Training & Nutrition - Bad experience with Gatorade

Some time ago, I was training for my first Marathon. In my first 18 mile training run, I was stopping at convenience stores along the way and bought either Gatorade or water. After around the 10th mile, I drank solely Gatorade buying into the hype that Gatorade is better.

The Gatorade stopped quenching my thirst and I found that I kept stopping at stores and buying another bottle. I just kept getting thirstier and I actually stopped perspiring. I did not feel good at all at the end of the training run after which I decided to weigh myself. Instead of losing a couple of pounds after the long run, I found that I actually gained 3 pounds. I made a lot of trips to the bathroom that afternoon. This was probably the worst training run that I've ever experienced. Nowadays, my consumption of Gatorade, or any alternate energy drink, is minimal even on long rides. I don't trust this product.

Sorry to post a Marathon training experience on the Bike Forum. I am no longer a runner and I'm sure that there are as many Gatorade drinkers among bikers as there are among runners.

What are your experiences with this over hyped product?

I haven't used Gatorade in years ... why would I when there are other, better choices available?

Gatorade is actually really good for you. I recently worked as an intern for a pro football team, and all they drink is gatorade as you can tell by on TV. it helps to replenish the fluids lost during exercising. Even though during practice they had the choice of drinking gatorade, most drank water. But gatorade is filled with a lot of sodium, so when your on long rides (practices in there case) don't pass out from de-hydration. My guess is you drank so much that you replenished your fluids in your body, and then gain 3 pounds in water weight. Its really easy to lose and gain water weight. So my suggestion for next time, is drink water, but when you get back from your ride/run, drink a gatorade to regain the sodium you burnt off.

Gatorade is just water, sodium, and sugar. You can get that anywhere.

You'd be better off drinking a glass of water and eating some salted almonds.

Some time ago, I was training for my first Marathon. In my first 18 mile training run, I was stopping at convenience stores along the way and bought either Gatorade or water. After around the 10th mile, I drank solely Gatorade buying into the hype that Gatorade is better.

The Gatorade stopped quenching my thirst and I found that I kept stopping at stores and buying another bottle. I just kept getting thirstier and I actually stopped perspiring. I did not feel good at all at the end of the training run after which I decided to weigh myself. Instead of losing a couple of pounds after the long run, I found that I actually gained 3 pounds. Pretty simple solution. Don't drink so much.

My main problem with non-water beverages is that they tempt me to drink them too fast and it feels like they quench my thirst less as a result because I don't ration it well.
I think I'd rather stick to water and food, but food is more troublesome to get to and eat while on the bike... BLAH.

Maybe one bottle of water and one bottle of juice?

Pretty simple solution. Don't drink so much.

Sounds simple. But fact was I was extremely thirsty during the run. I felt that whatever is in Gatorade prevented the water from being absorbed by the body. I felt dehydrated, cramps and all.

I find Gatorade quite useful. It's got some simple carbs and some electrolytes, and as I'm a big guy who lives in a hot climate and sweats like a pig, I feel quite a bit better during and after rides when I drink it as compared to plain water. Machka is certainly right in that there are better drinks, but Gatorade does the job for me at a very low price and with easy availability.

None of which, of course, means that it's necessarily right for anyone else. I do know several people who have to cut in half with water in order to avoid bloating and stomach cramps.

Sounds simple. But fact was I was extremely thirsty during the run. I felt that whatever is in Gatorade prevented the water from being absorbed by the body. I felt dehydrated, cramps and all.If you gained 3 lbs you weren't dehydrated. The cramps were due to something else other than hydration.

I'll just leave this right here...

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/764752-Stomach-discomfort-after-rides?p=13166465&viewfull=1#post13166465

As a type II diabetic I had a simular experience. My blood sugar was high despite the long distance riding. As a result I have not drank the stuff in years.

I usually just stick to water but doesnt Gatorade have electrolytes or something like that in it?

I've used it on long rides for years without a problem. You do need to dilute it to half strength for on-the-bike use.

I ran a half-marathon this morning. I drank a bottle of Gatorade about an hour before the gun went off. During the race the aid stations were handing out Gatorade as well, but I just stuck with water once I was underway. I brought some gels for nutrition during the race instead. This is also what I do for triathlons.

Never tried Gatorade during a race/run. But I haven't had any bad experiences using it beforehand.

I only drink Gatorade (or other electrolyte beverages) if I'm out for longer than 3 hours and it's hot and I'm sweating a lot. If I stick with just water on long, hot rides my electrolytes get out of balance and I swell up and retain water for the next week.

I've never had stomach problems with Gatorade; I drink it undiluted.

I've gotten where I drink Powerade Zero in a bottle full of ice. Ice melts along the way and dilutes the Powerade. Full strength tastes way too stong now. Ha! I do still drink the lo-cal Gatorade on occasion, but P Zero tastes better to me plus has a few less calories.

I use the powder and mix it 1/2 to 3/4 strength and haven't had any problems on 2+ hour rides. I don't consume a whole ton of it though.

I eat something else like raisins mid-way through the ride to get some carbs in solid form too.

Sugary gatorade and constant repeated anaerobic effort don't mix... stomach won't have a chance to empty and you'll be dehydrating.

FYI, repeated trips to the bathroom is not uncommon since your muscles swell with water after the exercise and then slowly unswell causing those trips.

Sugary gatorade and constant repeated anaerobic effort don't mix... stomach won't have a chance to empty and you'll be dehydrating.


So, it's the sugar that prevented the water from being absorbed by the body? What about the excess sodium? Why did I remain extremely thirsty during the run?

So, it's the sugar that prevented the water from being absorbed by the body? What about the excess sodium? Why did I remain extremely thirsty during the run?

You remained thirsty because the majority of liquids you drank sat in your stomach. It was probably the sugar concentrations which caused this not the sodium(but i don't know how much sodium you ate).

You remained thirsty because the majority of liquids you drank sat in your stomach. It was probably the sugar concentrations which caused this not the sodium(but i don't know how much sodium you ate).

I was referring to the sodium that was in the Gatorade.

FYI, repeated trips to the bathroom is not uncommon since your muscles swell with water after the exercise and then slowly unswell causing those trips.

No matter what you eat or drink, this is very common when doing long distance rides.

No matter what you eat or drink, this is very common when doing long distance rides.
Yes, i don't mean otherwise.

I was referring to the sodium that was in the Gatorade.
I don't think so. You should try some of Gatorade's other products if you really want Gatorade(like G2 or their pro stuff). The current version is really just a sugary drink not meant for sports hydration.

There are other options aside from Gatorade, which can get expensive depending on your budget.

Emergen-c makes a very good electrolyte. no sugar, just the stuff you need. Potassium, sodium etc

Emergen-c makes a very good electrolyte. no sugar, just the stuff you need. Potassium, sodium etc

By coincidence, I just picked up a box of Emergen-C an hour ago from CVS. How well does it work? How much do you take during a ride? The literature on it does not seem to highlight exercise use.

I'm also a runner who only recently started cycling. When I do training runs of about 3 hours, I drink water at the fuel stations on the route which I get ± every 35 minutes. If I run on routes with not enough fuel stations, then i run with a 500ml botttle of Energade/ Powerade and take a few sips every 20 minutes. We don't have Gatorade by us in Capetown so I assume it is the same as the 2 mentioned above. In weekly running races in Capetown we have water stations every 3- 3.5 kms, which at my pace happens every 14- 16 minutes. I actually time when I drink and never get thirsty- this i also mimicks what happens on race day. When cycling, I drink every 20 minutes and before a hill to prevent me from drinking whilst struggling uphill

Marathoner, it might also depend on what you ate the night before. If you're thirsty on a one hour training endurance type run, then it could mean something else. Most runners don't drink anything on a one hour run. College type cross country runners will go 6 minute mile pace for 10 miles without drinking. Older folks are different, less conditioned too.

Increase in core body temps is the biggest enemy of a runner, I think. That's going to be the next "big thing" with the Garmin products.

Its not the Gatorade.

Marathoner, it might also depend on what you ate the night before. If you're thirsty on a one hour training endurance type run, then it could mean something else. Most runners don't drink anything on a one hour run. College type cross country runners will go 6 minute mile pace for 10 miles without drinking. Older folks are different, less conditioned too.

Increase in core body temps is the biggest enemy of a runner, I think. That's going to be the next "big thing" with the Garmin products.

Its not the Gatorade.

I am firmly convinced it was the Gatorade. As electrik said, it must have been all the sugar that was in it. As several others said, water is best. Take in some electrolytes when needed. If coming from a drink, I'll just be careful with the corresponding sugar content.

Electrik is correct. The weight gain and bathroom experience are the result of the stomach not emptying. Sugar generates a high osmolality in the stomach and then the stomach wall won't pass liquids. The correct response is to sip plain water to dilute stomach contents. Gatorade also contains insufficient electrolytes/fluid volume.

I honestly didn't read other people's repsonses. I just checked to see if this link was posted as it wasn't so I figured I'd add it.

Pretty much everything in Joe's blog is a good read. This specific article is about hydration while exercising. Your problem was 100% that you over-hydrated. The REAL issue you need to figure out is WHY were you thirsty? My guess is that you ate/drank something that contained nutrients/chemicals/etc your body felt needed to be diluted.

I'll be honest, it's a bit of a read at roughly 2-3 pages (FYI, it's arranged by date so start at the bottom...it's a blog) but it's well worth it IMO.
http://www.trainingbible.com/joesblog/2008_09_01_archive.html.

could-water-be-hurting-your-workouts/article2169058/ (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/fitness/running/training-and-technique/could-water-be-hurting-your-workouts/article2169058/)

Sugary gatorade and constant repeated anaerobic effort don't mix... stomach won't have a chance to empty and you'll be dehydrating.

FYI, repeated trips to the bathroom is not uncommon since your muscles swell with water after the exercise and then slowly unswell causing those trips.

The key to this is "repeated anaerobic effort". The question then is, how does maltodextrin handle repeated anaerobic effort? Does excessive use of maltodextrin also contribute to what was experienced by a runner who goes on a 18 mile training run?

The key to this is "repeated anaerobic effort". The question then is, how does maltodextrin handle repeated anaerobic effort? Does excessive use of maltodextrin also contribute to what was experienced by a runner who goes on a 18 mile training run?

What was experienced? It's not about maltodextrin handling anything it is about your stomach and small intestine....

I don't know where the maltodextrin discussion came from or what it's about. In general, maltodextrin is easier on the stomach than sugars, but some people seem to have a problem digesting it, possibly lacking the enzyme to break down the polysaccaride chain. No matter what you eat, repeated anaerobic efforts will have a problematic effect on digestion and the more you eat, the more likely the problems. Of course eating too little also can be a problem.

I don't know anything about maltodextrin. But as far as any reference to anaerobic efforts, none was extended on that run. There are very few elite athletes who can sustain repeated anaerobic efforts over the course of a marathon, so I never did it. All the marathon training I've ever done was aerobic.

What was experienced? It's not about maltodextrin handling anything it is about your stomach and small intestine....

Thats the point. If the product does not use simple sugars, it will go with maltodextrin. Its not always about the Gatorade.