[ncuneo]

I usually need a bump in the afternoon on my gym days and often will have a cup of coffee. It really improves my performance, however I always need creamer and don't want the extra cals. So I was going to give 5-hour energy a try, but am worried about side effects and whatnot. I was also wondering how many hours before my workout I should take it. I usually have my coffee about an hour or two before.

Any experience with this stuff?

[joyfulloser]

Yup...got me through alot of runs! I take it 1/2 hour before exercise. Nice clean energy for about 3 hours.

[fitness4life]

I can't take that stuff because it can cause my heart to palp bc of mitralvalve prolapse, so be aware it will affect your heart rate in some way.

My bf drinks an energy drink every so often before he works out. He complains that it makes his hear race but he likes that.

I would think that psychologically, and increased heart rate can affect performance negatively for this reason - you perceive you're working harder than you are - but that is not the case for him, nor for Joyfull, it seems.

[Emme]

My husband has had quite a few of these. He drinks them cold, though...says they're too gross to drink warm -- LOL! He did get stomachaches from a few of them, but that could have been the caffeine. He said he never got a crash or anything, and no heart palps as far as I know.

[joyfulloser]

Fitness4life - Are you talking about 5 hour energy that gives you heart palpatations? I'm really curious, cuz 5 hour energy is quite different than the energy drinks. The main ingredients are b50 (a/k/a vitamin b complex) and aminos. It only has about as much caffeine as a cup of coffee. Are you caffeine sensitive? If so, then you'd probably need to avoid chocolate as well.

Most energy drinks contain large quantities of caffeine, and that is where the "racing heartbeat" stimulant feeling that you get comes from. Seems many people confuse 5 hour energy shots with energy drinks. They are really NOT the same thing. Different "active ingredients".

Really...you can get the same boost from a cup of coffee and large dose of vitamin b complex. I just find the 5 hour energy shots convenient while travelling or just every blue moon (or pink one for that matter).

Oh and Emme...your hubby's correct...it's totally GROSS! Good thing it's only 1 ounce!

[skinny fast]

They are gross, that's for sure. Too sweet. I drink one before most workouts... maybe 10-20 min before. I don't get heart palps either.

[skinny fast]

BTW, I think the pomegranate flavored one is the least nasty tasting out of them all. The lemon/lime is the worst. Berry is in the middle.

[SCraver]

They are good for hangovers!!