Recovery drinks

dee4life2005

I've nearly finished a couple of packs of For Goodness Shakes recovery shakes that I picked up a while ago. I really liked them, especially the banana and superberry flavours, but at about £1.40 each they aren't exactly cheap so I was considering alternatives.

The flavour reminded me a little of Angel Delight that I used to have when I was kid, and got me wondering if an Angel Delight made with Semi-Skimmed milk and paired with an apple or banana would be suitable for recovery purposes ??

styxd

Just drink a pint of milk with a spoonful or two of sugar in it.

smidsy

Chocolate Milk is supposed to be the kiddie.

Nesquick in ordanary milk does the job apparently.

sampras38

I use them too occasionally but mostly just blend a banana in a pint of milk.

ju5t1n

Pint of milk and a banana works for me

phreak

sampras38 wrote:

I use them too occasionally but mostly just blend a banana in a pint of milk.

Ditto that. Works out super cheap and you get lots of goodies. Easy enough to blend other fruits if you want to mix it up, or even add a square of dark chocolate or something to the mix.

bahzob

phreak wrote:

sampras38 wrote:

I use them too occasionally but mostly just blend a banana in a pint of milk.

Ditto that. Works out super cheap and you get lots of goodies. Easy enough to blend other fruits if you want to mix it up, or even add a square of dark chocolate or something to the mix.

Ditto. Most of the "need" for recovery is driven by industry trying to sell us expensive products like that in OP

danowat

phreak wrote:

sampras38 wrote:

I use them too occasionally but mostly just blend a banana in a pint of milk.

Ditto that. Works out super cheap and you get lots of goodies.

There isn't a huge price difference........

Whey recovery drink, 500ml water + 50g Whey = 75p per serving
500ml milk + 1 banana = 39p per serving

phreak

That's about double though so it adds up if you drink lots of it. Or you might just be tight like me

danowat

phreak wrote:

That's about double though so it adds up if you drink lots of it. Or you might just be tight like me

I only use a "recovery" drink (whatever form that takes) after specific sessions, its certainly not something I'd use as a rule after every ride (be it milk and banana or whey), so the price isn't really an issue for me.

t.m.h.n.e.t

danowat wrote:

phreak wrote:

That's about double though so it adds up if you drink lots of it. Or you might just be tight like me

I only use a "recovery" drink (whatever form that takes) after specific sessions, its certainly not something I'd use as a rule after every ride (be it milk and banana or whey), so the price isn't really an issue for me.

Seems to be the sticky point of these threads. Other people calling things you do "expensive"

At the end of the day doing what works for you is the best idea. I personally couldn't give less of a shit about what people think is too expensive for me. Only my wallet knows the truth.

I don't buy "recovery drinks" I make them

SBezza

I used to use whey protein, I just have a cheap ASDA chocolate milk now, and the difference is ... there is none for me, recover just as well with either it seems.

fsd61b

Excuse my ignorance on this but what is the purpose of the recovery drink? is it instead of having a meal? I have been delaying eating anything after a bike ride, until the next normal meal time to aid weight loss or having my meal then going out then off to bed hungry.

danowat

fsd61b wrote:

Excuse my ignorance on this but what is the purpose of the recovery drink? is it instead of having a meal? I have been delaying eating anything after a bike ride, until the next normal meal time to aid weight loss or having my meal then going out then off to bed hungry.

The sessions I use a recovery drink after, I am bearing able to stomach a drink, let alone a meal.

t.m.h.n.e.t

fsd61b wrote:

Excuse my ignorance on this but what is the purpose of the recovery drink? is it instead of having a meal? I have been delaying eating anything after a bike ride, until the next normal meal time to aid weight loss or having my meal then going out then off to bed hungry.

Not entirely sure how waiting for next meals aids weight loss but recovery drinks are a source of sugar and protein, which is easily absorbed by the body in a post exercise state.

The insulin response(and the bodies natural need for replenishment) sucks the glucose and protein to muscle tissue. Not only have you replenished muscle glycogen but taken protein to help repair fibres.

philbar72

i got 2 tubs of the gnc post excercise recovery formula in orange flavour. it makes me piss like a bastard afterwards but does tend to help with recovery. i have to drink about a litre of water after it as well...

Trev The Rev

T.M.H.N.E.T wrote:

fsd61b wrote:

Excuse my ignorance on this but what is the purpose of the recovery drink? is it instead of having a meal? I have been delaying eating anything after a bike ride, until the next normal meal time to aid weight loss or having my meal then going out then off to bed hungry.

Not entirely sure how waiting for next meals aids weight loss but recovery drinks are a source of sugar and protein, which is easily absorbed by the body in a post exercise state.

The insulin response(and the bodies natural need for replenishment) sucks the glucose and protein to muscle tissue. Not only have you replenished muscle glycogen but taken protein to help repair fibres.

Real food works better because it should contain many more nutrients as well as carbs & protein.

Mind you I know people who find chewing difficult these days, due to their loss of jaw muscle tone caused by a diet of gels, energy drinks, recovery drinks and heavily processed foods which are rich in salt, sugar, preservatives and waste produce mechanically retrieved from the carcass, swept up off the floor, or anything else no rational human being would consider eating if they saw what it was before it was put through loads of machines and treated with chemicals and processed before being packaged in pretty cardboard plastic film containers to be bought at extortionate prices by fat lazy people who can't cook other than put garbage packaged as food into an oven or microwave and then eat in front of the TV beside their fat useless children who are eating a different brand of garbage because they only eat soya based protein because they went vegan.

t.m.h.n.e.t

Trev The Rev wrote:

T.M.H.N.E.T wrote:

fsd61b wrote:

Excuse my ignorance on this but what is the purpose of the recovery drink? is it instead of having a meal? I have been delaying eating anything after a bike ride, until the next normal meal time to aid weight loss or having my meal then going out then off to bed hungry.

Not entirely sure how waiting for next meals aids weight loss but recovery drinks are a source of sugar and protein, which is easily absorbed by the body in a post exercise state.

The insulin response(and the bodies natural need for replenishment) sucks the glucose and protein to muscle tissue. Not only have you replenished muscle glycogen but taken protein to help repair fibres.

Real food works better because it should contain many more nutrients as well as carbs & protein.

Mind you I know people who find chewing difficult these days, due to their loss of jaw muscle tone caused by a diet of gels, energy drinks, recovery drinks and heavily processed foods which are rich in salt, sugar, preservatives and waste produce mechanically retrieved from the carcass, swept up off the floor, or anything else no rational human being would consider eating if they saw what it was before it was put through loads of machines and treated with chemicals and processed before being packaged in pretty cardboard plastic film containers to be bought at extortionate prices by fat lazy people who can't cook other than put garbage packaged as food into an oven or microwave and then eat in front of the TV beside their fat useless children who are eating a different brand of garbage because they only eat soya based protein because they went vegan.

I wasn't arguing either way Trev,I answered a question not a request to compare.

Perhaps given your little rant some fresh air is in order

Trev The Rev

philbar72 wrote:

i got 2 tubs of the gnc post excercise recovery formula in orange flavour. it makes me wee-wee like a bastard afterwards but does tend to help with recovery. i have to drink about a litre of water after it as well...

I can feel another rant coming on....but I don't want to be banned.

phreak

I think Wiggle have a special offer on post rant recovery air at the moment. It comes in little capsules a bit like the ones used to pump up your tire.

Tom Dean

fsd61b wrote:

Excuse my ignorance on this but what is the purpose of the recovery drink?

Convenience.

racingcondor

Trev The Rev wrote:

Mind you I know people who find chewing difficult these days, due to their loss of jaw muscle tone caused by a diet of gels, energy drinks, recovery drinks and heavily processed foods which are rich in salt, sugar, preservatives and waste produce mechanically retrieved from the carcass, swept up off the floor, or anything else no rational human being would consider eating if they saw what it was before it was put through loads of machines and treated with chemicals and processed before being packaged in pretty cardboard plastic film containers to be bought at extortionate prices by fat lazy people who can't cook other than put garbage packaged as food into an oven or microwave and then eat in front of the TV beside their fat useless children who are eating a different brand of garbage because they only eat soya based protein because they went vegan.

Aaand breath!

For Goodness Shakes is expensive if you buy it in a foil wrapper but it's also available in a tub which isn't so bad.

I only tend to use recovery drinks if I get back from a ride an hour before a meal (no point in a snack) or if I've done some training on the way to work (drink at my desk instead of eating all morning). I suspect a banana and a drink of milk would be just about as good but I do like superberry flavour...

fsd61b

T.M.H.N.E.T wrote:

fsd61b wrote:

Excuse my ignorance on this but what is the purpose of the recovery drink? is it instead of having a meal? I have been delaying eating anything after a bike ride, until the next normal meal time to aid weight loss or having my meal then going out then off to bed hungry.

Not entirely sure how waiting for next meals aids weight loss but recovery drinks are a source of sugar and protein, which is easily absorbed by the body in a post exercise state.

The insulin response(and the bodies natural need for replenishment) sucks the glucose and protein to muscle tissue. Not only have you replenished muscle glycogen but taken protein to help repair fibres.

Thanks for the detail regarding the muscle requirements, that makes sense right enough.
The waiting part came about because since getting up to 25mile runs I was always hungry when I got back, had a snack then managed my tea no problem! Now if I get back at 3.00pm I wait until tea time to eat therefor cutting out the snack and aiding weight loss ( 1st 7lbs in 10 weeks of cycling so far).

t.m.h.n.e.t

fsd61b wrote:

T.M.H.N.E.T wrote:

fsd61b wrote:

Excuse my ignorance on this but what is the purpose of the recovery drink? is it instead of having a meal? I have been delaying eating anything after a bike ride, until the next normal meal time to aid weight loss or having my meal then going out then off to bed hungry.

Not entirely sure how waiting for next meals aids weight loss but recovery drinks are a source of sugar and protein, which is easily absorbed by the body in a post exercise state.

The insulin response(and the bodies natural need for replenishment) sucks the glucose and protein to muscle tissue. Not only have you replenished muscle glycogen but taken protein to help repair fibres.

Thanks for the detail regarding the muscle requirements, that makes sense right enough.
The waiting part came about because since getting up to 25mile runs I was always hungry when I got back, had a snack then managed my tea no problem! Now if I get back at 3.00pm I wait until tea time to eat therefor cutting out the snack and aiding weight loss ( 1st 7lbs in 10 weeks of cycling so far).

It will do no harm to eat something post ride.

philbar72

Trev The Rev wrote:

philbar72 wrote:

i got 2 tubs of the gnc post excercise recovery formula in orange flavour. it makes me wee-wee like a bastard afterwards but does tend to help with recovery. i have to drink about a litre of water after it as well...

I can feel another rant coming on....but I don't want to be banned.

Eh? I'm just being honest. Sorry if it offends you. The stuff I use seems to work but it doesn't taste great and isn't particularly nice. Got 2 tubs for a knockdown price. Errr that's it!

alihisgreat

fsd61b wrote:

Excuse my ignorance on this but what is the purpose of the recovery drink? is it instead of having a meal? I have been delaying eating anything after a bike ride, until the next normal meal time to aid weight loss or having my meal then going out then off to bed hungry.

There is the magic 30mins after exercise when your body will respond best to any input -> in practice eating within two hours is a good rule though.

But yeah.. drinks are quick, cheap and easy.. you may not want to have lunch mid morning for example.

dw300

If you're training everyday, you might absorb a few grams extra protein, or replenish a few grams more glycogen with a recovery drink after an intense exercise session. It's perfectly possible that due to digestion time of solid food, that not all the nutrients in a meal will enter your bloodsteam while your body is in 'turbo nutrient absorbing mode' .. I don't know the technical term.

The benefit is enhanced if the blend and amount of nutrients are tailored, hence convenient, off the shelf recovery drinks are popular if you don't have the time or knowledge to prepare one yourself.

If you're not training the next day, it probably doesn't matter, assuming the rest of your diet is fairly sound. But it's another example of marginal gains. If you can train 5-10% harder because you're recovered your glycogen better, that's going to benefit you in the long run if you're already near your training capacity. If you absorb a little more protein, then in a year you might have a pound more leg muscle than you might otherwise have, but if you're no where near your training capacity then it's probably just a psychological benefit.

Trev The Rev

If your diet is sound you don't need recovery drinks. There is some very limited evidence that there is a 30 minute window so if you think you do need something within 30 minutes of finishing training or a race eat a small snack which contains carbohydrate & protein. For example a ham sandwich & a pint of milk tastes better than some disgusting recovery shake too. (in my opinion, no wish to offend).

topcattim

After reading this thread, I switched from my usual Rego recovery drink to a milkshake of a pint of milk. 1.5 bananas and dash of honey. Much nicer (and I really liked the Rego which it replaced). So much so that I find myself looking forward to the drink for the last 30 minutes slog back of an extended ride. I can't comment on the relative nutritional or recovery value, but I haven't observed any ill effects.

But of course there are times when, like last Saturday, there is no milk in the house. I scrounged some off the neighbours. Then I discovered that there were no bananas. I couldn't face a second scrounge... :oops:

porker33

When i get back from a ride of anything over 25-30 miles, I have a regular glass of chocolate milk. I recall it is good to get some protein and carbs into your muscles post ride.

Not fancy or indeed a wind up, but made some sense to me.

mattshrops

Due to the 2 hours of glycogen supplies stored in the body i now only have a recovery drink after a 3-4hr+ ride.
Having got used to this length of ride now i usually dont eat while riding so a quick "hit" when i get back seems a good plan. Only really eating on the bike now when doing 5-9 hr rides, and also use recovery drink after. I like to make my own because i am a control freak nerd type(allegedly)Plus after these longer rides you dont need to be thinking about calorie intake as much.