Concept2 Forum

Hi all,<br /><br />I've recently dumped my soft drink habit and started drinking sports drinks instead. Is there a rule of thumb for when to consume sports drinks in relation to your daily workout?<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Bob Miller<br />ramiller@blarg.net<br /><br />Erging since mid July 2005<br />Weight lost to date = 17 lbs<br />Blood pressure and cholesterol on the way down

what i do is that i drink water an hour before the workout... and half hour after i down a bottle of gatorade to replace salt and pottasium lost during the workout.

I think you can drink sports drinks before, after, or during a workout if you want in addition to always also drinking water, but I don't think they are substitute for soft drinks during the day. If you are trying to lose weight, you should try to avoid drinking any extra calories during the day.<br /><br />My understanding of the theory of gatorade is that it contains most calories you can consume and not create a water deficit while you are exercising. Metabolizing carbs takes some water, and so gatorade was formulated to be diluted enough that you gain a little water and take in carbs at the same time by drinking it. Not sure how much that actually matters though. But other than for a marathon, I don't think you need to drink during a row. I don't think gatorade is worth that much after a workout either, although it probably doesn't hurt, salt and potassium and sugar are pretty easy to get (I saw chocolate milk recommended for after a marathon actually).<br /><br />When I started dieting in Sept, I found that the calorie deficit really affected my energy rowing after about 30 minutes. Drinking 8 oz of gatorade in the 30 min before I row seems to help, so that is what I have been doing since.

A cycnic would say the best time for sports drinks is never. Soup is much better and minestrone is the food of the gods. Anyway I've been eating and drinking whatever and whenever I like for the last 60 years odd, and the only feedback is from the wife who says unfortunately it hasn't killed me yet.

I've read that with less than an hour of exercise, sports drinks make no difference. Even then, unless you sweat profusely, and your sweat tastes very salty and/or burns your eyes, water will do fine. OJ is rich in potassium. Drink OJ watered down about 4:1. On ice, very refreshing after a workout.

hah just make sure you dont drink OJ after your provincial ergo champs. <br /><br />yes i did. yes i puked.

I used to get cramps in my feet when swiming after rowing every time.<br />Finally I bought some potassium chloride and magnesium citrate. I put this into my drink<br />(cammomille tee with or without fruit juice) in addition to cooking salt.<br /><br />The chemicals are very cheap (just don't use too much, a cube 1/16 of an inch on the side is enough).<br /><br />You are much better off making your sports drinks yourself, it is vastly cheaper than commercial products. I drink them during rowing or cycling.