Fat Burners: How the Devil Made Me Do It -Cytodyne Xenadrine RFA-1
Written: Sep 01 '02 (Updated Mar 04 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: I lost fat, have more energy, few side effects.
Cons: It can be harmful - even deadly.
The Bottom Line: I am recommending Xenadrine but please know what you are taking and talk with your doctor first. I am recommending it because it works for me.
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| jo.com's Full Review: Cytodyne Xenadrine Rfa-1 |
I am reviewing Xenadrine RFA-1 made by Cytodyne. In spite of warning people of the dangers of these supplements I did take Hydroxycut and ended up returning that bottle after it made me feel so sick I called the company and they told me to stop taking it. One of the problems with these fat burners is there is no recommended dose by weight so a 230 pound person takes the same amount as a 130 pound person! I think if you are small, you may want to cut back on the recommended dose. I bought the Xenadrine at my local health food store whose owner I trust. He told me Xenadrine was milder than Hydroxycut and to take 2 or 3 rather than 4 so that is what I did. This is my review. .
What is Xenadrine RFA-1?
Xenadrine is one of the most advertised fat burners on the market. That’s why I couldn’t resist it. I wasn’t looking to lose weight. Weight Watchers has been successful in doing that for me as I gained weight when I hit my 40s! You can’t open Muscle & Fitness or Oxygen without seeing multiple ads. If you watch TV, you have seen people with amazing bodies advertising fat burners. I was looking to lose fat. I lift weights and would like a leaner look.
I will be looking at Xenadrine RFA-1 as compared to Hydroxycut because I will tell you now- Xenadrine has worked for me and hasn’t made me at all sick.
Hydroxycut did not burn any fat on me, however Xenadrine did. Now how do I know that? That is a good question since I haven’t had my body fat tested since I worked in a gym a few years ago. As I said I wasn’t looking for weight loss, although I have lost about 4 pounds. I have cellulite. Cellulite is “a cosmetic term used for areas of the skin that appear like an orange peel or cottage cheese due to underlying fat deposits. These fat deposits occur on the thighs, buttocks, and hips of slim or overweight women. Formation can begin as early as puberty but it is most evident in women over 30." (http://www.e-cellulite.net/) I have had cellulite since I was a teenager – even at 100 pounds! It has almost disappeared. It really has! That is how I know that Xenadrine RFA-1 worked for me. My cellulite didn’t disappear with Hydroxycut.
Hydroxycut's ingredients are a bit different than Xenadrine, which is why the health food storeowner said it was milder.
Is it Safe?
Obviously there is some concern. You cannot buy this product if you are under 18 but that isn’t stopping the kids from buying it. Football coaches have been known to suggest these products for their athletes and, of course, there were eliminations for the use of these products at the Olympics. They are not allowed. Xenadrine is basically speed, which is an illegal drug if purchased on the street. In fact if you follow baseball you know that they did not strike and will be tested for illegal drug use. Although Xenadrine is not illegal and it appears players will be able to take this supplement, quite a hoopla ensued when it was discovered that Mark McGuire was taking Creatine, a much less potent and safer supplement than what Xenadrine is called and that is E/C- ephedrine and caffeine versus E/C/A as Hydroxycut is known – the A is for aspirin. Please note, that although it does not contain aspirin it does contain salicin, which is a precursor to aspirin.
There are a multitude of warnings on the bottle and as I write in the comments of many reviews be aware that there are at least 100 lawsuits against products with ephedrine in it. Ephedrine, also known as ephedra or ma huang, has sickened or killed 800 users. To read more about this, go to url: http://www.ephedrine-ephedra.com/
"Ephedrine, Ephedra and Ma Huang are terms used to refer to the same substance derived from the plant Ephedra. (There are many common names for these evergreen plants, including squaw tea and Mormon tea.) Ephedra is a shrub-like plant that is found in desert regions in central Asia and other parts of the world. The dried greens of the plant are used medicinally. Ephedra is a stimulant containing the herbal form of ephedrine, an FDA-regulated drug found in over-the-counter asthma medications.” (http://www.ephedrine-ephedra.com/pages/what_is_ephedrine_1234.html)
Warnings:
As I said there are many. This is on the bottle, but I did cut and paste it from drugstore.com. Any site selling anything with ephedrine in it will give you similar warnings:
“Not intended for use by anyone under the age of 18. Do not use if you are pregnant or nursing or if you are at risk of or are being treated for high blood pressure, liver, thyroid, or psychiatric disease, diabetes, pernicious anemia, nervousness, anxiety, depression, seizure disorder, cardiac arrhythmia, stroke, pheochromacytoma, or difficulty in urination due to prostate enlargement. Consult your healthcare professional before use if you are taking an MAO inhibitor or any other prescription drug containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine (ingredients found in certain allergy, asthma, cough/cold and weight control products). Exceeding recommended serving will not improve results and may cause serious adverse health effects including heart attack and stroke. Discontinue use and consult your health care practitioner if you experience rapid heartbeat, dizziness, severe headache, shortness of breath, heart palpitations or similar symptoms. Individuals who consume additional caffeine with this product may experience serious adverse health effects.
The maximum recommended dosage of ephedrine for a healthy adult is no more than 100 mg in a 24-hour period for not more than 12 weeks.
Keep out of the reach of children.”
What is in this stuff?
Ingredients (from http://www.joemuscle.com/xenadrine.html and drugstore.com
-Pantothenic acid vitamin B5: 40 mg
-Citrus Aurantium (4% synephrine): 125 mg - a stimulant, similar to caffeine and ephedrine, it has similar effects in terms of providing an energy boost, suppressing appetite and increasing metabolic rate and caloric expenditure.
“Synephrine is the main "active" compound found in the fruit of a plant called /supatoz/supplement.asp?supplementId=87Citrus aurantium. The fruit is also known as zhi shi (in traditional Chinese medicine), and as green orange, sour orange and bitter orange in other parts of the world. Synephrine is chemically very similar to the ephedrine and pseudo-ephedrine found in many OTC cold/allergy medications and in a number of weight loss and energy supplements which contain Ma Huang.
· Increases caloric expenditure
· Fat burner
· Promotes weight loss
· Increases energy levels
Because synephrine is a stimulant, similar to caffeine and ephedrine, it is thought to have similar effects in terms of providing an energy boost, suppressing appetite and increasing metabolic rate and caloric expenditure.”
http://www.supplementwatch.com/supatoz/supplement.asp?supplementId=273
-MaHuang (6% ephedrine): 335 mg - MaHaung is the herbal form of Ephedrine. It has been proven in several scientific studies to increase metabolism, reduce appetite, and spare lean muscle tissue while dieting. By the way- herbal does not mean less potent or dangerous. They are basically the same product.
-Guarana Extract (22% caffeine): 910 mg - Guarana is the herbal form of caffeine It has been shown to stimulate fat deposits causing them to release fatty acids to be burned as energy. Caffeine also increases the effectiveness of ephedrine making the two compounds a very potent fat burner. The caffeine content for a 5-ounce cup of coffee is about 80 to 115 milligrams. With Xenadrine you are drinking 10 cups of coffee and that isn’t including the other “fat burners.”
From http://www.coffeescience.org/studies.html you can read about studies that show that caffeine users may develop Parkinson's Disease at a lower rate than those who don't drink coffee. Remember you are not just taking caffeine. You will also read that studies show that a moderate amount of caffeine does not pose a risk to heart health. Please note the word moderate.
-White Willow Bark (15% salicin): 105 mg - White Willow Bark was the basis used in the formation of aspirin. Aspirin enhances the effects of ephedrine as well as slows down the rate at which it's excreted from the body.
-Acetyl L-Carnitine: 100 mg - Acetyl L-Carnitine is an amino acids responsible for the transport of fatty acids into muscle cells to be burned for energy.
-L-Tyrosine: 80 mg - L-Tyrosine is an amino acid and is the precursor to the hormone thyroxine. Deficiencies in thyroxine can cause excessive weight gain.
-Vitamin B5: 40 mg - Vitamin B5 is essential for proper functioning of the body's energy metabolism.
-Ginger Root: 50 mg - Ginger Root is a powerful appetite suppressant.
-Contents of Proprietary ThermoSynergist Blend 390 mg (from Supplements facts list): L-Tyrosine, Acetyl L-Carnitine, Fisetin, Magnesium Phosphate, DMAE (2 dimethylaminoethanol).
-Other Ingredients: Calcium Phosphate, Talc, Gelatine, Magnesium Stearate.
The total miligrams in Xenadrine RFA-1 are 2565
The total milligams in Hydroyxut are 3744
What it doesn’t have which Hydroxycut adds is
~Hydroxagen™ (2000 mg): Hydroxagen ™ supplies a powerful compound several studies have demonstrated may decrease the activity of the enzyme which is responsible for the conversion of excess carbohydrates into fat. This makes it extremely effective for low fat diets and binge eaters. Hydroxagen™ may also act to curb hunger and cravings for food.
This is what Xenadrine does not have and thus, according to the health food store owner, whose wife has a hole in her heart but takes fat burners, makes Xenadrine milder and safer. This is the biggest difference between the two and what the health storeowner was talking about. There are 2000 mg of Hydroxagen versus 390 mg in Xenadrine’s.
I have no problem with L-Carnitine and B5. I take them as separate supplements actually adding to the numbers.
The statements made about these supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
As an aside, if you are taking Xenadrine EFX, that contains no ephedrine.
How to take it:
“To use as an energy booster: Take two capsules approximately 30 minutes prior to exercise.
To use for weight loss: Take two capsules before breakfast or morning exercise session, and two more capsules at mid-afternoon. Begin use with one-half the recommended dose (one capsule twice per day) for the first seven days to assess your tolerance. Do Not Exceed 4 Capsules Per Day.”
Along with burning fat I wanted the extra energy. We are told, as we are told with Hydroxycut, to ease into this slowly. The first week we are told, which I did to take 1 capsule two times a day and the 2nd week 3 and continue to 4 if you are tolerating it. I stopped at 3 and am happy with that. At some point I may go to 4 a day, but I don’t think I need it. Since there is no regulation, there really is no way to know what a good dose is for you so it is a guessing game and you may be guessing wrongly so be careful.
More of my experiences and thoughts:
When I started taking Xenadrine – 2 capsules a day- I felt a little boost in energy. I noticed it when I stopped for 2 days when I had my wisdom tooth pulled. Whenever I have surgery (I was put to sleep) I stop taking many of my supplements and I noticed the decrease in energy. These can certainly be addicting and the warning of not to take them for more than 12 weeks should be taken very seriously. The second week I added the 2nd capsule in the morning and felt a marked change in energy. I had no problem sleeping though the night and any jitters that I may have felt the first week were gone. I felt and still feel great.
My appetite is definitely suppressed. I can say that with 100% certainty and it is without any nausea. I am just not hungry all the time. But I do get hungry and I do eat. I just don’t feel like eating constantly, especially after
I take the capsules which is why the morning and later in the afternoon works well for me. Any emotional eating is really gone because the hunger is just not there. Even when I want to eat because something delicious is around or I want to “cheat” I may not because of the appetite suppressant. Naturally I have lost weight. But I am still eating healthfully. I eat many meals throughout the day, but they are much smaller than I would usually eat.
In summary:
I really cannot believe I am recommending Xenadrine RFA-1! But this is a product review and the product has lived up to my expectations. I will never look like the women on television and I don’t aspire to that. I have lost some fat and weight. I have more energy allowing me to lift more weight at the gym. This is not a weight gaining product or a mass builder but because I have more energy, it allows me to get in that extra set or the higher weight that I would not normally attempt to do.
I truly doubt that this is totally hazard free and certainly if you take more than the recommended dose (do not take more than 4 capsules a day!) you are at risk for serious complications.
My doctor knows I am taking this product. If you are or are planning on taking it, please talk with your doctor first.
The price of these varies a lot. My bottle says the retail is $39.95 but I paid $31.96 for 120 capsules. At 4 a day that is a 30 day supply, again all you should be taking without giving your body a rest and again seeing your doctor to make sure everything is going alright with your body, especially your heart. I am not a doctor; I cannot tell you if you can take this product again after some amount of time. You will have to see how you respond to it and what your doctor tells you.
If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me.
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Recommended:
Yes
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