stacking 101, help me understand the context & interactions

[dsohei]

so, i'm a quick learner with a lot of nutrition experience and self-experimentation due to healing a leaky gut and the auto-immune symptoms it caused in me. my latest self-experimentation is into THIS WORLD of intelligent stacking for performance to try and "regain" my lost youth.

i went ahead and ordered these products to try in an intelligent way (one at a time at first to understand their effects.)
i'm going to try and piece together what i think they are, and if i'm totally wrong please let me know.

IGF-2 - herbal product designed to increase GH and test, increase dopamine levels with mucuna, rhodiola is an adaptogenic herb, no idea about chlorophytum or dodder seed yet. the promise of better recovery is really exciting because my condition really hinders that process for me. 8:4 cycle

Erase - dhea metabolite designed to be an aromatase inhibitor (which decreases estrogen conversion) and also acts to control excess cortisol secretion. dhea is a prime sex/steroid hormone. AI's can increase joint pain due to "drying out" and also reducing cortisol can increase joint pain as cortisol is needed for pain resistance. 8:4 cycle.

Alpha T2 - fat burning thermogenic, stim-like, sweat a lot. 8:4 cycle
Shift - a "non-stim" form of AT2

Drive - herbal extract supplement to increase energy, stamina, strength from cordyceps, horny goat weed, and some plant i've never heard of.

AnaBeta - natural anabolic, increases body temp, vascularity, nutrient repartitioner

Lipotrophin PM - herbal product designed to effect sleep cycle and i'm assuming have deeper REM sleep and recovery, more dopamine from mucuna, bacopa is i think a vasodialater increases blood flow to the brain, ecgc from green tea is an antioxidant, no idea about the banaba. i've always slept through the night but it could be more restful.

MP Assault - pre-wo stimulant, caffeine, etc

MP Shred Matrix - fat burning thermogenic, stimulant, caffeine



so obviously i am a n00b, but my questions are:
is this stack overkill? personally i think the MP products might be as they are the most obvious stims... and the shred matrix seems to promise the same thing as the alpha t2.
what makes a stack in the first place?
since stacks are 8 weeks on 4 weeks off... what are you "supposed" to do on the off cycle? besides eat healthy and everything else like that.
what is the minimum effective dose or minimum effective combo for a stack to be the most useful while decreasing any weird side effects?
what are the possible negative side effects of a stack like this?

thanks and i can post more info if it's needed but i think i'm running long as it is

 

[Cafesuada]

It might have to result to trial and error. Everyone's body is made differently chemically. I would definitely suggest researching the chemistry of each supplement you are stacking.

 

[996ttelise]

Just a thought, but perhaps try and avoid excessive caffiene if shooting for anti-aging. I have tried to eliminate caffiene and carbonation from my diet. I, therefore, try to avoid preworkouts with huge doses of caffiene. The IGF-2 is a good choice. Why not keep it simple and use just IGF-2 and a pre like RPM or something with around 100 to 150 mg of caffiene. Try something like Bikram Yoga on off days. I find I get huge benefits from this and people who do Bikram Yoga on a regular basis look ten plus years younger and carry much stress in their life. I think Bikram helps body produce GH naturally and definitely detoxes body.

 

[996ttelise]

Trying to add, Bikram produces that runner's high like no other exercise I have experienced and I am attributing this to releae of GH after the intense 90 minute workout in 105 degrees. The heat, high heart rate, relaxed mind and intense physical workout should all lead to a nice pulse in GH. I have felt like a crack buzz leaving Bikram, but this only occurs after several sessions and getting over the jump of feeling like you are depleted when leaving.