Recovery drinks

[karming]

I religiously drink Powerade recovery after a hard interval workout but I always wondered if it makes any difference or whether it's a psychological thing. Given that the sample size is me, I'm not sure what the answer is. If I didn't drink the recovery formula then is my soreness actually worse than it would have been if I had drank the stuff. Furthemore, am I less sore as I am becoming more fit or is it the juice. Anyone have any thoughts? The powder formula is cheaper but still kind of expensive. Are we just subject to good advertisement?

[jetlink]

I used a coach last year and the first thing he'd ask his athletes after a workout is if they ate or not............he wouldn't talk to you unless you already ate. He is a well recognized coach w/ an amazing group of athletes - two of whom took 2nd at IMCA and IMFL last year......the same deal goes for them but he doesn't really need to tell them about recovery nutrition and its importance.

I think fitness is really directly related to amount of soreness - so the more fit you get then the less sore you may be......obviously depending on how far you stretched yourself in a given workout. The nutrition aspect will aid in recovery BUT more importantly it will enable you to have a more productive workout later in the day or the next day.......

Basically I think recovery drinks after long/hard workouts are important - I use Endurox but I'm guessing that Powerade prolly has the same types of ingredients.

[Aussie Rob]

1% chocolate milk. 300ish calories, 4:1 carbs to protein, hardly any fat, plus calcium for your bones.

Cheap, and it tasgtes good. gg there.

[cwoo]

Post workout drinks dont really help with soreness, but they do prevent the breakdown of muscle and can help replace depleted carb stores in your muscles. Like the post above me said, chocolate milk is one of the best post workout drinks, its cheap and tastes good.

[jimdehner]

I use post workout recovery drinks regularly - I use accelerade, powerbar recovery, and just started with chocolate milk - accelerade is a definite acquired taste but seems to help, recovery has a sour/bitter taste that is actually refreshing after the during workout electrolyte replenishment drinks thaat are sweet, and I agree with the others that c-milk is cheap and good tasting - I think all work better than not replenishing right after a workout

[philjolliff]

Accelerade is definitely an acquired taste - and I haven't acquired it, I can't even stomach half a bottle of that stuff.

I almost exclusively use Endurox right now. Mix it with water, doesn't taste too badly.

[Brandon]

Smoothies. My most common concoction consists of rice milk, a banana, strawberries, blueberries, a couple ice cubes and a little protein powder (as the budget allows a protein supplement).

I'll use the powdered drinks, typically endurox, for convenience (i.e. if I don't start/end the workout at home) but I much prefer "real" food to a drink mix.

[Steve Yutzy]

Chocolate milk! Gotta support the family dairy farm

Gatorade's ok, but a little too sweet at times. I've tried Accelerade and Endurox, but they remind me a little too much of cheap beer (as in they have to be ice cold to be drinkable)

[alison]

I like chocolate milk after a workout, too, but if I am away from home doing a group workout I often can't get home fast enough to use it as a recovery drink. I have been considering trying those individually size chocolate soy milks, since they are shelf stable and can be tossed in the car or gym bag. The nutrition info is very close to regular chocolate milk. Anyone ever try that?

Alison

[Paul]

Chocolate milk is great, cheap and the taste makes you want another glass. I have gotten a few accelerade flavors from people who didn't like them and some are much better than others. I actually like orange and lemon. I also don't make them quite full strength 1 scoop in a about 18 oz of water.

[jesse]

I have been using Recoverite from Hammer nutrition this year. ITS AWESOME!! Works well and it seems to minimize soreness the next day (just in my mind maybe but works) Just came out with strawberry too!