Drink This And You'll Void Your Workout
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I remember when I was trying to lose body fat and build a little muscle for the first time at a "gym rat" style gym, and I got into a conversation with one of those gym rats with almost no fat and a lot of muscle. I asked him, "Why can't I lose weight? What protein shakes do you drink?"
He said, "Eat food! The protein drinks and sports drinks are candy.
I replied, "What food do you eat? Do you do supplements?"
He reiterated his stance by saying, "Food! I eat meat and vegetables. If you want to get muscle and lose fat, eat FOOD and drink water!'"
Many people are beginning to make exercise a part of their lives on a daily basis to lose body fat. While this is a great way to live, many are unknowingly consuming too many Calories. If they are not reaching their goals, it may be because they are drinking sports beverages while they are exercising, making their workouts null and void.
According to the British paper, The Telegraph, the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine at Oxford University has raised concerns that these drinks, such as Gatorade, are contributing to the obesity epidemic. People consume sports drinks thinking they are "healthy," because of the big marketing pushes by the manufacturers. "Why can't I lose weight?" you might ask. It is because sports beverages have anywhere between 80 and 300 Calories in them. They don't help us to lose body fat.
Examples are: Gatorade, 16 oz., 100 Calories; Power-Ade, 16 oz., 140 Calories; Vitamin Water, 16 oz. 100 Calories. Many go through two and three bottles before, during, and after a workout.
The study included contacting sports drink makers to provide their own studies. 176 studies were provided, but only three studies were deemed to be reliable and without bias. Most studies, furthermore did not apply to the general consuming public, who want to lose body fat.
Also debunked was the advice that they should be consumed before, during, or after workouts. The only effect the sports drinks have on most is the addition of Calories, and these Calories are coming from simple carbohydrates- high fructose corn syrup, which is one of the more unhealthy sugars we can consume. That is why many are asking, "Why can't I lose weight?" while exercising faithfully.
Oxford also published a study that debunks the claims of sports drink makers that sports drinks enhance performance and improves exercise. Unless you do really rigorous training, these drinks are not only unnecessary, but add unneeded simple carbohydrates to your Caloric intake.
Sports drinks do have a place with some workouts. Very long, intense workouts by athletes, although supported by inconsistent studies, may help a little bit.
Is there a better strategy?
A much better choice, they contend, is to drink just plain water. It has no Calories, and it quenches one's thirst very quickly. Cold water hydrates the body and re-energizes the athlete. Fruit flavored water is sold on the market, providing a little good taste along with the hydration. As an added benefit, water helps us to lose body fat.
A great strategy in lieu of sports drinks, if you want to stop asking, "Why can't I lose weight?" is to make sure enough carbohydrate Calories are consumed before exercising to give adequate energy to do strength training and/or cardiovascular exercise.
After working out, it is best to consume a balanced meal with complex carbohydrates and protein, and not just sugar with protein in it.
Another strategy is to be more choosy about what sport beverages we drink. Look for diet drinks. There are many types of zero-Calorie sweeteners, such as aspartame, but an up-and-coming natural sweetener is called Stevia. It may be worth a try for those who just have to drink sports beverages. And it will quench our thirst and help us to lose body fat. After all, isn't that what we're after?
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