High gpa with caffeine pills?

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1AO KTG

1AO KTG

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Can anyone share any positive experience with caffeine pills as far as grades are concerned? They are much better stimulating than Starbucks or any liquid form? Thanks
 
They are just caffeine...I haven't noticed a big difference. If you find the more diet type pills that are stacked with a few other things, you can see a bit of a difference. The biggest upside to pills that I see is you get the caffeine without the sugar it usually goes with in coffee or soda.
 
I dont think they are any different, it just depends on your metabolism. I would say the better "quick fix" to good grades is to get a full nights sleep after/before studying (your brain tends to cement things in your sleep) and work out every day - which will also boost your energy levels. If you are insistent on using caffeine pills I would just be careful not to overdue it - I find its easier to dose with coffee because the effect is more gradual versus the pills make me jittery/anxious/upset my stomach if I take too much of them.
 
1AO KTG said:
Can anyone share any positive experience with caffeine pills as far as grades are concerned? They are much better stimulating than Starbucks or any liquid form? Thanks
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Coffee has definitely improved my ability to handle 8am classes better.
 
GetThePointe77 said:
I dont think they are any different, it just depends on your metabolism. I would say the better "quick fix" to good grades is to get a full nights sleep after/before studying (your brain tends to cement things in your sleep) and work out every day - which will also boost your energy levels. If you are insistent on using caffeine pills I would just be careful not to overdue it - I find its easier to dose with coffee because the effect is more gradual versus the pills make me jittery/anxious/upset my stomach if I take too much of them.
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Second this. Regular sleep schedule with 6-8 hours/night, good diet, exercise.

DIET

Breakfast: whole grain, fruit, skim milk

Lunch: salad loaded with veggies and healthy fats (garbanzos, sunflower kernels, etc.), dairy

Dinner: Fill a plate with a mound of fruits and vegetables and then add in lean meats and whole grains in moderation. Dairy and fruit juices for excitement.

Snacks: Raisins, craisins, sunflower seeds, peanuts
 
As bad as they are, monster or actually ROCKSTAR energy drinks will wake you the F up.... Don't drink it consistently or you will build tolerance then it won't work as much.
 
dreamweaver1988 said:
Second this. Regular sleep schedule with 6-8 hours/night, good diet, exercise.

DIET

Breakfast: whole grain, fruit, skim milk

Lunch: salad loaded with veggies and healthy fats (garbanzos, sunflower kernels, etc.), dairy

Dinner: Fill a plate with a mound of fruits and vegetables and then add in lean meats and whole grains in moderation. Dairy and fruit juices for excitement.

Snacks: Raisins, craisins, sunflower seeds, peanuts
Click to expand...

i agree, but sometimes it's really hard to do anything when some people have very early classes, i wake up at 6 and have no appetite until i get to school
 
torshi said:
As bad as they are, monster or actually ROCKSTAR energy drinks will wake you the F up.... Don't drink it consistently or you will build tolerance then it won't work as much.
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Uh... Well we were trying to point out that having energy throughout the day can and should be accomplished naturally. However, caffeine from something like black coffee or green tea is fine, too.
 
torshi said:
i agree, but sometimes it's really hard to do anything when some people have very early classes, i wake up at 6 and have no appetite until i get to school
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True. I deviate from that diet pretty often... my new weakness is cake donuts from the local bakery. Mmmmmm
 
Interesting points. My diet is already near perfect. I'm very fit as well. I was just still looking for something else that could really help out. Someone mentioned pills with other stuff added. Does anyone know any details of this? Maybe something with caffeine and also something that helps more particularly with concentration?
 
[YOUTUBE]bflYjF90t7c[/YOUTUBE]

Somebody had to do it. Or are you kids too young to remember this?
 
dreamweaver1988 said:
Second this. Regular sleep schedule with 6-8 hours/night, good diet, exercise.

DIET

Breakfast: whole grain, fruit, skim milk

Lunch: salad loaded with veggies and healthy fats (garbanzos, sunflower kernels, etc.), dairy

Dinner: Fill a plate with a mound of fruits and vegetables and then add in lean meats and whole grains in moderation. Dairy and fruit juices for excitement.

Snacks: Raisins, craisins, sunflower seeds, peanuts
Click to expand...

You actually do this?
Where's the pizza and soda?
 
dreamweaver1988 said:
Second this. Regular sleep schedule with 6-8 hours/night, good diet, exercise.

DIET

Breakfast: whole grain, fruit, skim milk

Lunch: salad loaded with veggies and healthy fats (garbanzos, sunflower kernels, etc.), dairy

Dinner: Fill a plate with a mound of fruits and vegetables and then add in lean meats and whole grains in moderation. Dairy and fruit juices for excitement.

Snacks: Raisins, craisins, sunflower seeds, peanuts
Click to expand...

I eat very healthy too.
Not as much as you however since I do keep up a weightlifting regimen, I consume much more carbs and protein. I do however keep the fat intake down considerably.
 
I notice my mood improve almost immediately after I have caffeine. I like the warm feeling of a coffee in the morning, but I imagine caffeine pills would be the same. You might want to take them after breakfast to make sure you don't get an upset stomach.
 
I noticed that as I relied more on caffeine to help me study, I retained less information. When I began to study without a crapload of drugs keeping me awake (note awake=/= alert) the things I managed to study actually got retained.
 
The key is that you can't use it all the time or you will acclimate to its effects. I used Red Bull every finals week of undergrad, but I tried to stay away from them any other time of the year. 1.) There is no reason that a stable healthy life style can't be established with discipline that gets you having 6-8 hours of sleep, which shouldn't make you too tired, especially if you catch up on the weekends.

2.) Studying on caffeine is not the best idea for doing well. Research has shown that you remember studied information best when you are in a similar state or environment when you learned it. Unless you plan to be in a caffeine stupor all the time, I recommend you don't do it too often.

The pill thing just scares me.... in terms of addiction. I know people who can't get out of bed now because without stuff like this. I got a good GPA without them, it is possible.
 
I'm surprised there is no post denigrating the use of caffeine to boost your grade. I'll throw in a concept though. It's called state dependent learning. Basically, if you are going to be zonked out on caffeine for an exam it is better to be studying the same way.

Am I the only person who doesn't drink caffeine?
 
Caffeine makes me hyper and and afterwards I can hardly focus. My optimal studying time is after working out (ideally some kind of running).
 
torshi said:
As bad as they are, monster or actually ROCKSTAR energy drinks will wake you the F up.... Don't drink it consistently or you will build tolerance then it won't work as much.
Click to expand...

Agreed, though the downside being that they are basically crystal meth in a can. One every now and then can work, but I've never in my life felt worse than after an entire test week driven by energy drinks. That **** is just flat out awful for your body :laugh: I haven't had one in forever and probably won't again.

With regards to caffeine pills, I've heard a lot of stories about headaches, insomnia and palpitations developing as a result of consistently using them. No thanks.
 
pre med 2014 said:
lol I have went into an exam after a short run. Did well on it too.
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Yeah that's a good idea. I almost always do a short run and eat a few fig newtons before an exam, it helps quite a bit.
 
Someone who I met prefers caffeine for physical activities, like weightlifting, because he feels it provides more of a "total body" stimulation. For something more cerebral, like studying, he prefers nicotine. Fairly affordable since you wont be taking much, he recommends 1-2 mg dosages for a solid 2 hours of focus. Cheapest source is most likely bulk nicotine gum. Obviously addiction is more of a concern, but as long as you keep the dosage low you shouldn't run into a problem.
 
Stumpyman said:
Caffeine makes me hyper and and afterwards I can hardly focus. My optimal studying time is after working out (ideally some kind of running).
Click to expand...

Same here. I can't even drink regular tea, I can only tolerate the decaffeinated product. Chocolate makes me jumpy :scared:

I've found that keeping a regular routine works for me. In bed by midnight, up at 7:30, 7 days a week.
 
ppfizenm said:
Am I the only person who doesn't drink caffeine?
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I don't, because I get killer migraines after it wears off. I drink DeCaf tea or Hot Chocolate to wake up in the AM. I just need a hot drink.
 
CeeEstee0 said:
I don't, because I get killer migraines after it wears off. I drink DeCaf tea or Hot Chocolate to wake up in the AM. I just need a hot drink.
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I have oatmeal b/c my job stocks the kitchen with it.
 
ppfizenm said:
I'm surprised there is no post denigrating the use of caffeine to boost your grade. I'll throw in a concept though. It's called state dependent learning. Basically, if you are going to be zonked out on caffeine for an exam it is better to be studying the same way.

Am I the only person who doesn't drink caffeine?
Click to expand...

I don't either.

I have oatmeal b/c my job stocks the kitchen with it.
Click to expand...

Some of us are less fortunate and have to purchase our oatmeal from Trader Joe's weekly.
 
ppfizenm said:
I have oatmeal b/c my job stocks the kitchen with it.
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Ah, oatmeal. There is a little herbal/natural everything market where I live, and they sell the only oatmeal anyone should ever eat.
 
tantacles said:
I don't either.



Some of us are less fortunate and have to purchase our oatmeal from Trader Joe's weekly.
Click to expand...

Unless I open up my own practice and provide everything this job does I will never have perks so good again.

CeeEstee0 said:
Ah, oatmeal. There is a little herbal/natural everything market where I live, and they sell the only oatmeal anyone should ever eat.
Click to expand...

This is just Quaker Oats. I like it b/c oats keep your sugar steady over long stretches so you get consistent energy and there is not the tired feeling after you eat.
 
ppfizenm said:
Unless I open up my own practice and provide everything this job does I will never have perks so good again.



This is just Quaker Oats. I like it b/c oats keep your sugar steady over long stretches so you get consistent energy and there is not the tired feeling after you eat.
Click to expand...

I'm all about the Trader Joe's with flax seed. with a touch of maple syrup.
 
Trader Joe's trail mix is the only trail mix I eat 🙂

Plus it's my favorite studying food.
 
Both caffeine and adderall are both stimulants. It just happens caffeine half life is wayyy shorter (last much shorter)....but if you take enough caffeine, research shows it is similar to taking adderall.

Here is the "trick" to any caffeine (pill or drink form). If you use it everyday, it isnt going to do crap bc you will quickly get use to it. It DOES help you alot for maybe a few days every couple of weeks. So you cant really use it for every test nor every assignment.

People who chronically use caffeine aren't going to get much of a boast whatsoever. Rather they will need it just to function at their previous baseline.

Bottom line: Maybe using it once or twice a month might help boast your focus and therefore your grade a little....but it isnt going to change you from a C to an A student. I personally would choose the pill form over the drink form...you dont need all that sugar.
 
TheMightySmiter said:
Herbal tea and green tea are different things. Herbal tea has no caffeine and is not really tea. Green tea is made from the tea leaf.
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Ahh... You are right. I have some green tea with matcha... I thought the matcha was an herb or something but Wikipedia says its ground tea.
 
They're really only useful if you're so addicted to caffeine you need the convenience of pills to keep yourself functional.
 
Tried this frosh year and I can safely say that it's a waste of time, money, and energy. Sleep well, workout at least an hour a day, and buy everything written by Cal Newport.
 
varsityblue said:
buy everything written by Cal Newport.
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He is ridiculously amazing. And I'm a big fan of everything he says about sleep schedules - except maybe the no naps thing. But yeah, I don't think caffeine pills are Cal approved. 😉
 
Ha, I was about to post the Saved by the Bell episode with Jessie the the pills too. Besides eating healthy, I'm an avid green tea drinker. I have 2-3 cups a day, and I feel great, compared to last year when I would only drink 2-3 cups a week.
 
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