Performance enhancing supplements

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 20:41:44 -0400

what are the latest myths vs facts regarding these?

Do they help?
Are the bad for your system?
Will they make you "pop hot"?

While I welcome anyone's input, I would really like to hear from anyone associated with AMEDD or JAG.

I am researching them before I try them

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2014 9:04 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 21:04:52 -0400

I have used supplements before. For me they seem to give me extra boost of energy and I did find that I could push out a few extra reps. But you should use them only for a very short amount of time like a few months. Overuse can be bad for your kidneys.

If you are unsure if the supplements have illegal substances, your best option is to go to your primary care manager at the health clinic with the ingredients, they can advise you if they are on the banned list and even tell you potential harmful substances, that may not be banned.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2014 9:35 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 21:35:39 -0400

I would be careful and double check the ingredients as Maj Stanton referenced. Also, if you do use them, HYDRATE! I had to medevac someone who was using supplements and went into kidney failure because they weren't drinking enough water.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2014 10:23 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 22:23:05 -0400

1SG Private RallyPoint Member I know that it is a legitimate body building stuff (Creatine) and some use this and other seriously dangerous stuff. I really don't get this. Steve Coursen who played with the Tampa Bay Bucs bench pressed over 720 lbs and he died of a heart that literally exploded. Steroids, not Creatine Monohydrate and there is even concern over that for various reasons.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2014 11:13 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 23:13:03 -0400

1SG Private RallyPoint Member. Great topic. Most commercial pre-gym supplements contain stimulants (caffein, synephrine [very similar to effedrine]) and some carbs (similar to sugars and/or chocolate) that are intended to make you feel less fatigued and emotionally happier. Stimulants drive up heart rate, blood pressure, and are diuretics . . . can kill.

You can go back and forth about this all day long . . . but why not consider eating a decent breakfast, have a cup or two of coffee if you need it, hydrate before during and after the gym (particularly if you are taking a stimulant that makes your kidneys work overtime), and add common protein powder (whey or other) to a blended fruit and berry shake to rebuild and/or increase muscle mass? Try eating and working out the organic way before any supplement.

If it is a question of motivation . . . why not work out with a platonic/other same/other sex buddy . . . so you know someone else is depending on you to show up and perform a first rate all out workout? I personally prefer platonic Marine Gunny or DI . . . the kind with a heart of gold . . . knows how to motivate . . . as personal alarm and trainer.

Yes . . . some supplement components . . . like Bitter Orange derived Synepherine . . . can pop hot on UA!!!

Warmest Regards, Sandy

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2014 11:56 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 23:56:40 -0400

1SG Private RallyPoint Member,
Your post is somewhat vague. Can you elaborate further? What are you currently taking? What do you want to take? What are your goals? There are tons of supplements from tons of companies all geared toward different things.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Oct 30 at 2014 9:09 AM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 09:09:17 -0400

The DoD has an entire program (it isn't well known) that list "safe" supplements and does third party testing of them to verify ingredients.

http://hprc-online.org/dietary-supplements/opss

OPSS: Operation Supplement Safety — Human Performance Resource Center

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Oct 30 at 2014 10:59 AM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 10:59:11 -0400

I certainly do not claim to be an expert in this area and will, therefore, leave medical opinions, etc. to the experts. However, unfortunately, I do have considerable experience in dealing with steroid/synthetic steroids and energy/performance enhancing drugs.

While assigned as the General Manager of the Wackenhut contract that provided over 1,000 para-military protective force personnel to provide security for the nuclear weapons program sites in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, I became very familiar with the issue of performance enhancing drugs and the fact that they many test positive for steroids.

A key fact to remember when looking at this issue -- Steroids are Schedule III drugs under the Drug Control Act and are illegal without a prescription. Many performance-enhancing drugs, while they may or may not contain minute amounts of steroids, make you test positive for steroids on a drug test.

When in Oak Ridge, I had probable cause to suspect that some of our Security Police Officers were taking steroids and were pressuring others to do so. While all our personnel were subject to annual and random drug testing, the Department of Energy (DOE)/National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) prescribed testing protocol did not test for steroids and, as such, we never identified anybody taking steroids through that testing. However, as I had probable cause to believe some identified individuals were taking steroids, and we had a “Drug Free Workplace Program” in place, I required the identified individuals to take a drug test specifically designed to detect illegal steroid use. All five tested positive for steroids (and none had a prescription) and all were terminated for illegal drug use.

During the due process that ensued between identification, testing and termination, one of the individuals came to me and swore that he had not been using steroids, but that he had been using a performance-enhancing drug that could have caused the positive drug test for steroids. He showed me the box and bottle of the product he was using and, in large letters on the box, there was a warning that said something like this: “WARNING: For members of the military and others who may be in a drug testing program, use of this product may result in a positive test for steroids”. Of course, the natural question I asked this Protective Force member was why he used the product if he was aware of that warning. He stated that many had used it and had never had a problem with it (again, I remind you that the normal drug test did not test for steroids).

I believed him and others (they were all “good troops”) and tried to find a way to not terminate them, but, unfortunately, they tested positive for steroids and the federal law required they be terminated. Basically, the test results ruled; what caused the positive was deemed to be irrelevant.

The problem that I had was that, potentially, I had hundreds of Security Police Officers using that product or others like it. I started a big information campaign to advise our folks about the possible consequences of taking those products (based on drug tests, not possible health issues). DOE/NNSA required me to conduct random tests for steroids and we ended up terminating several more before the dust settled.

I briefed the hierarchy at DOE/NNSA headquarters about the issue with the positive tests for non-steroid products and requested that they put the word out across the complex. I also briefed the situation to a wide variety of groups representing other DOE/NNSA sites, as well as within our own company, as we had security contracts all over the world that could be impacted by this issue.

One thing I learned during my research into this was that the biggest users or steroids and performance-enhancing drugs are: military personal; police officers; firemen; athletes; and body builders. Almost 100% of the people we hired as Security Police Officers were former military and police.

As the old saying goes – “Let the buyer beware” or, in this case, “Let the user beware”.

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Oct 30 at 2014 12:58 PM

CMDCM Gene Treants — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 12:58:51 -0400

So maybe this is an obvious question to some, but WHY are you considering using these "supplements?" There must be a good reason if you are considering putting chemicals into your body and do not even know if they are harmful or will cause you problems such as being popped positive. So, WHY 1SG Private RallyPoint Member are you even considering their use?

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2015 3:22 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:22:38 -0500

1SG Private RallyPoint Member I've been using different pre-workouts:
Jack3d (Micro), this is one of my favorites, got my dumbbell pr at 55lbs with it. It helps with vascularity too.
Neon, that's the worst that I've used, beside the itching I didn't feel any difference.
Cellucor C4, one of the most famous and the best that I've used. You feel the strength and the push. Definitely loved it!
BPI 1M.R. (1 More Rep), this is the one that I'm currently using and feels just like C4. I used them back to back and I just keep improving my PRs.

Protein Powder, I've used different brands too but my favorite, believe it or not, is the one that you find in the Commisary for like $18. Body Fortress, the Isolate. Is the cleanest and lowest in calories that I've used.
Iso100, great quality, taste and also low in calories and carbs.
Cellucor, my wife loves it because of the flavors variety but it is not as clean and low in calories as the other two I mentioned.

I was about to start a discussion of the same topic, now I'll start reading the rest of the responses.

Response by SPC Neil Hood made Feb 11 at 2015 3:30 PM

SPC Neil Hood — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:30:29 -0500

I saw quite a few SMs at the Role 1 in AFG with seriously elevated Heart Rates and B/Ps that were using "supplements" that they were given/gifted or purchased down range. A few allergic reactions as well.

Response by LCpl Sidney Green made May 22 at 2023 5:28 AM

LCpl Sidney Green — Mon, 22 May 2023 05:28:50 -0400

There's no way to know how any of them will effect you until you try them. Just do so during a non critical period so on the off chance that something does go wrong, you won't have to deal with the ignominy of explaining it to one of your superiors. From what I can tell, most of them are benign (caffeine is a drug), but some can raise your heart rate and blood pressure. Not a big deal unless you already suffer from those conditions.

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made May 22 at 2023 6:48 AM

A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney — Mon, 22 May 2023 06:48:18 -0400

One Thing You May Always Notice, Are The Disclaimers.....
"Here Try This".......
Then Goes On To State:
"This Product Is Not Intended To Diagnose, Treat, Cure, or Prevent Any Disease".
Makes Me Wonder Why It Just Doesn't Say: ..
"We Don't Know What This Stuff Does Either, But We Sell A Sh*t Load Of It".
.
These Items Appear To Be Manufactured To Assist You With Your "Floppy Driver."
~~~~ What The "L"; Ever Consider Giving It A Smack It With A Stick!. ~~~~