Does anyone still use Gatorade?
#101
Senior Member
This is because Gatorade actually has too few calories to be an effective standalone long-distance fueling drink. At rides < 2hrs, water works as well as Gatorade despite Gatorade's marketing about its calories & electrolytes. Go over 2.5 and 3+ hrs, and you can't rely on the Gatorade even at full strength for enough calories to fuel. You'll even need to replace more salts/electrolytes than the Gatorade provides. It's overrated as an effective sports supplement for activity - water is as good for the distances/durations at which Gatorade claims to excel. (They cite a few small studies as "proof", but they are all published in small journals, and may even have trade-bias in them.)
Basically you go from the logical conclusion that Gatorade is "not as good" (because it isn't, really), to get the conclusion that it "isn't sufficient" (which is debatable), and then from there find that it's "no better than water", which is stupid, since it obviously has calories and electrolytes that water does not have.
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#102
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It's not as black & white, all-or-nothing as that. He's not saying that Gatorade is worthless, it's just not as effective as other forms of nutrition on the bike. The maximum carb-intake you can absorb through the intestines is about 250-300 calories per hour. Gatorade doesn't provide anything close to that without overdoing it on the water. To maximize glucose-absorption, you'll need something with much, much higher molality and calorie-density than Gatorade.
That's correct. Adequate carb-replenishment to match the water-volume would require double-strength Gatorade. That's only possible if you use powered Gatorade and mix it to 2x regular concentration. At which point, it's way too sweet. Maltodextrin works better because it has higher molecular-weight glucose chains that gets more calories through your stomach without the heavy syrup taste of sugar or HFCS.
If you you rely on Gatorade as your primary nutrition, then you must mix it at double-strength concentration. Otherwise you'll need to supplement with bars & gels.
I am surprised by the number of you who "dilute gatorade to your liking" as by doing that you are cutting down the number of calories and other nutrients in the drink that are the recommended amounts for athletic activity and how they market their stuff. If you're diluting it, you're simply not getting what you should be. A prime example of if it's too sweet for you at it's normal concentration, you should be using something else so you can get the correct benefit from your sports drink.
If you you rely on Gatorade as your primary nutrition, then you must mix it at double-strength concentration. Otherwise you'll need to supplement with bars & gels.
Last edited by DannoXYZ; 06-24-09 at 10:39 AM.
#103
Senior Member
All this talk about using Gatorade for calories is a bit funny to me. I've always used it mostly as an electrolyte replacement. I tend to use bars (rides), homemade oatmeal cookies and gels (races) for calories. I definitely see the calories as supplementary, but I know from experience that it's not enough to prevent bonking or cramping.
But all this talk of bulk maltodextrin and using maltodextrin-based drinks for almost all fueling needs is making me curious, so I might just investigate going down that road in the future.
But all this talk of bulk maltodextrin and using maltodextrin-based drinks for almost all fueling needs is making me curious, so I might just investigate going down that road in the future.
#104
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I always liked Gatoraid more than many of the others,but I havent seen it here lately.Kenneth
#105
Maglia Ciclamino
Like grolby, I don't rely on Gatorade for calories or fuel. Just electrolytes. I use homemade gels (from a bulk tub of maltodextrin powder) for fuel. If I'm in the saddle longer than 3-4 hours, it's time to consider food for my caloric needs.
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I always thought Gatorade was first and foremost a fluid-replacement drink and secondarily a carbohydrate and electrolyte replacement drink. The glucose/fructose and sodium/potassium were added because they can be co-transported by the SGLT-1/2 proteins in the enterocytes of the gut establishing a relatively greater concentration gradient that allows water to be absorbed by osmosis (since that is the only way it is absorbed to begin with). Saying that Gatorade is no better than water is factually incorrect and fails to understand the science behind the product to begin with.
Any side benefit of calorie/electrolyte replacement is just that but if you feel that justifies a drink with maltodextrin (partially enzymatically-degraded corn starch) for a $2 or $3 premium over Gatorade (which simply has fully enzymatically-degraded cornstarch to produce fructose & glucose) by all means. I'll pass on the marketing and stick with caffeinated Cliff shot blocks and the inferior Gatorade.
Any side benefit of calorie/electrolyte replacement is just that but if you feel that justifies a drink with maltodextrin (partially enzymatically-degraded corn starch) for a $2 or $3 premium over Gatorade (which simply has fully enzymatically-degraded cornstarch to produce fructose & glucose) by all means. I'll pass on the marketing and stick with caffeinated Cliff shot blocks and the inferior Gatorade.
Last edited by astrocreep96; 06-24-09 at 11:14 AM.
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I suppose it depends on how you want to interpret it, but given that Gatorade itself claims its product contains less than 50% of the calories of fruit juices or soft drinks and is classified as a low-sodium food, I'd stick with fluid-replacement primarily.
Edit - Ha! I somewhat take that back - looking at the nutritional data, Gatorade may or may not be correct on their statement of caloric content. They also may or may not be aware of why they are adding carbs.
Edit - Ha! I somewhat take that back - looking at the nutritional data, Gatorade may or may not be correct on their statement of caloric content. They also may or may not be aware of why they are adding carbs.
Last edited by astrocreep96; 06-24-09 at 11:25 AM.
#111
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I dunno how you take Endurolytes constantly. It's such a pain. I'm so big and sweat a lot that I need to take like 5 an hour. It's just a PITA to be opening up that little bottle and getting out 5 pills every hour.
I carry my Endurolytes on long rides, but only as an emergency backup or in case I run out of Gatorade (happens a lot since I only carry two or three bottles).
I carry my Endurolytes on long rides, but only as an emergency backup or in case I run out of Gatorade (happens a lot since I only carry two or three bottles).
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Today's gatorade is yesterdays bug juice. Remember when gatorade tasted like sweat? That was when it had A LITTLE sugar and A LITTLE salt - exactly what should be in a sports drink.
Unfortunately sweat flavored drinks don't sell. So dump more sugar, more color, more fake flavors and now you have 21st century gatorade. If you are drinking bottled gatorade for hydration you might as well be drinking hawaiian punch, koolade, or sunny d.
Unfortunately sweat flavored drinks don't sell. So dump more sugar, more color, more fake flavors and now you have 21st century gatorade. If you are drinking bottled gatorade for hydration you might as well be drinking hawaiian punch, koolade, or sunny d.
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Personally, Gatorade upsets my stomach, the same as most others I have tried. The only one that I have tried and not had that issue is Heed from hammer nutrition. So that is what I stick with.
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Anyway, I get calories with bars and gels. The drink is for fluid, sodium, and electrolytes. 1 gel has as many calories in 1 serving as any drink does in the whole bottle. I can eat a gel in 3 seconds, not so with a full bottle.
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#117
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I just looked up the nutritional information on those choices, and you really ran the gamut on sodium, which is a main reason I drink an energy drink and njot just water. gatorade also has potassium while the others do not.
Anyway, I get calories with bars and gels. The drink is for fluid, sodium, and electrolytes. 1 gel has as many calories in 1 serving as any drink does in the whole bottle. I can eat a gel in 3 seconds, not so with a full bottle.
Anyway, I get calories with bars and gels. The drink is for fluid, sodium, and electrolytes. 1 gel has as many calories in 1 serving as any drink does in the whole bottle. I can eat a gel in 3 seconds, not so with a full bottle.
24oz gatorade = 150 cal.
Add 12g protein powder @ 4cal/gm = 48cal.
My bottles carry ~200cal ea.
And yes I carry gels for when it's needed immediately.
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I just looked up the nutritional information on those choices, and you really ran the gamut on sodium, which is a main reason I drink an energy drink and njot just water. gatorade also has potassium while the others do not.
Anyway, I get calories with bars and gels. The drink is for fluid, sodium, and electrolytes. 1 gel has as many calories in 1 serving as any drink does in the whole bottle. I can eat a gel in 3 seconds, not so with a full bottle.
Anyway, I get calories with bars and gels. The drink is for fluid, sodium, and electrolytes. 1 gel has as many calories in 1 serving as any drink does in the whole bottle. I can eat a gel in 3 seconds, not so with a full bottle.
Add 10 seconds for me for those last little bits...
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lol I start from the bottom and squeeze, ingesting in one go. I suppose I may be leaving a tad behind, but it's just like a toothpaste tube: if you squeeze from the middle, you're going to have a hell of a time getting what's left in the bottom.
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That idea of adding protain powder has me thinking, though. That would make Gatorade close to that 4:1 ratio of carbsrotein other sports drinks are raving about.
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Alright smarty pants, but the point still remains. I couldn't drink half a bottle in a few seconds either.
That idea of adding protain powder has me thinking, though. That would make Gatorade close to that 4:1 ratio of carbsrotein other sports drinks are raving about.
That idea of adding protain powder has me thinking, though. That would make Gatorade close to that 4:1 ratio of carbsrotein other sports drinks are raving about.
I can honestly say it's the strongest I ever finished any century. The early protein / carb mix seemed to really make a difference after mile 80 where I usually suffer miserably trying to maintain my pace.
Of course , just one data point. Extrapolate at your own risk.
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Said it before, but will say it again.
Add 1 cup of maltodextrin to your standard bottle. 300-400 of the highest quality cals, dissolves instantly, and costs 1/10th the price of Hammer or Gatorade products.
If I used gels to fuel my last 80 miler, I would have had to ingest 9 of them en route, or $9 of gels.
3 cups of maltodextrin cost less than 25 cents, and works great. (It's the main ingredient in Hammer perpetuem and most gels.)
If you spend over $50 every month or two in nutritional supplements, you really owe it to yourself to give bulk maltodextrin a try, since it's so easy, effective and cheap compared to anything else out there.
Add 1 cup of maltodextrin to your standard bottle. 300-400 of the highest quality cals, dissolves instantly, and costs 1/10th the price of Hammer or Gatorade products.
If I used gels to fuel my last 80 miler, I would have had to ingest 9 of them en route, or $9 of gels.
3 cups of maltodextrin cost less than 25 cents, and works great. (It's the main ingredient in Hammer perpetuem and most gels.)
If you spend over $50 every month or two in nutritional supplements, you really owe it to yourself to give bulk maltodextrin a try, since it's so easy, effective and cheap compared to anything else out there.
#123
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Seriously, I mixed 5 ziplocks of my mix (3/4 scoop gatorade, 12g protein powder, 1/8 tsp lite salt / potassium) and used them (added to water at refill points) on my last century. I was changed over to whateverade they were serving by mile 60 or so.
I can honestly say it's the strongest I ever finished any century. The early protein / carb mix seemed to really make a difference after mile 80 where I usually suffer miserably trying to maintain my pace.
Of course , just one data point. Extrapolate at your own risk.
I can honestly say it's the strongest I ever finished any century. The early protein / carb mix seemed to really make a difference after mile 80 where I usually suffer miserably trying to maintain my pace.
Of course , just one data point. Extrapolate at your own risk.
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#124
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I like Gatorade okay, but my body can't tolerate it. If I have any, I immediately have to urinate urgently--usually within a half-hour of drinking it, and then I pee gallons. So it's really no help for me riding. It goes right through me. I have no idea why it does this to me.
So I stick to water, and if it's hot I try to carry some salty snacks if I'm gonna be out more than a short time.
Thinking of trying Heed to see if that's any better.
So I stick to water, and if it's hot I try to carry some salty snacks if I'm gonna be out more than a short time.
Thinking of trying Heed to see if that's any better.