The end of the triathlon season is fast approaching, and so is my third and final triathlon for 2015. I’ve been on a crazy journey this year having learnt to swim so I could take part in a triathlon and I couldn’t be anymore proud of my achievements so far. I’m kinda doing things back to front though and ending the season completing the shortest distance to date for me – a starter triathlon.
I made this decision based on the fact that I knew I needed some time out over July and August; I wanted to be able to complete the event comfortably and to have a little more cycle training under my belt.
So I teamed up with Predator Nutrition to help me nail my nutrition and training. They supplied me with a selection of Quest Bars and three weeks supply of Optimum Nutritionās Gold Standard Pre-workout.
The pre workout, as its name suggests, was to be taken before my training to provide focus, energy and drive. Having moved back to Essex (the outskirts of London) recently I haven’t been on my bike much but I’ve been trying to hit up a spin class every now and then.
No matter when I go to spin though, I never seem to be able to keep up or get my legs to move as fast as I need to! I thought this would be the perfect time and place to try out the pre-workout.
I added half a sachet (11g, 1 serving) to 500ml (they recommend 350ml but I found it to be too sweet) of cold water which I started drinking 15 minutes before class, then up to 15 minutes before the end of the class.
This was my first time ever taking pre-working. Mission accomplished. My legs have never moved so fast, I’ve never smiled so much, I’ve never worked so hard in spin and I’ve never felt that I’ve gotten a as much of a workout from spin as I did that afternoon!
Having spoken to fitness friends about using pre-workout, I’ve chosen to use it only once per week so that the effects of it don’t wear off. It basically is a supplement which contains amino acids, high dose caffeine and vitamins.
We all know that if you drink lots of coffee, eventually the caffeine stops having an effect on you so using the pre-workout once a week will ensure it works to its highest capacity for longer and I get the best out of using that much caffeine (175mg per serving compared to 95mg in a cup of coffee).
As for the Quest Bars; they basically saved me from myself on a number of occasions! They were part of the package as they would make an ideal post-workout snack, as protein is used to feed muscles and aid recovery after exercise. However, I found many uses for them.
Sometimes I would find I was hungry before my workout and a Quest Bar would be enough to get me through the workout and then to my next (sensible) meal! They also make great mid morning / mid afternoon snacks on the days that I plan on training.
I personally have enjoyed all the flavours I’ve tried. I think the all time favourite (from what I gather) may be cookies and cream?! In the past, I only used the bars which were sweetened naturally but this time round I had a mix of both and I honestly couldn’t tell the difference!
The Quest Bars would also be awesome to pack for my triathlon (if I were doing a longer distance than a starter) to eat after the swim / during the bike ride and / or after the run!
Predator Nutrition say – Whether youāre a casual exerciser or a professional athlete, proper nutrition and training should always be the two main pillars on which you build your success. We stress that supplementation alone can never achieve this, there really are no āmiracle pillsā.
However, we believe that quality supplements, properly administered, can be of enormous help to supporting you and aiding you in both these areas, whoever you are. Really, itās why we do what we do.
And I definitely agree! I’m not keen on taking supplements and the pre-workout is something that I probably would never had considered as I’ve never really known about it! Makes me wonder what else is out there for me to find… but I guess that’s why I’m here… always willing to learn!
What are your favourite products to supplement your training?!
Elle
I could eat questbars all day long š
you and me both š
I've never taken pre-workout products as I assumed they wouldn't be that effective but I'm considering trying them out now. I usually have a protein shake after I work out but honestly I can't say if they helped me all that much. I liked having something thick that wasn't a meal after my workout and it kept me fairly full so I'm going to say they work! Laura @ What's Hot?
I like a protein shake as it stops you from buying / eating something that is not so healthy! It's always hard to tell whether something is working but it's easy to tell when it's not. I had to supplement with shakes once as I was getting repeatedly sick (colds etc) from not eating enough! So if using the shakes seems to be doing nothing bad then stick with it! …as for the pre workout …it's one of my new favourite things!
Pre workouts aren't my thing – i prefer to chew gum, flavored extra dessert gum actually, but I love lOVE my about time protein powder š
I get you! It's not for everyone! …we all have different needs and likes š it's awesome to hear what everyone else uses / does / likes too!