How bad is caffeine or ECA stack on the Atkins/Keto diet?

**Big Rush** · 05-27-2004, 12:40 PM

Someone told me that you cannot take caffeine on the atkins diet because it stimulates your blood sugar levels or some sh-it like that...any one know? i want to start my ECA stack, but need to know if it will affect my diet at all

**Pale Horse** · 05-27-2004, 12:43 PM

I'm no diet expert but I wouldn't redline my metabolism while in ketosis too, could be damage. Anyone else?

**Big Rush** · 05-27-2004, 06:10 PM

bump

**rambo** · 05-27-2004, 06:16 PM

You should be running an ECA stack while on low carb diets to help prevent catabolism and help promote lipolysis. It's subsequent effects on blood sugar levels are negligible.

**NaughtyNurse** · 05-27-2004, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by rambo

You should be running an ECA stack while on low carb diets to help prevent catabolism and help promote lipolysis. It's subsequent effects on blood sugar levels are negligible.

Now, I am no diet expert, but I do know ppl on very low carb diets run a high risk of the body using catabolism for energy, and eventually running into a form of ketoacidosis...where your body ph balance is completely out of kilter,creating many problems..also linked to diabetics and insulin . UNLESS you ingest huge amounts of protein to make up for this, so the body has stores to draw on. Therefore, if you use a stack on a very low carb diet, such as Atkins, wouldn't you be actually increasing the chance of catabolism because of increased demand on your metabolism?

**Big Rush** · 05-28-2004, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by NaughtyNurse

Now, I am no diet expert, but I do know ppl on very low carb diets run a high risk of the body using catabolism for energy, and eventually running into a form of ketoacidosis...where your body ph balance is completely out of kilter,creating many problems..also linked to diabetics and insulin . UNLESS you ingest huge amounts of protein to make up for this, so the body has stores to draw on. Therefore, if you use a stack on a very low carb diet, such as Atkins, wouldn't you be actually increasing the chance of catabolism because of increased demand on your metabolism?

good question...i am going to pm swolecat and ask him to reply to this thread...

**Pork Chop** · 05-28-2004, 10:54 AM

I'm on a no-carb diet. Tuna and meats only.
I take Eph/caffeine/aspirin stack.
It takes 24 hours to enter a ketonic state. The ketones draw energy from fat - not muscle.

Caffeine does not affect your blood sugar that i know of.
If your doubtful, take ALA. It's available in 600mg capsules now.
The ALA lowers your blood sugar big time.

**chicamahomico** · 05-28-2004, 11:11 AM

Man when I'm carb depleted caffiene comes to the rescue. How else you supposed to get any energy if not from carbs?

**Pork Chop** · 05-28-2004, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by chicamahomico

Man when I'm carb depleted caffiene comes to the rescue. How else you supposed to get any energy if not from carbs?

The ketones draw energy from body fat.

**Big Rush** · 05-28-2004, 12:12 PM

good info. bros!! especially on the ALA...i will add that to my diet for sure...how much ALA do you take a day TRY ME?

**daman1** · 05-28-2004, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by rambo

You should be running an ECA stack while on low carb diets to help prevent catabolism and help promote lipolysis. It's subsequent effects on blood sugar levels are negligible.

Agreed.

**Big Rush** · 05-28-2004, 12:14 PM

i have a bottle of pantothentic acid...isn't that the same thing as ALA????

**Big Rush** · 05-28-2004, 12:16 PM

also, what i heard was when you are trying to enter ketosis (induction), you should stay away from caffeine for the first 2 weeks.....what do you all think?

**Pork Chop** · 05-28-2004, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Big Rush

good info. bros!! especially on the ALA...i will add that to my diet for sure...how much ALA do you take a day TRY ME?

Alpha lapic acid. Pop a 600mg capsul before every meal. You can't overdose on it. Your pee will smell strong - this is normal as it is flushing out your liver, added benefit of ALA.

**Pork Chop** · 05-28-2004, 12:48 PM

Buddy don't worry about caffeine - kust make sure you don't put sugar in your coffee. Coffee will speed up your metabolism, burn more calories and dehydrate you. Excellent for losing weight.

**rambo** · 05-28-2004, 01:13 PM

You need to be running R-ALA, check out Glucorell-R, it's pre packaged with Biotin. ALA is too expensive to be significant, as it's not as active as the isolated R form.

**SwoleCat** · 05-28-2004, 03:22 PM

1) If caffeine raised insulin levels enough to cease lipolysis, why is it then a KEY ingredient in EVERY ECA stack that was ever made, as well as being the major one in all ephedrine-free stacks now as well? Exactly, the amount of caffeine you would have to ingest to get a significant rise in insulin secretion to blunt lipolysis would have you dead first.

2) Pantothenic Acid is Vitamin B-5, ALA is something entirely different (Alpha Lipoic Acid)

~SC~

**Pale Horse** · 05-28-2004, 03:25 PM

Swole, should one use an ECA stack on atkins? Are there hazards?

**SwoleCat** · 05-28-2004, 03:28 PM

I can't "tell" you to use one, but I can say that it should be no different than one utilizing any other dietary approach. Just don't get burned out on them, then you have no forms of energy available, natural (carbs) or otherwise (ECA).

~SC~

**MilitiaGuy** · 05-28-2004, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by Big Rush

Someone told me that you cannot take caffeine on the atkins diet because it stimulates your blood sugar levels or some sh-it like that...any one know? i want to start my ECA stack, but need to know if it will affect my diet at all

caffeine will not affect your ketosis it will just make u crave sugar ,and ECA stack is very good when u r running a cyclikal ketogenic diet .dont forget to put some dextrose in you pw shake like about 15-20g just ti help u fill your muscle glycogen and it wont kick u out of ketosis and it will help in recovery

**Russ616** · 05-28-2004, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by rambo

You should be running an ECA stack while on low carb diets to help prevent catabolism and help promote lipolysis. It's subsequent effects on blood sugar levels are negligible.

I agree..

**Big Rush** · 05-28-2004, 04:52 PM

Okay, what about running creatine and ECA stack or any caffeine at all????? Does it cancel the creatine out since caffeine is a diuretic (sp?)..................................by the way...i have been using Trac Creatine @ 4g carbs per serving - 1 serving daily....so far it seems to be pretty good sh-it

**Big Rush** · 05-28-2004, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by MilitiaGuy

.dont forget to put some dextrose in you pw shake like about 15-20g just ti help u fill your muscle glycogen and it wont kick u out of ketosis and it will help in recovery

is this true? will dextrose not effect blood sugar levels?

**LeanMeOut** · 05-28-2004, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by Big Rush

is this true? will dextrose not effect blood sugar levels?

LOL..... dude Dextrose spikes your insulin levels badly. But that is the point. PWO you want to do this to grow. Plus dextrose is a simple sugar so it replenishes muscle glycogen. It is ideal for you to take in dextrose PWO, and it isn't going to make you fat. Your body needs glucose after a workout to refuel your muscles.

Mike

**Big Rush** · 05-28-2004, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by LeanMeOut

LOL..... dude Dextrose spikes your insulin levels badly. But that is the point. PWO you want to do this to grow. Plus dextrose is a simple sugar so it replenishes muscle glycogen. It is ideal for you to take in dextrose PWO, and it isn't going to make you fat. Your body needs glucose after a workout to refuel your muscles.

Mike

yes, but it is obviously not acceptable on the atkins diet, right?

**TheChosenOne** · 05-28-2004, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by Big Rush

yes, but it is obviously not acceptable on the atkins diet, right?

No it is not acceptable on the atkins diet by the rules laid out according to the diet. However, I think it would be foolish to avoid carbs PWO. You desperately need to replenish muscle glycogen after working out which is where dextrose comes into play. If you go total keto prepare to lose a great deal of muscle. This will slow your metabolism also, only making it harder and harder to lose fat.

**SwoleCat** · 05-28-2004, 06:49 PM

Yeah, didn't wanna say that, but that's why Atkin's/Keto type approaches are only 1/2 of what can be an easy body composition change.

For good too! No temporary fixes.

~SC~