Gatorade is for wussies

[axn_man]

I personally think that sports drinks are overrated.

They are just salty fruit drinks. You can get the same result as any of the fruit drinks on the market if you just add a pinch - just a pinch - of salt to your water. Salt adds electrons and electrolytes which is what gives you energy.

I think that the only thing hardcore athletes need is water.

Who agrees/disagrees?

 

[Sage]

I personally only drink water, just because I cramp up if I drink Gatorade before a run. I drink it occasionally though, just because I like to think of it as the healthier cousin to soda (in other words, if I'm in the mood for a sweet drink, but don't want to drink soda, a Gatorade will do.)

 

[the_cobbinator]

I drink a lot of Propel/Gatorade when I'm sick. It's always helped me recover faster. I'll drink a little Gatorade before sports, but too much makes me even thirstier, if that's even a word.

 

[hanker]

Too salty ....

 

[AP1]

I like Propel, but no-no for Gatorade.

 

[Omnis]

you shouldnt drink gatorade before doing stuff.

its good for afterwards though.....after you've sweat yourself dry.

 

[VIPFREAK]

Sports drinks are overrated. Some water, a powerbar and I'm good to go.

 

[vat_man]

As documented elsewhere, I run long distances. I've actually gone off sports drink, preferring to use carbohydrate gels (specifically Gu) for long races.

For longer distances (i.e. more than an hour) you really need some sort of carbohydrate/glycogen replenishment, which means either sports drinks or gels (not both!). I find it easier to regulate my carb requirements using gels - I tend to overdrink the sports drinks, so get too much sugar in my system, often requiring a toilet stop or slowing me down as my digestive system diverts too much blood from my muscles.

You shouldn't be drinking this stuff unless you're exercising - it kills me the amount of people who drink Gatorade or Powerade just as a day to day drink.

Just for reference - I had three Gu's, and a caffeinated gel at my recent sub 3 hour marathon. Took them every 10km, with the caffeine gel at about the 38-39km mark, all with water.

 

[axn_man]

Can tell me or give me links that have information on the effects of excessive sports drinks consumption.

I know that too much carbohydrates in your body can create an imbalance of osmotic pressure in the blood and too much of anything is bad for your body. But that's about it.

 

[Sage]

Originally posted by vat_man
You shouldn't be drinking this stuff unless you're exercising - it kills me the amount of people who drink Gatorade or Powerade just as a day to day drink.

Oh, I know, it amazes me how many people who don't exercise at all drink Gatorade everyday. Two of my friends at school are like that.

 

[vat_man]

Originally posted by axn_man
Can tell me or give me links that have information on the effects of excessive sports drinks consumption.

I know that too much carbohydrates in your body can create an imbalance of osmotic pressure in the blood and too much of anything is bad for your body. But that's about it.

I doubt there's any particularly significant effects, other than:
- it's more calories you've consumed, so you need to take those into account to avoid a calorie surplus. Bear in mind that most of those calories are sugar derived, so there isn't much nutritional benefit
- if you are exercising and you drink too much of this stuff, your body will divert more blood to your digestive system to aid in digestion, and that's blood that should be transporting oxygen to your muscles, and taking lactic acid away to be reprocessed. Consequently you're operating less efficiently
- if there's too much sugar in your lower intenstine, there's only one way the body's going to deal with it, and if you're running, that means a quick trip behind some trees or to a portaloo. - and that generally isn't too pleasant

I've not heard the osmotic pressure idea before. I did a quick search through Google and it seems there are some concerns about osmotic pressure (and it seems related to blood pressure) where people are over-relying on sports drink as a source of energy in general, rather than just during exercise - seems to be related to my first point, which is regarding the low nutritional value of sports drinks compared to actual healthy food.

 

[SnowbordrWRX]

Apparently you CAN O.D. on Gatorade. Someone told me that they would do Gatorade shots. Basically, you buy Gatorade in powder form, pour it in a shot glass, then add just enough water to dissolve it. No alcohol, just sugar and electrolyte concentrate. I think one of his friends did something like 12 or 15 of them, and had to be rushed to the hospital. He said that the Doctor said, "you guys are nuts. Just stick to alcohol."

Apparently, the body doesn't shut down when it gets too much glucose like it does with alcohol.

 

[2ez2KiLL]

I usually drink half a bottle of gatorade before i excercise. I saw it on the news that 70% or something of people who work out are dehydrated even before they start working out. The research states that if you are hydrated before you work out, you will have better performance.

 

[DQuaN]

Do you guys have Lucozade in the US or Aus? it's good stuff for exercising. Most top athletes in the UK drink Lucozade Sport.

 

[millencolin]

yeah we have lucozade in australia




but i think the best thing is a bottle of water in ohe hand and a red bull in the other

 

[DRIFT4EVA]

Gatorade
-H2O
Gatorade
-H2O
The water sucks. It really, really sucks. The water sucks. It really, really sucks. Sucks
(The Waterboy)

I don't care solong as it's cold and I don't drink too much to get The Stich.

 

[vat_man]

Originally posted by DQuaN
Do you guys have Lucozade in the US or Aus? it's good stuff for exercising. Most top athletes in the UK drink Lucozade Sport.

Yeah, it's not bad, but Powerade (local Coke producer's sport drink) is better.

 

[fermy88]

I like Gatorade. I also prefer it to soda, even though it has about the same amount of calories. I drink maybe one a day after I workout, along with my protein bar. I really like the huge selection of flavors.

 

[ExigeEvan]

I ended up drinking Gatorade around the Orlando theme parks after I discovered teh drinking water was . It isn't bad, but not as nice as lucozade. If you don't exercise when using that stuff you will definetly need the toilet.

 

[millencolin]

to add to my previous statement of water and red bull, if you want a good sport drink/food, WEET-BIX. good 6 weet-bix in the morning is the BEST thing

 

[axn_man]

what is WEET-BIX exactly (what is it made of)? Is it available in Canada?

I'm trying to find good sports drinks that don't mess up your system that much. I just can't stand those -ade drinks.

I just hate them so much.

 

[Curveball]

You could try that Propel water stuff. It's just leftover Gatorade that's been watered down.

 

[millencolin]

weet-bix is just what it sounds like. little wheat bricks for breakfast, like cerial. they may be known as wheetybix or vita-brits in other parts of the world. just look up weet-bix in google, you'll find out