Throughout the semester, I find it increasingly difficult to get my butt to the gym. I would rather sleep through my alarm every morning then get my butt to the Recreation Center or my jogging class, citing the weather (“My bed is very warm and outside it is cold”) and a heavy homework load (too many nights spent at the library ’till 2 a.m. – and then staying up later than that) as the culprits to the lack of time for my exercise routine.

Some mornings I manage to wake up when my alarm goes off, but I have no motivation to get out of bed. Recently, I thought I needed some sort of boost: energy drinks.

On my way back home from a very late night of studying, I pulled into 7-Eleven and picked up a few energy drinks, thinking that I was just a few sips away from getting back on track – so to speak.

What started as a quest for a boost in my workout morphed into an interesting experiment: How does an energy drink affect a typical workout? Are there differences between energy drinks?

I tested the drinks and their effects on my usual two-and-a-half to three mile run in the mornings between 8 and 9 a.m., promising myself at least five to six hours of sleep the night before. Considering that I seldom drink coffee (five to ten times a month) and rarely drink pop (once or twice a month) I limited myself to a drink once a week. Also taking my sometimes-delicate stomach into consideration, I ate a handful of fish crackers or saltines and consumed my drink of choice a half hour before my workout. Without saying, I drank plenty of water before and after I exercised.

Stacker 2 Stinger

I ran three miles on this drink, but I credit that to first day hopes. I felt an extra oomph on my last mile, the hardest one for me to run, and overall, felt pretty good as I left the rec center. I felt heart palpitations, but I ignored them and drove back home. However, after I showered, I crashed hard and fell asleep for an hour. While the drink boosted my workout, it sabotaged the rest of my day.

Mountain Dew Amp Energy Drink

I ran about two miles and three quarters the morning I drank Amp – proving that sometimes, not even a “boost” can motivate you on your most apathetic mornings. The last third of my run was again easier to accomplish, and again, I felt my heart palpitate as I headed home. I didn’t crash this time, but I did fall asleep in one of my classes – something I tend to do with or without an energy drink.

Invigor8 Nutrition Boost

I ran about two miles and three quarters on Invigor8. The drink was different from its four other competitors: the “juice” looked healthy, resembling it’s brand cousin V8 with a bright orange color. I didn’t feel quite as jittery when I drank it, although I felt a rush of energy overall in my run.

Red Bull Energy Drink

Drinking Red Bull sans vodka (something I’ve regrettably done before) pushed me on a morning during a very busy week. I dreaded downing the Red Bull – I’m a little grossed out by the energy drink taste. My run was pretty good overall, but I suffered the same crash-and-burn effect as the other caffeine-laced drinks.

SoBe Adrenaline Rush

I gagged when I drank the Adrenaline Rush and was happy my energy drink test was nearly over. I’m still not used to my heart fluttering after running and I fell asleep in class again.

There was no real difference between the five drinks, aside from the fact that one drink, the Invigor8 nutrition boost, was caffeine free. Even without the caffeine, I was on an annoying sugar high.

The only unpleasant side effect of my experiment came from the caffeinated drinks: an immediate need to find a bathroom. Caffeine can cause a gastocolic reflex, which stimulates the colon to contract after a meal. It can also stimulate the intestine, creating forceful colonic contractions. Meaning…I was on the toilet seat shortly after I ran.

In general, all the drinks had a pleasant, but unnatural/funky taste and they all made me feel more hyper throughout the day.

It’s also worth mentioning that the drinks contain 110-140 calories. If I burn about 300 calories in a run, then I’m negating the positive effects of my workout with unnecessary calories.

Verdict: I’m sticking to H2O and a good diet – no more energy drinks for me.

For Further Information:

http://www.ivillage.com/diet/experts/askdiet/pages/0,,165537_644210,00.html?arrivalSA=1&cobrandRef=0&arrival_freqCap=1&pba=adid=12075092

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,5033,s6-53-0-0-1188-1-2-2,00.html

http://www.mercola.com/2004/jun/9/energy_drinks.htm

http://alcoholism.about.com/od/college/a/blacer0409017.htm