| Question: Should my son use pre-workout drinks like | | | | typical teenage attitude which often lacks emotional |
| N-O-Explode? He is in high school and asked me to | | | | control, the combination can be difficult to deal with. |
| get him some but I don't know anything about them. | | | | We, on the other hand, teach young athletes how to |
| What about post-workout drinks? Are they any | | | | recognize the triggers that occur early in the workout |
| good? | | | | which heighten the senses to get you fully engaged |
| Answer: Pre-workout formulas are advertised as | | | | mentally as well as physically. Once you realize how |
| supplements that heighten your awareness, intensify | | | | to turn it on, with practice, you are able to do it |
| your training, provide a little protein and some carbs | | | | almost at will. This comes along with an aggressive |
| to prepare you to train with maximum intensity. The | | | | attitude as well but this one dissipates when the |
| advertising sells the idea that the products are | | | | workout is over and will usually leave you exhausted |
| necessary to workout with enough intensity to | | | | but satisfied. |
| promote growth. It's marketing not muscle. These | | | | Post workout drinks typically contain whey protein |
| things along with the energy drinks that are sold | | | | for rapid absorption to feed the muscles and |
| everywhere have no place in a high school athlete's | | | | maltodextrose or some other type of sugar to |
| gym bag. I have even spoken with 5th graders who | | | | replace the carbs that have been used up during |
| start their day with an energy drink and a doughnut | | | | training. The usual amount of protein they contain |
| because they don't get enough rest and don't eat | | | | varies between 35 to 50 grams and they deliver 100 |
| nutritious food. The old school idea of getting a | | | | grams of carbs usually. The protein is rapidly |
| balanced breakfast consisting of some protein, carbs | | | | absorbed since it is already in a state that requires |
| and fats seems to have been replaced by the notion | | | | less enzyme reaction in your digestive system. It is |
| of caffeine and a sugar rush. | | | | best to consume these within 45 minutes of a |
| The preworkout drinks, do indeed, "jack you up" and | | | | workout and then have a meal within another hour or |
| seem to heighten your senses along with giving an | | | | so the shakes don't fill you up for very long. |
| aggressive nature necessary to be productive. | | | | The energy drinks and preworkout formulas are not |
| However, this aggressive attitude when it comes in a | | | | necessary and for some people less than desirable, |
| bottle doesn't turn off when you leave the gym. It | | | | however, the post workout formulas are good for |
| can last for hours and when this is mixed with the | | | | replenishing the body after a hard workout. |