GU gels input

ThickMcRunFast

Arguments on the utility of gels aside, OP, you are a 40-year old male eating 1400 a day and having trouble getting through a 30 minute workout, with only about 20 pounds to lose. You don't need gels, you need to up your calories. What is your height and goal?

_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.

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

I think you completely missing the point of what GU and HammerGel are used for. They are not supposed to be a meal replacement, they are a portable quick shot of sugar and carbs and sometimes protein to use only as a quick on the go fix. I am very diligent about my nutrition while cycling and only use the gels as intended.. once.. like my first post said. Given all that you have said I am willing to bet you have never spent 6 hours on a bike before.

_Terrapin_

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.

Warning label is a little more detailed then 'it has caffeine' this is a label everyone ought to read prior to taking: Best of luck. Label warning is directly from Cellucor's website:



WARNINGS

Do not take if your are currently taking nitrates for chest pain or if you are taking medication used to treat erectile dysfunction such as PDE-5 inhibitors. This product is only intended to be consumed by healthy adults 18 years of age or older. Before using this product consult with your physician if you are pregnant or nursing, or if you are using any prescription or over-the-counter medication or if you have any pre-existing medical condition including but not limited to: high or low blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, stroke, heart, liver, kidney or thyroid disease, psychiatric or epileptic disorders, diabetes, recurrent headaches, enlarged prostate, difficulty urinating, glaucoma, or if you are taking MAOI (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor), antidepressants, aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or products containing phenylephrine, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or any other medication. Contains caffeine. Do not use in combination synephrine, caffeine, or any stimulants from other sources whatsoever including but not limited to, coffee, tea, soda and other dietary supplements or medications containing phenylephrine or caffeine. Discontinue use and consult your healthcare professional two weeks prior to surgery, or if you experience rapid heartbeat, dizziness, severe headache, shortness of breath or any other adverse reaction to this product. Do not combine with alcohol. Do not exceed recommended servings. Do not use if safety seal is broken or missing. Do not use for more than 8 weeks. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

No_Finish_Line

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.

i think i said in my post something about the convenience factor. thats about all i would say they are good for. i'm sure there are times when they make sense, not sure why one would perfer this to actual food for a typical workout.

3dogsrunning

Arguments on the utility of gels aside, OP, you are a 40-year old male eating 1400 a day and having trouble getting through a 30 minute workout, with only about 20 pounds to lose. You don't need gels, you need to up your calories. What is your height and goal?

This this this this this.

Whether gels are useful or not, it really isn't the issue here. (I'm on team gels can be useful under circumstance but not the OP's).

No_Finish_Line

I think you completely missing the point of what GU and HammerGel are used for. They are not supposed to be a meal replacement, they are a portable quick shot of sugar and carbs and sometimes protein to use only as a quick on the go fix. I am very diligent about my nutrition while cycling and only use the gels as intended.. once.. like my first post said. Given all that you have said I am willing to bet you have never spent 6 hours on a bike before.

only a motorcycle

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?

the op was talking about using them for a typical workout. if you haven't eatten all day and have not time for a real meal, then i guess there not such a bad thing for that, but hopefully thats not typical.

never said anything about a meal replacement, only that there are plenty of sources for carbs that are probably cheaper.



basically i'm just saying that at best its food and at worst theres an active ingredient that has yet to be band

its major advantage is probably its portability and its low volume of food in the stomach.

if you have no need of those two properties then i'd say they are a waste of money IMO

Capt_Apollo

OP asked about gels and some people, myself included, gave him advice on them before we realized that he's eating way under 1500 calories.

gels aren't a meal replacement or a pre-workout booster, but in a pinch they can give you some carbs and sugars and even protein. i've had one 15 minutes before a workout when it was the only thing handy, and i've had them mid-workout when necessary.

yes, real food is preferred, but a gel on a 90+ minute workout is convenient. some cyclists may have "real" food while riding, but it's a matter of choice.

it has no magic powers, and i don't think anyone here is stating that. if your fitness is on point, it will help you when you bonk. but if you have no fitness, no matter how much you eat you won't be able to complete an endurance race.

thavoice

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 only use them during the long runs of half marathon training and then in the HM itself more to help with a sustaining energy level.

Not sure I would think about using them just for normal workouts..but that is up to you