Simplify your nutrition

[Garfield2010]

I have read various books (Born to run / Eat to run / Maccas book) and tried various different diets and nutrition on race days and in training. I do Ironman so long rides/runs are in the order of the day.

 

I came across something that made me think so here goes.....

 

On Saturday I did a big run event. On Sunday morning my legs really hurt so I though I needed to go run 3- 4 km just to get the stiffness out. Normally after an event I am drained so any training directly thereafter is difficult.

 

I saw the bottle of Whasp Junior Iso Hydrate Lite Crème Soda. It was specifically made for teens (I am mid 30's) and basically does not consist of too many ingredients/supplements. I was actually upset after buying it...

 

http://www.whasp.co.za/p/603353/iso-h-drate-5

 

Its also cheap - this the main reason I have never used it.

 

I kind of hoard energy drinks... I have about 10 bottles full or half full next to one another. If there is a R500 energy drink container next to the R100 container then you always tend to go for the R500 option.... hence why I have never used it.

 

Also the amounts added to the water seemed very little. 1 and a half of a very small scoop... compared to the normally 3 heaped scoops etc.

 

Long story short I grabbed the bottle and ran. I drank this stuff and 1k intervals and felt so good I ended up running 10km and if we didn't have guests over I would have continued even further...

 

Now I have probably ever only three times in my life ran further than planned.

 

So my theory is that maybe we are over complicating nutrition.....

 

If an energy drink is more expensive it does not mean it is better. You don't always get what you pay for.

 

Anyways thought Id share it with you.

 

PS:- I am not a whasp rep or in any way affiliated with them

[DJ84]

my only concern on the cheaper items is the stuff they put in to allow it to be cheaper.

Yes I know the supplement companies rip us off and lie a lot,

but the more established companies use better/cleaner ingredients.

 

But I also agree that we all overcomplicate things.

 

I only use water on runs, but then I struggle to run for more than an hour

[Garfield2010]

My point is actually to not look at the price when "testing" supplements so to speak. That and I also believe if there is too much stuff in the energy drink (as each year more things are added to give/gain the edge) your body might struggle to break it down?

 

Having said this these products are probably all tested much more scientifically than one oke going for a Sunday run so each to his own.

 

In baby class they told us how to make your own rehydrate. Its basically boliled cooled down water and then you add salt and suger. That's it.... nothing more...

 

Now days the energy drink even guarantees a hard on for 16 hours.

 

Also to my point if you read "Eat to run" that oke ran 100 miler events in mountains eating rice cakes.... not scientifically formulated expensive gels and other stuff.... balls of rice and a few nuts.....

[quintonb]

I agree, we buy into the marketing hype sometimes.

A dietitian I used once said red grape juice with a pinch of salt to help it get absorbed faster was as good as any energy drink for a 3-4hr ride.

Obviously if you riding the epic or events similar you need more complex nutrition plans.

 

Also Chocolate Nesquik is as good as any recovery drink for a fraction of the cost.

Sani2C this year has Super M at the end of every stage.

[Beesrib]

a good old choc steri-stumpi after a hard ride!!

[cadenceblur]

very interesting guys. I, myself have been trying to limit my fluid / food intake when riding. If I think back to what I was taking in when I first started riding it's quite startling!

Did 85km on Sunday (admittedly at an easy pace), but only used one 650ml bottle of water, half a pkt of jelly babies and half a Jungle energy bar.

 

When I started riding, it would probably have been double and the water would have been a carbohydrate drink of some sort as well.

[andydude]

My personal believe is that sport nutrition is mostly marketing hype and 99.9% of athletes, if not 100%, can get away with water and perhaps something like a banana and biltong as extra during lengthy exercise over and above normal meals.

[andydude]

I agree, we buy into the marketing hype sometimes.

A dietitian I used once said red grape juice with a pinch of salt to help it get absorbed faster was as good as any energy drink for a 3-4hr ride.

Obviously if you riding the epic or events similar you need more complex nutrition plans.

 

I don't really get the "obvious" and "more complex nutrition plans". Your body is your body and needs the same things, as in proper meals and snacks, but perhaps more or less depending on your situation. This would mean you might need more meals and snacks in the Epic, but you don't have to start using super long endurance shakes, top-up bars, etc.

[quintonb]

I don't really get the "obvious" and "more complex nutrition plans". Your body is your body and needs the same things, as in proper meals and snacks, but perhaps more or less depending on your situation. This would mean you might need more meals and snacks in the Epic, but you don't have to start using super long endurance shakes, top-up bars, etc.

For an event like the epic you would need to eat huge amounts of solid food to get enough protein, Carbs, etc.

And often after a huge effort, eating large meals is not something one feels like.

What you eat today will count for or against you in 2 or 3 days time.

So I would say you need to be aware of this and make sure you can consume the right amount of the right foods.

[Garfield2010]

And also if you train on natural foods don't go into a race with tons of supplements and expect an increased performance.

 

I did this with my first ironman. On the run I had eaten way too many gels and started puking. My reaction was to eat even more gels so the process repeated itself...

 

Finally a toppie came along and told me to only drink water. 20 minutes later I ran like a rabbit.

 

What I also enjoy from this Whasp drink is that it is made to "encourage drink when thirsty" practises. So the taste literall ensures you don't drink too much or too little.

 

Its hard to explain but I seem to gulp down the other drink s which are way too tasty.

 

But I shall keep on exploring and testing new drinks and theories....

 

:nuke:

[ichops]

My personal believe is that sport nutrition is mostly marketing hype and 99.9% of athletes, if not 100%, can get away with water and perhaps something like a banana and biltong as extra during lengthy exercise over and above normal meals.

I agree > having done 20 Argus > I have never drank more than 75% of 1 bottle - sometimes water sometimes energy drink (never together on the bike - it's either or) most times I finish with the same amount in my bottle I started with or at most a couple of sips missing.

[argie1]

16 hours .......Geez what was the name of that energy drink?

 

I also do most of my rides packed for a picnic and end up taking all the snacks back home, similar to ichops regarding the Argus and water consumption.

[ichops]

16 hours .......Geez what was the name of that energy drink?

 

I also do most of my rides packed for a picnic and end up taking all the snacks back home, similar to ichops regarding the Argus and water consumption.

Yip I think I cart more energy bars/water/energy drinks arround and then take them all home again, than most people consume in a year !

[Ryan]

My personal believe is that sport nutrition is mostly marketing hype and 99.9% of athletes, if not 100%, can get away with water and perhaps something like a banana and biltong as extra during lengthy exercise over and above normal meals.

 

My choice is:

 

Water. or Game (for longer rides)

Bananas

Peanut butter and syrup sarmies (for longer rides)

Gu's for racing.

[Beesrib]

I used to pack my pockets and fill my bottles with all kinds of things. I since stopped and only take a water if doing more than 30km's and sometimes one of those nougat bites for longer trips. saving a couple of randelas lately. these power and quick fix juices are becoming very expensive, with sometimes very little results.

[schizo]

So I got the question this weekend about why is Chocolate milk considered a good post ride drink, I pointed out that it has fair amount of protein and calcium. Are there other reasons?