Author Topic: Recovery drinks, etc. (Read 7587 times)

Sal Atticum · « **on:** February 05, 2009, 08:23:58 PM »

I had a couple packages of Recoverite that they threw at us at the Burrito Union Tri last summer, and so I've been using them after the last few practices I've been able to attend. I'm wondering how effective they are at helping muscle recovery--is it worth buying more of the stuff? I've tried the protein mix stuff before (I know that's for something slightly differenty) and I got pretty sick of the taste, but maybe I wasn't working hard enough.

Let's assume I'm training somewhat as hard as everyone else, keeping in mind that I have a tendency to skip meals.

Plantains · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2009, 09:09:02 PM »

I know that cuervo uses accelerade and likes it alot. I personally think its sick.

My personal fav is muscle milk. I make it with chocolate milk though. I usually have it with lean proteins... tuna or chicken and a heavy dose of carbs. It worked well.

Mario · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2009, 09:39:36 PM »

i use Accelerade as well and I think its awesome. last time i used Power Bar Recovery(with protein) and Endurance (no proteins). Both of the Power bar worked well, but they were foamy in my stomach and I burped a lot. Accelerade works well and no side effects (it also contains protein for recovery purposes).

Plantains · « **Reply #3 on:** February 06, 2009, 02:02:32 PM »

Mario what flavor of accelerade do u use? And what did u mix it with?

Mario · « **Reply #4 on:** February 06, 2009, 02:37:14 PM »

I use lemonade flavor and I just mix it with H2O. I usually put two scoops per bottle.

Sal Atticum · « **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2009, 06:17:16 PM »

Mario, you use Accelerade for recovery? What's that stuff you drink on the bike?

Plantains · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2009, 06:41:05 PM »

fwiw on the bike I drink diluted gatorade. I used to drink regular gatorade but then during a duathlon, I meant to take a sip of my water bottle to spit (used to carry 1 water and 1 gatorade) but it ended up being my gatorade bottle, so I instinctively (cuz of taste) drank it, which I then almost immediately realized was going to be a problem. Then... during the run I was pushing to the finish line cuz some guy was on my ass... I took 1 step over the line and puked.

Then I switched to gatorade rain.

Now... I only use self diluted gatorade.

Mario · « **Reply #7 on:** February 11, 2009, 07:11:28 PM »

Quote from: Sal Atticum on February 11, 2009, 06:17:16 PM

Mario, you use Accelerade for recovery? What's that stuff you drink on the bike?

I drink Accelerade on the bike, during the exercise. It helps me not only in my recovery but also helps me to get through the workout easier.

Plantains · « **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2009, 07:32:30 PM »

man... maybe the accelerade i had was mixed wrong... it was pretty thick (for a liquid that is). I was just thinking... this is barf going down I can't imagine what its going to be like on the way up?

Mario · « **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2009, 08:19:01 PM »

You are right, it is a little bit thicker than a water or gatorade, so I guess you either like it or not. I do.

Hollywood · « **Reply #10 on:** February 13, 2009, 07:10:05 PM »

Personally, I use Endurox. I took a couple bottles with on the tour down to Mexico, drank a serving after riding for 8-12 hours and never woke up sore. So, I feel it works quite well. It's a lot like Accelerade, it just has more of everything (calories, protein and CHO) which is what one would need to recover quickly.

As far as recovery drinks in general, definitely look for CHO/prot mix (preferably in a 4:1 ratio [if you want to know why, we can get into details later]).

Cuervo · « **Reply #11 on:** February 18, 2009, 04:36:47 PM »

yeha Accelerade! i love it and use it during workouts and post ride. I usually get lemon lime and mix two scoops per bottle. I can see that mario is also a very inteligent chap

Accelerade users unite!

Plantains · « **Reply #12 on:** February 18, 2009, 09:44:45 PM »

I'VE SIGHTED HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!

Once a Runner · « **Reply #13 on:** February 21, 2009, 07:54:06 PM »

My best suggestion would be the use of chocolate milk! It is actually one of the best recovery drinks that you can take within 15 to 30 min of activity. The UND athletics dept has a fridge in the weightroom and actually hands out milk to the athletes after lifting to aid in muscle recovery (pretty nice perk)

Sal Atticum · « **Reply #14 on:** February 22, 2009, 03:13:30 PM »

Quote from: Once a Runner on February 21, 2009, 07:54:06 PM

My best suggestion would be the use of chocolate milk! It is actually one of the best recovery drinks that you can take within 15 to 30 min of activity. The UND athletics dept has a fridge in the weightroom and actually hands out milk to the athletes after lifting to aid in muscle recovery (pretty nice perk)

This agrees with the study Bicycling cited about athletes who drank skim milk after workouts gained muscle mass (I think) faster than a control group. Of course they didn't give the author of the paper or the journal, but it shouldn't be too hard to track down when I have time.

Plantains · « **Reply #15 on:** February 22, 2009, 03:58:00 PM »

I remember the article but I think it was about chocolate milk... I def don't remember skim milk. Maybe I'm thinking of something else?

Sal Atticum · « **Reply #16 on:** February 22, 2009, 04:43:44 PM »

Okay, so it was in Mountain Bike January/February. Skim milk is good for building muscle, adding Ovaltine helps recovery.

"You already know you need protein to rebuild your muscles after a hard workout. Now a Canadian study of 56 exercisers found that those who drank skim milk before and after training built more lean muscle tissue, more quickly, than those who drank soy-protein drinks. Mix Ovaltine, which is filled with vitamins and minerals for added recovery, with skim milk for a perfect postride toast. Add a shot of espresso for an extra jolt."

All the online reports on this are a year or two old, which makes it weird that they are printing it now. I've attached what I think is the correct paper if anyone is interested.

Plantains · « **Reply #17 on:** February 23, 2009, 10:43:40 AM »

mountain bike is published by the same company as bicycling... I don't really read MTB rags because they're all about huge suspensions and armor. So i'm thinking I saw a diff one.

That makes alot of sense though. Its what companies like muscle milk have been trying to emulate with their product (I used this exclusively until I came to GFK as it's just not readily available here for anywhere NEAR a reasonable price)

Maybe I'll get on this boat.

It would be interesting to see what the study contrasted. I wonder if there are pros cons between 2% and skim.

edit: I just saw you posted it... i'll read it after aerodynamics.

Sal Atticum · « **Reply #18 on:** February 23, 2009, 10:57:08 AM »

Mountain Bike is doing okay, for having gone back to being a Bicycling supplement. They cover the same sort of things, just with knobbies. There isn't so much downhill stuff, but it would be nice if they could cover an XC hardtail (or even a hardnose) once in a while.

Yeah, I'm wondering about whole milk and I'll see about the ovaltine. It can't taste worse than the protein stuff I've tried before.

Plantains · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2009, 03:11:41 PM »

Muscle milk and the generic walmart protein (which I had to stop using mid season last year because they added creatine) both tasted good. But instead of using water I used chocolate milk (with choc flavors of course). It tasted el goodo.