energy drinks

Maraxus · Post by **Maraxus** » 19 Jul 2008 09:45

Some of the information in this thread is misleading and most of it isn't complete. I've taken classes in exercise physiology, sports nutrition, and currently work as a personal trainer. So let us clarify.

1)

Energy Drinks: The term energy drink in itself is absurd. Consumption of a calorie, period, will give you energy. Substrates, or carbohydrates, protein, and fat, are the three major sources of calories that we consume to live. Carbohydrates are what energy drinks consist of, because carbohydrates become blood glucose and liver glycogen when ingested. This is a quick source of energy for the body and these sugars are required to run the brain and fuel muscle contraction.

Now you don't need an energy drink to play footbag, lift weights, or run a marathon, but you do need an ample source of energy to conduct these exercises. To properly do this, consume a large caloric meal within four hours prior to your exercise bout. This will ensure a steady source of liver glycogen to support your blurry whirls and tomahawks.

2)

Caffeine: Caffeine is a stimulant. When introduced to the body, caffeine stimulates your endocrine system, or your hormone control center. By itself, caffeine enters the adrenal gland just above the kidneys to release epinephrine and nori-epinephrine. These hormones increase blood flow, cause vasodilation of veins (increased size), and increase heart rate. These responses are commonly known as our flight or fight responses and are ingrained in our genetics to run from lions, bears, and protect our ability to fight. You will never "use up" this response, but you can delay it, make it respond less (weaker response), and begin to rely on it.

3)

Creatine: Creatine is a natural occurring amino acid in the body. This is not a steroid, a fad, or even a supplement that could hurt your body. In fact, if you supplement with too much creatine, the body simply flushes it out. Creatine is in every single one of our body's, in fact, it is in any mammal on this planet. The reason for that is because it is an energy source also known as ATP-Pcr, that Pcr stands for phospho-creatine, and is our most available ready and immediate energy source. Without creatine, you couldn't react as quickly to slapping a fly on the back of your neck, or completing that first heavy set of reps on the bench. Physiologically, it allows maximal muscle contraction to take place for a longer duration of time because it provides the initial step. Thus, creatine could potentially assist with helping footbaggers with muscle contraction. Just a little room for thought.

(4)

Electrolytes: Sodium and Potassium kids. Nothing else. Without a proper balance of these two, your cell membranes cannot achieve a proper polarization. Sodium and potassium are like the two opposite poles, one is a positive balance and one is negative. If too little of either is available to the body, this balance is upset and can greatly affect cell membrane capability and overall athletic output.
Thus, make sure you have adequate amounts of sodium and potassium in the body. Sodium is easy enough to get in the diet these days, in fact its too prevalent. Good sources of potassium include bananas, raisins, and supplementing with a multivitamin.

/end thread?

jrstubs · Post by **jrstubs** » 19 Jul 2008 15:19

Energy drinks are retarded. They just make your insides sticky and you piss alot.

jon · Post by **jon** » 19 Jul 2008 16:31

jrstubs wrote:Energy drinks are retarded. They just make your insides sticky and you piss alot.

Oh that is what is causing that sticky feeling

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 19 Jul 2008 16:32

Aaron, what do you suggest is a good cap for the consumption of high caloric meals before shred? Like, how many calories should a person consume, and what should I keep an eye on in terms of that meal?

For example, during the weekends (usually Saturdays), I start playing footbag at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, but I'm conscious at what I should eat for breakfast before I kick. Usually this pertains to a bowl of granola, a banana and dried cranberries. Should I implement of a form of raw protein into this, such as eggs, bacon, etc.? And how many calories should I approximately consume in this one meal?

/off-topic post, maybe...?

Spontaneous Spaz · Post by **Spontaneous Spaz** » 19 Jul 2008 16:43

jrstubs wrote:Energy drinks are retarded. They just make your insides sticky and you piss alot.

everybody reacts to everything differently...

including energy drinks... imo, they only help me (no stickiness sry)

dan the man · Post by **dan the man** » 19 Jul 2008 19:32

ya thats really helpful. i heard that we get too much sodium in our diets as well, thats why i wasn't too worried about that (sodium is just in salt right as in sondium chloride?). and would you say that caffiene is good in moderation then so that our body does not become dependant on it?

So correct me if i'm wrong:

Carbs: spagghetti
Protien: eggs, steak (yum),
fat: don't really need anymore of that
sodium: ....salt
potassium: potatoes, bananas
fibre: raisin brand, fruit
caffiene: coffee
creatine: suppliment

wake up, eat eggs with homefries, and a bowl of raisin brand, then take a multivitamin pill. for lunch take some supplimented creatine, and eat a bowl of spegghetti. an hour later drink a small cup of coffee go shred, and then afterwards for dinner eat a fat jucy steak.

a perfect day without energy drink

Maraxus · Post by **Maraxus** » 19 Jul 2008 21:27

Wasabi wrote:Aaron, what do you suggest is a good cap for the consumption of high caloric meals before shred? Like, how many calories should a person consume, and what should I keep an eye on in terms of that meal?

For example, during the weekends (usually Saturdays), I start playing footbag at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, but I'm conscious at what I should eat for breakfast before I kick. Usually this pertains to a bowl of granola, a banana and dried cranberries. Should I implement of a form of raw protein into this, such as eggs, bacon, etc.? And how many calories should I approximately consume in this one meal?

/off-topic post, maybe...?

That depends on the person's height, weight, and exercise goals. Proper calorie intake can only be determined by a person's basal metabolic rate and the number of calories expended by exercise each day. If you want to hold on to lean tissue (muscle) while doing prolonged bouts of cardiovascular exercise you should most definately have a portion of protein with each meal. In addition, pre-workout and post-workout meals should always contain the most amount of calories per given meal per day. (Followed next by breakfast). So if you are eating both a pre-workout meal and a breakfast meal in one sitting, you should be consuming even more calories to properly fuel your day.

Maraxus · Post by **Maraxus** » 19 Jul 2008 21:29

dan the man wrote: potassium: potatoes, bananas
fibre: raisin brand, fruit
caffiene: coffee

The best sources of fiber actually come from vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, and celery. Only solid fruits contain fiber, that's what keeps them solid =).

dan the man · Post by **dan the man** » 20 Jul 2008 09:11

aww all the really really gross veggies too

i guess celery with nutella does the trick

i heard that when you cook these solid veggies they lose all the good stuff thats actually in them, is that true? so cooked carrots doesn't do anything for you...

edit: haha waaaay off topic

Wasabi · Post by **Wasabi** » 20 Jul 2008 09:56

Thanks Aaron, that helped a lot.

And broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, and spinach are awesome.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 20 Jul 2008 22:23

Maraxus wrote: Electrolytes: Sodium and Potassium kids. Nothing else. Without a proper balance of these two, your cell membranes cannot achieve a proper polarization. Sodium and potassium are like the two opposite poles, one is a positive balance and one is negative. If too little of either is available to the body, this balance is upset and can greatly affect cell membrane capability and overall athletic output.
Thus, make sure you have adequate amounts of sodium and potassium in the body. Sodium is easy enough to get in the diet these days, in fact its too prevalent. Good sources of potassium include bananas, raisins, and supplementing with a multivitamin.

Actually electrolytes refer to all soluble ions. Apart from potassium and sodium, you also need calcium, magnesium, chloride, phosphate and one other that I forget. They're important in most bodily functions; especially muscles and nervous systems.

I'm studying biology at university, and have taken classes in animal physiology and psychology.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 20 Jul 2008 22:30

Maraxus wrote:The best sources of fiber actually come from vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, and celery. Only solid fruits contain fiber, that's what keeps them solid =).

Actually pretty much all plant material contains fibre. Also none of those things you mentioned are fruit.

PoisonTaffy · Post by **PoisonTaffy** » 21 Jul 2008 01:17

As a result of this thread I tried an energy drink before a 4 hours session last week, and while I felt during the session that I can play allot more intensely and longer than usual, I was also drained of energy for 3 days afterward. It seems like a good solution for a big event but on a regular basis I think I'll stick to a tomato or banana before a session and plain ol' water during it.

jon · Post by **jon** » 21 Jul 2008 05:25

InfecedTofu wrote:I felt during the session that I can play allot more intensely and longer than usual, I was also drained of energy for 3 days afterward.

No offense but either something else unrelated came up or it is all in your head. There is no way an energy would have that affect.

PoisonTaffy · Post by **PoisonTaffy** » 21 Jul 2008 05:31

Well, it was a very intense session, and it's not like I spent the days afterward resting. I had a solo session the day after an had an aikido class the day after that. Then I had to take 2 days off to recover because I felt exceptionally drained, which isn't normal for me.

danetrain · Post by **danetrain** » 21 Jul 2008 17:47

i used to drink an energy drink before really long sessions. But, I stopped drinking them because I realized how bad they are for you, and I noticed something. I played just as well without the drink. So now I don't drink them anymore.

dan the man · Post by **dan the man** » 22 Jul 2008 07:36

i haven't noticed that it helps me either to play better, but it does help me play longer and more consistent for a greater amount of time. but then because i am able to do this, my body is more tired than usual the next day, but either way, i cannot shred two days back 2 back.