(Part 2) Best sports nutrition supplements according to redditors
We found 820 Reddit comments discussing the best sports nutrition supplements. We ranked the 242 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.
I also hate coffee but love caffeine, so I take caffeine pills! I am linking the ones I get because they work so well. They have an ingredient from tea in them to combat the jitters. I have been buying these for the last year or two caffeine with l-theanine
Bang variety packs for those looking to get started. Download the honey web extension and it'll save you a couple dollars.
Caffeine 100mg, L-Theanine 200mg - 90 Count | Taken for Better Focus, Energy, Mood & Wakefulness | Nootropic Stack | V-Capsules https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0173H5QVU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_cH7LBb030MQQ6
Most aren’t very expensive. Really it comes out to an extra $10-15/month vs making your own. To me, that’s worth the hassle of formulating my own mix. And I enjoy the taste.
Personally, C4 doesn’t do much for me vs just caffeine pills and creatine. The Old School Labs Vintage Blast pre work out is worth the money for me, and it doesn’t have most of the artificial crap many other pre workouts have.
PG allergies can vary and recall, you can suddenly become allergic to it when previously you were not.
That said, I have a hunch here.
You need to hydrate better.
See, people say they drink a substantial amount of water, and that's fine and dandy, but it's about how you drink that water. Person to person it's different, but generally here, you're not going to benefit much from drinking more than 8-10oz of water an hour.
Most people that drink a boatload of water tend to binge it. Chug a bunch at a time, then nothing, then chug a bunch hours later. Your body can only put that water to use so quickly, and you wind up pissing most of it out.
The other really important thing are electrolytes. They're what plants crave, and turns out it's what your body craves. Specifically, you'll put more of that water to use if you have a good electrolyte balance.
So, try this. Try setting an alarm on your phone to drink a little water ever hour or so. Get some of those gatorade electrolyte powder packets (or equivelent) and mix a little in your water.
Then, if you want to get hardcore about it, get a gallon jug, and put 10oz gradations on it, and write the times you should have drank to that point. It'll be great, your piss will have no color or odor, you'll feel better, your dick will get bigger, etc.
Pretty much any line of gels/shots/etc. has versions both with and without caffeine; it just depends on the flavor. It should be on the label.
I've been using Stinger Gold. It's more natural, or at least it makes me feel better. And they are 120 calories. The body can absorb 240 cal per hour when exercising, so taking one every 30 minutes is a simple way to set a nutrition schedule during races.
Most gels are 100 calories.
Good for you! Running can be one of the best ways to manage your blood sugar and A1c levels. I usually make sure to go running when my insulin's effects are the least, i.e. after 2 hours of taking Novolog. With that, intense cardio can still cause your blood sugar to drop. Therefore, I also always make sure to bring glucose tablets in case of lows on long runs. I ran a half marathon in 1 hour and 43 minutes last October, and I would take Gu Energy Gel every 4 miles (32 minutes) or so. My blood sugar stayed at a steady 150 because as it dropped, I'd compensate with the 20 or so grams of carbs in the gel. Good luck!
My life's blood, these. Don't make me shaky, don't make my stomach hurt, don't know how they manage that:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IRFX4NY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_YpuEDb0QCYS47
Caffeine with L-Theanine works really well.
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BYY2H3I
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01921TUGC
YES!
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A good morning routine, or any routine really is a great way to stay consistent and keep you on track. Granted, I haven't been 100% on track with mine, but I'm working on it! Currently ironing some shirts for work, but I thought I'd chime in lol.
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My mornings I learned really set my day for me. Since I've gained 10 pounds and adjusted to eating some breakfast, if I DONT eat my 1000+ calorie breakfast to start off, I get headaches, and the rest of my day sucks cuz i didn't get my high protein, high fat, and calorie meal in to get the day going. I need to eat more otherwise my body will beat me up lol. All this from going to 155 from 145. Sucks but hey, gotta eat to get big! I'm a hard gainer so I need more calories (3,500 to 4,000+ a day). Hard to keep up with it right now since I'm starting back again and really trying to get on track. But i think once i stay consistent with my hard workouts my appetite with eventually catch up. Anywho...
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Meditating, stretching, and taking care of my face/hair also helps me feel really good in the morning (recently bought some stuff to get a routine going, makes my face feel great!). Triming nails, cleaning ears, really just hygiene in general. Stretching loosens up the body. And meditating while smiling is amazing. You instantly feel great, motivated, and just fucking awesome!! Its hard for me to get the smile going at first, but once I do its easier to maintain the "damn i feel good vibe". I bought this waterfall Buddah thing from walmart (that lights up!) for $5 along with these oil burners too. Just sets the mood reeallly nice :D - https://i.imgur.com/zYyMIld.jpg
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I started by making 3 distinct routines around my work schedule, color codes for each type of thing i was working on, timestamps for when to do it, how long, etc. I wanted to ensure each day i could make time for my top goals. That ended up just not working, due to it being overly complicated and the time frames always got fucked. I've since then combined it into a simple routine/checklist for each day. You can see it here:
https://i.imgur.com/Te44JOj.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vTglce6.jpg
VERY simple, compared to what I had before lol. Dry skin/lips is something I suffer from right now, so I'm trying out different cremes and products to see which works best for me (along with drinking more water too).
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My main problem was after work, I'd be tired. So I do recommend you get some pre-workout or maybe caffeine pills, and get more sleep during the night to help with energy (something i need to focus more on lol). Also a good diet (meal prep every sunday!) I take them (one, not both lol) usually before i start heading home or as soon as i get home.
Caffine Pills im using - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01921TUGC/
Pre-workout I'm using - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HHWIPZA/
The only thing about pre-workout i would advise is to split test the ones with beta alanine and the ones without it. This is the component that gives you the tingly feeling. Some pre-workout is mild with others being way more noticeable. Personally i hate the feeling as i mainly take it to get extra energy. This one my friend gave me and I only ever feel it tingle a bit in my hands and thats it. Feel free to experiment with whichever one works best for you.
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I also made my own meal prep/budget file in excel. Where I customized it so I can easily see my macros when adjusting my meals for the days of the week. Including fruit and snacks. Very customizable, so much so that I can alter ingredients in the recipes and the macros follow through on the adjustments. Everything I tried out from the grocery store, liked, did research on, and decided to keep in my meal plan, I got the macros for. So there is a TON of food on one sheet with the Calories, Carbs, Protein, and Fat in individual cells that it calculates from. I just adjust the quantity and boom easy planning for the week. To supplement this i did research and jotted down a lot of different workouts for parts of the body, and assigned them to different days of the week.
Pictures of the excel file:
https://i.imgur.com/3Qa4gJK.png
https://i.imgur.com/uIvpFay.png
https://i.imgur.com/g7EzpdU.png
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An eating schedule is also recommended too! I struggle with that now, so right after this I'm trying a tip I got for hard gainers from Athlean-X, to set alarms on my phone to remind me when to eat. And I spaced things out about 3 hours apart so I can have time to digest and not force myself too much. (trying to bulk while eating consistently is harder than I thought lol. been about 6 months, only gained 10 pounds)
Eating Schedule - https://i.imgur.com/DwuHqnY.png
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Part 2 in comments....
Hoping it doesn't count as an advertisement by the rules but here's the Amazon link. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U0DL5O2
Seriously, people joke about adding even caffeine to a workout regimen. I took half a scoop of Vintage pre-workout powder and stupidly started to workout without waiting the time it says to wait. Only real stimulant in that is caffeine. Started trying to do cardio workout and my heart went crazy, skipping beats, and it wouldnt go back into rhythm. I started coughing, getting lightheaded, sweating, went on for a good 30 minutes before it calmed down. Scared the shit out of me. And im not obese, im moderately fit at this point. Giving stimulants to people with such a lackadaisical attitude is very dangerous. I'd want to punch Bob Harper in the fucking kidney.
THis has been my goto electrolyte drink for going on three years now.
https://www.amazon.com/Vitalyte-Electrolyte-Sports-Servings-Container/dp/B01KY0E23Q?th=1
Try taking a caffeine pill like this https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IRFX4NY (or just drink coffee, I like this because it's extended release and doesn't have a crash), and pair it with L-theanine https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BD29KHW
L-theanine stops the jitters and other side effects of caffeine and helps you harness the energy and motivation it gives you into concentration and focus.
It's not ADD medication, but it might help you.
Also, make sure you're getting all of your B vitamins. A deficiency severely impacts mental capacity, and many people (especially vegans and vegetarians) find it hard to get enough. It's worth taking a B complex vitamin every day, or better yet, a multivitamin with food.
T1 (currently on a pump) in the process right now. It's not a DQ by NFPA standards for what that's worth. The big tips you'll know after having it for 20+ years, keep sugar on you like these. My plan is if I know I'm about to be physical down half a cliff bar or so and disconnect/suspend the pump. Adreline should cover it but worst case you need a correction bolus but it's a hell of a lot better than crashing.
If you pre bolus meals, don't do that at the station so you don't find yourself with too much insulin on board if you get toned out.
Only other concern I can think of is pump damage. As you know it can be a PITA to get it off if your infusion set is below the belt so if you can't get it off quick enough what happens if something breaks it? I have no idea on that one besides going back to MDI/inhaled. Inhaled would probably be best since you have less insulin on board at all times and it would easily fix the issue of eating food pre-call and ending up hyper.
If you do go the low carb route I'd highly recommend KetoCaNa for long runs. I've done 18 hour fasts and done 90 minute hard interval sessions before using this.
Also UCAN can be really useful for races/long runs too. I would definitely test this out though because it can cause GI distress if you overdo it/aren't used to it.
I would say that for most of your easy runs, you could be Keto and do well. I personally prefer a more cyclic ketogenic approach where I do carb re-feeds post workout.
When you increase volume, frequency, and especially intensity most people are going to perform better on a higher CHO intake. If you're never running more than once a day though, and most of your runs are easy you might be able to do keto all the time.
So you bought something like this?
https://www.amazon.com/L-Theanine-200mg-Caffeine-100mg-Wakefulness/dp/B0173H5QVU
Basketball shorts have pockets, right? Buy a few gels/gus and keep them on you. Cyclists use them all the time. Quick energy on the go.
CLIF SHOT - Energy Gels - Mocha Flavor - 50mg Caffeine (1.2 Ounce Packet, 24 Count) (Packaging May Vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0074B4IKG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1iP2DbZQA4K12
Avocados are an excellent source of potassium, one has almost 1000mg. I quarter them and eat them with some salt and pepper. Sodium is easy. For Mg, I take ZMA capsules before bed which can be found on Amazon or wherever.
I use these Honey Stinger Energy Gel, Gold, 1.2 Ounce (Pack of 24) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0010TGK18/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_SxEOAb2WVVSCQ
Shelf stable. Works fast.
The Genius Brand makes a good 100 mg slow release caffeine capsule ( https://www.amazon.com/GENIUS-CAFFEINE-Microencapsulated-Supplement-Preworkout/dp/B01IRFX4NY/ ). I've used this and it works well for increasing energy without making me too jittery.
> been exchange students or backpackers.
That explains it. Americans can't stand those people either. That's the demographic all the rich white person stereotypes come from and the tumblr stereotype come from.
>Having a bit of a problem as he's probably gonna be on my Christmas shopping list.
Alcohol is always a good gift. Even better if it's something he normally doesn't have access to or if it's some novelty kind he can display. You could also get him one of those novelty version of something everyone eats like chewable cubes of coffee.
This is what I take for electrolytes. Is this not sufficient?
https://www.amazon.com/Keto-Vitals-Supplement-Accelerate-Electrolyte/dp/B071183M28/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1525974042&sr=8-3&keywords=keto+electrolytes
Vintage blast is great!
VINTAGE BLAST - The First Two-Stage Pre-Workout Supplement - Non-Habit-Forming, Sustained Energy & Nitric Oxide Booster - All-Natural Flavors & Sweeteners - Blueberry Lemonade - 305 Grams Powder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P6VQYJO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_-gBTzbBTH4QAP
> The key difference with HVMN Ketone is you can have ketones and carbs available at the same time, which isn't possible with keto diet or fasting.
This is not true. First, your can have circulating ketones in your blood stream, eat carbs, and your body will still break down both into ATP. Secondly, you can use a product like superstartch that eliminates most insulin response to a much larger carb molecule, allowing ketosis to be maintained while getting a steady carb supply.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DFTWTSY/
Source- I am ketogenic and compete at a professional level in my sport.
I had pretty good luck with http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00013YYR6 and here is the ingredient/nutrition list.
The downside of it is you need access to a blender (which you would need anyway) and frozen/fresh fruit. I usually made mine with almond milk, greek yogurt, and/or coffee and a dab of peanut butter or raw egg to increase the protein. I used to eat it for evening meal and it was all I needed. With the addition of PB and any fruit it was very filling.
To break it down like sort of like @modnar42, it's about $2-3 per 100 calories, so still way better than 310, not as good as Soylent or DIY.
Bang is by far my favorite energy drink now. They do have 300 mg of caffeine, which I like. I think they taste far better than Monster or Rock Star. My favorite flavors are Blue Razz, Sour Heads, and the Citrus Flavor (which tastes like orange soda). The Pina Colada one is pretty good too. I really like them as a pre-workout because they have a good amount of caffeine but no jitters or itchiness like with many pre-workouts. I really like the sample pack with all different flavors. I get it on Amazon and its pretty reasonable for a 12 pack of them. This is where I order from on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ra9woz Its almost like having a soda, I don't drink any other energy drink now. Would really recommend that you try them if you haven't already!
Taking one of these with each meal, along with generously salting everything I ate helped me rid the keto flu in about 2 days
So sorry to hear that-- sounds terrifying. Do you have an insulin pump? Better yet, a CGM? That can help a tremendous amount.
Also, rather than candy I recommend using pure glucose. I don't like the tabs, but use these. They work within 10-15 minutes and are easy to keep down. Try rubbing into gums for faster absorption.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B019O036HU/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1499048176&sr=8-1&keywords=glucose+gel&dpPl=1&dpID=51lPsX4DgCL&ref=plSrch
GU
It's the best there is, made for runners.
Type 1 pump user and backpacker. Definitely look into the Frio wallet for your insulin. Amazing piece of kit, considering all you need is water. It's served me well on multiday trips through Joshua Tree, as well as the Nevada desert (Black Rock City).
I also love these for hiking. They're low profile enough to be stashed just about anywhere, and taste pretty great.
Probably goes without saying, but take care or your feet as well. Splurge on some nice socks if you don't have some, and if you start feeling hotspots on your feet, make adjustments before things escalate.
The biggest advice (and it may come off as heady) is try to be present. Take extra time to manage your BG, but don't dwell on it. Enjoy what you're doing. Like the rest of our lives, you can do anything you want with T1D, it just takes extra planning. Strangely enough, backpacking's regimented eating reminds me a lot of pre-pump days.
Happy to answer any other questions you man have as well!
I just use these caffeine and l-theanine pills. I don't know why you'd use a powder over that.
Unfortunately, Level has been discontinued. I had an email conversation when I suddenly couldn't find it anywhere and they confirmed. They directed me to Transcend.
TRANSCEND 15g Glucose Gels - 12 Pouch Bulk Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019O036HU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_sSNmxbYTCG4TJ
The flavor is different. It almost tastes like strawberry jam...a more 'real' taste, imo. I don't know why more companies don't make these pouches. They invaluable for sports and physical activity.
I'm eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as I read your comment... It's just not wheat bread, it's made of many other grains. It's actually quite fantastic.
Gluten free doesn't mean bread free. It just means, Wheat, Barely and Rye free.
Note I don't consume Dairy either. Dairy is pretty awful stuff, the Caesin proteins are just like Gluten proteins in the kind of damage they cause. The "Autism" diet is a CF/GF diet, the C is for Caesin and G for Gluten. They are often paired together because the best results have been when people eliminate both.
I drink an Ultimate Meal, every morning without fail.
For lunch I either have something like a salad, with avacado, mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, and more, the works... but no dairy, no gluten. Or, I'll have a lentil or black bean based soup. I eat the whole can, and add mushrooms, jalapaneo peppers, and sometimes greens with vinegar ontop. I eat until I'm full or don't want anymore.
For dinner, often fish, or chicken with veggie sides. I have pumpkin seeds and cashew nuts to munch on all the time. I also eat some cookies and breads, but all gluten free.
I also drink a good amount of Redbridge beer, it's gluten free.
Thai food is really easy to eat gluten free, so is much of the Mediterranean style food. So sometimes I get this stuff, but not often.
I am quite content and happy with my diet and I've lost 81lbs doing this. I never lost more than 20lbs before 'failing' back to my old ways in the past. Now it doesn't feel like a diet, it's just how I live and eat.
After a semi-serious bout with dehydration in May, I tried Propel powder for my next trip. I tried grape and it was gross, but it was effective. I'm going to try other flavors and make it part of my kit.
It's 10 packets for like $2, so reasonably priced compared to Nuun or other higher end brands. You could probably get something cheaper by buying bulk powder, but avoiding the mess with single packets was really nice.
It only has sodium and potassium, no magnesium. My recommendation would try Propel before you level up to the higher end stuff.
I will also probably at some point try this Gatorade endurance additive. Looks like it's designed to be mixed with gatorade and just adds additional electrolytes, so I bet it tastes like garbage, but pretty good electrolyte density.
(scoate o pastila de coffeina) Oh, scuze! Inghite asta si apoi apleaca-te! :D
Body Armor makes water with electrolytes. Gatorade and the rest all have low sugar versions. Pedialyte is definitely the best I have tried though.
Edit: This post reminded me I've been looking for an electrolyte powder (not necessarily for hangocers). I found this, Vitalyte, supposed to be low sugar and work well so I might try it.
Before diabetes, I had several favorite candies, and disliked chocolate.
Now I LOVE chocolate, and dislike other kinds of candy.
I finally figured out why. It's because I often feel a little sick when I'm low. After I eat some kind of fast-acting sugar (smarties/nerds/gummy bears/jelly belly/skittles) enough times when I feel like I'm about to hurl, I can't stand it anymore. I never eat chocolate when I'm low, so I like it much more than I used to as a treat.
However, those glucose tabs keep forever, and in conditions that other candies will fall apart. I keep a bottle in my car in the driver side pocket, husband's car, kitchen, desk/locker at work, just as a safety net. They last for years.
To carry around with me during the day, I carry those fast acting athlete gels made of honey. They're 27g. For small top-ups, I keep whatever looks good and is just sugar, no fat. Right now it's those puffed peppermints, 5g each. I keep the spares at home or pass them off to family and friends, whatever I can't stomach at the time is some one's favorite somewhere.
So for the Magnesium could I take this? https://www.amazon.com/Now-Foods-Recovery-Capsules-180-Count/dp/B001LXMUW6?ie=UTF8&keywords=now%20zma&linkCode=sl1&linkId=78ff50f3756da38df9133f8e64f28310&qid=1441225111&ref_=as_li_ss_tl&rps=1&sr=8-1&tag=kitchenketo-20
Then for salt, can I take 2-3 teaspoons of lite salt and mix it with water and mio?
Well I take a sodium supplement and Demeclocycline. The bad part happens when I get sick with anything I always puke so I have a hard time keeping medicine down. If I miss more than 2 doses things go really bad really fast.
Edit: fucked the link up
The ultimate meal.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00013YYR6?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1
Caffeinated Gu gels are a much better solution. Calories and caffeine in one easy to eat package.
https://www.amazon.com/GU-Energy-Original-Nutrition-Chocolate/dp/B000CSCRHY?th=1
To an extent, I will feel unmotivated and tired most of the day. I'd recommend 100mg caffeine with 200mg l-theanine.
This is what I purchased and it seems to be effective: https://www.amazon.com/ELITE-Caffeine-L-Theanine-Jitter-Free-Performance/dp/B00U0DL5O2/ref=pd_sim_121_10?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00U0DL5O2&pd_rd_r=JP1QTZ4CDHA0DMXMJVR6&pd_rd_w=ErDkZ&pd_rd_wg=4dXy1&psc=1&refRID=JP1QTZ4CDHA0DMXMJVR6
I truly wish there was something that does it all. Do some research on intranasal insulin, you might be intrigued!
Can you get it through Amazon?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MXLR4I4/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=disciple361-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01MXLR4I4&linkId=6ca65752a99b4f3c77e34132304f65a4
Some people use it to reduce their anxiety and sleep better at night.It's most often taken with caffeine to "take the edge off" so you get the energy of caffeine without jitters. I personally buy this for the same-day shipping.
Hey I was bit tied up with the recent election stuff. Late reply
No I didn't buy this as I really couldn't find much reliable sources so I felt it will be risky to buy.
I ended up buying sym nutrition l theanine + caffiene. I like it so far it helps me focus on my work in the morning especially if I've had less sleep. But yeah proper and more sleep should be the first option but this product is quite a good pick me up. Here's the link to what I bought
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0173H5QVU/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8
Grape flavored Vitalyte is awesome and tastes like melted freezy pops!
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B001LXMUW6
Had the same concerns as you but I just received this in the mail tonight. Finally get rid of my restless sleep of the last few nights :)
Source: living in Québec.
EDIT2: WTFFFF I did NOT pay 65$ for it. Looks like the price shot up. I paid $ CAD 40.
Sorry mate :(
Us living in Canada, getting buttfucked on supps.
Did somebody say vegan powder? Hello, future.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00013YYR6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1382897892&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70
I have problems with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, and on my bad days, my blood pressure can be quite low. Yoga is difficult on those days. I suggest trying /u/kalayna 's advice. It also helps me to up my salt intake significantly (not recommended for everyone - talk to your doctor) and drink more water - the salt helps your blood vessels retain more fluid and therefore increase your blood pressure to a more normal level. This makes it easier for the heart to pump your blood. I take thermotabs in the morning and, if I need it, later in the day.
Also, talk to your instructor and let them know. They might have suggestions for you.
I know this was 4 months ago and am not sure where you are at in your journey, but I thought, as a struggling convert myself, I could try to help with my experience.
I don't struggle with depression or anxiety. I do work in mental health, as an RN, so I do have an incredible amount of empathy. I am so sorry you struggle with this and I hope your PCP or psych can get you on the right combo of meds.
As far as the caffeine, I am also a caffeine addict/caffeine dependent. As soon as I try to go a day or more without caffeine, I become unmotived, feel depressed, exhausted, and angry. I've tried weaning off of caffeine with a product called Wean Caffeine where they decrease the dose by 10 mg every day or two starting at 200mg. I guess this was too fast for me, because when I was down to 10 mg, the depression/feeling down and unmotivated hit me bad. Then, I got pregnant and it all got worse. I have a toddler to care for and work to do (I need to function), so I went back on caffeine and feel much better. The caffeine issue, I will address at another time (maybe).
As far as where I get my caffeine:
Before joining the church in 2014, I drank copious amounts of coffee and worked part time as a barista at a specialty (third wave) coffee shop. I LOVED coffee and was completely immersed in the culture. I found the church and quickly recognized it is Christ's true church on the Earth and that I needed to do what I needed to be close to my Heavenly Father. I quit coffee (switched to more natural, no sugar energy drinks from sprouts and whole foods (mostly celsius, Runa, and something called FRS, which no longer exists). I also discovered Yerba Mate (which I LOVED). Yerba Mate became my go-to. It's almost as high in caffeine as coffee, but more antioxidants, no jitters, and no upset tummy. I was good to go for 4-5 years.
Then, my second pregnancy happened and I couldn't tolerate yerba mate anymore. I gave in to coffee cravings (which had been absent the past 4 years) and felt immense guilt because I want to be worthy of the temple and to one day enter the celestial kingdom. Yes, I've had the thoughts that this commandment makes no sense or is frustrating, etc. However, just that God commands me not to partake of it should be reason enough for me to not want to partake. I don't have to understand the logic. If I try to use logic, it is too easy for me to justify indulging.
So, I am currently taking Elite Caffeine pills. Ingredients: Caffeine, L-theanine, rice flour, and gelatin. 50mg per pill, 120 capsules per bottle. $20 bucks on Amazon. This is saving me from coffee right now. I recommend you look into it! here's the link: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U0DL5O2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01IRFX4NY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1479311844&sr=8-1&keywords=genius+caffeine&pi=SY200_QL40
Cliff shots with caffine:
https://smile.amazon.com/CLIF-SHOT-Energy-Mocha-Pack/dp/B0074B4IKG/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1480699437&sr=8-1&keywords=clif+shots
Pickle Juice:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B015TJGG9U/ref=crt_ewc_title_dp_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
As far as drinks, I love the squincher zero packets. They come in individual packets that are perfect for dumping in a water bottle, and small enough you can take as many with you as you want. The Strawberry Lemonade is amazing - better than any other drink mix I've ever had (gatorade, G2, etc). The only other one I've tried is mixed berry, which is good (tastes like blue gatorade) but not nearly as good as strawberry lemonade.
I haven't tried very many gels (I don't usually eat anything on rides), but the Mocha flavored Clif Shot gels are fantastic. They're like drinking coffee-flavored syrup with a hint of chocolate.
> If I only ride for an hour at 5am and have breakfast after how necessary would it be to have that stuff handy? I figured it’d be mostly for my longer rides which I do on weekends?
You'll definitely be fine without anything for an hour-long ride. I've even gotten to where I do the first ~90 miles of my long weekend rides on nothing but a clif bar and a couple cups of coffee. Granted it's all zone 2 (long slow distance pace) and I worked up to it, but outside of a racing environment I've found the common advice to eat 150-250 calories/hour to be unnecessary. That being said, you're better off taking it with you and not needing it than needing it and not having it. Learn to listen to your body and you'll be fine
Been doing Keto for 75 days now, constantly feel like I'm in ketoflu
Some stats:
Age/Sex: 32 M
Height: 5'10
Original weight was 230 - I'm now down to ~203-205.
According to MFP I avg around 1400-1600 calories a day ranging from 12-25 carbs a day.
My mmol count is 1.3-1.5 when I check.
My issue:
I dont think I've felt "good" in awhile. I feel constantly fatigued, brain fog, etc. before I went on Keto I was able to do a round of P90X with little issue, now I'm often light headed and find myself too weak to finish a single session. I appreciate the weight that I'm losing but I'd rather be feeling better.
I often reach for low-carb monsters to give me a boost throughout the day - which I think has me in a cycle of suffering.
Some thoughts:
Is that too little?
I assume it's some kind of combination, but I can't get myself to continue a diet feeling this way, so appreciate any thoughts.
I'm not super experienced (1 halfsy done, 1 in 3 weeks) but in my experience I really like the Clif energy shots (variety pack: https://www.amazon.com/Clif-Shot-Energy-Variety-Sampler/dp/B017A92YTS/) and the Honey Stinger Gold (https://www.amazon.com/Honey-Stinger-Classic-Energy-Nutrition/dp/B0010TGK18/). I've done the gummies before but they take forever to chew and they seem to get stuck in my teeth, which makes it harder to breathe.
Maybe you're a lot faster than me (shooting for 2:20:00) but I use one gel around 5 miles, 8 miles, and 11 miles. That's about one every 30 minutes starting almost an hour in. I would say to start using them on training runs ASAP to see how your body reacts to them. I've also heard that they work better if you don't have an empty stomach before taking the first one, so maybe eat something light a little bit before you start out so you're not running on an empty stomach.
Ouch. That's what I was originally diagnosed with before they realized it was POTS (the RSD/CRPS and Gastroparesis started to give it away. Haha), so I know a good deal about it. It's a bitch and a half, even if it doesn't come with the other shit that POTS does. BP disorders in general suck. I like that description of your BP not having a parachute. I may have to steal that.
I've gotten better at knowing how far I can push my POTS. Problem is, it changes day to day. Hell, it changes minute by minute. My service dog yells at me if I try and push myself too far, and refuses to let me. He's really good about that, and he's actually more stubborn than I am, which is definitely a first. My health has done much, much better since he's stopped putting up with my shit. Sudafed and salt pills are my best friend.
I'm so glad yours is mostly under control! You deserve that.
Have you ever tried buffered salt tablets? I take those on bad days, especially when I know my POTS is trying to dehydrate me. They're fabulous. Really help cut the syncope down. I take this brand.
I suspect it differs for everyone, and I'm pretty lazy about my macros, but I find one of these every 40 minutes or so works well when combined with gatorade in the bottles:
https://www.amazon.com/CLIF-SHOT-Energy-Caffeine-Packet/dp/B0074B4IKG/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1499272519&sr=8-1&keywords=cliff%2Bshots&th=1
I suspect I could be consuming a lot more (I'm burning many times this), but these seem to keep me in the game.
I stick with generic. Check the ingredients(as you should with everything you buy) to make sure it’s pretty much just caffeine. I found these on Amazon
Could try "Go Cubes" chewable coffee http://www.amazon.com/Go-Cubes-Chewable-Coffee-4-packs/dp/B01BSZV3OC
When I googled it I found eight links to amazon and this is to the company itself. Here is part one of a review by Peter Attia of the Eating Acadamy.
I don't use it myself, as I am not an athlete, even in the bedroom.
http://www.amazon.com/Energy-Gel-Chocolate-Outrage-24-Count/dp/B000CSCRHY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334971674&sr=8-1
gu! you can buy singles at most sporting good stores/running stores/etc.
the chocolate outrage is the best flavor imo. they give you fuel/calories/energy for longer runs. i usually don't use them unless i'm running double digits, and try to avoid them on training runs less than 17 miles or so, but during a race i'll take them every 6 miles.
Use whatever makes the best tasting coffee for a price you like, then just supplement with caffeine pills, $0.05/each. Heck, break them in half or quarters. It's like a thousand cups of coffee's worth of caffeine for $10.
Nutricost Caffeine Pills 100mg per Serving, 250 Capsules https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MY5CW7S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_5YuMBbPZS208R
Edit to add: oops, bad math, say 500 cups @50mg each, not 1000.
It's slightly over $20, but ZMA is supposed to be good for post workout recovery, and helping you sleep.
Here are the Amazon links for what I take.
Pre workout
I take half a scoop of this before the gym.
Amino Acid
I take one scoop of this while at the gym.
Protein
I take one scoop of this after the gym.
Gatorade makes their own packages of electrolytes. No carbs! I work outside and walk anywhere from 5-12mi in a day, the biggest fear I have is waking up at 0dark30 with a really bad muscle cramp. You know the type where the pain is so bad you cant hear anything, see much and you just have to let it run its course while slowly trying to get it back to being ok. Plus it helps when Im at work and dont want to get dehydrated and fall prey to dehydration sickness. I have to force myself to drink water often
Gatorade Endurance Gatorlytes, 0.12 Ounces (Pack of 20) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0050Q4DJS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_A.XbzbW19G7WY
Edit: had to add the link
I like/take Thermotabs- I try to take three a day with meals. Works great. link I get them at my supermarket pharmacy counter.
Should I get this?
https://www.amazon.com/Keto-Vitals-Supplement-Accelerate-Electrolyte/dp/B071183M28/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1526065878&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=electrolyte+supplement+keto+diet&psc=1
There are Keto friendly electrolyte mixes on Amazon that taste much better. I use Dr. Price's Electrolyte Mix, but there are many out there.
Try these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U0DL5O2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_QvdFDbJCDMYGN
They are wonderful.
What is a cheap electrolyte powder sold in Germany?
In the US, the top brand is called Pedialyte:
https://www.amazon.de/Pedialyte-Large-Powder-Strawberry-Lemonade/dp/B00URXQOXM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1519178841&sr=8-3&keywords=pedialyte
But I buy this cheaper version:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R8M7I58/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
For on the go, you should look at these
GO CUBES Energy Chews https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BSZV3OC
I'm normally a tea person, but those aren't bad for on the go if I really need.
Look for Caffeine and L-Theanine. I've had good results with this one.
There's one girl that says she's an experienced coffee drinker and she took these but didn't feel anything despite her extreme sensitivity to caffeine, and suggested there were likely fake.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/reviews/B01MY5CW7S/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_hist_1?ie=UTF8&sortBy=helpful&pageNumber=1&filterByStar=one_star
https://www.amazon.com/Gatorade-Endurance-Gatorlytes-0-12-Ounces/dp/B0050Q4DJS/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1505813746&sr=8-1&keywords=gatorlytes