Here's my experience with the people who sell these types of things...it seems that unless you are going to a reputable supplement supplier who deals only in products specifically designed for bodybuilders, you'll be talking with someone who may not have the any idea what they're talking about. In one store, I was advised to be careful with ephedra/ma huang/ephedrine and not to exceed the recommended daily dose of 5mg. In another store, I thought the woman was going to beat me to death with her Birkenstocks for even considering taking it. She basically told me I was going to kill myself if I took so much as one capsule, that I was nuts and couldn't possibly have the slightest idea what the product was. She told me I should be drinking tea and eating dandelion greens. I personally think she was smoking her dandelion. She also charged me 6 times the price that the other store wanted for a similar product, which was out of stock. I guess there's a bunch of us who want to kill ourselves, but are too afraid of being pelted with slippery elm and having our razors confiscated to buy it from her.

I found Twinlab online and sent off an email asking about Ripped Fuel, but I guess it wasn't interesting enough to answer. Into the city I went to see if it was available in Canada. At a GNC in Calgary, I found a bottle of Ripped Fuel, but it had a big sticker on it that said ephedra-free. I was reluctant to spend the money on it, and asked the saleslady if they carried a plain old tablet of ephedrine. No luck. As I was leaving the store, another employee asked the woman who had helped me what I had asked for. She told him ephedrine, he asked what it was, and she responded "speed". This exchange was loud enough to draw an audible gasp from most of the other customers in the store and have everyone actually stop what they were doing and stare at me with looks of disgust on their faces.

At long last, here is the moral of my story. If you have questions about a supplement, herb, etc., don't rely on people who work in the stores or for the companies that produce them. Do your own research, ask people who already take it, and form your own opinion. Experiment with different products and see what works for you. I think that while something works well for one person, it may have a different effect on the next. Only YOU know what works for you.

I take 50mgs of ephedrine 3-4 times a day, combined with 100mg of caffeine with my meals. I don't combine it with aspirin, as I find the effects of just the two are good. There are several products out there that contain ephedrine, try them and see how they work for you. Don't be discouraged or unnerved by someone who hasn't got a clue trying to tell your your business. Unless they are a doctor or a bodybuilder themselves, well, I don't get too concerned (unless they reach for their sandals in a threatening manner, haha).

Remember, be responsible, use moderation, and research products before you take them. Don't believe everything you're told, because no one cares more for your health and safety than you yourself.

I've been on a product called Adipokinetix for a week now and here I am at midnight, trying to figure out why I have a weird sensation in my lower back and a little pressure in my chest. The pressure in my chest has finally subsided. I'm still wide awake and I'm beginning to think that the pulling sensation in my lower back might have to do with something more internal rather than a strain from doing shoulder lifts more than 3 days ago. It remains constant. I've taken my last pill 3 hours ago and as I go through caffeine withdrawal and get back to normal, I'm going to see if the back pressure and the chest tightness leave upon stopping this stuff. In the meantime, I am sure that I will be searching all night long for more information - preferably unbiased scientific information. Some good hits, but still no statistical findings or anything specific on this product. I am tired of trusting what people say, I have to say amen to you! I would encourage anyone to research a supplement (other than at online supplement stores, walk-in retail stores of all specialties, etc.) - even if you have 5 people tell you that the product is safe. It's like having 5 people tell you to have sex without a condom all because they have been OK so far. Tell THEM to get their blood checked in 7 years...and they may preach a different gospel.

It seems that integrity and forethought have been lost in our modern times. It is all about the buck, always consider what could possibly be motivating someone to recommend something to you...even far hidden motivations.

I couldn't understand why my trainer insisted I take supplements when I was really in no hurry to lose my fat (OK, who isn't - but I wanted be healthy about it by working hard and being patient). I entered their small body transformation contest because competing can be a good extra motivator. I later found out that the trainer who is most involved in conditioning the winner gets a cut of the winnings! Maybe that's why he's more in a hurry for me get my numbers down than I am!

Listener beware, exercise those eyeballs and mouse clicks and see what you can find out!