Ephedra burns fat through two mechanisms. First, ephedrine raises the core temperature of the body (thermogenesis), this produces heat and causes the body to burn more calories than it normally would. Secondly, ephedrine stimulates the thyroid to convert the weaker T-4 into the more potent T-3 which also accelerates the metabolism to burn even more calories. For more information on thyroid hormones see this page.

This effect of ephedra can be amplified further by taking a combination of caffeine and aspirin along with the ephedra for a synergistic effect. Research has shown us that the fat burning properties of ephedrine can be almost doubled by combining 25mg ephedrine, 200mg caffeine and 300mg aspirin. Taken 3 times a day this combination produces superior fat burning effects that have been appreciated by bodybuilders for years.

Another reason that makes ephedra so effective as a fat loss aid is that it has anti-catabolic properties. This means that it helps in maintaining your muscles while you are dieting. Very useful, especially if you are a hard gainer. You don’t want to lose any of your hard won muscle if you don’t have to.

Finally, ephedrine is also very effective as a training aid. It gives a stimulant boost to the central nervous system and improves concentration, focus and the link between your nerves and muscles. For best effect during your workout the ephedra should be taken about one hour prior to working out. You will notice a boost in energy that can translate to a 5-10% increase in strength. Aspirin and caffeine will boost this effect just as they do for fat burning. Note that tolerance does develop after several weeks and you will need to increase your dosage as the body becomes accustomed to it. Another alternative is to cycle your ephedra intake, 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off.

T-4 is a precursor to the more powerful T-3 that is produced by the thyroid gland and regulates metabolism. The upside of T-4 supplementation is that it can be continued longer and does not typically contribute to down regulation of the thyroid gland. This means your thyroid keeps functioning normally and when you stop using the T-4 there is no fat “bounceback” as the thyroid re-adjusts.

The effect of Thyrax is to accelerate the users metabolism so that the body burns more calories. This allows for faster cutting while still preserving lean mass (your muscles). It also gives a very hard and chisled look as the fat gets stripped off the muscles and the muscles themselves become more defined.

The dosage for L-Thyroxine is 1 to 1.5 mcg per pound of bodyweight. As with any new supplement it is wise to start with the lowest dose possible and work your way up. This way you can assess for positive effects and avoid any nasty side effects, although when used properly there are few side effects to L-Thyroxine.

I recommend that you combine T-4 with an ephedra stack. This will stimulate the thyroid to convert the T-4 into the more potent thyroid hormone, thus maximizing the fat burning effect.

L-Thyroxine is a prescription drug and available only in pharmacies. L-Thyroxine is rarely found on the black market.