text: what are the side effects of 1.-ripped fuel (or any fat burning pill)and 2. buying protein powder? i am on my second month of weight lifting and there are so many products on the market! is the protein poweder only for men? should i buy whey or soy protein, and when i should use it? how about fat burning caffeine loaded pills? should i or shouldn't i use them? what about creatine? 1. fat burning pills most of them contain random herbs, caffeine, and green tea. with the exception of ephedra, common side effects would be jitters (from caffeine), alertness / insomnia, decreased appetite, and possible increased heart rate. with ephedra-based, every one of those side effects would be enhanced. i take them not for weight loss but to stay awake in the morning. studies are mixed as to whether they actually promote weight loss. i would be cautious about exercising while taking any pill containing ephedra, especially high intensity.   2. protein how "intense" are your weight workouts? are you getting enough protein in your diet? 1.6g of protein per kg of bodyweight is enough, so unless you're not eating right or are training intensely i wouldn't worry about protein powder. whey is a fast acting protein and is typically taken directly after a workout to get protein to muscle quickly. cassein (sp) is a slower protein that would be taken during the day. i wouldn't buy soy protein unless it's already part of your diet. protein powders can be used by anyone. women should only avoid the hormones and prohormones on the market.  3. creatine creatine won't hurt you, but unless you care about larger muscles / increased strength it's not important. most people (that are not vegans) get enough creatine through diet ie. meat. beware that some people are non-responders, which means consuming creatine has no effect as their muscles have enough of it. responders see an increase in muscle size and in some cases muscle strength. there are hundreds of studies of creatine and results vary.  john