Do you drink water or sports drinks during workouts? (muscle, gym, treadmill)

[ChessieMom]

Originally Posted by LinaJo76

When it's really hot out, it's best to go for a run/jog early in the morning (like 5 or 6 am before it gets real hot). If you live in a very hot environment.

The best time is whenever you can do it.

[DixieChick1972]

I do water only.

[DFWgal]

water

[thepinksquid]

God, I feel kind of weird that I drink a sports drink.

I would drink just water too (and save the 25 calories) but I just hate getting those damn cramps.

[LinaJo76]

Originally Posted by thepinksquid

God, I feel kind of weird that I drink a sports drink.

I would drink just water too (and save the 25 calories) but I just hate getting those damn cramps.

Don't drink the water fast. And take your time drinking water throughout the day (don't rush to drink 8 glasses a day). Take a break from it sometime and drink the sports drink and maybe some juice.

[plaidmom]

Originally Posted by thepinksquid

God, I feel kind of weird that I drink a sports drink.

I would drink just water too (and save the 25 calories) but I just hate getting those damn cramps.

When running, I stick to water. If I'm doing a very long run and need the calories, I tend to choose a gel-pack (I like Hammer Gel) over a sweet sports drink.

Cycling, again, I stick to water, unless I plan to be out for more than 4 or 5 hours. Then I usually do one bottle of water, and one bottle of watered-down Gatorade or Cytomax.

I didn't want you to feel weird.

[alicejb]

Water. I used to be nuts for SmartWater, just like the "flavor".

[Bosco55David]

Just water. If I want some extra flavor and boost I'll throw in some creatine.

[Morphous01]

Originally Posted by thepinksquid

I know that the general rule is that if you're doing cardio for less than an hour, water is recommended because of the fact that your body doesn't need the salt/electrolytes/added calories in sports drinks for a "small" amount of activity.

However, I've realized that if I just drink water alone I get cramps while running. If a put about a tablespoon of Gatorade powder into my liter water bottle and drink that before/during my run, I'm fine--no cramps. How odd.

I've tested this over and over again and it seems to be true each time; water = cramps, sports drink = no cramps.

Anyhow, my question is, do you drink water or a sports drink during your workouts? Which type do you prefer? I've been buying the G2 (low calorie) powder in bulk from Costco and using about half the serving it recommends.

Gatorade is OLD technology, it also has nasty ingredients like artificial flavors, yellow no.5, and all that kind of junk in it.

Option 1. I use water and I mix 2 spoon fulls of dextrose in it. You can get a bag of dextrose from a beer making store.

Option 2. I drink coconut water; it's really the best thing you can drink during exercise because it will replace all ingredients your body depletes naturally.

I have other options; but they are TOP SECRET.

[115db]

I try to keep regular water within reach at work but occaisionally treat myself to some Propel for a change. Lately Ive been drinking more milk though.