Question:
My wife and I started P90X this past Sunday. It is kicking our butts in the area or soreness but we will live! ha!
We are currently in Phase 1 of the P90X Program (finished first round of yoga yesterday). We are following the P90X nutritional guide. I am in Level 2 and she is in Level 1. What type of drinks can we have besides water that we can sip on all day? Can you give me some options? We drink our water for the day but I need some taste!!!
Jon
Answer:
This is a great question.
First off, congratulations on your progress with the P90X extreme training system. It’s nice that you and your wife can hold each other accountable. One of the main keys to getting fit is who you have as an accountability partner.
As you know, the proper amount of water intake is a major key in meeting your fitness goals. So what about all of the other beverages? Unfortunately, most beverages on the market these days were not made for health purposes, but strictly for taste and stimulation.
As we try with all of our might to stick to our fitness program and drink as much water as we can, this can become rather difficult. The question is, “What can I drink besides water to compliment my exercise program?”
The answer is, “It is dependent on your personal circumstances.”
Several factors to consider when choosing a beverage are;
Your environment – Do you live or workout in a warm, humid setting?
Your program – Do your workouts last more than an hour and are they vigorous?
Your goal – Is your fitness goal to lose weight, bulk up or train for an event?
If you sweat alot during exercise, get sore afterward or if your workout is vigorous and lasts longer than an hour you may need something more than water to replenish your electrolytes, rehydrate your body and feed your muscles. A good recovery drink with the proper mix of high-glycemic index carbohydrates, protein, fiber, fat and amino acids will make a huge difference if consumed during the recovery window of a workout (immediately to 30 minutes post workout).
I of course would recommend the P90X Peak Results and Recovery Drink. The individual packets make it easy to just tear open and pour into your bottle of water, shake well and enjoy. It taste very similar to an Orange Julius. I would not recommend this drink as a random drink of choice however, as it was engineered to be a “post workout recovery drink”.
Sports drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade will replenish your electrolytes because they contain sugar and salt. While this is good for the very active athlete, it is not so friendly to someone trying to lose weight. If you like the taste of one of these popular sports drinks and can’t live without them, you may consider diluting them with water.
If you can’t live without your daily soda or energy drink, remember these very important facts.
Caffeine is a diuretic and causes loss of body fluids. Your heart rate is an important factor in exercise and adding the stimulation of caffeine can be very dangerous.
Carbonation adds gas volume to your stomach and can keep you from hydrating properly.
High Fructose Corn Syrup is today’s #1 cause of belly fat. HFCS is 55% fructose blended with 45% glucose. It is not a natural fruit sugar as we have been led to believe. The reason for it’s popularity in most beverages including fruit juice and processed foods is that it is sweeter, easier to handle during processing, has a longer shelf life and is cheaper than sucrose. Look at historical evidence to see that in the 60’s, the US population was less than 10% obese. Today we’re sitting around 40%! HFCS started being used in the early 70’s and is being used in more and more products today. The reason for an obese population is not strictly because of HFCS but I sure believe that it has alot to do with it.
Okay, I will try to get off of my soap box and answer your question now.
Have you seen those Crystal Light “On the go” packets? or the Green Tea on the go packets? Those are a great way to get your daily water consumption in while allowing your taste buds to have a little party as well. Crystal Light is caffeine free and is low in sodium. Each drink has less than 5 calories and is not a significant source of nutrition. There are several flavors to choose from, not just the typical lemonade. Nestea has a non-caffeinated “Lemon Green Tea” packet that I have found somewhat refreshing as well which is rich in antioxidants. Drinking one to two packets of these with your bottled water each day will not take anything away from your workout.
If you have any suggestions, please comment.
Coach Rob
Independent Beachbody Coach
