind of headache. I wasn’t sure if it was the ephedra or the workout. I had just added the stack last week and at the same time I changed from work out from mostly machines to mostly DBs. I noticed a lot more strain with the DBs and felt like I was working much harder (great workout) and thought I could have been straining so hard that my breathing patterns were iterrupted (as in holding my breath while straining to expel it).
I didn’t take the stack Sat, Sun, or Mon but did pop it this morning. Any thoughts and which is more likely the cause of the headache? I’m planning another DB workout today. If nothing else I’ll try again on the stack and more closely monitor my breathing.
Maybe try to pay attention to see if you get the headaches on days you’re not at the gym. I know what you mean about breathing. I train for powerlifting where you do have to hold your breath on your lifts or you’ll snap in half. It increases your blood pressure temporarily and will make you dizzy, give you headaches or even at times, nausea. That being said, so can ephedrine.
In short, I have had headaches caused by both. Why don’t you try the ephedra on a morning you don’t train? Or not taking it on a day you do train? Sometimes it’s just a process of elimination before you find out what the cause is.
[quote]Hagar wrote:
They’d take up to 200mg several times a day.[/quote]
Damn, that’s a lot.
Okay, I don’t know what the heck is going on here but numbers on the scale are going up (I think I could look at food now and gain weight, my metabolism is shot) and when I said the other day my skin was looking better…well, that’s now changed. It has never looked worse. I assuming and hoping that it’s temporary because right now, I don’t even feel like being seen in public.
Thanks Msm. I haven’t had any headaches from the ephedra when not in the gym. All day I feel find (and Mon to Thu) of last week was fine even with my Mon and Wed workout. I just had a bad headache on Friday.
It could be because I added weight in most all of the lifts I was doing as well. I have, in the past, noticed I can give myself a headache if I “forget” to breathe during a heavy workout. But honestly I can’t say that it seemed like I was doing it Friday. I guess the best plan is to eleminate possible factors like you said. I’d like to continue using the ephedra (in safe amounts) to lower BF, but not at the risk of hurting myself.
Okay, I don’t know what the heck is going on here but numbers on the scale are going up (I think I could look at food now and gain weight, my metabolism is shot) and when I said the other day my skin was looking better…well, that’s now changed. It has never looked worse. I assuming and hoping that it’s temporary because right now, I don’t even feel like being seen in public.
Keeping on track but totally frustrated.[/quote]
As long as you are keeping on track, everything will be fine. There are ALOT of bumps on this road you are on. Don’t isolate yourself and avoid going out in public. It’s possible that the only person who can see these negative changes is you. But you are doing fantastic and don’t let these things get you down. We are all rooting for you!!
[quote]MsM wrote:
Hagar wrote:
They’d take up to 200mg several times a day.
Damn, that’s a lot.
Okay, I don’t know what the heck is going on here but numbers on the scale are going up (I think I could look at food now and gain weight, my metabolism is shot) and when I said the other day my skin was looking better…well, that’s now changed. It has never looked worse. I assuming and hoping that it’s temporary because right now, I don’t even feel like being seen in public.
Keeping on track but totally frustrated.[/quote]
Winter is coming. Don’t worry about it yet. Get healthy!
[quote]tootles27 wrote:
It’s possible that the only person who can see these negative changes is you. But you are doing fantastic and don’t let these things get you down. We are all rooting for you!![/quote]
I’ll agree with this. You are hypersensitive to yourself at this point and anything can be magnified more than it should. Don’t worry about the scale and try not to let the mirror show you something that isn’t there. Just keep thinking you are doing the right thing and it will get better.
Thanks for the vote of confidence and I hope I am just being hypersensitive.
I’ll definitely have to watch the diet since I know my metabolism needs some work for the next little while. My skin though! Wow! Not that I’m just being vain or anything but I have broken out so badly right now that my face literally hurts and I’m not really used to that. I am praying that this is only temporary.
Made it through the day and realized that I was supposed to cut dose again and forgot. Have to remember that tomorrow.
Thanks for all the nice words. They help so much, you have no idea!
I would assume skin issues are temporary, as well as the the other symptoms. Also, reading your thread, you’ve been under a lot of other stress. Prolonged bouts of stress can cause a myriad of problems ranging from skin blemishes, headaches, fatigue, and gastric issues. Just keep your chin up and find some time each day to devote to unwinding and clearing your head fo the crap that ddrags you down.
[quote]BigRagoo wrote:
I would assume skin issues are temporary, as well as the the other symptoms. Also, reading your thread, you’ve been under a lot of other stress. Prolonged bouts of stress can cause a myriad of problems ranging from skin blemishes, headaches, fatigue, and gastric issues. Just keep your chin up and find some time each day to devote to unwinding and clearing your head fo the crap that ddrags you down.[/quote]
Time to unwind? Does driving through Montreal in rush hour traffic count? Didn’t think so. I really do try to fit in quiet time and that’s usually my time on here.
Headaches have been somewhat better the last couple of days, ulcer has been a little tempermental but I have no idea if that’s related or a separate issue entirely. The blemishes though are beyond blemishes and my face actually hurts. I have no idea what to make of it.
Good news for the day: down to 180mgs (again but the first time I cut back that far, it was too fast for me). Feeling not too badly today. Other than being stuck in some hotel in St Helene Quebec right now.
[quote]1BADMF wrote:
Don’t mean to hijack but these questions seem relevant…
Would it be ok for someone to drink coffee or tea while coming off the ephedra?
Does coffee/tea cause adrenal fatigue in normal doses (1-2 cups a day)?
Thanks.[/quote]
You’re not hijacking anything. I wanted this for myself but also to have an open forum/discussion on the subject. I had spent much time searching the site and found a few things but not what I was looking for so I started this thread.
I couldn’t really say either way although I would probably say better not to if you can because of the caffeine. That being said, I still drink coffee. If I had to give up both at the same time, I’d never do it.
Someone else would have to answer the coffee/adrenal thing though. I doubt 1-2 cups a day would be anything to worry about.
[quote]1BADMF wrote:
Don’t mean to hijack but these questions seem relevant…
Would it be ok for someone to drink coffee or tea while coming off the ephedra?
Does coffee/tea cause adrenal fatigue in normal doses (1-2 cups a day)?
Thanks.[/quote]
Well…that’s a good question that’s debatable on either side. Coffee/tea at 1-2 cups a day wouldn’t cause adrenal fatigue, however, if you’re battling an addiction to stimulants, you’d probably want to limit or cease caffeine use as well. But, I assume that’s an individual case by case scenario.
[quote]MsM wrote:
Time to unwind? Does driving through Montreal in rush hour traffic count? Didn’t think so. I really do try to fit in quiet time and that’s usually my time on here.
Headaches have been somewhat better the last couple of days, ulcer has been a little tempermental but I have no idea if that’s related or a separate issue entirely. The blemishes though are beyond blemishes and my face actually hurts. I have no idea what to make of it.
Good news for the day: down to 180mgs (again but the first time I cut back that far, it was too fast for me). Feeling not too badly today. Other than being stuck in some hotel in St Helene Quebec right now. [/quote]
I’m sorry you’re so stressed as of late. That does not help any of your symptoms at all.
Have you considered asking a doctor about your skin? I know it’s hard to discuss these types of problems with a person one on one, but I’m sure a doc could be more helpful in treating your skin, and even your ulcer. It’s just a thought.
Also, I know you mentioned your appetite coming back and having to deal with food cravings. What have your eating habits been like lately? Are you eating stuff you usually don’t eat?
I imagine that you are right BigRagoo but sometimes there are events and events and situations that are out of your control and you just have to deal with them as best you can. I’ve realized that I have to change the way I deal with some of them though. Having this thread has really helped me with that.
Well, I don’t really have a doctor right now. Left my family physician in Ontario and don’t really have one yet on the east coast but I’m sure it won’t take long to find one there. Ulcer is mostly under control and I’ve been taking Zantac for almost a year now and been able to reduce my dose to a very minimal one. My skin, thank goodness, is looking a little better today so hopefully it was only temporary. That was so awful I can’t even explain what it was like.
Trying to keep food intake as normal as I can being on the road right now. Not always the best choices available but I have still been doing the oatmeal and apple juice that Bushy suggested. The movers packed all of my supp’s and protein shakes before I knew it so I’m having to make due. I did have a suggestion about coconut oil so I’ll be trying that. Already using fish and olive oil.
All in all, feeling not too badly today. No headache this morning. I didn’t wake up wanting to dive into a cheesecake and I get to see my new house in roughly 6 or 7 hours:)
[quote]MsM wrote:
I imagine that you are right BigRagoo but sometimes there are events and events and situations that are out of your control and you just have to deal with them as best you can. I’ve realized that I have to change the way I deal with some of them though. Having this thread has really helped me with that.
[/quote]
Oh, trust me, I understand. Life always hands you all that you can handle at any given time. It’s just really important during these times that you focus solely on yourself at some point during each day. It will give you strength to keep trucking along.
I’ve been in a similar situation myself. I’ve been using ephedra since the time of the eph supplements. In similar doses as well, usually in excess of 240mg per day. And usually in combination with loads of coffee, or taurine containing energy drinks.
It did give me terrible nervousness sometimes, or I would suddenly crash for no reason and feel depressed for hours on end. And I was irritable all day long. It got progressively worse and one day it just hit me how stupid some of my decisions were.
It really does create a dependency, and I can’t tell you it was easy giving it up, but if your experience was anything like mine, then in the end it will be worth it. You’ll be much more calm, and experience a clarity of thought you couldn’t when all the neurotransmitters were racing across your brain. And you’ll be a more pleasant person to be around.
Don’t worry about the weight gain, it won’t be drastic if you don’t go crazy with your diet. Your metabolism will pick up in a few weeks. I’d recommend added cardio in the meanwhile. Like another poster said, try not to be oversensitive to yourself. It will pass.
Oh and good luck. You’ve made good progress, be strong, keep it up.