What Not to Eat

This week I will be saying what things you should stay away from while you're training, practicing, or working out. You should really stay away from foods that are high in sugar, which is hard to nowadays since a ton of foods are made with high fructose corn syrup. So try to look at the labels on some things and just see what the first 5 ingredients are. Also look for things that tend to say natural or whole grain or healthy because most of these follow through and say the truth about their product. You should also stay away from foods that are high in Trans fats. Thing such as ice cream, butter, and red meats. Trans fats are bad, but unsaturated fats are good fats. Things like vegetable oils, nuts, and fish are good sources of healthy fats. Lastly is that there are also good carbs and bad carbs. Good carbs are complex carbohydrates some of those foods include  whole grain products such as, bread, pasta, and brown rice. There are many others, but let's get into bad carbs. These are known as simple carbohydrates. These foods contain sugar not just natural but added sugar, and things made with white flour. The reason why these are bad is because your body doesn't take the time to break these things down. So don't eat much of anything in the picture below because they have trans and saturated fats also are simple carbs and are generally not healthy for you.

Trail Mix

     Trail Mix has been around for years. Trail mix is a combination of nuts, dried fruit, and grain. It has been used for camping trips, snacks, but no one would consider it to be a good source of protein and omega 3 fatty acids. The nuts are a great source of fiber, protein, and omega 3's, you get some natural sugar from them and the fruit that is in there. There also is some sweets in there such as m&m's or chocolate chips that you can have as well. This is a good healthy snack for anything you don't have to even be an athlete for this to effect you positively. 

Optimum Nutrition

Optimum Nutrition bars are a newer product, they make whey protein bars so you don't have to take it by powder form. Just like any other protein bar they give you a quick boost of energy, help you recover, and you don't crash. Also is that these are whey protein which is a better form of protein which is made from milk. That means it is easier on your body to intake and break down than traditional proteins. Also another thing about this bar is that there is less sugar than other traditional bars that offer these benefits. So I feel this bar would be great for you if you can digest milk, and handle the rich double chocolate or marshmallow treat flavors.

Muscle MIlk

This week I will be talking to you about a pretty well known supplement called muscle milk. It is basically just another one of your average protein drinks but it comes fully prepared just open and drink. But they are Lactose and Gluten free so if you have an allergy to one of these this could be just for you. So in this case I would just drink one after a workout or game just because it will help you recover and gain muscle. It is known for its ability to help with soreness and taste. It comes in different flavors and also which ever flavor it is the difference can vary between protein, calories, but each kind comes with the same vitamins and minerals. So this product is a decent product and they even have different sizes and they have a lite version so if you’re looking to just replenish and get energy after a workout or game don’t overlook this product.  

Xenadrine

Xenadrine is a weight loss/workout supplement that athletes and non athletes use for energy and even cutting off a few extra pounds. A good thing about this product is that you don’t even have to workout to lose weight or get that increase in energy, it was made to help boost metabolism and energy for adults who want to lose an extra pound or so. But now athletes are using to get a leaner look and have that jolt of energy before there days begin. Some concerns about this product though is that the dosage may not be completely right, it tells you to change it after about 2 weeks but some people get jitters, and also it can raise the heart rate and possibly give you high blood pressure because it is made with caffeine. So I would honestly consider that you think twice before using this product but it has definitely shown its greatness in result for people that have used this with no problems.

Tigers Milk Bar

Today I will be talking about the nutrition bar Tigers Milk. This bar is a good source for a quick boost of energy. It is good if you happen to miss breakfast or a mid morning snack for that extra boost. It has zero grams trans fat, and is great tasting. So this bar is great if you’re looking for a quick boost before a game or workout. It comes with a few different flavors but are all about the same except one of them has an extra boost of protein in it. So this should be taken to give you that edge that a Snickers bar will not.

Clif Bar Shot Bloks

              Clif Bar Shot Bloks

Clif Bar Shot Bloks are the newest consumables made by Clif Bar. Their targeted audience is mostly runners or endurance athletes. Because these are used as energy boosters, because they are packed with carbs  and sugar. But the good thing about them is that they are all organic so don’t think you are putting bad things into your body. Cause you’re not. So if you’re looking into running a marathon and need a boost or a quick snack while on the run this would be perfect for you. If you want to know more then feel free to check out the question page they have posted, for frequently asked questions about the product. So if you’re a runner then this is definitely the way to go for a boost of energy, during exercise or training then this is a good way to boost your energy. And an added bonus is that there are a various amount of flavors if you don’t like one then don’t be scared because there are more.

     

PowerBar

  Now lets talk about probably one of the most popular athlete snacks out there which is called the PowerBar. This is a typical protein bar, but since it is the most used I figured i’d talk about it. So, first is that this should typically be used over a protein shake rather than doubling up. You should never double up because that is where companies get to you about their products. The reason why I say never double up is because your body will only absorb as much protein as it needs for the day. So if you eat a PowerBar before and after you workout you have just wasted $2.39. But nonetheless it should be okay to get unless you already drink protein shakes, because then it would be a waste. It does the same things as a protein shake just in a different form. So I would recommend this to you the same as a shake because they have the same effects.

     

Creatine

Now lets talk about Creatine, it is considered a better version of normal Whey Protein. But it really isn’t. The reasons why is because it isn’t absorbed that well into the body, also is that if you stop use then your body really does stop taking effects from it. Which means you will no longer be getting this boost and will have to work out normal and get your body back into its normal self again. But if you really want to take this substance then i would recommend only doing it like twice a week so your body doesn’t get too addicted or feeling normal with that in your system constantly. So I would not necessarily recommend this unless you really need a boost of energy once or twice a week

Whey Protein

Next is that i would like to talk about whey protein shakes. These are the most recommended protein supplement because its the easiest absorbed supplement out there. It comes from milk and allows you to recover faster and helps build muscles. But you also need to keep up with regular use to keep seeing results in the end because when you stop you see a decrease in its effects. But if you get to a point you want to be then it is completely okay to stop use, but you have to keep working out to keep your body the way it is. So I would say that this is okay to use if you keep up the work because if you feel you need it, then you are only adding more calories to your body and most likely will start gaining weight and hurting your kidneys because it has to process all the extra stuff it doesn't need.

Gatorade

So lets talk about the most popular drink out there designated for athletes which is Gatorade. I want to talk about this because I probably have drank this more than water whenever I have played or worked out. But the thing is that I would recommend waiting for close to the end of a game or a workout because like almost everything else it has sugar in it so you will have a burst of energy but only for a little bit. Then you will crash or lose that energy and be more tired than you would have been before. So basically, I would just recommend waiting a while until you feel you get tired or start getting fatigued.

About Me

 Hi my name is Caleb, and I have been an athlete/athletic my whole life. I've played football, baseball, basketball, and I've wrestled. I have also eaten a ton of different athletic snack foods, such as Power Bars, protein shakes, and sports drinks. So I know how some things may affect you if you choose to use them. I'm making this to help you understand if these will benefit you or not.