Bloating, etc
JMHO, I think there are a lot of unanswered questions as to just exactly what effects AP may have. It is one thing to say a product does this or that, but it is always good to see some kind of actual scientific evidence. I too have jumped on the bandwagon, based upon the very clever marketing of this product, with hope and faith that it does what is said. I have been on AP for the most part now, for over two months.
The first couple of days, I also noticed some slight intestinal cramping. Then that seemed to settle out somewhat after a few days. Plus, I found that I needed to be sure I got at least 40 to 60 grams of carbs within 30 min. of taking it. That was not that hard to do and I did not add many calories to my diet, just a little, maybe. So I do not think this has anything to do with bloating or cramping. I certainly believe that it has something to do with the effects of AP.
The more troublesome side effect the first few days was some sharp pains in the upper chest, mainly the left side. So this was definitely of some concern. The pangs were not extremely painful or anything like that, but definitely enough to cause concern. I too can only attribute that to the AP. As with the cramps and bloating, this pain also became less noticeable after several days to a week. I eventually attributed the chest pains to the same cause as the abdominal cramps...gas. In this case, pockets of gas within the chest cavity. If there are any doctors reading this, I would welcome your thoughts on this.
I have also noticed what I would think of as pumps. Most noticeably, in my arms. They do appear to be more pumped, slightly harder, a little more veins showing, when the full effects of the AP seem to kick in. During the 1st several weeks on AP, I noticed that the two days after a particular workout, I would be noticeably more sore than I have been in awhile. Like the soreness that people talk about with X-factor. Particularly in my chest and arms. But now, I do not seem to notice that as much.
So yes, something is definitely happening. I just am not sure what at this point. I would love to see some real evidence that AP does what is claimed, and not just anecdotal evidence, although, that is of interest as well. I mean, if a lot of people are seeing real world results, that is better than if they do not.
My point though is that just because you "feel" something, feel changes, it does not mean that the product is doing what is claimed, until that is proven scientifically. What you are experiencing might eventually be able to be explained through a different mechanism than the "offered marketing". We really do not know exactly what is in the product...we only know, from the labeling, from what plants the extracts come from, but we are not given the exact nature of the extracts. There are many substances in Phellodendron, for example. And to me, this is one of the things I do not like about so called proprietary products, of which there are many. I just believe and feel that we should be able to know exactly what it is that we are putting in our bodies.
And yet, I too am on this bandwagon, because I wanted to find out for myself if this could do what is claimed. So far, I have no evidence that it does. In fact, after nearly two and a half months, lately, my love handles appear larger and more fatty...not a lot, but I had hoped and expected to see the opposite result. So at this point I still have a lot of reservations whether AP can deliver the marketing claims, but I will continue with it and see what develops.
Also, I got my wife on it about two weeks ago, and she has reported no side effects. But then, she has not really noticed much of anything, which to me is strange. But she does not work out nearly as hard with weights as I do. But then one day, when I asked her again if she did not notice anything, any pumps, she remarked..."oh, yea...I was really sore today after my workout from yesterday. I wonder if that was the result of the AP?" .... I told her, yep, most likely. You're feeling the pump.
But feeling a pump does not = less body fat and better body composition, which is the real reason for taking this product. It remains to be seen by us so far.
