Tag: hydration

We Have A Winner

Disclaimer: I received Beachbody Performance to try as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

A month or so back I posted about my struggle with fueling properly in long runs and my proclivity for headaches at the end.  I was testing out new hydration choices with calories so when I had the chance to try BeachBody Performance, I jumped on it.   I was open to anything.  😀

From the website-

The Science Behind Beachbody Performance
Rooted in cutting-edge sports science, exercise physiology, and nutrition research, Beachbody Performance supplements feature key ingredients that are supported by the latest peer-reviewed science, athlete input, and top players in the field of exercise physiology and nutrition.
Beachbody Performance products contain state-of-the-art ergogenic (performance-enhancing) ingredients and phytonutrients that are scientifically shown to improve energy, stamina, strength, focus, and recovery. These key ingredients are included in the formulas at their clinically established effective levels. There are no artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, or preservatives.


When it arrived it was like I had hit the mother lode- so much stuff!! I felt like a kid in a candy shop.  I received-

Energize- pre workout (lemon)

Displaying energize_label_526x526.png

Hydrate- during workout (citrus)

Recover- post workout (chocolate)

Recharge- before bed (vanilla)

And a little guide, which was awesome since I felt a little out of my depth.   Help me!

So let’s talk Energize.  I’ve never used a pre-workout before.   Never really saw the point.  Poor, uneducated Slacker.   I started off with a smaller serving but the first thing I noticed was that I really liked the taste- it’s very lemony.  But I didn’t feel any different.  Hmmm.  I was expecting to feel a kick of something you know?  Next time around, slightly bigger serving. Still yummy but I still didn’t feel any different.  It’s when I was checking my Garmin app that I noticed something odd so I went back and checked the first run too.  Well, heck check those paces- I haven’t hit those paces consistently in months.  Who knew???   And it kept on delivering like that.


Moving on to Hydrate.  I can barely taste the citrus flavor in this but from comments on Twitter I think I’m alone in this opinion.  😛  To me it’s lightly refreshing.   I’ve run every run with it since I got it and guess what??? No long run headaches!!!! Not even after the 10 miler where I ran out water and the temp jumped 30 degrees.  I expected one then but nope, all good.😀


Recover–  now you are supposed to mix this with water about 30 minutes after working out but I prefer milk.   I think it tastes better that way.   Now Recover is designed to aid muscle recovery after a hard workout.  The key ingredients are pomegranate extract and Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs).  They are supposed to help support recovery and promote muscle repair post hard workout.  So did I feel better after?  I’m not sure, it’s hard to say.  I know my calves have been less tight but I also have new shoes sooooo?

Recharge– I’m not going to lie, I had the hardest time with this one.   I don’t eat or drink anything other than water past a certain time due to my GI issues usually so most often it was really hard for me to remember to drink this before bed on workout days.  So very hard.

So some issues I have encountered-

How the heck do you easily transport it?   Since I run after work during the week, I’ve been taking the entire container of Energize and Hydrate to work on Mondays and bringing them back home on Fridays.  I also took both containers to Livermore with me.  Not exactly convenient.  I could probably premix in water bottles but I have a tendency to lose water bottles.    While I love the taste of the Recover, I do have troubles mixing it completely.  Whether I mix it in the blender bottle or in a cup with a whisk I have issues.  Again, that could just be me.      Also, my commute gave me some issues with the time frame.  Energize is recommended to be used 30 minutes before exercising.  Which is great if I run from work.  If run in home town and drink it on the way there, I inevitably arrive needing a restroom and hometown locks those all up.    Similarly, Recover is usually later than 30 minutes post workout because of my commute.  However those are issues very specific to me.

So what are my thoughts overall?

I really like the Energize and Hydrate- I will keep buying those.    As for Recover and Recharge, I am still on the fence.  I have quite a bit left of those though so I have more opportunities to to see if I can work out the kinks there.

Have you ever used Beachbody?

Do you use a pre-workout?

How about a recovery drink?

 

Ultima Replenisher Review

Disclaimer: I received Ultima Replenisher to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

When the chance came up to try Ultima Replenisher, I have to admit that I had never heard of it.  So I headed to the website to check it out.

6 electrolytes plus support minerals, real fruit flavors and plant-based colors, vegan, nonGMO, no caffeine and gluten-free

ultima

Hey, that fit all of the new dietary restrictions I had just been hit with plus the flavors looked tempting.  I liked what I had been using but felt like it wasn’t really holding up in my marathon training.   Maybe it was time to branch out.   Plus Dean Karnazes is one of their ambassadors and who runs more than he does?  Sorry, fan girl moment.  😛


It arrived on a Friday- perfect timing for weekend running!  I tested the Lemonade and Raspberry flavors.  The Raspberry came in single serve packets, 20 to a box.  Awesome for portability, perfect for shoving in my purse, and my gym bag…and my car.   The Lemonade was in a little plastic canister and contained 30 servings.  It also had the cutest little scoop I’d ever seen.  Little things, right?  They also have a 90 serving canister.


I tried the raspberry at work the next day.  Having to work on a Saturday totally calls for electrolyte help right?   Not bad, kind of sweet but pretty good. Ok, truth moment- I don’t think I’ve ever had a real raspberry so I am not sure how close the taste is.  I later tried the lemonade on afternoon run.  Holy crap!  I drink lemonade every day why had I never tried  lemonade flavored drink mix before?!    Who knew?!


So those were my first impressions.  I kept using it and I noticed my flavor preferences changed.   I was loving the raspberry.    I was using it on all my shorter runs and for recovery.   The sweetness kind of makes me think of candy and I won’t lie- I have a sweet tooth.     😏

I tend to suffer from a lot of headaches- they tend to get worse after hot runs.    They did seem to improve after drinking Ultima on my runs.  Now that could just be because the taste makes me want to drink more than I used to but I’ll take it.   I was kind of skimpy about my water intake while running before.  Don’t get me wrong, the headaches are still there, they just hurt a little less.

My only real sticking point is the canister.   While I like the idea of a loose powder and the larger serving size, I cannot be trusted to not make a mess.  Maybe if I used a larger mouthed water bottle I would spill less.   The scoop, while adorable, is a little too small.  Or my hands are too big.    Both of those things are my quirks though.  😛   Also, the colder the water the more the powder tends to clump when first mixed.   This never bothered me as I tend to drink water at room temperature anyways.  And it was nothing a good shake couldn’t fix.


I liked my first box so much, I went through it pretty quick.  😢 So I ordered myself some more!   They have a combo pack which is awesome so I can try all the flavors- Raspbeyy, Lemonade, Orange, Grape and Cherry Pomegranate.  Orange is pretty much my favorite flavor in everything so I am hoping I like it as well.   Fingers crossed!!

Want to try Ultima?  Use code “BIBRAVE2016” for 35% off plus free shipping.  It’s a great deal!

How do you hydrate?