The Fat Loss TroubleshootThis is your place to troubleshoot your fat loss problems from nutrition to training. This section is led by Leigh Peele, author of "The Fat Loss Troubleshoot," the ultimate fat loss manual. If your results have slowed or stalled this is the place to come for advice for all your fat loss needs.
Since reading this forum (and Leigh's blog! ) I've become aware of the role that electrolyte imbalances can have on feeling hungry/headachy/generally lousy while dieting. I've always had a really hard time dealing with the deficit (and even just going longer than a few hours between meals when not in a deficit). I've always worked on the assumption that I just had to "suck it up", but I wondering if electrolytes could be the problem - I'm also crazy thirsty much of the time (and no, I'm not diabetic).
Anyway, I was just wondering what you all use for electrolyte replacement. I don't want to use Gataorade or most of the commercial electrolyte drinks out there because of 1) the sugar (I don't deal well, physically, with that either) and 2) the cost. Do any of you make your own electrolyte mixes and if so, could you share your recipe/mixture?
Here is my one of my magic cocktails. I do vary them based on deficit, what I am doing, etc. However if you work with a variation of this combo (give a little/add a little) based on what you need, how much you sweat, etc then it should be way better than Gatorade.
16-20 ounces of water
Half packet ElectroMix - http://www.vitacost.com/Alacer-Electromix
Couple shakes of Sea Salt with Iodine - http://www.thebetterhealthstore.com/...crn=2325466701
1 Packet of flavor stick of choice (I like green tea pink lemonade)
1/2 packet stick of tropical punch koolaid cause it makes everything better.
1 capsule of my cal/mag/zing supplement 200/50/7mg (not in the drink though or eww. Keep it in the capsule)
Super super cheap.
Shake shake shake. Pop the pill. And a low low calorie (like 10 calories) high replenishment drink. If you want to add carbs you can add a little powder Gatorade to the mix instead of Kool aid. If you want to add protein then go for a fruit punch brand, etc.
It helps with not being so tired, dizzy, hungry, etc.
If you have ever been in the sun to long and felt "off" and out of it, it is a very similar reaction when dieting down. Electrolytes play a huge role in that. I sip it a lot when dieting down or having a day where I can't eat well early in the day but have to keep moving.
It helps with not being so tired, dizzy, hungry, etc.
If you have ever been in the sun to long and felt "off" and out of it, it is a very similar reaction when dieting down. Electrolytes play a huge role in that. I sip it a lot when dieting down or having a day where I can't eat well early in the day but have to keep moving.
Here is my one of my magic cocktails.
16-20 ounces of water
1 capsule of my cal/mag/zing supplement 200/50/7mg (not in the drink though or eww. Keep it in the capsule)
What is "my cal/mag/zinc supplement 200/50/7mg"
If I'm taking a multi and also calcium, wouldn't that suffice for this?
Thanks for the drink recommendation. Always avoided gatorade, but was intrigued.
She has supplement capsules that contains 200mg calcium, 50mg magnesium, 7mg zinc. She takes one of them with the drink.
Quote:
If I'm taking a multi and also calcium, wouldn't that suffice for this?
Depends on what does you multi contains, but if you mean does the daily dose that you're taking now take care of this, then you'll have to use your best judgment. I'm going to take more, in addition to my daily vitamin.
LD is correct and the reason for those does amounts if curious is the electrolyte mix that I use already has a certain amount of cal/mag in it. Since the body can only take up so much calcium at a time (roughly 500mg over the course of 4-6 hours IRC) I break it up like that.
I have found the electrolyte mix to be helpful. It hasn't resolved all diet/hunger related woes (I didn't expect it to), but it has definitely been very helpful.
Being thirsty all the time can be caused by electrolyte imbalance?
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Vegetarian, consumer of large quantities of Quark cheese
Working my way from 76.4 to 58 kg (168 - 127.6 lbs)
Lifting a bit, schedule varies. Barbell weight: 22kg/48.4#
Can you just use the electromix itself? Why add in all the other stuff?
Is it because there isn't enough of each mineral?
IMO the electromix tastes meh so I spice up the flavor with some green tea mix and kool aid. I add the salt for if I was training real hard. If not I usually add a little lite salt to get a little more potassium. The supp is because enough isn't covered in the electomix IMO.
Another one I like latly is the Electromix in the trop 50 orange juice with a little water and lemonade flavor. It already has a good amount of potassium in it too so it adds even more to the party. A few more calories but worth it on the feel good factor.
IMO the electromix tastes meh so I spice up the flavor with some green tea mix and kool aid.
Then you should try Emergen-C. Made by the same company that makes EletroMix, pretty close to the same electrolytes, they have a bazillion different flavors that all taste pretty good plus most of them also give you 1,000mg of Vitamin C on top of it.
I downright abuse the stuff, get like 1600mg of potassium and 8,000mg VitC from it every day.
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Mike Pipes
Massive fat loss survivor and aspiring trainer in training
I mixed 1 full packet of Electromix in with a shake of Morton Lite salt and a half a stick of Sugar Free Fruit Punch Koolaid... all this into 8 cups of water. It tasted great!
Electrolyte mixes?
) I've become aware of the role that electrolyte imbalances can have on feeling hungry/headachy/generally lousy while dieting. I've always had a really hard time dealing with the deficit (and even just going longer than a few hours between meals when not in a deficit). I've always worked on the assumption that I just had to "suck it up", but I wondering if electrolytes could be the problem - I'm also crazy thirsty much of the time (and no, I'm not diabetic). 
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