Electrolytes

[Indieflickers 298]

What do you guys use to replenish electrolytes? I've been biking a lot lately and getting lightheaded and nauseous so I got the Nuun electrolyte tabs. However, I've discovered that they give me really bad gas pain because they're actually carbonated. Apparently I didn't read the label very well. I know coconut Water is supposed to help, but I can't seem to find one with fewer than 15 grams of sugar. I know there's a lower sugar gatorade but I try to avoid too much sucralose because it tends to give me a headache and serious sugar cravings. Any alternative suggestions?

[Bonbini 67]

How about power aid zero?

[Indieflickers 298]

@@Bonbini it's also got sucralose.

[FocusOnMeNow 599]

They all have different things. Rise Orange Zero Vitamin Water has lots of potassium (5% USRDA). So does "green devotion" juice (24% USRDA). For the green devotion juice it is in the refridgerated section, comes in a small 11oz bottle and I dilute it 50.50 with Water. If you're looking for sodium - chicken broth. If you're looking for magnesium try epsom salt soaks (bath) if not able to take a bath yet at least soak your feet. You can absorb some of that magnesium through your skin. Hope that helps.

[Indieflickers 298]

@@FocusOnMeNow I'll check those out!

[James Marusek 5,244]

Recently I began using "bai5 Antioxidant Infusions" drinks. I found them at Sam's Club. I found that it taste good. It does contain a white tea abstract which has natural caffeine so this is not for someone who recently had surgery but is a little further out.

[Indieflickers 298]

@@James Marusek is almost 7 months far enough out? I'm do drink caffeine, just not a lot. I'll check them out!

[James Marusek 5,244]

I began drinking caffeinated beverages at around 1 year post-op. I would probably forego switching to carbonated beverages until after I have finished the "Weight Loss" phase and entered the "Maintenance" phase. You have lost 143 pounds but you have 90 pounds to go before you get to your goal. So to be on the safe side, if it was me I would probably wait. But it is somewhat up to you. If you are exercising (biking) heavily to the point of becoming dehydrated and light-headed, you need to replenish your electrolytes.

[Indieflickers 298]

@@James Marusek oh I have no desire to start drinking carbonated beverages. Those Nuun tablets are only mildly fizzy and I had serious cramps all day! As for caffeine, I have a cup of black tea in the morning and occasionally one in the afternoon. That's pretty much the extent of it. But I definitely do need to find some way of replenishing my electrolytes. Vega Sport has an electrolyte drink and I've read the Ultimate Replenisher is a good low sugar source too. Has anyone tried either of those?

[jess9395 5,449]

I use nuun but let the bubbles dissipate before I drink. It's not truly carbonated it's more like Alka seltzer and fizzes and then in done.any carbonation gives me cramps for hours but I do nuun just fine.

[Indieflickers 298]

@@jess9395 oh that's good to know!

[Indieflickers 298]

@@jess9395 how do you let it get flat? Just leave it uncovered?

[jess9395 5,449]

It will dissipate whether you leave it open or closed really. Just takes a bit longer if it's closed. I use a sports bottle with one of those pop tops that opens to squirt the Water and I just leave that open

[Indieflickers 298]

@@jess9395 I'll try that. I freeze mine overnight because it doesn't taste very good warm (which it is by the end of my ride). I'll try letting it sit out for awhile first.

[Chrystee 838]

I don't usually drink anything other than Water, but after a particularly hard and very hot (over 90 degrees and 20 miles) ride last week, I HAD to stop and get a Gatorade, and they had no G2.. So I just had reg. Gatorade. I drank 1/2 the bottle, but I really did need it. So, I'm thinking you could Water down the Gatorade maybe. Pedialyte is also actually really good for replenishing and you absorb it really fast.

But at the mileage that you are doing now, you really shouldn't need it. Are you drinking enough water and eating a high Protein snack about an hour before?

Caffeine can actually dehydrate you, so I would leave that out before or during a ride.

Edited September 22, 2015 by Chrystee