Beachbody Performance Line: How I used it on my long run

I was so excited when I woke up on Sunday morning for my 9 mile run!

And no, it wasn't because I was about to run 9 miles.  That would be crazy talk!

Back in July when I went to Beachbody Coach Summit in Nashville, Tennessee, I purchased a sample pack for the brand new Performance Line.  There was one serving of each of the five new formulas in the pack.  The main purpose of the sample pack is to make sure you like the taste of each formula, since supplements do their best work when used consistently over an extended period of time.

HOWEVER, I wanted to make sure that if I used them, I was using them in a way which would maximize their ability to work.  And what better time to use supplements than before, during, and after a 9 mile run?

So, I was very excited!

First up, the pre-workout formula Energize.  Energize is a combination of three main ingredients:  Beta-Alanine, which inhibits muscle acid buildup; Quercetin, which is known to increase the production of mitochondria and therefor improve exercise performance and recovery; and finally, low-dose caffeine from green tea.  I mixed one packet with 8 oz of water and drank it about 30 minutes before I started my run.  I had already had a bowl of oatmeal.  It was really yummy... it tasted like thicker lemonade, but it wasn't gritty AT ALL.

During my run, I put the during workout formula, Hydrate, in one of my water bottles with 8 oz of water.  Like a sports drink, Hydrate is a combination of carbohydrates and electrolytes to help keep your body hydrated during sweat loss.  Unlike a sports drink though, Hydrate has much less sugar, allowing the formula to be absorbed more quickly and easily into the bloodstream.  This was also delicious and tasted like a thicker citrus gatorade, but didn't leave my mouth feeling sticky and like I needed to keep drinking... which is the effect gatorade has on me.

Finally, after my run, I enjoyed the post-workout formula Recover.  Recover is essentially a protein shake, made with a variety of different proteins (whey isolate, pea and macular casein protein) and branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) which help to promote muscle synthesis.  There is also pomegranate extract in it, which is being studied as a natural non steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs)!

All in all, I had NO negative side effects with any of these products!  Yay!  If we are being 100% honest (and we are), I didn't feel much different after I took the Energize.  And I'm not surprised.  First of all, I don't need energy to workout... ever.  Second of all, caffeine has no effect on me.  There were many times in my former life that I would fall asleep half way through a can of Coke.  So... yeah.  But if you're someone that needs your morning cup of caffeination, I bet you'd really like Energize.  And like I said, it was tasty!  I'm not quite sure how the Hydrate worked for me.  I don't think I felt much different... that being said, it's been five months since I ran nine miles and almost two years since I was running that much consistently... and I felt really good!  So, I may be looking into a container of that!  Finally, I LOVED the Recover.  Loved it.  I actually thought it tasted better than my chocolate Shakeology!  I didn't blend it, I just shook it with water.  You are supposed to drinking it within 30 minutes of finishing exercising and usually, I don't feel like putting anything in my stomach that quickly.  But the Recover was SO easy to make and drink, that I had no problem.  I also felt fantastic the rest of the day, as well as the next day.  No sore muscles!  Was it the Recover?  MAYBE!  That's definitely going on my list!

All in all, a VERY positive experience using the Beachbody Performance line.  I know they are meant to be used with Beachbody workouts (duh), but they are even more valuable to me if I can use them as a runner as well.

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