Energy Type Drinks - to use or not to use??

RGPargy

Hi everyone

I am a bit confused. My fella does kickboxing training 4 times a week and cycles 1-2 times a week too. He is currently training for his first 100k sportive and has been researching on drinks and energy bars for stamina, as well as looking at the right type of food to eat before a big ride.

Anyway, he has been recommended a drink called Viper Active and on the tub it says he should drink it before, during and after "intense exertion".

Basically, I'd like to know this. Are these energy drinks something that i should be looking at when i do a double session at the gym (i.e. 2 back to back classes)? I'm asking because when I do a double session, during the second class I feel its really hard work and could do with an energy boost of some sort. Bear in mind that i am 16st 6lb (around 230lbs) so do have a lot more to lug around the classes than most (normally step & pump or combat & pump or spin & pump) so obviously this could be one of the reasons why i flag during the second class!

So my big question is this. Should i start on the Viper Active on double days only or should i just stick to water and ride out the exhaustion lol.

Any info and/or advice would be fab. Thank you!

thefuzz1290

I just googled it....I'd stay away, its very high in sugar.

However, if you're on the fence, call the company and request a free sample (most companies will send you a few) and try it out yourself. I will let you know, as I'm sipping a Monster, taurine (one of the ingredients) is addictive and withdrawls will give you a nasty headache.

waterhaunted

If I go for an energy drink I like Reliv 24K. No caffeine but you need to order it and have it shipped

dvisser1

Any long duration exercise will not only burn through your blood glucose, but you're using up water and depleting your electrolytes at the same time (especially if you're sweating a lot). Sodium, potassium and magnesium being the big 3 of the electrolytes. This is why sports drinks (not caffeine based energy drinks) are popular and do work. As nasty as I personally think Gatorade tastes, I can't argue with how it works.

When I'm doing a long backpacking trip, eating and drinking regularly during the day, I'm only concerned about electrolytes. In that case I use a product called Nuun. It's a tablet you drop in a bottle of water, no sugar, very faint taste, but all the vitamins and minerals you need. For workouts like 2-3 hour bike rides, back in the day when I did that, or 1-2 hour gym workouts I really like a product called Cytomax. Cytomax does have sugar as well as minerals for electrolytes.

As already suggested, ask companies for samples or go buy a small amount to see how you like each product you want to try.

Justice96

When I run out of energy and dont feel like drinking coffee I go buy a low calorie energy drink because its not good to drink your calories. Rockstar has these cute little pink cans of energy drinks that are only 10 calories per can

sprinkies

i LOVE cytomax, had it during my first half marathon. i actually liked the taste, although a lot of people didnt (i had lemon lime).

i just bought gatorade though because i know it's what will be served during my half and full marathon. if you're training for a particular event it's a good idea to train with the drink they'll have off hand, so you don't get an icky feeling belly from something unfamiliar. i made the mistake of trying a gatorade gu during my half at mile 11, and it made my stomach feel TERRIBLE. lesson learned!

hkulbacki

I'm not a big fan of the dyes and chemicals in the sports/energy drinks. Lately I've been using a couple things for long runs (anything over 2 hrs) I'll be trying these for a long bike ride tomorrow.
I use 1 Honey Stinger Gold gel every 45 min. - they are honey, water, potassium, salt, & B vitamins
For hydration I use a mix of 1 Tablespoon sugar, 1 Tablespoon orange juice, and 1/8 teaspoon salt for every 8 ounces of water and I take a big sip about every 1.5-2 miles

tinaruby

I just googled it....I'd stay away, its very high in sugar.

However, if you're on the fence, call the company and request a free sample (most companies will send you a few) and try it out yourself. I will let you know, as I'm sipping a Monster, taurine (one of the ingredients) is addictive and withdrawls will give you a nasty headache.

I totally agree, you'd be better off sticking to water or drinking a protein shake between work outs. Protein shakes are filling and healthier and generally the Whey protein only has one gram of sugar. Protein helps your muscles too.

RGPargy

Thanx for your replies everyone. It's quite eye opening. My fella already bought two tubs of viper on recommendation of his sports massage therapist (who is also a personal trainer and does kickboxing too) so we have loads in the house. Perhaps I just need something to give me a bit more energy at breakfast?? Having said that, I heard at the gym yesterday that it's best to work out on an empty stomach so that you burn fat and not the food in your stomach?? Not sure how long I'd last without my porridge before my workouts!!

aquasw16

NO. They are SO BAD for you. REALLY bad for your heart, whether you are healthy or not!

Dustinryan24

NO. They are SO BAD for you. REALLY bad for your heart, whether you are healthy or not!

^^^^what she saide^^^^

BazAbroad

Love the caffeine, hate the sugar... I use 1mr as a pre-workout pick me up,, each to their own,

douglasmobbs

I would not have the high energy drinks whilst working out as I am trying to lose weight, partly by diet partly by working out. Although you will be getting the fitness benefit from the workout you will be losing the weight loss benefit if you drink back the calories whilst doing the work out.

sheepysaccount

I am currently working from 7:30am to 10pm. So I NEED something to keep me awake. For me that's sugar free Red Bull. Not really good but it will work for a few more weeks until I get back to my regular schedule.
I think that if you don't over-do it and have three as recommended (I only have one a day three days a week) you should be fine.

That being said I believe for a workout session you should find ssomething with quick energy before the session and some protein afterwards. It's a lot better for you and works well in the long run. Energy drinks only work for a short-ish amount of time and do not benefit your work out.

pukekolive

Have good complex carb for breakfast - for instance whole grain porridge, low sugar whole grain cereal etc. I add a scoop of protein powder and mix it in dry before adding reduced fact milk. Add fruit or some low fat yogurt and you are good to go. This is about 300-400 calories and will fuel your (at least) first workout.

If you are doing workouts back to back I believe you should fuel your body before you start (about an hour ahead) and also perhaps supplement your protein between workouts.

Remember working out will also use up your bodily resources and eletrolytes and as someone who has suffered from lactic acid nausea I would not wish this on anyone!

RGPargy

Some great advice on here, thanks guys. Just to reiterate tho, I would not use any energy based drinks (e.g. Red Bull) for working out. That seems a bit daft because as far as I'm concerned you only drink Red Bull with vodka in it! ;-)

Think I will give anything like that a miss for now and will just stick to water. I'm managing to get through 2 classes back to back without them so far. I Might think twice however when I'm on my next fitness weekender as I'll be doing between 6 and 8 classes back to back.......

LollipopViolet

I heard at the gym yesterday that it's best to work out on an empty stomach so that you burn fat and not the food in your stomach?? Not sure how long I'd last without my porridge before my workouts!!

Noooo, do NOT do this! I once did a Pump class on an empty stomach, was running late, no time to eat etc. I finished that class with all my muscles gently shaking. Told the instructor, she asked if I'd eaten beforehand. When I said I hadn't, she said that way why, your body NEEDS something before a workout.

RGPargy

Noooo, do NOT do this! I once did a Pump class on an empty stomach, was running late, no time to eat etc. I finished that class with all my muscles gently shaking. Told the instructor, she asked if I'd eaten beforehand. When I said I hadn't, she said that way why, your body NEEDS something before a workout.

That's what I thought too! I think sometimes the people who put these seeds of doubt in my head are talking out of their backsides and dont really know as much as they think they do.