Gatorlytes and energy gels.

[Power Player]

The humid season is hitting hard here, and I have begun my fun ritual of calf and hamstring cramps. It pretty much ruins my tennis for the day when it happens and kills me on serve where I like to lift off the ground on my toes. Can't do that when I feel those calf twinges.

So I decided how I would attack this - 4 litres of water a day. plus 1.5 litres with me when I exercise. So thats 4 litres if I don't exercise and 5.5 if I do.

Been doing this a while - I highly recommend drinking this much water. It is truly great for your skin and I feel like it may just be the one thing that most people do not do enough, which is hydrate.

But I sweat a lot. And it is salty. I believe that is where my issues come in. So my counter to this is to drink gatorade out there as well. That has never really done enough, so I looked up Gatorlytes and ordered a 20 pack. I believe you add this pack to your drink and have it while you exercise. I am hoping it is the cure for me, as the cramping is awful and has cost me matches before.

For anyone that adds this to their gatorade - can you get away with the sugar free G2? I prefer low sugar as much as possible.

Also, thinking about using an energy gel before I play, especially in the AM. It just may be that little wake up boost I need. I do not like drinking coffee or large amounts of caffeine like a 5 hour energy before a match, but I was curious if these gels can be a help in that regard, as they seem to have a smaller amount. Just want something to get me going and clear the cobwebs out.

Anybody who uses these types of supps please chime in. I have gone supp free with nothing but water and a clif bar, and that simply does not work for me. Even with the large amount of water I consume, I still get incredible cramps so I clearly need to dose electrolytes better.

also timing- is it best to consume this gatorade with gatorlytes before I play? Or go half before, then finish it during?

 

[EP1998]

I have used gator lytes and they are very effective. the best actually. i mixed with plain water (they taste awful) and have Gatorade on the side here and there. The gator lytes don't have the added chemicals. I also use gels, one at the start and usually another at a set break. There are several brands that are low sugar

I also drink a glass of water on the way to the courts. Sometimes with a vitamin drink mixed in

You have to experiment a little with what works for you. Too much water was sometimes a problem for me.

 

[Power Player]

Awesome. Do you drink the entire gator lyte pack before you hit the court?

 

[EP1998]

No, just plain water before the court or maybe water with a vitamin pack.

With the gator lytes, I drink during play. I have a bottle with water and gator lyte. I also have a plain water and a Gatorade. I drink some of each. I tried pickle juice too but the gator lytes are better.

 

[Power Player]

Ok awesome. Thanks. I will do a modified version of what you are doing.

 

[JackB1]

Be careful taking energy gels right before a match. You don't want to artificially speed up your heart before and then hit the court and compound it.

 

[torpantennis]

No need to pay high prices of these Gatorade style products IMO, just eat a banana or two during playing, and you get the magnesium dose you're after. In addition, I take a magnesium citrate pill on the evening and the next morning after any exercise days, and haven't ever got any cramping problems.

 

[Power Player]

Be careful taking energy gels right before a match. You don't want to artificially speed up your heart before and then hit the court and compound it.

Why do you think this? Arent they designed for people about to run cycle and play sports? I will find out today how it goes and post results. They say to take 15 mins before, so ill see what happens.

No need to pay high prices of these Gatorade style products IMO, just eat a banana or two during playing, and you get the magnesium dose you're after. In addition, I take a magnesium citrate pill on the evening and the next morning after any exercise days, and haven't ever got any cramping problems.

The banana and magnesium doesnt work for me. I did both. Still take magnesium.

I sweat too much salt out.

 

[purple-n-gold]

I hear you PP, heat and humidity can take a big toil on a body no matter how well conditioned, I sweat alot as well. Used to play several tourneys during the hot and muggy summers here and I found that it was the double match days and playing 3 days in a row that required extra prep. I would get hand and toe cramps and often the calf tingling that you speak of. Heavy sweaters need to replace the sodium lost, and often times consuming just water or Gatorade during and after play can make the cramps worse. I used an OTC supplement called Thermotabs and they solved the issue entirely. I'm sure you've heard of people drinking pickle juice and mustard, but these can cause GI issues and not easily measured. A gallon + of water may sound like alot to some folks, but will make you feel much better especially if you're active.

 

[movdqa]

I generally bring two liters of water and I will mix in a packet of Emergen-C if it's hot and humid. I may take a glass of water with Emergen-C before heading out to the courts.

If I find that I have cramping issues, then I will increase my salt consumption the night before playing. I think that using supplements are fine, as long as you keep the sugar out - and it's nice if they don't cost an arm and a leg.

 

[torpantennis]

The banana and magnesium doesnt work for me. I did both. Still take magnesium.

I sweat too much salt out.

But is your magnesium supplement magnesiumcitrate, or cheaper magnesiumoxide? Magnesiumoxide is like couple of THOUSANDS times less soluble to water, i.e won't do any good.

And if you need salt, then intake salt.

 

[Power Player]

I hear you PP, heat and humidity can take a big toil on a body no matter how well conditioned, I sweat alot as well. Used to play several tourneys during the hot and muggy summers here and I found that it was the double match days and playing 3 days in a row that required extra prep. I would get hand and toe cramps and often the calf tingling that you speak of. Heavy sweaters need to replace the sodium lost, and often times consuming just water or Gatorade during and after play can make the cramps worse. I used an OTC supplement called Thermotabs and they solved the issue entirely. I'm sure you've heard of people drinking pickle juice and mustard, but these can cause GI issues and not easily measured. A gallon + of water may sound like alot to some folks, but will make you feel much better especially if you're active.

Yep you get it. I think a lot of people just dont understand that "just taking salt" is not really the solution that works for me.

 

[JackB1]

Why do you think this? Arent they designed for people about to run cycle and play sports? I will find out today how it goes and post results. They say to take 15 mins before, so ill see what happens.

I'm talking about stuff with caffeine, like 5 hr energy. You don't want to take anything like that before tennis. Energy bars like Cliff bars however are fine.

 

[tdhawks]

Have you tried HEED from Hammer Nutrition? Their supplement line is geared toward cyclist and contain more complex sources of carbohydrates compared to the blood sugar spiking type found in most sports drinks.

A client of mine does the Ironman every year and swears by the stuff. I have been hooked on in for the past few years and use it every match.

Gatorade used to rot my stomach and I noticed highs and lows with energy. HEED keeps my blood sugar stable during matches and have never cramped using it.

It's worth checking out.

 

[movdqa]

Have you tried HEED from Hammer Nutrition? Their supplement line is geared toward cyclist and contain more complex sources of carbohydrates compared to the blood sugar spiking type found in most sports drinks.

A client of mine does the Ironman every year and swears by the stuff. I have been hooked on in for the past few years and use it every match.

Gatorade used to rot my stomach and I noticed highs and lows with energy. HEED keeps my blood sugar stable during matches and have never cramped using it.

It's worth checking out.

I've often wondered why supplement-makers haven't gone to Stevia for use as their sweetener. It's been around for a while and its use in Zevia is the reason that it's the only soda that I'll drink - I have about two or three a year - I can only find it at Whole Foods. Nice to see a supplement that doesn't drown you in sugar.

 

[Power Player]

I'm talking about stuff with caffeine, like 5 hr energy. You don't want to take anything like that before tennis. Energy bars like Cliff bars however are fine.

Yes I agree with that. These gels have small amounts of caffeine in comparison. I took one before I played today and it was fine, but slightly buzzy. I dont really need one in the evening, but before an earlier match, these gels will be good.

As for Heed I just buy small G2. It does not have as much sugar. I like a little glucose in me when I play. Helps me out. When I get the electrolyte pack, I think I am going to be in good shape.

 

[JackB1]

Have you tried HEED from Hammer Nutrition? Their supplement line is geared toward cyclist and contain more complex sources of carbohydrates compared to the blood sugar spiking type found in most sports drinks.

A client of mine does the Ironman every year and swears by the stuff. I have been hooked on in for the past few years and use it every match.

Gatorade used to rot my stomach and I noticed highs and lows with energy. HEED keeps my blood sugar stable during matches and have never cramped using it.

It's worth checking out.

Where do u buy it?

 

[RogueFLIP]

Also, thinking about using an energy gel before I play, especially in the AM. It just may be that little wake up boost I need. I do not like drinking coffee or large amounts of caffeine like a 5 hour energy before a match, but I was curious if these gels can be a help in that regard, as they seem to have a smaller amount. Just want something to get me going and clear the cobwebs out.

What about green tea? That's what I drink for AM matches for caffeine. Don't like coffee either.

 

[RogueFLIP]

I sweat a lot too....a lot , and while I've never experienced cramping, I wound up making my own electrolyte drink.

Used to drink the Gatorade and the Prime chews and drinks beforehand though. Worked fine for me, certainly better than water alone.

Partly why I switched was I was having dental issues which my dentist after a review of my diet attributed the Gatorade as the #1 culprit.

Experimented with coconut water. Wound up having to add Himalayan sea salt to boost the sodium content. Wasn't cost effective and honestly not a fan of the coconut taste.

Tried a teaspoon of pickle juice.....NO.

Now I use a pineapple juice/water/sea salt mixture. Works great, cheap, been using it over a year now.

Drank a Gatorade Prime and a Gatorade earlier this year one time because I forgot my mixture at home......stuff gave me the sugar jitters. Never again.

Oh, and no more dental issues.

 

[Power Player]

I sweat a lot too....a lot , and while I've never experienced cramping, I wound up making my own electrolyte drink.

Sorry but you dont sweat a lot then.

 

[tdhawks]

Where do u buy it?

I get it locally, but you can find it online pretty easily. Strawberry is my favorite of all the flavors. It's not overbearing at all.

 

[Brian72]

I've mentioned this before in various threads. I was training for a marathon and was struggling with my calves cramping up to the point it was have a terrible impact on my training. I started taking this http://www.traceminerals.com/products/liquid-tablet-minerals/concentrace-ionic-minerals twice a day. I immediately stopped having issues and haven't had issues since. It's relatively inexpensive. There are 96 servings per bottle and there are probably other heath benefits from taking it. Also, not sugar or other stuff added. I mixed it with other things like my pre-workout drink, protein drink, or my arginine supplement. They also have a product that is just electrolytes.

 

[Bud]

When cramping, drink some pickle juice.

 

[dman72]

I thought I sweated a lot, but I'm more likely to feel a bit light headed in 95 degree and Humid NY summers..luckily never had cramps. My diet is really high in salt so maybe that helps.

Gatorade makes me have to go to the bathroom in a BIG way, not good. Way too much citric acid in that stuff. And Stevia tastes awful.

Random musings.

 

[Power Player]

When cramping, drink some pickle juice.

I did that. While it worked sometimes and mustard packs work as well for staving off cramps, I need something more finely tuned for an athlete who cramps a lot.

For me it sounds like the Gatorlytes are going to be a good solution. I should have them for my next outing.

 

[JackB1]

Now I use a pineapple juice/water/sea salt mixture. Works great, cheap, been using it over a year now.

Drank a Gatorade Prime and a Gatorade earlier this year one time because I forgot my mixture at home......stuff gave me the sugar jitters. Never again.

Oh, and no more dental issues.

Can I have the recipe???

 

[JackB1]

I get it locally, but you can find it online pretty easily. Strawberry is my favorite of all the flavors. It's not overbearing at all.

Thanks, I'll check it out. It's only $1 per serving, so it's no more expensive then Gatorade. They also have a nice Recovery powder drink called "Recoverite".

 

[TroutSc]

Interesting thread. I'm looking for good hydration info. I drink a lot of water ( and also beers at night after playing). I went through a period of recurring calf issues which I'm convinced was hydration related. I went the coconut water rout pretty heavily and feel that it really helped. But as someone said, it's expensive. 2 or 3 of those a day adds up quick, was spending about $9 a day but it seems to work for me. I found some deals on Amazon(prime free shipping) but nothing too crazy cheap. I also found powder coconut water pouches and those were far cheaper and seemed ok, might order some more of those. It would be cool to find some kind of homemade concoction that worked as well. Not sure what's in the coconut water that works, but I dig it. Surely it's just no the potassium. ?

 

[Bud]

I did that. While it worked sometimes and mustard packs work as well for staving off cramps, I need something more finely tuned for an athlete who cramps a lot.

For me it sounds like the Gatorlytes are going to be a good solution. I should have them for my next outing.

Let us know how they work

 

[RogueFLIP]

Can I have the recipe???

Sure.....but YMMV.

1/4 teaspoon Trader Joe Himalayan Sea salt dissolved in:
8 oz water
18 3/4 oz Trader Joe Pineapple Juice

My Under Armour squeeze bottles said it was 32 oz. But that's filled to the absolute brim and if you put the top on, it'd leak. So to the top of bottle before the threads it measures 26 3/4 oz.

A registered dietician relative of mine said that the Himalayan sea salt has more trace minerals than regular sea salt, so I just took her word for it.

When I was experimenting using coconut water, because it has sodium in it already, I added only 1/8 tsp sea salt.

But besides the expense of coconut water, to me it's best when drunk COLD. I wasn't already a big fan of the taste, and when it got warm it wasn't pleasant.

 

[LuckyR]

I did that. While it worked sometimes and mustard packs work as well for staving off cramps, I need something more finely tuned for an athlete who cramps a lot.

For me it sounds like the Gatorlytes are going to be a good solution. I should have them for my next outing.

Folks are throwing around all kinds of remedies from Gatorade to gels to mustard packs, but you've got to seperate carmp prevention from cramp treatment to hydration issues.

Gatorade is best at the hydration thing, but has too few electrolytes to impact cramps a whole lot.

Pickle juice is the opposite, it has a very high concentration of lytes and is only for cramp treatment, since the taste is too radical for prevention.

Any moderately high sodium intake device will do a decent job at cramp prevention whether it is a packet of crystals you buy at a specialty store (at higher $) or a bag of pretzels from tha gas station.

 

[maggmaster]

Cramps have a couple pathways, sodium is good but a combo of sodium, calcium, magnesium and potassium is better.

 

[Power Player]

Cramps have a couple pathways, sodium is good but a combo of sodium, calcium, magnesium and potassium is better.

Exactly. That is exactly what gatorlytes have in the packet.

Folks are throwing around all kinds of remedies from Gatorade to gels to mustard packs, but you've got to seperate carmp prevention from cramp treatment to hydration issues.

Gatorade is best at the hydration thing, but has too few electrolytes to impact cramps a whole lot.

Pickle juice is the opposite, it has a very high concentration of lytes and is only for cramp treatment, since the taste is too radical for prevention.

Any moderately high sodium intake device will do a decent job at cramp prevention whether it is a packet of crystals you buy at a specialty store (at higher $) or a bag of pretzels from tha gas station.

Im pretty sure I said this, but I have done the casual "eat a pretzel, drink pickle juice" thing for a while. It does not always help in my case. I believe I need a more focused approach.

The gatorlytes in gatorade gets tons of raves from people who cramp easily. I will post my results when I get to use them.

 

[LuckyR]

Im pretty sure I said this, but I have done the casual "eat a pretzel, drink pickle juice" thing for a while. It does not always help in my case. I believe I need a more focused approach.

The gatorlytes in gatorade gets tons of raves from people who cramp easily. I will post my results when I get to use them.

What do you mean by "help"? Help prevent or help treat once it has happened?

BTW true muscle cramps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13rfoL94C4I

are unusual in tennis. You mention you "cramp easily", which makes me wonder where exactly the source of the symptoms you suffer from originate.

 

[Power Player]

Help- prevent. If the cramps happen, i am done for the day and cant play tennis so i cant really treat them.

I am not sure why they happen. Wish i knew. Believe it is that I'm low in potassium, and other minerals. I do my best to supplement those, but hoping the gatorlytes help when i exercise.

 

[Power Player]

So far so good. When i sweat, it tastes like salt after i take the gatorlytes. No cramps so far in the humidity. This is great. I put one pack in a small gatorade bottle.

I was having cramps after playing as well, and so far that has not happened since.

These are really great for the price.

 

[Bud]

Help- prevent. If the cramps happen, i am done for the day and cant play tennis so i cant really treat them.

I am not sure why they happen. Wish i knew. Believe it is that I'm low in potassium, and other minerals. I do my best to supplement those, but hoping the gatorlytes help when i exercise.

When you're cramping, pickle juice (or anything vinegar based) doesn't relieve them?