Sports Nutrition.

kona

Well, I am half-arsed training for my 2nd marathon. First one I was running with a athletics club, so was race trained and ready to go. I was using The Holland and Barrett whey protein(Red label) for recovery, and just powder Gatorade for hydration and energy. While these served me well, I decided to change this year. The year before I used Maximuscle(expensive ****e IMO).

I am now using the Hi-Five new(ish) range of products, after getting the training from them for advice(which Ive pretty much forgot, just did it for the free stuff), I have to say its unreal, never had somthing like it before.

I use the 4:1 extreme for my pre-load and for after, hydration and energy. This stuff is fantastic. Drink it half hour before training and, it gives you the energy to do a 16 mile run after work. It doesnt upset your stomach as most others do, definate 10/10.

For recovery I use their protein mix, mixed with water straight after training, and mixed with milk before bed. Again fantastic, no pain in the legs from the muscle breakdown/recovery. Ive also noticed more muscle. The deal maker was the fact it tastes fantastic(banana flavour), It makes you want to drink more, this is the only protein shake thats made me want more, the others were a struggle! Id have to give it 10/10.

I know its pretty random, but Im sure people here training use these products, and its something Ive noticed isnt discussed. I think it would be good topic, also good to put some people at ease about using them. My father thinks they are drugs:D

Lumen

I use Body Fortress whey protein for a recovery drink.

I just use it when I'm in too much of a hurry to eat properly (a couple of times a week), so it lasts ages.

peterako

Me too Lumen!
(Though they have reverted to their regular price now )

But then I also do (realtively heavy) weight lifting as part of my 'fitness' regime.

Used some SIS and Maxim (samples) for some longer cycles this Summer and would recommend both!

Have some (again free samples) Hi-5 Zero tablets and expect they wil be good too.

ednwireland

use zym tablets when on long rides (handy in the pocket)
tried powerbar gels as emergency food but they are disgusting

Drapper

Torq have some great energy stuff!

Lumen

On the subject of faddy sports nutrition, I am amused to observe the trend amongst swimmers of keeping a drinks bottle at the end of the lane, even for short training swims. HTFU swimtards.

I'm tempted to go one up with a HR memory belt.

CheGuedara

Drapper wrote: »

Torq have some great energy stuff!

+1 Gets my vote

blorg

Chocolate chip cookies for me. Seriously.

Nietzschean

torq's fruit of the forests with gurana jel is quite nice(caffeine, yey!)
the maxim gel's are quite nice too, last one i had tasted like jam...
torq recovery stuff was quite nice, though it doesn't last very long at recommended dosages.

Mostly use the myprotein.co.uk stuff if been doing weights or no time for food post cycle

Nietzschean

blorg wrote: »

Chocolate chip cookies for me. Seriously.

I presume double choclate chip at the very least?!

lukester

High Five here, only on very long rides, otherwise water with salt, and fig-rolls/nutri-grains.

My dentist is scaring me off the drinks though.

tunney

I find most cyclists (and triathletes) over eat on the bike. Unless its over three hours you don't really need any calories, just water.

blorg

tunney wrote: »

I find most cyclists (and triathletes) over eat on the bike. Unless its over three hours you don't really need any calories, just water.

Really depends on how much you are pushing it, you would definitely need something under three hours if you are racing. For short races (<90 minutes) I generally use a sports drink the likes of Lucozade Sport or Maximuscle Viper (or for that matter the Aldi stuff) and I do think it helps over plain water. Solid food generally for longer cycles at lower intensities.

tunney

blorg wrote: »

Really depends on how much you are pushing it, you would definitely need something under three hours if you are racing. For short races (<90 minutes) I generally use a sports drink the likes of Lucozade Sport or Maximuscle Viper (or for that matter the Aldi stuff) and I do think it helps over plain water. Solid food generally for longer cycles at lower intensities.

Racing is different

Train low, race high.

Lumen

tunney wrote: »

Train low, race high.

No thanks.

scottreynolds

During rides / runs whatever I use Power bar sugar drink (i mean energy drink) and water. I also use nun tabs for taste but there's no sugar in them so its not much different to water enrgy wise (electrolytes aside). If having solids the nutrigrain cereal bars are good -- I love them. Oh yes, and the rice cakes.

For recovery I try and avoid any supplements as I can get decent protiens and carbs from normal foods. Pre-excercise I just eat museli and milk or yoghurt (a little) if it in the morning. In the evening I'll have a peice of toast with jam or peanut butter.

Why powerbar? Availability locally in dublin verses the others. I prefer where sensible to support local businesses.

However, I definately agree with Joe Frielwho on his blog says we don't really need to use supplements and fancy foods. Real food is probably still better.

Dr_Colossus

After gym sessions I use the 90% pure whey protein from BulkPowders.co.uk mixed with water. It's plain unflavoured and good quality so handy to put through the porridge in the mornings also if you want. Mixed with water it's a bit bland so can add some flavour with a few drops of their LiquiFlav. A friend who's big into powerlifting advised me of the site and their products, very economical compared to what you can buy here.

Have tried two or three of the flavoured Maximuscle proteins before but found it crazy expensive and pretty vile tasting. Also tried the Holland and Barrett whey protein but found it very false tasting and with way too much sweetener, seemed to be mostly sugar. The only flavoured protein I found to be nice was the Tony Quinn casein protein but this again is very expensive and really only suitable for longer digestion periods like before bed.

For spins I only use gatorade powder which I mix with water for hydration. Generally drink this in two or three goes throughout the spin followed by a few sips of plain water to clean out the mouth of the sugars. Have a seperate bottle of plain water then for regular sips, generally tend to drink alot of water as I sweat alot so I find the gatorade replaces some of the lost salt and gives some additional carbs. Never tried mixing some salt through the water, have heard some cyclists regularly doing this but think I get enough salt through normal food given how much of the stuff is through everything nowadays.

Bevan01

Energy boosters are intended to give the body a sudden increase in energy and stamina and are ideal for those intense weight training sessions where lots of energy gets spent in a short space of time.

There is no doubt that sports nutrition supplements can provide an edge to any athlete and cater for most requirements whether that be building muscle, losing weight or increasing endurance levels.


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Sports Nutrition Supplements

Peterx

Anita Bean has a great book on all this, I think it's called "The complete guide to sports nutrition"
Very clearly laid out and makes it easy to understand what effects foods have at different times and has plenty of sample 50g snacks and meals to make up for pre and post exercise recovery.