Reddit mentions: The best sports endurance & energy supplements

YES!

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A good morning routine, or any routine really is a great way to stay consistent and keep you on track. Granted, I haven't been 100% on track with mine, but I'm working on it! Currently ironing some shirts for work, but I thought I'd chime in lol.

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My mornings I learned really set my day for me. Since I've gained 10 pounds and adjusted to eating some breakfast, if I DONT eat my 1000+ calorie breakfast to start off, I get headaches, and the rest of my day sucks cuz i didn't get my high protein, high fat, and calorie meal in to get the day going. I need to eat more otherwise my body will beat me up lol. All this from going to 155 from 145. Sucks but hey, gotta eat to get big! I'm a hard gainer so I need more calories (3,500 to 4,000+ a day). Hard to keep up with it right now since I'm starting back again and really trying to get on track. But i think once i stay consistent with my hard workouts my appetite with eventually catch up. Anywho...

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Meditating, stretching, and taking care of my face/hair also helps me feel really good in the morning (recently bought some stuff to get a routine going, makes my face feel great!). Triming nails, cleaning ears, really just hygiene in general. Stretching loosens up the body. And meditating while smiling is amazing. You instantly feel great, motivated, and just fucking awesome!! Its hard for me to get the smile going at first, but once I do its easier to maintain the "damn i feel good vibe". I bought this waterfall Buddah thing from walmart (that lights up!) for $5 along with these oil burners too. Just sets the mood reeallly nice :D - https://i.imgur.com/zYyMIld.jpg

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I started by making 3 distinct routines around my work schedule, color codes for each type of thing i was working on, timestamps for when to do it, how long, etc. I wanted to ensure each day i could make time for my top goals. That ended up just not working, due to it being overly complicated and the time frames always got fucked. I've since then combined it into a simple routine/checklist for each day. You can see it here:

https://i.imgur.com/Te44JOj.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/vTglce6.jpg

VERY simple, compared to what I had before lol. Dry skin/lips is something I suffer from right now, so I'm trying out different cremes and products to see which works best for me (along with drinking more water too).

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My main problem was after work, I'd be tired. So I do recommend you get some pre-workout or maybe caffeine pills, and get more sleep during the night to help with energy (something i need to focus more on lol). Also a good diet (meal prep every sunday!) I take them (one, not both lol) usually before i start heading home or as soon as i get home.

Caffine Pills im using - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01921TUGC/

Pre-workout I'm using - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HHWIPZA/

The only thing about pre-workout i would advise is to split test the ones with beta alanine and the ones without it. This is the component that gives you the tingly feeling. Some pre-workout is mild with others being way more noticeable. Personally i hate the feeling as i mainly take it to get extra energy. This one my friend gave me and I only ever feel it tingle a bit in my hands and thats it. Feel free to experiment with whichever one works best for you.

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I also made my own meal prep/budget file in excel. Where I customized it so I can easily see my macros when adjusting my meals for the days of the week. Including fruit and snacks. Very customizable, so much so that I can alter ingredients in the recipes and the macros follow through on the adjustments. Everything I tried out from the grocery store, liked, did research on, and decided to keep in my meal plan, I got the macros for. So there is a TON of food on one sheet with the Calories, Carbs, Protein, and Fat in individual cells that it calculates from. I just adjust the quantity and boom easy planning for the week. To supplement this i did research and jotted down a lot of different workouts for parts of the body, and assigned them to different days of the week.

Pictures of the excel file:

https://i.imgur.com/3Qa4gJK.png

https://i.imgur.com/uIvpFay.png

https://i.imgur.com/g7EzpdU.png

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An eating schedule is also recommended too! I struggle with that now, so right after this I'm trying a tip I got for hard gainers from Athlean-X, to set alarms on my phone to remind me when to eat. And I spaced things out about 3 hours apart so I can have time to digest and not force myself too much. (trying to bulk while eating consistently is harder than I thought lol. been about 6 months, only gained 10 pounds)

Eating Schedule - https://i.imgur.com/DwuHqnY.png

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Part 2 in comments....

I was diagnosed with POTS back in April after randomly waking up in the middle of the night with a heart rate of over 180. A tilt table test a few days later confirmed.

I was put on Atenolol 25 mg (but I only take half so I take 12.5 mg a day). The first few weeks (really months) I HATED it. I was exhausted, my eyes were so tired all the time. I was nauseous, foggy, and just miserable. I finally have gotten used to it, my body has re-regulated itself and I am feeling much better. I definitely still am more tired than I remember being before my diagnosis, but it is worth it since it controls my POTS symptoms so well.

What I found works best for me is waking up around 530/6AM, drinking 20 ounces of water and 400 mg of salt, working out for at least 45 minutes (I was in really good shape at the time of my diagnosis, so I am fortunate that even though working out got harder I can still complete an hour long spin class, etc), drinking a full liter of water and a protein shake after, and then taking atenolol. Taking it after working out lets me get my heart rate up during my workout, which I have found to be really beneficial for my symptoms. By the time it is wearing off I am asleep so I don't really notice. Some days I take a second half if I am having a bad day, and my doctor said that is totally fine. Days I don't workout I feel much worse than when I do. I can say that getting up is hard, really hard. But once I do it is worth it!

Here are the salt tablets I use! They don't have that awful taste that some do! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OU7YXU2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

For the first two weeks after my diagnosis I barely got up. I know how you are feeling and I promise it will get better. Having a positive outlook is one of the best things you can do. If atenolol isn't working for you, I would definitely let your doctor know and you can try something else. You will find something that works! Keep your head up. POTS is not easy, and some days I still feel awful and like I just can't do anything. On days like that, I treat myself to bacon with breakfast for the sodium, and then go for a brisk walk. Anything to keep yourself moving!! I am a software developer so I work at a desk all day. I feel MUCH worse during the week than on the weekend because I am not moving as much.

Good luck with everything. Let me know if you need anything. POTS isn't fun, but with the right support you can make changes to your life and enjoy everything that is wonderful!

Do you mean your TSH was 80.56? Or T4 was 80.56?

TSH is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone. It is released by the pituitary gland to tell the thyroid to release more thyroid hormones. If TSH is high, that is like your pituitary glad screaming at your unresponsive thyroid, so no surprise that your thyroid hormone levels were also low. That usually indicates that you need to increase your dose.

I have Hashi's and I take 146 ish mg of NatureThroid along with Hyperbiotics PRO-15 Advanced probiotics, B-complex with coenzymes, Iron, Magnesium, Omega 3-6-9, Selenium and D3-5000IU. I have tried to reduce the number of supplements I take but they all help. I sometimes take Zinc as well. I quit coffee and take caffeine pills instead and I am (not super strictly, but working on it) gluten and soy free.

The first time I took Nature Throid after switching from generic levothyroxine all of my symptoms were about 80% GONE. We increased my dose from 1/4 grain to the current 2+1/4 grain over the course of maybe 6 months.

What really fixed things for me was going gluten and soy free and adding magnesium and selenium. The selenium reduced my antibodies from nearly 500 to 100 in six months. That alone made a huge difference. And going gluten/soy free allowed me to lose 20 lbs in a month and then maintain it pretty easily just logging my calories.

Occasionally, due to poor planning, I eat regular bread or some pizza and I am sapped of energy and achy for a week afterwards. I'm working on getting into the habit of always having gluten free options on hand. But generally speaking, I feel better than I've felt my entire life.

I've never heard of having an immune response to desiccated thyroid. I've done very well on Nature Throid. You may want to get labs done every 6 weeks to check your levels and adjust your dose as needed.

(Edit: 140mg caffeine, correction courtesy of DonOblivious)

This is a good answer, but an incomplete one. Looking at the side of a can it looks like you have a few basic ingredients: Sugar (25g), Taurine (1000mg), Caffeine (2500140mg+), Ginseng (200mg), and B Vitamins.

Taurine and Caffeine are both stimulants, and do the bulk of the CNS loading in the mix.

B Vitamins aid in the metabolism of energy from various energy sources, and alone is a very effective supplement for energy levels.

Ginseng seems to have about a thousand unproven uses, but is generally accepted to lower blood sugar, and improve insulin response, this is likely responsible for the 'whoa this is great' energy drink high, instead of the 'too much Halloween candy' sugar sickness.

And Sugar is just a pick your poison kind of exercise.

Adding costs all up to the above linked products:
Taurine: $23/kg Serving: 1000mg = $.023 / serving (1000 servings per pouch)
Caffeine: $2.99/(100200mg) Serving: 140mg = $0.02 / serving (143 servings per bottle) (edited)
B Vitamins: $8.98/100 Serving: 1 tablet = $.09 / serving (100 servings per bottle)
Ginseng: $18.65/(250500mg) Serving: 200mg = $.03 / serving (625 servings per bottle)

Grand total is about 5116 cents per every can of monster replaced, assuming you're alright providing your own juice crystals, I have as well not hunted at all for price reductions or bulk pricing on the above supplements.

If you want to avoid the stimulants and still get an invigorating effect, I would just recommend the B vitamins on their own, combined with some free office coffee, they work quite well.

I love my EC stack. I buy OTC bronkaid and take 25mg with a 200mg caffeine pill. Quality of caffeine seems to vary, so I get this brand

The full stack is ECA, including asprin. I don't have any heart conditions or problems with my blood work, so I don't take the asprin. Some people take fish oil instead of asprin, but most fish oil capsules are sold rancid due to how the oil is processed and can actually be bad for you. Just the ephedrine and caffeine work well for me. Boyfriend takes them too and loves it. You can take the stack long term without negative side effects, too.

I ramped up the dose slowly, taking half a pill once per day in the mid morning when I usually started feeling snackish, slowly increasing the dose over a week. If you start at the full 25/200 dose, you might feel funny. I had some shortness of breath when I did, so I cut to half dose.

It's honestly been really great. When I take it, I intermittent fast or eat very lightly during the day with a larger dinner. It doesn't completely kill my appetite, but I appreciate it because I need to be able to listen to my body.

One thing I haven't quite figured out is whether I should be supplementing more potassium. Apparently ephedrine can deplete potassium, so I have lite salt (half sodium, half potassium) and eat avocado everyday.

I think the potassium issue is discussed with EC stacks because of the danger of taking ephedrine when you have a heart condition. Potassium levels are critical in the management of some heart conditions. I'm not sure if ephedrine specifically warrants potassium supplementation, or if it's the underlying heart condition. Would love to hear more about this from someone knowledgable

Granola and trail mix are always yummy and good snacks for the heat because they won't melt. I like packing Fritos because they are have a lot of calories for their weight, and I'm a sucker for crunchy salty things (especially after hiking all day).

5 Hour Energies are probably a wonderful thing to bring, but I don't drink them so I can't comment on them specifically.

For larger meals, you can keep it simple and just pick up some dehydrated Mountain House type meals. They can be spiced up with some herbs/red pepper that you bring in. You can also pack in a few tortillas if you want. One of my favorite breakfasts is a Mountain House Breakfast Skillet with some of their fire roasted veggies thrown in, and put on a tortilla.

I would recommend bringing a small stove because NOTHING is better than a hot meal after backpacking. Or a hot coffee (I use Starbucks Via packets) in the morning as you watch the world wake up.

The stove doesn't have to be fancy, this cheap one from Amazon will work just fine. You can pick up a fuel canister on the island and it should hold you over for a 3 night trip. Pair with a little backpacking pot like this and you should be well set to heat up water for meals.

I'm also a big fan of bringing electrolyte supplements, especially when I know I'm going to be sweating a lot. I have also used Clif Shot Bloks, but they may melt in the heat.

For me, a day of backpacking food is something like:

• Breakfast: Coffee!!! Mountain House Breakfast Skillet, 2 servings, ~800 calories. Add veggies or a tortilla if available. If I know I'm going to need a calorie boost throughout the day, I'll add some olive oil.
  
• Snack 1: Granola or trail mix, 150 - 200 calories.
  
• Snack 2: Peanut M&Ms, 150 - 200 calories.
  
• Lunch: Tear apart some beef jerky, mix in with instant cheddar mashed potatoes, and crumble Fritos on top. Sounds weird, tastes great. Can be eaten hot or cold. Another option is a packet of ramen noodles mixed with Mountain House's fire roasted veggies, powdered peanut butter, and sriracha sauce. 550 - 650 calories.
  
• Snack 3: Trail mix, Clif Bloks, or a Clif Bar, 150-200 calories
  
• Snack 4: Fritos, Clif Bar, or Peanut M&ms, 150-200 calories
  
• Dinner: Mountain House Chili Mac with Beef, 2.5 servings, 575 calories. Add olive oil mixed with sriracha for another boost in calories and flavor.
  
  Overall, for a full backpacking day I will aim for ~3,000 calories.
  
  It's not the best or lightest, but it's a plan that works for me without having to spend too much time thinking about food. Meals can be switched around and mixed and matched, but I try to keep the calorie distribution roughly the same.

Well starting you can do whenever, but it can be hard. Its a mental game mostly. I realized i felt the same hunger after not eating that I did only 2 hours after eating a Big Mac large meal and 20 chicken nuggets. Its because high insulin levels cause your hunger signaling hormone called ghrelin to increase.

So i say start with 12hrs with no food. Use the time you are sleeping as part of that. And slowly train your body. This is the best guide I have found on the subject. The complete guide to water fasting besides Dr. Fung’s book called “The complete guide to fasting”

I would be happy to talk more about it, ill prepare my thoughts better. I just woke up in the middle of the night lol.

As far as supplements I just take a simple electrolyte supplement. A big thing with fasting like keto is you need plenty of sodium intake (which does not cause blood pressure issues) I would be happy to show a bunch of resources on that too. This is what I use: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07J478YKQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image

Anyways I’ll check back when its not 5am for me lol.

I really hope that helps as a start.

Well, electrolyte pills aren't "fuel" but it makes sure you don't screw that part up. Temp of 65 means you can probably get away with two bottles, but if you're not pissing clear or close to it then that's problem #1.

At a 65 temp, you're probably not in a monster UV area (southern US or lower, or Australia). If you are, and you're outside during like noonish for 5 hours, you could be getting a headache from that (some people do). Another random thing to watch out for, but it seems very unlikely here.

What do you crave when you get back home?

• Anything and everything: increase general food count on the ride; possibly electrolytes as well
  
• Chips, pasta, other salty things: increase electrolytes and maybe food
  
• Liquid things that aren't beer: increase water + electrolytes
  
• Water: Increase water
  
• Passing out tired: try to take it a little easier
  
• Nothing because you're nauseated: electrolytes, some water
  
• Beer: Looks like you got it right :)
  
  Lastly, I do Salt pills from Paceline because Paceline makes butt butter and that stuff is amazing. These are amazing too.

I live at sea level so didn't have the chance to train in high elevation. Luckily I do have some mountains nearby that are about 2000-3000ft and I love to run. I would run those mountains over and over. I also ran a lot of stadiums and would walk the stadiums with my pack on. I also ran 12-13mi for fun and cycled 20+mi.

Surprisingly walking/running the stadiums helped. A lot of the JMT is literally stairs going up a mountain. The combination of running and endurance training helped me prepare mentally and physically for the elevation and distance you are going to have to travel per day on the JMT. I did not have a problem acclimating.

Also these salt pills seemed to help, although it may have been a placebo effect:
https://amzn.com/B002IY96B0

Hiking poles are a must. You don't need anything fancy, just make sure you have some. I had some cheap $30 poles, couldn't have done the JMT without them.

Be prepared to be hungry all the time. Unless you resupply every 2-3 days, I just don't see how you can pack enough food.

Make sure your pack supports heavier loads as well. I didn't know this was a thing until after the JMT. I used the Osprey Atmos 65. Anything above 45lb, it felt super mushy and unsupportive.

Be prepared to be in shock for a week or so when you come back to the "real world." For me everything was crowded, loud, and bright.

Oh man, so we gotta find the characters AND the extras in the scene? There goes breakfast time :T

EDIT: FINISHED & PM'D! :3

If we're going to be reasonable here, I'd love to be able to make decent coffee, but if <$10 is preferred, energy gum would be good too! :) Thank you for the contest, it was super fun!

I actually failed three times before I got it down. Cutting out sugar and carbs was sooo hard because I am pakistani and all of our meals contain carbs. Also, I love love love chocolate. The first day the only carbs i ate were nuts....toward the end of the day, I felt so nauseous like I was going to pass out. I immediately went for a cookie and felt instantly better and at that point I knew my body tricked me lol. Then I tried again and failed again grabbing a cookie. The third time, I realized that the reason I felt so nauseous was because I wasn't getting enough electrolytes. So i ordered [Saltstick Caps] (https://www.amazon.com/SaltStick-Electrolyte-Replacement-Capsules-bottle/dp/B002IY96B0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497512701&sr=8-1&keywords=salt+sticks) and took them twice a day. I ate eggs cooked in beef bacon fat with veggies for breakfast. For lunch I had smoked salmon and for dinner I ate a hot dog wrapped in cheese. I basically ate whatever was in my fridge and wasn't carb heavy. I made myself "fat bombs" out of coconut oil and cocoa powder. I put the mixture in an icecube tray, put em in the fridge and ate one whenever I felt like I wanted something sugary. Bullet proof coffee was nice too for breakfast. I also drank a TON of water like 2-3 liters throughout the day. Eventually I found that breakfast made me so full and I had to actually force myself to eat my meals to maintain my calorie intake because I wasn't eating enough calories....(never thought that would happen ha). In one month, I lost 35 pounds. It's been a year now and I've lost a total of 50 pounds and my skin has never looked better. So anyhooo......if you're easing into it...you should have a meal plan set for the week so you don't find the need to grab anything sugary because you're too lazy too cook. It takes roughly three days for your body to get into ketosis so keto strips are helpful and saltsticks were a life saver. You don't have to keep buying them...eventually you'll start finding foods with the electrolytes you need and you'll begin to love salt water haha. Jk....you'll hate it but it's easier to get some electrolytes that way if your meals are not sodium heavy. Your pee will also start smelling different when you're in ketosis so you won't have to check your piss every time to see if you're in ketosis or not. Also, you'll find that there are so many delicious recipes out there so that made it much easier. There's only one food that I still miss and cannot find a equally delicious substitute for: mashed potatoes. I tried different mashed cauliflower recipes but its just not the same. One thing to note is that you can only have a certain amount of carbs a day before you get your body out of ketosis. Mine is 28g so sometimes I'll save my carbs for the end of the day so I can have a sandwich or even mashed potatoes if I feel like it. The cool thing is that you don't need to calorie count on this diet....only carb count. I calorie count only because I find myself not eating enough and I don't want to be toooooo skinny..never thought I'd ever be saying that either lol. One major Con for me is that I pee at least 10-15 times a day. It's very inconvenient and my bladder loves to drive me crazy when I am driving -_-

Ok, try replenishing your electrolytes. Try and add a couple Gatorade to your day. If you don't want the extra calories, try the calorie free Gatorade or the flavored Propel waters. There is also an unflavored Propel Electrolyte water that has been a life saver for me. It's just water and electrolytes (like Smart water, but better).

I have a huge problem with heat intolerance, dehydration, and sometimes my autonomic system just gives up and I overheat because my body forgets that it needs to sweat at all. I have ended up in the hospital from being in the sun on a 65ºF day. I take at least one of these Rapid Rehydr8 electrolyte pills every day. Last year, I had to take 4-6 of them again.

Another tip is that you should hydrate before and after work. The best way to eliminate the effects of overheating or dehydration are to prevent it. If you drink a couple extra glasses of water to recover from work and some more in the morning to prepare for it, you will have a good buffer. Your body actually takes some time to adjust to adjusted water intake, even with extra electrolytes, so you can't just drink more water and assume your body will automatically absorb what it needs right away. For instance, during the Tour de France they will start drinking extra water a day or two before they start the mountain part of the course because it takes a couple days for their body to adapt to the increased water intake.

Finally, you should keep track of how much water you're drinking. The simplest way to do it is to get a nice reusable water bottle. That way you can just count how many bottles you drink per day instead of doing the math because you drink out of different cups at home or work. I prefer a .75L bottle (example .75L), but you may prefer a larger 1L bottle (example 1L). Then you can find out how much water you need to drink to be functional. I need 3-6L of water a day. Personally, I don't count my Gatorade into my water intake (I do count unflavored Propel water, though), because I want to make sure that I am relying primarily on water for my hydration needs and supplementing the Gatorade and electrolyte pills to build on top of that. There's no reason, though, that you couldn't count your Gatorade as well.

Coffee (or any caffeine source, pills are uber cheap), ephedrine, and capsaicin. Lots of water. Yohimbine for some people but start with a VERY slow dose (I react very poorly to small doses even though I have a very high tolerance for most stimulants).

Keeping your diet high in protein and fiber will generally help.

Not really a supplement but getting as much high quality of sleep as possible and avoiding alcohol will both often help appetite.

Definitely take another look at caffeine. It's so cheap and you might be surprised in it being effective in body composition improvements even after tolerance is built to its stimulatory effects.

Most of the diet pills at the drug store that work are heavily labeled toward some proprietary blend and hype up that they contain raspberry ketones or something but the energy and effect is 99% because they're also loaded with caffeine that you could get for a small fraction of the cost (shipped-for-8-cents-each-cheap).

Correction - 25 migraine days a month :). One migraine typically lasts 2-4 days. I’ve done everything possible to just function (dry needling, cranial massage, RFA, botox/myobloc injections, etc). Keto and IF have literally been a lifesaver for me.

I use this in my water (just a little squirt once or twice a day):

Electrolyte Concentrate for Rapid... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079S9QN6S?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

And these are the salt tabs I take - typically one pill twice a day:

Electrolyte Salts Rapid Oral... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1P1ODD?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

I think cutting out everything processed has been huge for me. Most of my migraines start around my occipital nerves, but something about this WOE has really helped.

There are some groups called “Keto for Neuro” or “K4N” that may be helpful if you’re interested in looking into it.

Good luck!!

http://www.dysautonomiainternational.org/page.php?ID=44

Increase Fluid and Salt Intake

"It is often recommended to increase both fluid and salt intake in order to increase blood volume, which is typically low in POTS patients. This has proven to be particularly helpful in patients with blood pooling, hypovolemia, or hypotension.2 Except for the hyperadrenergic subtype of POTS, a fluid intake of approximately two liters and an intake of three to five grams of salt is typically recommended per day.3 Note that salt includes sodium and chloride. One gram of table salt contains approximately .393 grams (393 milligrams) of sodium. That means that five grams of salt contains approximately 1.965 grams (1965 milligrams) of sodium. This number can be useful when tracking salt in food with nutrition labels, which often list sodium content."

5 grams of salt sounds like so much. I think it probably varies for each individual. I'm seeing a specialist soon and definitely going to ask about the salt because I don't want to be taking too much.

Edit: I take salt pills and you're right that sprinkling a little salt on your food is not enough. Forgot how much salt is in each off the top of my head.

2nd edit: https://www.amazon.com/SaltStick-Electrolyte-Replacement-Capsules-bottle/dp/B002IY96B0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1496179412&sr=8-3&keywords=salt+pills These are the ones I take, they have 215 mg in each pill and I take a minimum of 3 a day.

>all I want is a little boost on my gains

Sadly there is no supplement for this, unless you count protein powder...

Honestly all you need is some plain creatine monohydrate, and solid whey protein.

If you are under 40 you don't need a pre-workout, you should have natural energy and you can just eat a piece of fruit before hitting the gym, all you are paying for in most supplements is caffeine. Granted I would say caffeine is a welcomed boost after a low sleep night.

In summary

• Protein Powder
  
  
• Creatine
  
  
• Caffeine (If you need a boost once in a while)

Try taking a caffeine pill like this https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IRFX4NY (or just drink coffee, I like this because it's extended release and doesn't have a crash), and pair it with L-theanine https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BD29KHW

L-theanine stops the jitters and other side effects of caffeine and helps you harness the energy and motivation it gives you into concentration and focus.

It's not ADD medication, but it might help you.

Also, make sure you're getting all of your B vitamins. A deficiency severely impacts mental capacity, and many people (especially vegans and vegetarians) find it hard to get enough. It's worth taking a B complex vitamin every day, or better yet, a multivitamin with food.

I use these salt pills before/after exercise now and they often prevent the lactic acid build up in the first place but they're also good for helping ease the soreness after. Make sure you drink a big glass of water with each pill. https://www.amazon.com/SaltStick-Electrolyte-Replacement-Capsules-bottle/dp/B002IY96B0/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=salt+pills&qid=1558122122&s=hpc&sr=1-3

A couple weeks ago, gym bro offered me some of his pre-workout which has 274 mg of caffeine per scoop. At first I was very skeptical about the supplement as I normally experience heart palpitations with previous pre-workouts. Gym bro's pre-workout, however, allowed me to have the best upper workout I had in a long time!

Me, being the poor college student, decided to buy caffeine pills which has 200 mg of caffeine per tablet. I took a caffeine tablet for today's lower workout in hopes of achieving the same experience I had with gym bro's pre-workout. Unfortunately, I started experiencing heart palpitations during my workout. The only thing I can think of is that gym bro's pre-workout contains L-citrulline, which I discovered to be a vasodilator. If I were to buy Citrulline and take it with a caffeine tablet, could it possibly give me the same wonderful effect as gym bro's pre-workout?

Caffeine pills will save you. I don't know if you're into it, but they help me a ton when I need to get up and get my ass moving. You won't have to buy a $4 coffee every time you need energy. They're incredibly cheap for what they do. It's much better to be taking something like caffeine, rather than Adderall like many college students. I use this brand.

http://www.amazon.com/Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-Tablets-tablets/dp/B0011865IQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369175700&sr=8-1&keywords=caffeine+pills

Honestly I'd just make your own. It's what I do. It's cheaper, contains less junk, and more effective (more of the good stuff rather than just mostly caffeine).

Here's what you need...

1. Caffeine: one 200 mg pill
   
   
2. Beta Alanine: 2 g (1/2 tsp)
   
   
3. Citrulline Malate: 7 g (1 tbsp)
   
   
4. BCAAs: 5 g (1 tbsp), this is optional but most effective if your diet is low-Calorie, low-protein, or you are working out in a fasted state such as immediately in the morning
   
   
5. Gatorade Powder: to taste
   
   Sometime later in the day, with a meal or in an after-workout/evening shake, just make sure you have another 2 g of beta alanine. If not, then increase the beta alanine to 4 g (1 tsp) for your preworkout, but be warned you will get a strong (but harmless) skin prickling sensation at that dosage.
   
   And then of course 5 g creatine at some point during the day, but it doesn't have to be in preworkout.

Follow the instructions on the tin, and don’t be a fucking boot and eat like shit all week thinking these will save you on hike day.

Also, if this is happening on the regular, check with your doctor about getting some tests done.

If you think being able to squat something heavy a few times translates whatsoever to hiking, I’d have you go take an anatomy and physiology class.

Don’t get me wrong, the squat and dead are core exercises for me in the off season, and definitely help strengthen your back and supporting ligaments and tendons, but they aren’t good metrics whatsoever to determine your ability to participate in an endurance/aerobic activity like hiking.

I’ve done a shot ton of grunting and now civilian hiking is my thing. Hit me up if you want workout suggestions or nutrition advice.

I've been taking 2 pills on my drive to the gym now for about 8 months. I take them with a huge thing of water. I love em. Cheap, easy, and effective. This is the brand I've been buying. Prolab , never tried anything other than these.

Is it safe to take a runner's electrolyte pill over spreading out the electrolytes via salt added to water throughout the day or ?

I do IF but I'm about to do a very long fast (30 days if no one will pester me or fast 5, eat 2). My longest fast at this point is 40 hours 3X a week. I know that I personally benefit from daily or every other day electrolytes but some days I just want to concentrate on the fast and meditate and not tend to measuring out stuff, taking another supplement, etc. So I bought these as a complete go to for supplements while fasting (still awaiting arrival) to get it over with https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N1P1ODD/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Also what's the best time to take them do you think? After sleeping or mid day or before bed?

Anyone else take these rather than placing salt in your water?

This. I've been doing this for about 6 months now. Not only is it cheaper, but you know exactly what's going into your body. I highly recommend the 200mg of caffeine, and sticking towards the top end of his BA/CM dosages.


If you're into that "focus"/"mind muscle connection" aspect of many preworkouts, you can toss in 1-2g of ALCAR as well.


Creatine can be taken any time during the day and the impact is unchanged, but you can just make it more convenient for yourself by pre-mixing little baggies with all of your supps.


Also it's important to note this is WAY CHEAPER!


Beta Alanine, 125 Servings for $24

Citrulline Malate, 25 Servings for $16

Creatine, 200 Servings for $19

ALCAR, ~500 Servings for $18

*Caffeine, 100 Servings for $5

I used to drink monster, but instead I got these

I'll take 1 or 2 throughout the evening and it works great. Far cheaper, more effective, and doesn't fill my stomach up with alcohol. I only take them on Friday/Saturdays, or if I'm going out on a random day (so it isn't a daily thing).

If you can't deal with regular coffee or tea isn't doing it for you then here's a perhaps unconventional option: Caffeine pills. They're very cheap and many people who have queasy stomachs in the morning but still want to work out swear by them. One 200mg pill is approximately equal to one 8oz cup of decently strong coffee (average range is between 150-300mg depending on the bean roast and strength of the brew). I drink coffee personally so I don't really have any experience with these but I've read about a lot of people using them on /r/fitness without any ill effects.

Caffeine

EMT's are awesome!

Good luck! I took a EMT certification course back in 2006.

Prolabs Caffeine pills (https://www.amazon.com/ProLab-Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-100-Count/dp/B0011865IQ) I would do two a day until you control the caffeine addiction. Half a tablet every two hours starting whenever you normally have your first Coke Zero (or one full 3-4 hours apart). I used to drink Rockstar Ice Zeros and Coke Zero like water and switched to caffeine pills instead. Night and day change. I used to get grogy and headaches and didn't realize the drinks were causing them. If you're still craving the fizz, try switching to club soda. It also helps get some sodium in you. Best of luck.


Edit: if you're looking to cut body fat you may also want to consider doing an ECA stack. Google it.

I never compared them to test E, they simply don't do much at all but placebo yourself and you can do that with sugar pills.

https://www.anabolicmen.com/do-testosterone-boosters-work/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geRbsDTs3XU
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2014/07/10/do-testosterone-boosting-supplements-work/ (This one in particular goes in-depth with each one)

I am saying save the money for something that actually works a significant amount. I will concede that they work, however, in my opinion and research they don't work enough to warrant paying any amount of money. That $30 could be spent on food or actual supplements that work like Caffeine, just saying.

Not sure how long you are planning to run, but SaltStick caps may be good for electrolytes https://www.amazon.com/SaltStick-Electrolyte-Replacement-Capsules-Supplement/dp/B002IY96B0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1483455835&sr=8-3&keywords=salt+tablets And dates are an excellent fuel source for mid-run pick me up (and they are portable).

Here's what I take daily. All are available at Amazon and through Subscribe & Save (extra discount).

Nutrigold Vitamin D3 5000 IU (http://www.amazon.com/Nutrigold-Vitamin-Softgels-GMO-free-Preservative-free/dp/B004N8TTBQ)

Nutrigold Triple Strength Omega-3 Gold (http://www.amazon.com/Nutrigold-Strength-Omega-3-Omega-3s-softgels/dp/B004O2I9JO/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1408020219&sr=1-1&keywords=nutrigold+omega+3)

Now Foods ZMA Sports Recovery Capsules (http://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-Zma-90-Capsules/dp/B0013OZGQ0/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1408020252&sr=1-1&keywords=now+foods+zma)

The caffeine pills I take are 200mg each and they recommend not exceeding 3 pills in 24 hours.

These are the ones I buy - they're the shit

I can't imagine taking 700mg of caffein all at once - I get jittery if I take 400mg at once and I am a chronic user haha

Have you tried caffeine pills? They're a lot faster, easier, and cheaper than coffee, and they don't taste like anything. I take a 200mg caffeine pill (about 2 cups of coffee) every day as well as two 200mg L-Theanine pills to prevent jitteriness (this is allegedly the chemical that makes tea calming), and it works perfectly.

Kind of expensive, but they come in handy when you need electrolytes fast. And they're pretty good ratios too.

http://www.amazon.com/MILITARY-ENERGY-GUM-MEG-SPEARMINT/dp/B0017U2X8E/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1410030532&sr=8-6&keywords=caffeine+gum

They have 3 different flavors: spearmint, peppermint, and cinnamon. They all taste pretty good. The caffeine makes it slightly bitter, but it's way better than coffee in my opinion. I think the constant chewing of the gum helps relieve any extra stress the caffeine gives me.

Just going to copy and paste a comment I saved a while ago from /u/Waja_Wabit. Many people recommend making your own pre-workout because almost all pre-workout blends have a lot of added shit that does nothing for you, and it costs more.

1. Caffeine: one 200 mg pill
   
   
2. Beta Alanine: 2 g (1/2 tsp)
   
   
3. Citrulline Malate: 7 g (1 tbsp)
   
   
4. BCAAs: 5 g (1 tbsp), this is optional but most effective if your diet is low-Calorie, low-protein, or you are working out in a fasted state such as immediately in the morning
   
   
5. Gatorade Powder: to taste
   
   Sometime later in the day, with a meal or in an after-workout/evening shake, just make sure you have another 2 g of beta alanine. If not, then increase the beta alanine to 4 g (1 tsp) for your preworkout, but be warned you will get a strong (but harmless) skin prickling sensation.

I paid$22 and that listing is still up:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002IY96B0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_g-dUDbXNPTM63

I tried making my own drink and it tasted like drinking the ocean and made me gag. It’s 100 tablets for $22, and I use 4/day when fasting, so that covers 25 fasting days. Oh yeah, TOTALLY worth it and is still an enormous net gain if you’re not eating. Also, no work to make it and I can carry a few in my pocket. What’s not to like?

Well you can buy generic ones pretty cheap

https://www.amazon.com/Nutricost-Caffeine-Capsules-200mg-Capsule/dp/B01DFQSVK6/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1538100841&sr=1-5&keywords=caffeine&th=1

That's like 40$ worth in pill form.

caffeine pills off of amazon are cheap. and myprotien is the best value for protein IMO.

They're at pretty much every drugstore I've looked for them at. But I usually just wind up getting these from Amazon. (Amazon search: caffeine pills.)

If you want 100mg instead of 200, just use a pill cutter, these break pretty cleanly.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00OU7YXU2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_sAYyjYZIgoslQ

These may be worth a go, they are what I bought. Searched for ages for unflavoured rehydration salts. They also have the potassium in them. Hope this helps! Good luck!

Happy cake day to youuuuuuu!
CAFFEINE
You already mentioned my favorite dessert CHEESECAKE!

cheesecake all day everyday

The easiest way to go about this is getting salt tablets from Amazon or a nutrition store that are designed for endurance athletes. They taste like nothing, go down like a pill, and are designed specifically for fueling active people in the sun.


These are what I use for running and at Roo

I'm in the UK so the products will probably be different, but this stuff works great if I have a few glasses of water with it during the day. I also take these in the morning and evening with a large glass of water.

This is in addition to salted food when I break my fast, and a salted bone broth in the morning or afternoon.

I tend to make my own. You can buy empty capsules and then just fill it to what you estimate you need sodium wise.

Looking online, they have this deal called a "SaltStick" which sounds awesome! I might have to pick me up some of these instead of making my own. Especially as it has more than just "salt" in them!

http://www.amazon.com/SaltStick-Electrolyte-Replacement-Capsules-Supplement/dp/B002IY96B0

I just buy salt sticks and drink them with water. they're super handy and much lighter to carry when backpacking or such :)

https://www.amazon.com/SaltStick-Electrolyte-Replacement-Capsules-bottle/dp/B002IY96B0

Sure. See the comments on this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/fasting/comments/bi71r7/need_advice_for_getting_in_electrolytes_easily/

I'll usually sprinkle salt in my water/tea/coffee for shorter fasts. I also take half a multivitamin and 1-2 of these salt stick caps: https://www.amazon.com/SaltStick-Electrolyte-Replacement-Capsules-bottle/dp/B002IY96B0/ref=sr_1_3

​

For my next fast I'm trying the "snake juice" recipe in the comments on that post. In my experience, fasting with salt/electrolytes is like a thousand times more comfortable than not. My first 36 hour fast I woke up at 5am trembling and with a racing heart. It really sucked. Dr. Boyfriend said it was probably electrolytes, so I started supplementing and looking into it, and it hasn't happened since.

Some people take the prescription Provigil to increase alertness while awake, but i've found a lot of success with over the counter like this one

i've been wanting to try out this caffeinated gum, yesterday i had like 5 cups of coffee, so im interested in an alternative. Super!

It's slightly over $20, but ZMA is supposed to be good for post workout recovery, and helping you sleep.

I first used Salt Stick. Now I use Rapid Rehydr8. I'm sorry to say I don't recall why I switched, but I'm sure I had a good reason.

Avocados are an excellent source of potassium, one has almost 1000mg. I quarter them and eat them with some salt and pepper. Sodium is easy. For Mg, I take ZMA capsules before bed which can be found on Amazon or wherever.

I had the same thing around week 2 or 3. 15-20 palpitations an hour. I did some mass googling and linked it to possible deficiencies in sodium, magnesium, and/or potassium. I ordered a supplement that's meant for rehydration for after serious cardio workouts because it targets those things. Swear to god after 2 days taking it not a single palpitation. Lemme find the link. I got them on Amazon.

Edit: Elite Sportz Salt Pills Will Stop Painful Cramps Fast. You'll Finish Your Runs Off Like Never Before, Because Our Electrolyte's Keep You Well Hydrated. 120 Caps Easy to Swallow, Easy on the Stomach https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OU7YXU2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_SUgszbJ1001V6

I don't like coffee but love caffeine so this is what I buy. I've noticed that there is a bit of a stigma against caffeine pill usage even from heavy coffee drinkers so I personally don't tell me coworkers.

It seems artificial sweeteners effect every person a little differently. Your best bet is to monitor your progress and see how the Rockstars effect you.

Personally, I have no problems with artificial sweeteners and enjoy Diet Soda and Rockstar Sugar Free/Monster Absolute Zero in pretty abundant quantities.

If you really need a boost but are worried about sweeteners, look at caffeine tabs like these. I take one each morning before my workout.

Caffeine Pills would be far cheaper than going to a coffee shop every day. One 200mg pill is more than enough. You could even mix it into water to take it more slowly.

I enjoy and drink coffee every day, but I enjoy it more than just for its caffeine content.

http://www.amazon.com/MILITARY-ENERGY-GUM-Military-Caffeine/dp/B000J2LTNQ That stuff is amazing, yawning to OMG I'M AWAKE in 2 min flat. Plus it's cheaper and less sugar :)

I'm thoroughly addicted to the 100mg Stay Alert caffeine gum (now called Military Energy Gum) after getting it in a First Strike Ration
. The cinnamon flavor tastes like a cinnamon butthole, but that's a way better flavor than a mint butthole.

Caffeine pills are generally the best. Like you, I am not a fan of coffee at all and finding a replacement for that morning soda was a high priority. These are the ones I take:

http://www.amazon.com/Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-Tablets-tablets/dp/B0011865IQ

They have 200mg of caffeine per pill. A generic cup of coffee only has 125-150mg and sodas range from 30-45mg depending on which one. If you're concerned that 200mg is too much, they are easy to cut in half.

Mio Energy was also suggested to me in the past but I have not personally tried it. I used the plain Mio with carbonated water when I first started to both simulate sodas as well as break up the "monotony" of plain water. (Dr Pepper was the hardest thing for me to give up; I leave one in the fridge as a constant reminder these days of my continuing choice to remain on keto)

Hey I was bit tied up with the recent election stuff. Late reply

No I didn't buy this as I really couldn't find much reliable sources so I felt it will be risky to buy.

I ended up buying sym nutrition l theanine + caffiene. I like it so far it helps me focus on my work in the morning especially if I've had less sleep. But yeah proper and more sleep should be the first option but this product is quite a good pick me up. Here's the link to what I bought

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0173H5QVU/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

I pop a couple of these during the day: https://www.amazon.com/Elite-Tablets-Pills-Runners-Cyclists/dp/B00OU7YXU2

ZMA at night really helps me especially with sleep: https://www.amazon.com/NOW-Sports-ZMA-90-Capsules/dp/B0013OZGQ0/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_121_lp_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=1VFV3QG6FRC0NC7CE7WX&th=1

Short term fasts should be fine without vitamins, but electrolytes really help me.

Read this: https://www.amazon.com/Salt-Fix-Experts-Wrong-Eating/dp/0451496965/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1536239348&sr=8-5&keywords=salt+book

​

Then get these: https://www.amazon.com/SaltStick-Electrolyte-Replacement-Capsules-bottle/dp/B002IY96B0/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1536239395&sr=8-3&keywords=salt+sticks

​

Pop 2 two to three times per day (in general) and before and after every workout. They also sell a version with caffeine in it. I'll take 3 of those (solid dose of electrolytes) for 90mg of caffeine before a fasted morning workout. Makes a big difference.

​

As another poster said, measure your electrolyte intake daily and increase it until your symptoms go away (within reason). You should also make sure you are supplementing Mg... per Volek and Phinney. I've found that Mag64 2x per day prevents almost all cramping. I'll do a 30 day cycle and then drop it until I start to early signs of cramps and then restart (it is not cheap).

​

Good luck,

NB

To an extent, I will feel unmotivated and tired most of the day. I'd recommend 100mg caffeine with 200mg l-theanine.

This is what I purchased and it seems to be effective: https://www.amazon.com/ELITE-Caffeine-L-Theanine-Jitter-Free-Performance/dp/B00U0DL5O2/ref=pd_sim_121_10?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00U0DL5O2&pd_rd_r=JP1QTZ4CDHA0DMXMJVR6&pd_rd_w=ErDkZ&pd_rd_wg=4dXy1&psc=1&refRID=JP1QTZ4CDHA0DMXMJVR6

I truly wish there was something that does it all. Do some research on intranasal insulin, you might be intrigued!

The Genius Brand makes a good 100 mg slow release caffeine capsule ( https://www.amazon.com/GENIUS-CAFFEINE-Microencapsulated-Supplement-Preworkout/dp/B01IRFX4NY/ ). I've used this and it works well for increasing energy without making me too jittery.

As a CE major with an internship these two things are good friends

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011865IQ/ref=rcxsubs_mys2_product_title

http://www.amazon.com/Camelbak-Better-0-5L-Bottle-Purple/dp/B0019DA7FA/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1346430068&sr=1-1&keywords=camelbak

I use this caffeine and this l-theanine. Couldn't say if they're the best on Amazon, but they work well for me and are well-priced.

You can get capsules from Amazon. Honestly, it's just not bad, since they're pre-measured at 200mg, so I can roughly estimate how much to take, and have an exact overall total.
I'm not sure if I'm allowed to link to Amazon. It's presently $14 for 300 capsules 200mg each.
edit: the link: https://www.amazon.com/Bulksupplements-Caffeine-Capsules-gelatin-capsules/dp/B01IA8YFAE/

Nutrition is a big one. It especially sounds like you may be low in iron. Two signs are the bruising, and the lack of energy. Low iron means that your blood can't transport oxygen as well. Maybe add a multivitamin containing iron to your diet. Granted, bruising could also be vitamin C or K or Folic Acid deficiency.

Remember that you're increasing your activity so you need more of a number of things. For example, I use Endurox after most of my workouts. Also, if I have something that's going to be long or very sweaty (like 2 hours of jujutsu or BJJ), I use salt replacement pills to prevent cramping up.

Caffeine is a wonderful hunger suppressant that is readily available and quite cheap. Also has an added benefit of needing less sleep.

You might be interested in these, they're quite cheap and keep me energized throughout the day by taking 1.
(Each pill contains approximately 2 cups of coffee worth of caffeine with no calories)

It's crazy difficult to find "potassium" supplements in any reasonable amount for cheap. So lite-salt is a good alternative. Pour about a teaspoon into a glass (I'm not going to lie - it tastes AWFUL). If you add some Mio drops or something its actually not unlike gatorade.

Otherwise, spinach, avocado, salmon and mushrooms are good sources of potassium. Other leafy greens are great sources of magnesium as well.

I purchased and am supplementing with these (this is a 45 day supply for women, only 30 days for men) as well... you'll know if you have an imbalance though because you'll start getting crazy cramps in your legs with any sort of activity and your brain will get foggy if you let it get more serious.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OU7YXU2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

I tried the powder hydrolyte but it tasted awful. Powders are apparently more effective in the moment, especially for runners, since it doesn't have to dissolve a capsule. But this was much easier to swallow 30 min before a workout.

500, 200 mg capsules for $17.95. They work great.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DFQSVK6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I chew caffeine gum such as the Stay Alert caffeine gum. It's absorbed through your cheeks' mucous membrane, so you'll feel the effects pretty soon. Only 100mg of caffeine. Don't get the cinnamon flavored one though.

example

Yeah and some of those mio flavors are really good.

This is the one I bought

Edit: underped the link

300 capsules of 200mg each for $18

5g beta alanine

5g citrulline malate

200mg caffeine (I'm sure a powder would be cheaper, but these capsules break apart easily and are 200mg)

some kind of sweetener like Crystal Light powder

http://www.amazon.com/Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-Tablets-tablets/dp/B0011865IQ.

Mine look like the third picture listed, but I think it's all the same product. I don't imagine it would make much of a difference though. The only active ingredient is caffeine, which should be the same across the board. Other than that, it's just stuff to make the pill stick together.

Good old fashioned Caffeine tablets are cheap as hell and help me focus pretty well.

I have issues with this as well. There are 3 things that help me. (YMMV)

• Alarm Clock Xtreme (app). Let's me set x number of math problems at whatever degree of difficulty I choose that I have to do in order to dismiss the alarm. Also lets me shuffle music by artist or playlist as my alarm. Love this app. You can also set a max number of snoozes(and snooze duration) before you have no option but to do the math to turn off the alarm.
  
• Caffeine pills. I set multiple alarms. One of them goes off an hour before I want to get up, when that one goes off, I have a caffeine pill sitting by my bed with a glass of water. I pop the pill and chug the water and then go back to sleep for my next alarm. Both the caffeine and water help immensely with getting up. YMMV of course. And careful not to overdo it with the caffeine. I do this in lieu of morning coffee. (1 cup of coffee = ~100mg caffeine)
  
• Hook my phone up to some speakers on the other side of my room. I have to get out of bed to turn off the loud music blaring.
  
  I also have one of these sunrise lamps that I can set to light up my room at a specific time. I use this as well, though I don't think it necessarily helps me wake up. Might help you though. It's damn bright(and the max brightness is adjustable).
  
  Edit: Oh, and another random tip that I actually learned on Reddit. When I end up staying up too late and am only going to get a few hours of sleep, I'll sleep with sweats and socks on (which I don't normally). This makes it so I don't sleep too comfortably and makes it a bit easier to wake up. My body seems to realize that when I wear these, I'm not going to be getting much sleep and it braces me for it. It's definitely crazy, but works for me. If I'm really desparate--like I haven't gotten a good night's sleep in a couple days--I'll sleep on the floor. I find it much easier to wake up from the discomfort of the floor than from my bed.

I know this was 4 months ago and am not sure where you are at in your journey, but I thought, as a struggling convert myself, I could try to help with my experience.

I don't struggle with depression or anxiety. I do work in mental health, as an RN, so I do have an incredible amount of empathy. I am so sorry you struggle with this and I hope your PCP or psych can get you on the right combo of meds.

As far as the caffeine, I am also a caffeine addict/caffeine dependent. As soon as I try to go a day or more without caffeine, I become unmotived, feel depressed, exhausted, and angry. I've tried weaning off of caffeine with a product called Wean Caffeine where they decrease the dose by 10 mg every day or two starting at 200mg. I guess this was too fast for me, because when I was down to 10 mg, the depression/feeling down and unmotivated hit me bad. Then, I got pregnant and it all got worse. I have a toddler to care for and work to do (I need to function), so I went back on caffeine and feel much better. The caffeine issue, I will address at another time (maybe).

As far as where I get my caffeine:

Before joining the church in 2014, I drank copious amounts of coffee and worked part time as a barista at a specialty (third wave) coffee shop. I LOVED coffee and was completely immersed in the culture. I found the church and quickly recognized it is Christ's true church on the Earth and that I needed to do what I needed to be close to my Heavenly Father. I quit coffee (switched to more natural, no sugar energy drinks from sprouts and whole foods (mostly celsius, Runa, and something called FRS, which no longer exists). I also discovered Yerba Mate (which I LOVED). Yerba Mate became my go-to. It's almost as high in caffeine as coffee, but more antioxidants, no jitters, and no upset tummy. I was good to go for 4-5 years.

Then, my second pregnancy happened and I couldn't tolerate yerba mate anymore. I gave in to coffee cravings (which had been absent the past 4 years) and felt immense guilt because I want to be worthy of the temple and to one day enter the celestial kingdom. Yes, I've had the thoughts that this commandment makes no sense or is frustrating, etc. However, just that God commands me not to partake of it should be reason enough for me to not want to partake. I don't have to understand the logic. If I try to use logic, it is too easy for me to justify indulging.

So, I am currently taking Elite Caffeine pills. Ingredients: Caffeine, L-theanine, rice flour, and gelatin. 50mg per pill, 120 capsules per bottle. $20 bucks on Amazon. This is saving me from coffee right now. I recommend you look into it! here's the link: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U0DL5O2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ZMA helps a little bit also. But the best I found is light cardio, although it will be uncomfortable.

I did a bunch of research, and i decided these are the best bet. I take a few daily:

Rehydr8-
https://www.amazon.com/Elite-Tablets-Pills-Runners-Cyclists/dp/B00OU7YXU2

I have SSN Urban Fuel Caffeine Tablets

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Urban-Fuel-Caffeine-Tablets-Energy/dp/B00NA0K2ZA

and i use MyProtein Creatine Monohydrate:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Myprotein-MYP23-MyProtein-Creatine-Monohydrate/dp/B00CHJ3DW4/ref=sr_1_3?s=drugstore&ie=UTF8&qid=1464882301&sr=1-3&keywords=creatine


But you can get stuff from other manufacturers for pretty much the same price:

http://www.amazon.com/ProLab-Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-100-Count/dp/B0011865IQ/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1464882342&sr=8-1&keywords=caffeine+tablets

http://www.amazon.com/MET-Rx-Creatine-Powder-400-gram/dp/B005JMTAXC/ref=sr_1_10_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1464882419&sr=1-10&keywords=creatine&refinements=p_36%3A1253518011%2Cp_85%3A2470955011


If you buy creatine in bulk, it is much cheaper. 500g will last you 100 days (more than 3 months).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D1YQBOK/

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011865IQ/

That's the last stuff I bought, works great for me

I use a product called Salt Stick.

https://www.amazon.com/SaltStick-Electrolyte-Replacement-Capsules-bottle/dp/B002IY96B0

Did a quick comparison to the product you posted, and Salt Stick is slightly cheaper while offering more per serving of each of the same ingredients (except magnesium) that your product has plus some additional ones your product doesn't have.

SaltStick is a great product... I even use it before my workouts when I'm not fasting.

Electrolyte Salts Rapid Oral Rehydration Replacement Pills, Hydr... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1P1ODD/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_t1_CU6KDbDGVDNDK

I use these great results

Ya, having bad caffeine pills can be a huge difference. I have tried lots of different brands from in stores, and eventually did some research and ordered them from Amazon since there's a broader selection. I have bought them from Walgreens, food city, and Walmart and was not happy with them, the ones I am using now are from "Prolab" and I have been extremely pleased with them. I get energy from every pill, and I don't get any weird side effects, and unless I take like a ridiculous amount of them, I don't crash or anything. Heres the link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011865IQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I live on these things when I can't tolerate coffee and/or don't have time, but don't want a headache: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IRFX4NY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They're the only caffeine capsules I've found that don't upset my stomach or cause me to get shaky, even in absurd doses. I don't know how they manage that, but it's impressive.

> It's not dehydration, I'm drinking anywhere from 1 to 1.5 gallons of water a day and nearly half a gallon of it is during my workout.

It's probably dehydration.

1 gallon isn't a lot with a workout like that. Plus, without electrolytes you are sweating/peeing that water out instead of retaining it.

Look into something like these

I had previously tried two extended fasts without any supplements but had to stop around 60 hours because of heart palpitations. This time, I'm 88 hours in and haven't had any issues. I think this is because I've been taking electrolytes in the form of LoSalt (a potassium based salt substitute available in most grocery stores) and [these electrolyte tablets] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1P1ODD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_z84UAbQY5VTY5).

Electrolyte Salts Rapid Oral Rehydration Replacement Pills, Hydration Minerals for Active Fluid Recovery Health - Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Vitamin D3, Himalayan Pink Salt, 120 Capsules https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1P1ODD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ioVWDbHPN521V

Thanks for your post !! I would say you are HelloOfAGoodGuy :). I had similar issues and still not able to figure out what is the issue. I had gone once to emergency room not knowing what was happening to me and gave me IV and discharged me after few hours and had few episodes of severe headaches, all of these episodes after a hard run in sun/heat. One surprising thing is that it I get these headaches/hangover like symptoms after couple of hours after my runs. I did wonder whether I had blood sugar problem but I since taking Salt tablets ( polyfit electrolyte tablets) and nuun after and before my runs and no episode since then. Still figuring out what is the right amount ?

Question : I like the idea of Pedialyte but seems little expensive and wondering whether are any natural alternatives.

I have not tried these personally but its gotten good reviews: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IY96B0/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_18?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

http://www.amazon.com/ProLab-Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-100-Count/dp/B0011865IQ

Just keep some of these on hand. You don't have to worry about anything breaking.

Thank you! Of these three, do any look more appropriate than the other? 1, 2 and 3

Try these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U0DL5O2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_QvdFDbJCDMYGN

They are wonderful.

salt sticks is what I see endurance athletes using

​

I am a huge fan of them

Absolutely! My favorite way to carry them is in an M&M's cylinder with the pop-top. SaltStick also makes a twist-release tube that is made for mounting on aerobars because they're so popular with Ironman triathletes.

https://www.amazon.com/SaltStick-Electrolyte-Replacement-Capsules-bottle/dp/B002IY96B0/

>Caffeine addictions when you don't work at a coffee shop can be expensive, and make you grumpy.

Take caffeine tablets. They are SO cheap relative to coffee, if all you want is caffeine.

https://www.amazon.com/ProLab-Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-100-Count/dp/B0011865IQ?th=1

First result on google. I am guessing you can probably do even better if you want.

Amazon is just spooky. I go from the comment in alien blue to my Amazon app to get links for them and they were all already on the front page.

fish oil Some brands can taste... well, fishy. But these don't.

vitamin d

zma

Multivitamin is just a gnc mega man that I buy at Sam's Club or Costco.

Has anyone here tried SaltStick capsules?
http://www.saltstick.com

20$ per bottle of 100 on amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Saltstick-Electrolyte-Capsules-100-bottle/dp/B002IY96B0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406502619&sr=8-1&keywords=Saltstick

Thinking of giving them a shot.

You could buy caffeine and theanine tablets on Amazon if you want to experiment. You can easily break the 200mg tablets into approximately 100mg or 50mg pieces.

I'm going to second the Salt Tablet recommendation. I used https://www.amazon.com/SaltStick-Electrolyte-Replacement-Capsules-bottle/dp/B002IY96B0/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1537439402&sr=8-1&keywords=saltstick+electrolyte+caps and it was night and day vs my previous mountain races (3xWintergreen Super where I ALWAYS cramped like crazy and I was 20lbs lighter and in better shape for the 2016 Wintergreen race). I had only minor cramping on a few downhills and zero on the death march or barbed wire in Killington.

Get pills. Calorie free.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B007XTP1ZA

Some people use it to reduce their anxiety and sleep better at night.It's most often taken with caffeine to "take the edge off" so you get the energy of caffeine without jitters. I personally buy this for the same-day shipping.

I've been taking electrolyte pills in the morning or after sweating a lot. Maybe better than just saltwater?

I'll save you even more money.

Me too. http://www.amazon.com/ProLab-Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-100-Count/dp/B0011865IQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404839816&sr=8-1&keywords=prolab+caffeine

Save your money and buy a bottle of these.

Caffeine is pretty much caffeine. I've always bought [these] (http://www.amazon.com/ProLab-Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-100-Count/dp/B0011865IQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1452375041&sr=1-2&keywords=Caffeine+pills).

Pretty expensive for just salt ($20 on amazon).

You could also just buy a bottle of caffeine tablets... 200mg at 4 cents a pop. Pretty impossible to beat.

If I were to try it, I would buy caffeine pills and mix that it. Looks like you can get the equivalent of 2 cups of coffee from one capsule for about 5 cents on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Nutricost-Caffeine-Pills-200mg-Serving/dp/B01KKX0GXM/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1525801470&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=caffeine%2Bpill&th=1

I had this a few summers ago because of a medication that lowered my sodium intake. I ended up feeling a bit better after downing a bunch of Gatorade, and my parents found sodium/electrolyte tablets that I took for awhile that helped a lot. They were these brand and I would recommend them if you're looking for a way to get sodium without having to eat a lot of salt.

Edit: My symptoms cropped up in the summer/heat, and I was so dizzy 24/7 I couldn't stay awake, walk in a straight line, or basically function. We were out in the woods for the week and finally got touch with a doctor who said it could be a lack of electrolytes/sodium and to try to increase my intake. Drinking Gatorade/eating salty foods helped a little bit, but the sodium tablets helped SO much more.

Pointless waste of money.

Get some caffeine

Maybe some Ephedrine (I use Synephrine, ephedrine's little brother)

And for me personally I find I function better when I add in some L-tyrosine

Finally I like to add in some L-theanine which helps prevent any kind of jittery feeling.

I usually use:

• 100-200mg of Caffeine
  
• 100mg of Synephrine (Start lower at 25mg and work your way up to a dose that works for you).
  
• .5-1g of L-Tyrosine
  
• 100-200mg of L-Theanine
  
  Everything I use would cost you $40 and it will last quite a while.

Here's the one I got from Amazon. Very cheap 100 for 3.85 plus shipping. I mean it's caffeine so it works well hahah

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0011865IQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1412020351&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40

Nah. Just go on Amazon and grab the first highly rated result. Caffeine Pills 100 tablets 200mg by ProLab (3 Bottles) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HTH5A9I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_tYaNAbKXDFZYM is what I get. 1 pill should be about equivalent to a serving of most pwos. It's like 10x cheaper than pre

ZMA is zinc, magnesium, and b6. I searched amazon for ZMA and here are the top 3 results ON, NOW, met-rx. None of them have melatonin.

Honestly, taking [these] ( http://www.amazon.com/Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-Tablets-tablets/dp/B0011865IQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377227031&sr=8-1&keywords=caffeine+pills ) has made my day so much more bearable.

Hoping it doesn't count as an advertisement by the rules but here's the Amazon link. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U0DL5O2

Look for Caffeine and L-Theanine. I've had good results with this one.

https://www.amazon.com/Bulksupplements-Caffeine-Capsules-gelatin-capsules/dp/B01IA8YFAE/ref=sr_1_sc_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1541399022&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=cafeein+powder i use this(pure caffeine), and i have a scale that i bought and measure it out like cocaine

I like Bulk Supplements.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IA8YFAE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/ProLab-Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-100-Count/dp/B0011865IQ#

There you go, just saved you 45 bucks.

Maybe try caffeine tablets instead? I used to drink so much coffee until I switched to caffeine tablets. Now I drink a lot of water... like a lot!

There are a hundred bottles, each with 80mg of caffeine. That costs a total of $300. Alternatively, this pill bottle contains 100 pills with 200mg of caffeine each and costs $5. Efficiency! http://www.amazon.com/Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-Tablets-tablets/dp/B0011865IQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377024744&sr=8-1&keywords=caffeine+pills

I really like saltstick electrolyte pills

Caffiene - I get from Amazon

Ephedrine - I use to get from Amazon, but it appears they removed all instances of Ephedrine from their catalog. You can get it from these folks, this is the same exact brand I've been using. It use to be the highest rated one on Amazon.

I take 1 Caffiene and 1 Ephedrine with breakfast and lunch. I skip taking it at dinner because I seem to be more sensitive to the stuff. With just 2 doses I'm awake most of the night.

Since I already spent $59 on the ketone supplement, can you help me figure out if the Calcium, Sodium and Magnesium are the same Calcium, Sodium and Magnesium in this electrolyte product I also have called Salt Sticks (which I know has been mentioned here before): https://www.amazon.com/SaltStick-Electrolyte-Replacement-Capsules-bottle/dp/B002IY96B0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1505163748&sr=8-3&keywords=salt+sticks

For BHB Salt supplement, it says one single serving contains 77mg of Calcium, 768mg of Sodium, and 528mg of Magnesium.

When I took that recommended serving I did seem to have some gastrointestinal issues (gas and bloating), though it may have been related to two other things I was doing at the time too, so I'm not quite sure yet. But I'm weary of the BHB Salts, or at least in the recommended dosage.

Adding some additional items to help out:

Shopping Cart 1
Shopping Cart 2

Caffeine pills have too many additives and fillers in my opinion.

Also, it is definitely not cheaper to buy pills.

50 grams of caffeine powder - $5 with shipping

50 grams of caffeine pills - $22.5 with shipping

is it? 8 bucks for equivalent of 200 cups of coffee in pills is not exactly pricey, requires less work, and can be consumed with water instead of additives to help the taste.

I eat these before bed

https://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-Zma-90-Capsules/dp/B0013OZGQ0

If it gives you "weird" dreams, you were mag deficient.

Easy-to-swallow tablets.

Take em each morning/night with your multi-vitamin and fiber pills. Keep yer pipes real healthy.

Just take a 200mg caffiene pill. Much cheaper and gives you the same boost. For example: https://www.amazon.com/Caffeine-Pills-tablets-ProLab-Bottles/dp/B00HTH5A9I/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1524477523&sr=8-4&keywords=caffeine

I take 2 or 3 before a soccer match

I also hate coffee but love caffeine, so I take caffeine pills! I am linking the ones I get because they work so well. They have an ingredient from tea in them to combat the jitters. I have been buying these for the last year or two caffeine with l-theanine

On heavy cardio training days (8-10 mile runs, hill sprint set, etc.) I will take a full one of these (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000OC3FD8/ref=mp_s_a_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1493390889&sr=8-4&keywords=caffeine+pills)

I drink a cup or two of coffee in the morning, maybe some iced tea throughout the day so not a massive caffeine consumer. But I can't really drink coffee before a workout ( messes up my gut) so I switched to caffeine pills as a preworkout. The ones I listed above have been great - no crash, minimal jitters, can fall asleep 3-4 hours after taking one.

I've used caffeine pills since my rookie year of hotshotting, and a few others did as well. Ive never found them addictive, I just make sure not to take them too often, usually will over night shift or when coffee is unavailable. The buzz is different though, so if you feel anxious or unaffected, try a different brand or just drink coffee.

https://www.amazon.com/ProLab-Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-100-Count/dp/B0011865IQ/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1484936487&sr=8-1&keywords=prolab&th=1

I was wrong there's 100 haha, just linking so you know what I bought, they definitely work.

Caffeine pills. On Amazon, they're 18 bucks for 500 pills, each a cup of coffee worth of caffeine.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01DFQSVK6/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1537380953&sr=8-3&keywords=caffeine%2Bpills%2Bnutricost&dpPl=1&dpID=415Ub%2BnFiuL&ref=plSrch&th=1&psc=1

Will do!

For those that are curious, I bought these:

(http://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-Zma-90-Capsules/dp/B0013OZGQ0/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top)

Jury's still out! But in case you're curious, this is what I ordered: LINK

Sorry, should have been more clear. I am taking this https://www.amazon.com/SaltStick-Electrolyte-Replacement-Capsules-bottle/dp/B002IY96B0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493614324&sr=8-1&keywords=salt+stick

That stuff looks way overpriced.

I'd recommend these instead.

As a note, PWO are generally really expensive for what you get. You can generally get the raw ingredients for much cheaper, tailor it to your preferred proportions, and throw it into your protein shake or make your own PWO without getting as many random add-on ingredients that don't really do much that PWO love to throw in.

The main ingredients, caffeine, beta-alanine and creatine are dirt cheap and you can mix them to your own proportions. E.g. C4 $35 for 60 servings comes out to ~$0.58/serving for 1.5g beta-alanine, 135mg caffeine, and 1g creatine.

Doing it yourself with 1.5g beta-alanine =~$0.08, 200mg caffeine =~$0.08, and 5g creatine =~$0.13 or $0.29/serving to get more caffeine and the recommended amount of creatine. You can get it even cheaper ordering in bulk powders.

You'll probably also want to get a cheap food scale ~$10 to get the correct amounts since scoop measurements can be unreliable. Definitely get a scale if you mess with powdered caffeine.

edit: mathed wrong on cost/serving of C4

I recommend Salt Stick for your side effects

So you bought something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/L-Theanine-200mg-Caffeine-100mg-Wakefulness/dp/B0173H5QVU

I use these tablets for situations like that, they seem to work just fine for me.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IY96B0/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I also have these, they are ok but I don't like them as much, they make fizzy flavored water:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018NZJBSA/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I use these. Cheap, and work as well as I want them to.

I use salt stick and it's amazing. Haven't tried that brand but it looks to be about the same price.

Link to Amazon

Indeed, that as well, although I've seen with just water it's not nearly as bad as no water at all.

I prefer SaltStick capsules, full spectrum with all the trace bits without all the crappy sugars that most electrolyte additives use https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002IY96B0

Caffeine with L-Theanine works really well.

​

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BYY2H3I

​

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01921TUGC

Did a quick web search. OP please tell me their not the pitbull vitamins I saw.
If it's just caffeine pills, amazon probably has them for cheaper

Depends, do you think 1$ per serving is worth the extra stimulants? 8 cents per serving seems a lot more reasonable for just caffeine pills

• Caffeine pill
  
• Citrulline malate
  
• Beta alanine
  
• Creatine monohydrate
  
• Theanine if you want to "smooth out" the caffeine
  
• For flavoring, citric acid and stevia
  
• Choline bitartrate

Bought this one because it was an $8 lightning deal on Amazon. So far so good. I plan on trying this and this eventually. I personally prefer a capsule supplement over an electrolyte gel, chew, or beverage. It's also possible to make your own electrolyte water (see: "Snake Juice").

These are kinda like Salt Stick, except with a higher content of minerals per capsule. Give them a shot: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N1P1ODD/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Fyi fitness stores sell caffeine in 200mg pill form. I used to grind up 2 in my protein shake for a heavy workout. 800mg is 2 shakes to me. amazon pills

I don't think most people on this subreddit would advise energy drinks. http://www.amazon.com/ProLab-Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-100-Count/dp/B0011865IQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406814251&sr=8-1&keywords=caffeine+pills&dpPl=1

I ride 50-68 miles as well on keto.

For electrolytes, I've been using SaltStick

ProLab Caffeine Pills Energy and Focus: (3) 100-Count Bottles (200 mg) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HTH5A9I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_I5qKHcs2hhD78

So for the Magnesium could I take this? https://www.amazon.com/Now-Foods-Recovery-Capsules-180-Count/dp/B001LXMUW6?ie=UTF8&keywords=now%20zma&linkCode=sl1&linkId=78ff50f3756da38df9133f8e64f28310&qid=1441225111&ref_=as_li_ss_tl&rps=1&sr=8-1&tag=kitchenketo-20

Then for salt, can I take 2-3 teaspoons of lite salt and mix it with water and mio?

150 cups worth of caffeine for the price of 2 or 3 Starbux cups

I don't go home for a pre-workout either. I just dump a scoop of whey, 2 scoops of PWO, and some Lo-Salt in a shaker bottle and head off to work, and fill it with water from the cooler at the end of the day.

Even easier, just get some caffeine pills. Much cheaper.

Taking too much can keep you from going to sleep, plus long term use will eventually stop your body from naturally producing it. 0.3-0.5mg is the ideal dose - source. definitely don't take more than 1mg, and take it ~30 minutes before you go to bed.

Outside of diet and exercise, 0.5mg Melatonin, 1.6g ZMA, and 400mg L-Theanine will work wonders for going to sleep and staying asleep. I had terrible insomnia for years and ZMA was a game changer for staying asleep.

here is a link for amazon, http://www.amazon.com/ProLab-Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-100-Count/dp/B0011865IQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1404311093&sr=1-1&keywords=cafeen+pills

You're overthinking this. Caffeine is as generic as it gets, the main ingredient in every singe PWO. Go to amazon and pick one.

8 cents for 200mg

https://www.amazon.com/ProLab-Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-100-Count/dp/B0011865IQ

And that was 2 seconds on amazon, I could probably find it for half that

The ones I get from amazon are even cheaper. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011865IQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can literally buy tubs of caffeine on amazon.

Here's 100 grams of caffeine for $20