Hammer Gel/ Endurolyte vs Cytomax

[Catrin]

Gels are meant to be eaten straight out of the packet or flask. If you want a powder to mix in your water, Hammer Nutrition's product is called HEED. .... Again, everyone's different...

Thanks for the good information and I had not considered calcium. I am in post-surgical menopause and do try to make sure I get enough.

Someone at my LBS suggested mixing the gel in my water as an experiment. I do like the lightly flavored gel and the flask option hadn't occurred to me. Both of my bikes have a top-tube bag so I have a place to put it.

After my 2 hour ride Sunday in 87 F temps I was quite weak (not a surprise) and had a very sensitive stomach the next day (a surprise) - this is why I was experimenting with the Endurolyte the other evening - I had intended to ride for two hours if I could.

I am happy with how Cytomax works - and it is hard to find the ingredients on the internet - it is just too strongly flavored for my stomach. I note that HEED is available in an unflavored version if you buy it in bulk. That is worth an experiment. I've been told that Hammer products have more "natural" ingredients - I don't know about that - but they are easy to find.

[OakLeaf]

a very sensitive stomach the next day.

For me, that's the #1 sign of not enough sodium. But it wouldn't necessarily be a sign to me that I needed more during the ride. Maybe just learn to be more liberal with the salt shaker at dinner.

Think of sodium in the same way as calories. Too much is a bad thing, and you hear a lot about that on the news, especially right now. But as athletes, we need more of both than the average sedentary person, and not enough will hurt you a lot quicker than too much. Exercise isn't an excuse to go crazy with salt or calories, but it does mean finding a new equilibrium. That just takes some trial and error, but identifying your symptoms and tracking your intake is the place to start.

hard to find the ingredients on the internet

Here ya go - tropical fruit flavor anyway. I should've looked at drugstore.com right off, they've got ingredients for almost everything. Cytomax does contain the artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium.

[indysteel]

Catrin,

Cytomax is one of the few sport drink mixes that my stomach can tolerate. I, too, find most of their flavors to be too sweet at full strength, but some of the flavors, in my opinon, are better than others. I can tolerate the peach and pomegranate berry better than the tropical punch or orange. I think I have both of those flavors at home, so when we meet for our ride, you're welcome to take some home to try. Even with those flavors, however, I make them just slightly weaker than recommended.

[Becky]

Not to add another one into the mix, but Vitalyte tends to be very lightly flavored (except the orange). I can mix it full-strength and not get stomach discomfort.

http://www.vitalyte.com/products/

[Catrin]

Catrin,

Cytomax is one of the few sport drink mixes that my stomach can tolerate. I, too, find most of their flavors to be too sweet at full strength, but some of the flavors, in my opinon, are better than others. I can tolerate the peach and pomegranate berry better than the tropical punch or orange. I think I have both of those flavors at home, so when we meet for our ride, you're welcome to take some home to try. Even with those flavors, however, I make them just slightly weaker than recommended.

I have the cool citrus, and I would love to try a little of the peach and pomegranate berry to see if I can tolerate the flavor. I am certainly looking forward to our ride!

Oakleaf, thanks for mentioning sodium. I do not normally add any salt at all - a lot of my protein comes from fat-free dairy products and the sodium content of that tends to be high - especially fat-free cottage cheese. I may simply be restricting it too much.

Of course, it is also hot, and my body needs to acclimate and BEFORE June 12! That is the day of Tour de Cure Indianapolis, and I will be riding on a hot race track...

Becky - thanks for the heads up on Vitalyte. If I can't get Cytomax or Hammer products to work for me then I will check it out.

[michelem]

Someone at my LBS suggested mixing the gel in my water as an experiment. I do like the lightly flavored gel and the flask option hadn't occurred to me.

Funny thing, the Hammer advice guy -- Steve Born -- suggested the same thing to me when I was marathon training. Stuff that had worked great for distance cycling (Perpetuem) did NOT work well for me for distance running. I tried Heed and ended up getting very swollen hands and feet and vomiting -- UGH!!!

In fact, the faq on Hammer fuels (what they are and how to use them) says, "You can use Hammer Gel in your water bottle (it mixes completely in solution), in the Hammer Flask, in a one–serving pouch, or to flavor other products and foods."

So, there ya go!


As far as the sodium thing, I'm with you in that I am very salt sensitive (I won't even eat frozen plain boneless skinless chicken breast after I've cooked it with nothing added because it tastes too salty to me)!

According to Hammer, "Research reports fit-acclimatized athletes need only 50% of the sodium required to maintain serum sodium levels as do unfit-unacclimatized subjects. The more fit and the more trained & heat-exposed, the less sodium is required. "

Also, "We believe that lowering the sodium intake in your diet will positively affect your athletic performance as well. The body is very adept at storing sufficient amounts of sodium so you will start your workouts and races with plenty of sodium 'on board' and ready to serve you. The difference is that, unlike people who consume a high-sodium diet, an athlete who adopts a low-sodium diet will not lose sodium at the same high rates; it will utilize those stores more efficiently and conserve them more thoroughly."

Hope this helps!

[Catrin]

Funny thing, the Hammer advice guy -- Steve Born -- suggested the same thing to me when I was marathon training. Stuff that had worked great for distance cycling (Perpetuem) did NOT work well for me for distance running. I tried Heed and ended up getting very swollen hands and feet and vomiting -- UGH!!!

In fact, the faq on Hammer fuels (what they are and how to use them) says, "You can use Hammer Gel in your water bottle (it mixes completely in solution), in the Hammer Flask, in a one–serving pouch, or to flavor other products and foods."

So, there ya go!

Thanks for the confirmation - I KNEW that I had seen somewhere that one can use Hammer Gel in this way but perhaps I had just dreamed it or something

Thanks also for the info on sodium - I don't want to get too much, but need enough. For now I think I will hold off on the Endurolyte outside of very hot days and see how that works. Both Heed and Cytomax both have at least basic electrolytes so that is probably enough outside of 90+ degree weather.