Thread: What can I drink during workouts besides water?

I'm no expert, but I've known people that have "sipped" on their protein shake during workouts (along with drinking water). If you find that makes you too full or makes you feel sick though (it can happen, I'm one of those people that can't even eat BEFORE workouts or I get sick) then try throwing a green tea bag or some lemon or lime wedges in your water bottle.

Depending on what your goals are, you might even be able to get away with drinking something like Crystal Light or something. Don't know if you're just looking for something new or if you're actually hungry!

Someone else will chime in, I'm sure.

I'm not a fan of crystal light because of the aspartame but there are options.

I like ICE by Extreme Formulations or GO by Black Star Labs.

Get hardcore man, Coffee!!

That wouldn't be very smart as the high amounts of caffeine in coffee with dehydrate you. Not ideal while lifting.

I lift before work at 6am and love the coffee. I of course drink plenty of water the rest of the day so dehydration is not too much of an issue with me. Moderation is key.

During workouts I drink lucozade active or powerade, sometimes just water tho. A few years back at my old gym, there was a guy who was defined but not 'big' if you get what I mean, and in between his sets he'd shake and sip a protein shake when i asked him why he said that 'if you dont consume protein during your workout its like trying to flog a dead horse'

I would not drink any coffee because of the caffeine. One day I was studying all day for this organic chemistry test and I took a caffeine pill (it was 200mg). I lifted about 4-5 hrs after I took the pill and my heart was beating like crazy and later my head started to hurt so i stopped for that day. I'd assume coffee will have some degree of a simialar affect. (I know caffeine pills are no good, but I was interested in a good grade)

For those of you who drink coffee or take products like NO Xplode (which has caffeine in it): does your heart beat a mile a minute, or is there really no observable affect?

It does not have much effect on me because i have been drinking it for 20 years. It's just fun to do . I am also hopelessly addicted to it which I dont mind because I enjoy it.

Coffee's actually quite harmless and unless the caffeine bothers you, you can drink all you want.

It's a myth that coffee/caffeine dehydrates you.

According to International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, researcher Lawrence E. Armstrong, a professor of exercise and environmental physiology at the University of Connecticut caffeine is no more a diuretic than water.

Quoting Dr. Armstrong:

“While there have been several studies done, there is no evidence that exercise, when combined with the consumption of caffeine or caffeinated beverages, will result in chronic dehydration, and this is contrary to the advice of most exercise physiologists, physicians and dietitians,” explains Armstrong, who has conducted fluid balance research since 1980.

Supporting Armstrong’s findings is an American Journal of Physiology August 2002 review of the literature on hydration by Dr. Heinz Valtin that cites a University of Nebraska study, which found that caffeinated beverages may be counted toward the daily fluid total.

Other findings of the study:
There is no evidence that consumption of caffeinated beverages causes a fluid-electrolyte imbalance that is detrimental to health or exercise performance.

Caffeine consumption causes a very mild diuresis that is about the same as that of water (water, when consumed in large volume, increases urine output). ***

So, drink up!

***References:
Journals - Human Kinetics
Caffeine and Dehydration: Myth or Fact? (NewsBite)

Originally Posted by Thracian

Coffee's actually quite harmless and unless the caffeine bothers you, you can drink all you want.

It's a myth that coffee/caffeine dehydrates you.

According to International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, researcher Lawrence E. Armstrong, a professor of exercise and environmental physiology at the University of Connecticut caffeine is no more a diuretic than water.

Quoting Dr. Armstrong:

“While there have been several studies done, there is no evidence that exercise, when combined with the consumption of caffeine or caffeinated beverages, will result in chronic dehydration, and this is contrary to the advice of most exercise physiologists, physicians and dietitians,” explains Armstrong, who has conducted fluid balance research since 1980.

Supporting Armstrong’s findings is an American Journal of Physiology August 2002 review of the literature on hydration by Dr. Heinz Valtin that cites a University of Nebraska study, which found that caffeinated beverages may be counted toward the daily fluid total.

Other findings of the study:
There is no evidence that consumption of caffeinated beverages causes a fluid-electrolyte imbalance that is detrimental to health or exercise performance.

Caffeine consumption causes a very mild diuresis that is about the same as that of water (water, when consumed in large volume, increases urine output). ***

So, drink up!

***References:
Journals - Human Kinetics
Caffeine and Dehydration: Myth or Fact? (NewsBite)

yup, if ud ont have bad effects to caffeien i dont think coffee or tea will hurt you, in fact it will help u cuz of slight energy boost and thermogenesis.
i would rpefer cofffee or tea because it has no shitty shit in it liek the diet eenrgy drinks n stuff.

BCAAs.

I liked ICE also, like Jodi mentioned.

Originally Posted by P-funk

BCAAs.

Why just BCAa's when you can get a good/ semi full spectrum of AA's? The price is the only downside I see.

Sometimes I blender up some some B complex with a good spectrum of AA's. A couple of Ice cubes and 1/2 a banana. I splash some lemon juice in there too.

Throw that in the fridge over night for the next good workout.

Originally Posted by P-funk

BCAAs.

I liked ICE also, like Jodi mentioned.

Why is ICE so expensive?

BCAAs in general, and to flavor them are quite expensive.

Water is fine during your workout, as is coffee, or whatever your drink of choice is. In a short bout of resistance training, you don't need to consume anything during the workout, if you had a pre w/o meal/drink, and have proper post workout nutrition.

That said, if you are dieting, BCAAs may be a good idea.