GU gels input

pythonsweb

I was wondering if anyone uses the GU gels and if they really work? I saw them in the track store but was wondering if I would be able to use them to help me get thru working out after work when I am really dragging?

patrickblo13

I don't know about using them for a workout. I have used them for endurance races (24hr race, 6hr race ect..) and they have helped me. In fact I just did a 24hr 2 weeks ago. During one lap was feeling really slow, sluggish and felt cramps coming on, took a gel and within minutes was back hammering the pedals.

_Resolve_

Yup, I keep some on me when cycling. I have had to turn to GU once for a quick blood sugar spike, it worked well.

ThickMcRunFast

I will use powergels in races over the half marathon distance, but if you're working out for less than 2-3 hours, you shouldn't really need them. They are made for endurance events when you are in danger of depleting your entire glycogen store, not for average workouts. If you are having a ton of problems getting through a normal workout, its it probably an overall nutrition problem.

xcalygrl

I use Hammer Gel, which is similar to a Gu. They are basically quick digesting carbs/sugar that is there to give you a slight boost. I normally use them during races, when the races are long, hard, or I'm carrying my ruck. They really help me get some quick energy in me and keep my muscles from cramping during the longer races.

woodml1

Gels are really only needed if you're doing cardio exercise in excess of 75 minutes or so. The gels are typically used by long-distance runners, triathletes, and cyclists. If this is you... yes, the gels will definitely help you from boinking on a run or ride. If you're talking about 60 minutes or less at the gym or strength-training (any duration) the gels are only going to add back quick digesting carbohydrates and probably contradict your goal. (I can't say for sure because I don't know what your goal is!)

If you're thinking about using gels, experiment with different types. Some people have upset-tummy reactions to some gels. I personally can't stand that taste of GU and have trouble keeping them down. When I was running long, I liked the PowerBar Energy Gels with caffeine the best but it's all about your personal preference.

Hope that helps!

MiloBloom83

Yes. I feel they help on anything over an hour. I do one every 45 minutes.

version45

Slurped these babies at mile 10 during a half, and finished the last 3 miles in personal record 21 minutes. Not sure if that cheating or psychosomatic, but they worked for me.

Leadfoot_Lewis

Back when I used to do a lot of long rides - 90 minutes plus - I'd have one half way through my ride. I was eating power bars & switched to GU because it's easy on the stomach.

Escloflowne

I don't find they do anything if your race is under 2 hours, I use them every 45 minutes for races in the 2-6 hour range and notice a boost, especially near the end.

woodml1

I just took a look at your profile... if you're needing help with energy for your 30-day shred or elliptical workouts, these won't help. I'd have to agree with an earlier poster that it may be an overall nutrition problem or a nutrition timing problem.

Try to have a snack (real food, not gel) with some carbs in it 20-30 minutes before your workouts.

Capt_Apollo

i prefer the flavor and consistency of the Cliff Shots.

that being said, if you plan on using them for a race, you should plan to use them in your work outs. you want to take one every 30-60 minutes, depending on a number of factors. i have yet to find the sweet spot of when i need one.

you always want to drink water immediately after using one. something about it having sugar and it sends your kidneys into overdrive or something like that. so if you don't carry water with you, maybe get used to doing so. or for race day, when you see the water station, take the gel.

pre-work out, they say to take it with water 15-30 minutes before your work out, especially for shorter work outs. long runs you can and should take the opportunity to train fasted to tap into your own glycogen stores.

No_Finish_Line

Yup, I keep some on me when cycling. I have had to turn to GU once for a quick blood sugar spike, it worked well.

so its some hi carb food supliment?

Slurped these babies at mile 10 during a half, and finished the last 3 miles in personal record 21 minutes. Not sure if that cheating or psychosomatic, but they worked for me.

i'm assuiming its really more psychosomatic... i mean, if you feel as though you exerpienced a jolt of energy that you've never gotten from food, the only alternative is that there is an active ingredient in it (drug) and thats not generally what people want.


for the op...
i would also agree that your generally better off eating food and suppliments are more for convience (like when your on a really long bike race). better planing of your nutrition might be a better option.

Capt_Apollo

Yup, I keep some on me when cycling. I have had to turn to GU once for a quick blood sugar spike, it worked well.

so its some hi carb food supliment?

Slurped these babies at mile 10 during a half, and finished the last 3 miles in personal record 21 minutes. Not sure if that cheating or psychosomatic, but they worked for me.

i'm assuiming its really more psychosomatic... i mean, if you feel as though you exerpienced a jolt of energy that you've never gotten from food, the only alternative is that there is an active ingredient in it (drug) and thats not generally what people want.


for the op...
i would also agree that your generally better off eating food and suppliments are more for convience (like when your on a really long bike race). better planing of your nutrition might be a better option.

well, they do have 24 g of carbs and12g of sugar, and some have the equivalent of two shots of espresso in them. i'm sure it played it's part combined with the adrenaline of a race.

JoRocka

unless you're doing endurance training- you shouldn't be needing to fuel your workouts.

Otherwise- compete like you train- train like you compete- if you use them for races- use them for rides/runs/swims- maybe not all of them- but some of them.

Use what works- I used to use GU when it first came out years ago when I was horse racing- it worked. Not fun- not tasty- but served a purpose- so they were great. Would still use them if I was doing the same things.

dbanks80

I used them when i ran a half marathon. I didnt really notice a difference.

Stoshew71

I think what you want is something called a "preworkout" or pre-workout supplement. Something like C4 or N.O.-Explode or Assault are the more popular brands. You can go into GNC or Vitamin World to get something like this.

Gels like Gu or Hammer will supplement long sustained cardio workouts like running a marathon by supplying energy on the go when your body starts to deplete of gycogen stores. Something you most likely not encounter while strength training.

_Waffle_

GU gels input

Generally you take them orally. That's the recommended method of input.

i'm assuiming its really more psychosomatic... i mean, if you feel as though you exerpienced a jolt of energy that you've never gotten from food, the only alternative is that there is an active ingredient in it (drug) and thats not generally what people want.

The general effect is half mental and half physical. Your brain runs on pure carbs. That's all it can use. When you're 10 miles into a 13 mile run your body has probably used all the easily available carbs in your bloodstream and it's busy converting fat to carbs for fuel. The gels are just a tiny bump to assist in getting your blood sugar levels back up closer to normal. Some do add in caffeine to help give you more mental clarity but that's about the extent of it. It lowers your perceived amount of effort

You're talking about 100 - 110 calories. That's not even enough energy for a mile but is enough of a change to help your focus and bring you closer to full power than you can do alone.

pythonsweb

It most likely is a nutrition problem, I recently within the last few months started changing my eating habits to lose weight and get in better shape. I just signed up for my first 5k on friday and want to start doing more longer runs. I am still learning about macros and calories and probably have cut down too much since I dont seem to have the energy for the cardio. I am eating about 1400 calories a day, sometimes a little more depending on the fitbit adjustment but not sure if im doing it right, im losing about 1 to 2lbs a week but have been going up and down the past week or 2 lose 1-2lbs few gain 1/2-1lbs and back and forth but its still going down but I dont feel like im starving but no energy so was looking to find something to help with that.

pythonsweb

GU gels input

Generally you take them orally. That's the recommended method of input.

I hope so, the other way would be pretty tricky during a run

Capt_Apollo

you don't need a gel for anything shorter than 45 minutes.

99clmsntgr

I think what you want is something called a "preworkout" or pre-workout supplement. Something like C4 or N.O.-Explode or Assault are the more popular brands. You can go into GNC or Vitamin World to get something like this.

Gels like Gu or Hammer will supplement long sustained cardio workouts like running a marathon by supplying energy on the go when your body starts to deplete of gycogen stores. Something you most likely not encounter while strength training.

Second this. I like BMI's 1.M.R. and Cellucor's C4. BCAA's, some creatine, some other junk and a ****-load of caffeine (there's a warning on the back of the C4 to not take if you're drinking coffee. One tiny scoop of C4 has the equivalent caffeine as 4 cups of coffee). You can buy smaller sample pouches online (bodybuilding.com for instance), not sure if a brick-and-mortar store would have them. As the other poster said, check GNC or Vitamin World.

ThatMouse

I've used them before during intense training sessions for martial arts. I like 'em - they help me out a lot. I've found that I feel less totally drained at the end, which I really don't mind at all when I'm in my last round of a sparring match, ha ha!

dbmata

I was wondering if anyone uses the GU gels and if they really work? I saw them in the track store but was wondering if I would be able to use them to help me get thru working out after work when I am really dragging?

I have used them in long workouts, and in a race. Worked for me, if you can get over the mouth full of "goo". I can say more, but I might get a strike for using inappropriate terms.

CodeMonkey78

If you're not doing an endurance activity over 90 minutes long, there's no need to use Gu packs. On my long runs, I re-fuel about every 45 minutes. If this applies to you, you may want to try the Gu Chomps or Cliff ShotBlocks. They go down easier for me while running.

_Resolve_

Yup, I keep some on me when cycling. I have had to turn to GU once for a quick blood sugar spike, it worked well.

so its some hi carb food supliment?

Slurped these babies at mile 10 during a half, and finished the last 3 miles in personal record 21 minutes. Not sure if that cheating or psychosomatic, but they worked for me.

i'm assuiming its really more psychosomatic... i mean, if you feel as though you exerpienced a jolt of energy that you've never gotten from food, the only alternative is that there is an active ingredient in it (drug) and thats not generally what people want.


for the op...
i would also agree that your generally better off eating food and suppliments are more for convience (like when your on a really long bike race). better planing of your nutrition might be a better option.

Im pretty sure hypoglycemia is not psychosomatic, as a type 2 diabetic and endurance athlete I need to be prepared with a quick fix when my blood sugar hits the floor. I'm not talking about a quick 45 minute ride, more like on hour 3-4 hitting 60 miles and all of the sudden BG take a nose dive, I don't have the luxury of stopping and have a meal.

xcalygrl

It most likely is a nutrition problem, I recently within the last few months started changing my eating habits to lose weight and get in better shape. I just signed up for my first 5k on friday and want to start doing more longer runs. I am still learning about macros and calories and probably have cut down too much since I dont seem to have the energy for the cardio. I am eating about 1400 calories a day, sometimes a little more depending on the fitbit adjustment but not sure if im doing it right, im losing about 1 to 2lbs a week but have been going up and down the past week or 2 lose 1-2lbs few gain 1/2-1lbs and back and forth but its still going down but I dont feel like im starving but no energy so was looking to find something to help with that.

It sounds like you need more calories. (Not knowing your stats, I can't say for sure, but it could be the problem since you're lacking energy for your workouts.)

Have you punched your numbers into MFP to see what they give you? (Remember, if you use their calorie goals, eat back at least half of your exercise calories.) If you don't want to use MFP, give this link a look: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

FWIW: I'm a 5'8 female who eats 1700+ calories a day, and I'm still losing.

ashenriver

I recently went to a clinic run by an ultra trail runner.

She doesn't use gels, hates them actually. What she uses are candy, prunes, etc. At that point you are looking for carbs to fuel your body since you have most likely depleted your stores when doing an endurance activity. Carbs need not be found in a gel.

She will add an electrolyte tablet to her water every other bladder fill up during her runs.

No_Finish_Line

Yup, I keep some on me when cycling. I have had to turn to GU once for a quick blood sugar spike, it worked well.

so its some hi carb food supliment?

Slurped these babies at mile 10 during a half, and finished the last 3 miles in personal record 21 minutes. Not sure if that cheating or psychosomatic, but they worked for me.

i'm assuiming its really more psychosomatic... i mean, if you feel as though you exerpienced a jolt of energy that you've never gotten from food, the only alternative is that there is an active ingredient in it (drug) and thats not generally what people want.


for the op...
i would also agree that your generally better off eating food and suppliments are more for convience (like when your on a really long bike race). better planing of your nutrition might be a better option.

Im pretty sure hypoglycemia is not psychosomatic, as a type 2 diabetic and endurance athlete I need to be prepared with a quick fix when my blood sugar hits the floor. I'm not talking about a quick 45 minute ride, more like on hour 3-4 hitting 60 miles and all of the sudden BG take a nose dive, I don't have the luxury of stopping and have a meal.

the two statements were independant of each other.

i'm sure a bunch of sugar is good for raising your blood sugar, but there is probably a food source that will work as well, tho not as easy to take with you and consume.

The general effect is half mental and half physical. Your brain runs on pure carbs. That's all it can use. When you're 10 miles into a 13 mile run your body has probably used all the easily available carbs in your bloodstream and it's busy converting fat to carbs for fuel. The gels are just a tiny bump to assist in getting your blood sugar levels back up closer to normal. Some do add in caffeine to help give you more mental clarity but that's about the extent of it. It lowers your perceived amount of effort

You're talking about 100 - 110 calories. That's not even enough energy for a mile but is enough of a change to help your focus and bring you closer to full power than you can do alone.

basically the same response lol, there is porbably a food source that will do the same but not as easy to take on a bike.

it just seems like people ascribe nearly magical powers to these kinds of things and someone is probably making a lot of money off it lol

Carrieendar

After reading Matt Fitzgeralds books wherein he recommends taking in 30g of carbs for even 1 hour work that has a lot of high intensity/speed running in it for better performance, I decided to experiment for a few months. I do speed workouts on thursdays, and they tend to last about 1 hr-1h 10 min when you factor in warm up.

I did some workouts taking in the carbs with a gel right at the start and some gatorade during. Then I did some without taking in anything. I used garmin connect to compare. I know there are so many other factors that could go into this, but the fueled track workouts were significantly faster when I started to compare interval to interval, even when the unfueled ones were later in the training cycle. I journaled how I felt after each workout and I felt better and recovered more quickly after the ones where I took in the carbs.

Thus, I know just stick with using a gel during tough workouts where I want to hit certain paces/intervals and with fast finish long runs when I am simulating a race.

dbmata

it just seems like people ascribe nearly magical powers to these kinds of things and someone is probably making a lot of money off it lol

Not really. It's a quick and small, easily portable carb source. It's not magic, it's convenient. On my tri team, the ironman competitors all love the hell out of them, why? Easily digested, no chewing, easy to swallow on the run, don't taste like total *kitten*.

It's a decent item to add to a nutrition strategy, it's no novel toy.