No Sugar Sports Drink???

I've began "training" for a 25K in the Spring and Marathon in the Fall.  Much of what I read talks about hydration and drinking Sports Drinks (Gaterade) during the long runs.

As a post-op RNYer, I don't do sugar.  You know that whole "dumping" thing.  Reading the labels, most of the sports drinks really are loaded with sugar.

Any recommendations or thoughts?

Thanks!

Mike

Poweraide zero, it will hook you up with hydration and some electrolytes, but as it has no calories, you will have to get nutrition from another source.

For the longer distance events, you will HAVE to have sugar (Carbs) to hlp you get through the race. You depleat Glycogen stores (Your bodies stored sugar) when you run for long distances and you need to replace that or your body will start burning muscle for fuel... WHICH IS NOT GOOD! My recomendation is to get some gatorade or any other Electrolyte replacement drink, and some different brands of Gels. Eat some on a night when you are at home, and have nowhere to go to see if you get sick. If you are ok, integrate them on a long training run and see how you do. I would initially recommend CLIFF products. They are sweetened with evaporated Can Juice which IS NOT a refined sugar (Refined Sugars are usually triggers to dumping) and worked well for me. I like the Cliff SHOT Electolyte drink, again, sweetened with the same stuff, tastes AWESOME, and you can find at most running stores. The Cliff recovery drink is pretty decent too. They also make gels and Cliff Shot Blocks. Give them a try and best of luck...

I like NuuN

http://www.nuun.com/


Easy to carry, can just add it to your water
No messy powders to mix and you don't have to carry a bunch of bottles of pre-mixed stuff.

The flavor is pretty mild, and you can always flavor over it with some crystal light or similar sugar free drink mix.

But I don't rely on this all by itself.  For extended events or activities, Dan is right, you will need some carbs and the easiest way to get them is through a liquid.  Some test studies show that the carbs are more readily absorbed in liquid than when in a solid.
I don't have the article, it was at a seminar that a local Dr. put on.  He received the information at the Hawaii Ironman, where he was a volunteer.  They had several training sessions and educational seminars for the medical professionals, and one of the presentations was about testing and how carbs are best absorbed.

Scott

Just wondering if orange juice or bananas would work at the aid station?  From a non runner.

 I like the hammer stuff.  Some folks here think it taste like butt, but I find it pretty good, all natural and keep the sugars in check.  They'll send you a nice sample pack if you make a small order on the website.  I like the huckleberry gels.

Thanks guys.  

I know I need to carbo load before a race and will be ok doing pasta and complex carbs pre-run.  

My biggest concern is with the Gatorade during the run.  I'll try some gels and definitely am ok with OJ and Bananas.  

I seem to do fine with the "natural" sugars.  It's the "white" stuff that just doesn't do for me post RNY.  Seems even a little makes me queasy which has worked as a great psychological thing to keep me from eating the wrong stuff.

Thanks again for the great advice.

mike

 Hammer Nutrition stuff is great! No refined sugars, no preservatives.
There is a link on my website, which gives me a small discount if you order from the link :).

ROY
www.roytyson.com