Do Energy And Sports Drinks Really Work?
By Cameron Abel – BestFitnessChoices.com
Energy and sports drinks are another bone of contention across the general public and also those in the fitness and weight loss industry with camps seeming equally divided on the benefits they can provide. In my eyes, they are a product intended for one use that unfortunately has become skewed and now it seems that everyone is jumping on the energy drinks bandwagon.
You must remember that originally, sports drinks and powders were designed for elite athletes at the top of their field vigorously performing their trade. The actual nature of these activities absolutely sapped the strength, fatigued the bodies and dehydrated these athletes in a way that mere water just could not quickly enough replenish.
So once again, the sporting world turned to science and developed these drinks that would not only allow elite athletes to perform better during their sport but also increase their endurance and recover more quickly after the event.
You may have heard the quote from a renowned NFL coach who when asked what was the difference in the two teams who had just played a classic match with one side just coming out on top in the dying minutes of the game? His response at a time when energy drinks were just coming out has immortalised a particular energy drink company forever – “The difference was – we had Gatorade.” Simple enough but I don’t think anyone would have realised the magnitude of the comment at that time!
Now energy and sports drinks are absolutely vital in aiding athletes perform at their best and recover more quickly however it seems that Joe Public has taken this on board as well but sadly, us normal folk just don’t need them for the most part!
Although elite athletes can burn well over 1000 calories a session, some even more, the average calorie burn after a normal standard, half hour workout for everyday folk is around 125 to 400 of course depending on what you do.
One bottle of Gatorade straight after that workout can put approximately 150 of those calories right back into your body! What a waste when a 1 litre bottle of water can re-hydrate you just as well and do even more for your body with no calories at all! Worse still, if you have consumed a bottle during your exercise and then follow it down with another after you have finished, you could actually be leaving the gym or getting home from your run with more calories in than out! Horror!
Now I don’t want it to seem like I am picking on Gatorade because the truth is that just about all of these sports drinks have at least 5 teaspoons of sugar (many have more!) and that includes those with fancy names such as Vitamin Water or Smart Water or waters allegedly flavoured with just a touch of some sweet smelling, normally tropical fruit.
Do not be fooled, pure water is one of the only true hydrators out there without extra sugars and sodium as well as none of the additives and preservatives that stump most people in a spelling bee! There are a few non-sugar varieties out there like Powerade No Sugar, however be aware, that these can often have higher levels of sodium than their counterparts.
Some other cons in my view of sports drinks aside from the sugar (especially as though it is high GI sugars as well) is the price with most of these being quite expensive in relation to other drinks and of course water. Also I don’t agree with the claims from those manufacturers producing drinks with “added vitamins” because these are not long lost super training enhancing vitamins but merely vitamins that can and should be found in the everyday diets of healthy people. Great health and fitness stems first from a healthy and nutritious diet. If you do not have this already, you will always struggle no matter what training methods you use.
So in conclusion, unless you are an elite athlete undergoing extremely intense training sessions or events then for the most part, good old water is all we need to hydrate our bodies and recover after a session. The marketing and advertising guru’s have done a great job on these drinks but for normal people there is just no need and no point to add extra calories after you have already done the hard work. You probably wouldn’t eat a chocolate bar straight after a training session so try and lose the energy drinks. If you really feel you need a kick then try one of the no sugar varieties?
This article is in no way meaning to come across as saying most people do not work hard on their workouts, just to take the time for a reality check and remember the reasons why these drinks were designed for and ask yourself if you are working out under the same intense and physically demanding conditions. If yes, then well done and go for it. If not, then just grab that free water bottle!
Best of luck with your efforts,
Cameron
Work Hard – Expect Results!
Bowflex Basic Strapless Heart Rate Monitor Watch
The Bowflex Basic Strapless Heart Rate Monitor is simple and easy to use and is also the simplest heart rate monitor available. This monitor will help you burn fat, lose weight efficiently and improve your health. You can use this monitor for fitness training and all day tracking of heart rate. It’s Easy with Quick touch technology by pressing the sensors gently for approximately 2 seconds and your heart rate will appear. It’s that simple. Quick & Easy ECG Accurate Strapless heart rate reading Time of Day Large LCD for Easy Viewing No chest strap required
Cardiosport GT3 Heart Rate Monitor Watch
SHIPPING INCLUDED – The Cardiosport Fusion Line of Heart Rate Monitors has been specifically designed to eliminate any interference or crosstalk. These digitally coded units are popular in gyms where you are susceptible to interference from other heart rate monitors and motors from treadmills as well as ellipticals.
Features:
ECG Accurate Heart RateDigital and coded wireless transmission.
No cross talk from other monitors!
Safe 122 kHz low frequency digital transmission systemImproved signal interference and coding to allow exercise in close proximity to other monitors
Graphical display provides visual indication of exercise intensity compared to the active heart zone
Programmable heart rate recovery timer and interval timer
Able to set a target zone during exercising and works like cruise control on a car.
100 hour chronograph with 99 lap and split memory, with average HR for lapHeart rate with percentage of maximum heart rate displayed
Timer function features countdown timer with single or repeat option
Automatic heart rate recovery on either time or heart rate values
Time-in-Zone, with recall for time in, above and below the zones
Three heart zones – 2 manually set plus CardioZone. CardioZone automatically sets a heart zone during exercise with a single button press
Scan function with hands-free auto-scroll feature showingKcal calories, heart rate recovery time, maximum & average heart rate for session
Low battery indicator and Electro luminescent screen light
RoHS and Weee regulations compliant and Water resistant to 30 meters (60 feet)
Comes with Cardiosport G3 digitally coded heart rate transmitter
Two year warranty on both the G3 digital chest transmitter and the watch
7-Step Detox Diet
You know what? It’s mid February. Around 45 days in since the New Year and something is happening all over the fitness, weight loss and exercise world – but it’s not good 
This is about the time unfortunately when people first start to see cracks appearing in their new years resolutions, slowly start dropping off from their workout program, and cheating on their diet.
And sadly, although understandably, for a lot of those people, weekend eating – is to blame. We have been so good at work or through the week but then that good old weekend comes and it is really hard to stay good!
When some folks binge eat, they go looking for a “detox diet”, thinking that will reverse all their mistakes and write off that bad behaviour. But I’m not going to be the one to side with you and recommend that…sorry but no way.
Instead, I have an amazing article - one I think is one of his best - from fitness expert Craig Ballantyne about a simple 7-Step Detox Diet that you can easily follow everyday…
…so that you never need to do an extreme 7-day or 2-week cleanse.
Here’s Craig to tell it like it is:
I just got back from the SuperBowl and got a chance to sit in the front row right in the endzone. It was really cool, and I also got a chance to see “The Who” live in concert at half-time.
But, while I was there, I had a few extra “non-compliance” meals than normal, so it got me thinking about detox diets.
I have a pretty strong opinion about detoxing, and I put together a simple 7-step detox diet plan that you can easily follow so that you never have to do a 16-day detox ever.
You see, my biggest “beef” with the entire theory of “detoxing” is this…
It is simply NOT possible to EVER detox your body.
Why?
Because it’s such a vague statement.
What does “detox” mean?
How do you measure “detoxification”?
What do you even define as toxins?
And when do you officially become “detoxed”?
The answer is, “You don’t.” It’s impossible.
After all, every single second of every day your body produces carbon dioxide, which is a toxin.
And if you have deep belly fat, research shows that this “visceral fat” is constantly releasing inflammatory toxins into your blood.
Every second. The more fat you have, the more toxic you are.
Plus, every breath you take includes pollutants.
And even the water that you drink may contain “toxins”.
So….what’s the real deal on detoxing?
Listen, while every “expert” is out there arguing about tiny little details and “gurus” are trying to sell you on detoxing so they can sell supplements, the TRUTH is that you really just need to know a few steps to avoid getting toxic in the first place.
In my opinion, the #1 factor in living a “low toxin life” is simply to keep as much garbage out of your body in the first place, rather than depending on a 3-day, 7-day or even 16-day detox to be healthy.
So what do I do to prevent “toxin build-up” in the first place?
Well, I live the Turbulence Training Lifestyle of course, including my “7 Step Detox Nutrition Plan”:
1) Start each day with a blender drink of berries, spinach or other greens, raw nuts (such as walnuts – rich in healthy fats), and other ingredients packed with antioxidants and healthy fats.
2) For lunch, have a large green salad with spinach, beans, broccoli, peppers, avocado, onions, etc.
3) Eat an organic apple a day. Certain fruits (i.e. apples, peaches, cherries, and strawberries) and vegetables have a higher exposure to pesticides, and you should choose organic when possible.
4) Eat RAW snacks only – of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Try using this one simple rule and limit all of your between meal snacks to raw fruit, raw vegetables, and/or raw nuts and I promise you’ll drop the pounds because you’ll be full on a smaller number of calories.
5) Drink Green Tea (2-3 cups) and filtered water (3 liters) instead of beverages that contain calories or chemicals.
6) Limit animal protein intake to only 2 servings per day. On most days, I’ll one of the following: an “after workout” chocolate milk, organic eggs in the morning, or occasionally I’ll have high quality meat at dinner.
You don’t need to be a full vegetarian to live a longer life, but you should probably avoid eating meat 5 times per day, like people in Chicago. (Hey Chicago, don’t get mad at me for that…it was a born-and-raised Chicago native who told me 5 servings of meat per day was the average Chicago meat consumption.)
7) Minimize or completely eliminate alcohol intake.
While research does show that for men, up to 2 drinks per day may help cardiovascular health (and for women, up to one drink per day), I’m not about to recommend you start drinking.
After all, if you go above those limits, you start to destroy your health…and you risk addiction. Alcohol killed my father, and I don’t want to see the same thing happen to you. Tread cautiously with the booze.
So that’s it. A simple 7-Step Detox Diet Plan.
By the way, it goes without saying that you should avoid:
- cigarettes
- trans-fats
- excessive amounts of sugar
- refined grains
- and 7-11 nacho cheese
Right? Of course.
And you should be exercising to lose the belly fat…using proven methods, such as interval training – which is proven to beat long, slow cardio when it comes to burning dangerous belly fat.
Plus, you should be using Turbulence Training resistance supersets to burn more calories and sculpt your body.
If you’ve never used Turbulence Training, you can try it out today for less than the cost of a Superbowl hot dog.
Click here to get Turbulence Training for less than 5 bucks:
=> Turbulence Training “Cheap as Chips” Trial!
Simply follow those 7 nutrition guidelines and use the short TT workouts to cut out as many toxins from your body – without detoxing.
Stay strong,
Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
Author, Turbulence Training
PS – I also believe you should avoid toxic relationships…
…so you need to take a hard look at the people you surround yourself with in life.
Do you have the right work friends?
Are you in the right relationships?
Do you spend enough time with the right family members?
Or are they toxic too?
Remember – you need social support for success in life and in fat loss…so surround yourself with positive people, like the good folks on the TT Member’s forum.
If you need to dump the toxic folks and get positive social support, we’d love to see you on the forum and help you out.
You will get a free 3-month TT membership access to the forum when you try out Turbulence Training for only $4.95 today:
=> Turbulence Training “Cheap as Chips” Trial!
Please click that link to get started losing fat & getting rid of the toxic baggage in your life.
Avinyo Watch
With awesome looking materials as well as the Originals logo, you simply can’t go wrong with this adidas Avinyo watch.
Suitable for both men and women, this timepiece is sure to tell time and turn heads.
Bowflex Fit Trainer Strapless Heart Rate Monitor Watch – Small
This Bowflex strapless heart rate monitor is one of the smallest on the market and allows the user to get accurate heart rate without having to use a chest belt. Lightweight and slender design for women Uses pulse technology to measure heart rate by finger touch Programmable heart rate zone with audible and visual alarms Fully water-resistant Water resistant; features regular watch functions plus stopwatch and countdown timer
Danskin Walking Kit with Pedometer
SHIPPING INCLUDED Walk n’ Workout… Our walking kit with hand weights and pedometer is a must-have for fitness walkers. Stay motivated and in-the-know as you go with the 4-function digital pedometer tracking steps, distance, time and calories burned. Makes a great walking companion! Features: 2 soft foam hand weights 4-function digital pedometer tracks progress
New Race Watch
From the playground to the pool, the adidas New Race watch helps your little sports star set new world records thanks to an easy-to-use chronograph mode, separate start and stop/reset buttons, and a rough and tumble, water-resistant design.
Boxing For Competition Or Fitness
By Cameron Abel – BestFitnessChoices.com
Hi there everybody!
Just a relatively quick snippet of a post here because I just came across this site and it has quite the step by step training plan that will teach you how to box and get in phenomenal shape. It’s sooo much different working out when you’re hitting something compared to those boring routines in the gym.
As you might already know if you have had a look around BestFitnessChoices.com, I am a big fan of the training methods and strategies used in boxing and kickboxercise.
Anyways, just thought you might want to take a look at How to Box and use it in your quest for fitness. Just click the banner below to have a closer look…
Best of luck – hope it works for you!
Cameron Abel
Today’s Featured Special Offer!
Hi There Everyone,
As a reward for all my new and regular visitors, every few days I will post a banner or link to one of my recommended suppliers or stores that currently has a great sale or good offer going. I hope that you will be able to take advantage of them and score yourself a bargain!
Here is today’s special offer! Free Ground Shipping on any swimwear from Swimsuits For All!
