Getting Your Recovery Drink On

One of the top questions I receive from FBG Weight-Loss Challenge participants and friends is “What the heck do I need to drink or eat after a workout?” Although the answer definitely depends on your goals and how much you’re working out, generally, if you crank out more than an hour of intense exercise, you probably need to refuel with something more than just water. Getting proper electrolytes and nutrition will not only help you to rehydrate more completely, but it can also help you to have a better workout the next time you exercise. And because many of us don’t feel like eating right after a workout, sometimes downing a recovery drink can be the best solution. It’s portable, doesn’t feel heavy in your stomach and because you’re probably thirsty, it goes down easy. We recently tried two new recovery drinks that we think are worth sharing!

Orgain

Although this high-protein shake can serve as a meal replacement, we liked it as the perfect post-exercise drink after a long, tough workout where you know you won’t be able to eat a meal for a few hours. We tested Orgain’s Sweet Vanilla Bean and Creamy Chocolate Fudge flavors and found them to be sweet (but not overly sweet) and pretty filling. Although you definitely have to shake it a lot (otherwise there’s sediment at the bottom, ew), the consistency is definitely not chalky, which is one of our major problems with most pre-made shakes on the market these days.

Each shake has 255 calories and 16 grams of organic protein, along with fiber and vitamins. Made with organic green tea, pomegranate extracts, kale, beets, spinach, tomatoes, carrots, blueberries, bananas, acai berry, apple and raspberries, the company claims that one shake contains the antioxidant equivalence of 10 servings of fruits and vegetables—minus the caffeine, preservatives, gluten, corn syrup, saturated fat, hormones or antibiotics found in other nutritional shakes. We’d probably still prefer to chew our fruits and veggies, but  at about $3 a pop, it’s a much healthier alternative to that latte at Starbucks you crave after a long run. Not that I’m speaking from personal experience or anything…

Coconut Water Recovery Shot

Everyone seems to be talking about coconut water these days as the perfect workout recovery drink, and I just can’t get into it! I’ve tried a few brands before, and downing a whole 8 ounces of the stuff just isn’t fun for me. (And I’m someone who does like to eat coconut!) So when AgroLabs hipped us to its new Coconut Water Recovery Shot, I was like bingo! A shot? I can do a shot. And a shot I did.

Although it tastes mostly like salted coconut water, I could easily get the 3 ounces down, and it actually became a fun part of my post-workout ritual. All natural and preservative free, one bottle has 45 calories (mostly coming from sugars) and helps replenish the electrolytes lost in sweat, like sodium and potassium. The shot is actually a combination of young green coconut water and apple and pear juices, along with AgroLabs’ proprietary energy complex (caffeine, green tea extract and ginseng to name a few) and electrolyte blend. I’m generally wary of supplement complexes, so I wish there was a version of this minus the “energy,” but use your own discretion when it comes to what’s right for you!

While we enjoyed these two drinks, we still give the slight edge to the ultimate exercise recovery drink: chocolate milk! What’s your favorite post-exercise drink? —Jenn