Do you shake?

And by "shake", I mean Protein Shake.      

Do you drink them?  Have you ever?

I was decidedly undecided about them, their purpose, validity and necessity seemed vague to me.  Some people claim they're amazing and others say that unless you are working out VERY intensely, they're not necessary.

I guess I now fall in the middle of the road.  I had been thinking of incorporating them in to my diet as I probably don't always get the protein I need and depending on the day, can spend hours at the gym.

A friend recommended the brand Myofusion and gave me a few samples.  I have to say, they're not half bad.  The taste is decent and the calorie content is relatively low.  That was one of my biggest shocks when I started looking in to Protein powders, the high calorie content.  Especially given that many of them taste like crap and need to be mixed with milk and other additives which only up the calorie count further.  For this one, I just add water and find that it's almost enjoyable to consume.  Who knew?

As for whether or not this will enhance my performance or recovery, I can't yet say.  But I am going to give them a try and will keep you posted.

And yet another Energy Bar (kind of) Review

Since all my reviews thus far have been positive, I feel like I need to also mention a product I didn't like.  But not wanting to bash anyone, I'm going to comment on two products here, both by the same brand.  One good, one not so much.

So first, the good...

These PowerBar Energy Gel Blasts were also a pleasant surprise.  I can remember eating Power Bars back in the day, with their taffy like consistency and their mediocre at best flavors.  Honestly, I haven't had anything "PowerBar" in years, and still can't comment on the bars.

These were part of the goodie bag at Spin Odyssey also.  My bike-neighbor ate hers during the ride and told me to give them a try as they were "really good".

I didn't try them until a few weeks after the event but she was right, I was pleasantly surprised.  They taste like candy.  I ate them on a day where I was scheduled to teach 4 classes (only 3 happened).  While they definitely tasted good, I can't say they did anything to improve my performance or my energy.  But then again, I'm not really sure how one would test something like that.  Even if i'm tired, I usually wake up the moment I get on the bike.  But if you're looking for something that tastes good and "claims" to give you energy, I'd give these a try.

What I didn't love however, was that they contain 24g of sugar in six pieces.

And now the product I didn't like.....drum roll please....

PowerBar Gel

This product was handed out during the first hour of our six hour ride.  Knowing I had a lot in front of me, I figured I'd give it a try.

I'm not a fan of orange-type flavored things to begin with, but there wasn't a choice of flavor.  I knew these things were popular.

I ripped open the top and took some in my mouth.  If you had seen my face you probably would have laughed.  Warm goo that tasted horrible and felt just plain old gross in my mouth.  I tried it one more time and then discarded the almost full packet.  Disgusting!

Maybe serious athletes can overlook the taste to reap the benefits, but I'm clearly not one of them.

Have you tried this product or something similar?  If so, what did you think?

To Sleep or Not To Sleep?

I think I might be addicted to melatonin.  Well, not really, but I do rely on it (possibly more than I should).

It all started with me and my non-stop brain.  I'd be exhausted yet get in to bed and that's when the thinking started.  The most trivial details would all of a sudden become important.  "I needed to email so and so and tell them something and i'd start the email like this, and then they'll say this....." and on and on it went.  Knowing I definitely didn't need a prescription to help me sleep, I tried melatonin.  While it wasn't anything drastic, I did feel like it might have helped.

Jump forward to a year or so later.  I'm working out at night and after a hard workout find that while my body is exhausted, my mind is riled up.  Once again, enter melatonin.

As a rule I try not to take it on weekends.  I also try to only take it on nights when I workout in the evening (alhtough I broke that rule the other night).

So, what's the deal with melatonin?  Does it work?  Is it good for me?  Is it bad for me?

Here's some info from WebMD.
Dosages can range from .2mg to 20mg depending on the need.  (I stick with the standard OTC 3mg.)  So far it seems to have been proven safe for long and short term use but may have some side effects.
Enter the side effects..

• sleepiness (duh!)
• changes in blood vessels that may affect blood flow
• lower body temperature
• headaches
• stomach problems
• morning grogginess
• vivid dreams

What the piece really seems to say is that it's vital to clue your doctor in to what you're doing.  If you are taking melatonin, make sure to tell your doc, whether it's one a month or every night. 

Based upon what i've read, i'm going to deduce that my Melatonin habit just may be alright, but i'll also make sure to discuss it with my MD at my next appointment.

Please don't take my information as a recommendation or endorsement.  Check with a doctor before taking any new supplement.  (that's my version of a disclaimer)