I drink water, gatorade or a smoothie. Put a couple bananas, some milk, ice and protein powder in the blender and there you go. Keeps the muscles from cramping up.
I have read some pretty bad stuff about energy drinks, used to drink them until I heard about the bad stuff in them. Not to mention they make me feel cracked out.
Before I head out on a morning session I have to make sure I've done the following three things: drink coffee, sh!t, and put a towel in my truck. I HATE when I forget the towel.
I enjoy the coffee afterwards. But try to stay away from energy drinks or mountain dew, probably the only time I ever drink those is when Im at the movie theater. It think it's ridiculous how after a Red Bull/Monster/whatever sponsored event the kids are drinking can after can of that stuff pretending it's beer.
I used to drink a sugar free red bull or monster before every surf but the last few years I've felt extremely thirsty within about 30 mins after paddling out. Still get one every now and again but I'm still noticably thirsty soon after getting out.
No energy drinks or coffee here. Just water or fresh fruit/vegetable juice. Or the occasional smoothie of banana and assorted fruits. Coconut water has a good amount of electrolytes in it also, but i don't always have that on hand. I don't understand why people drink these "energy" drinks anyway... just another habit that can be hazardous to your health. Even to much coffee can do you in... simplify guys!! Before you know it, you cant start your morning with out that cup of joe! You're all addicts!!!!!! haha
Caffeine has proven ergogenic effects - just google 'caffeine triathlon', almost 3/4 of Ironmen triathletes report using caffeine to enhance performance. If you're really interested in the performance boost caffeine will give you, you need to do some research on dosing - how much to take and when to take it in relation to exercise.
i'm so glad that i'm not the only one who feels this way. so many of the younger (& not-so-younger) guys i work w/ at my second job practically live on those things. the only time i've really drank them is out at night partying when i was a bit younger or on late-night long distance drives. i drink about 2 cups of coffee daily, get headaches if i don't, but those things are on a whole different level. i don't like how they taste or make me feel. i whole heartedly second the notion of gaining more energy through a cleaner diet. before a morning session i'll usually have a cup of coffee, either a banana or a clif bar, & some water. that'll usually sustain me for a good 3 hours or so. then i'll have a decent breakfast afterward. what i eat will depend on what i have to do post-session. if i'm going to work, i'll usually get a breakfast sandwich w/ turkey sausage & egg whites & a cup of coffee. if i'm just going home, i'll brew up a fresh pot of coffee & have some healthy cereal w/ non-fat milk.
I think most people who engage in the activities the commercials show - don't drink energy drinks.... but the marketing doesnt care about that I suppose. As someone mentioned before they want the people who don't know these athletes don't drink it. They want these somewhat clueless people to say... hey, I want to jump from an airplane.... I better go buy some redbull... then a parachute! lol. Also, its funny, after a surfer wins a contest they hoist said surfer on shoulders and shove an open can of redbull into their hands.... sometimes followed by a fake sip... but I've never seen one being consumed!! lol.
If it's a real dawn patrol where I roll out of bed and go (having loaded boards, wetsuit, towel, etc. the night before), I usually just grab a bottle of water and something light to eat to raise the blood sugar - banana, toast, cookies, granola bar, pop tart, whatever is around. If I went with someone, we'll almost always treat ourselves to a post-session breakfast at a nearby greasy spoon joint. Scrapple tastes best after surfing. If it's a more leisurely later-in-the-morn sesh, my favorite "energy meal" is chocolate milk and those mini powdered donuts from the 7-11. Makes for the best tasting burps in the lineup.
Energy drinks are terrible for you, regardless of sugar free or not. The solution to energy problems is having a healthy lifestyle / diet. If you eat correctly and lay off sugar, caffein and booz, you'll have more energy than you know what to do with. I got off the caffein train a couple years ago and i am always up and ready to go. Thought i'd need the caffein while I was quitting it but i find i have MORE energy than before.
Not what i'm suggesting at all there Bub. I still drink beer and eat something unhealthy from time to time. Was just saying that most people who are constantly chasing energy are doing so because they are putting the wrong things in their system. If you are someone who drinks a lot of caffein your body will be in a relentless never ending cycle of wanting / needing caffein, and your mind will covince itself that is what you need for energy. I broke that cycle a couple years back and now I never ever need caffein to have ample energy. I even burn one or two daily and still have energy to spare. It's cause of how I eat / drink.
Good advice here but what's life without a few vices???? Reminds me of an anti-running quote I read once: "Studies show that people who run regularly live 10 years longer than those who don't. The downside is you spend that extra 10 years running." As someone who'd rather split a truck load of firewood or dig a 4' hole for sh1ts n giggles than run a 1/2 mile, it always made me laugh.
I agree 100%, definitely should have a vice or two, the key is to do those things in moderation but have a standard lifestyle you stick with after you have endulged in the said occassional vice. Have your "fix" and then give yourself a week or two straight of none of it, having balance is the answer.
If your looking for good energy to surf on carb up..... but don't sugar up. Looking for a good way to end up with an enlarged heart, guzzle plenty of those crappy sports drinks day in and day out and you'll be in the ground way before your time.
I did work for a guy who said caffeine had beneficial affects. He said dosage and the individual was the key. He knew quite a bit scientifically and actually had a canister of "pure caffeine" in powder form (it wasn't coke). A couple years ago I developed a complete intolerance to caffeine. A single cup of coffee or can of coke will ruin my whole day, making me feel like sh*t in a squirrely hang-over type fashion. The weird part is I drank one or two cups a day for years with no issues. It took me more than a month to figure out why I felt like turd snacks every day. I cut out the coffee and boom, there was the problem. I still can enjoy a cup of decaf though.
Developed a similar issue, i drink decaf now, had a huge cup of it this morning actually. If i drink caffein now it makes me sweat pretty badly, it's no good. I use to drink energy drinks and diet coke among other things all the time for years.
