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Product Review: Vanquish Sustained Energy and Electrolyte Gel

1/30/2015

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I recently got my hands on a new nutritional endurance product. Cardiostrong, an innovative nutritional company out of Iowa City, Iowa has started producing their own line of gels and sports nutrition for endurance athletes. Throughout training for a long-distance event, such as marathons or Ironman events, I like to experiment with new products so that I can continue to optimize my performance.

So far, I have tested their Vanquish Sustained Energy and Electrolyte Gel. I tried the Raspberry flavor and took it in the middle of a two hour bike ride this week. I was happy to taste a mildly sweet flavor with a little hint of bitterness. This was refreshing to try after having downed hundreds of GU energy gels that pack more flavor than they do energy. 

When comparing the Vanquish Gel next to competitors from big box brands by Gatorade and Powerade, Vanquish blows away both companies. Unlike those highly marketed companies, Vanquish Gels contained all of the same electrolytes plus magnesium and calcium, which are crucial in energy production. In addition to all of the electrolytes, important Vitamins B-12, C, D, and E are plentiful in Vanquish. I was really impressed with the composition of the B-complex in these products. B-vitamins are essential to maintain normal metabolic processes and maintain energy production and are often overlooked in sports nutrition. Also, as many of us have been doing more indoor workouts, the little extra Vitamin D in these products could give you a big boost!

After my first test of one of Cardiostrong's products, I will continue to try a few more flavors and also their HydraMax Elite Ultra-Endurance Hydration Beverage. Hopefully, we can squeak out a few more beautiful days this winter so I can continue to test this new product! 


Below is a rundown of their nutritional detail as provided by their website for some of their products.

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New! 2015 Fitness Trends announced by ACSM

1/13/2015

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ACSM has now released their version of top fitness trends of 2015. From year to year, the list has remained generally the same. However, this year subtle changes to the list have been recognized. Here is what you should expect this year:


  1. Zumba is OUT. That’s right -- Zumba has fallen off the list from 2014. This doesn’t mean it is no longer popular but Zumba has been around for years and has found its niche population that has stuck with their fun, upbeat programming.

  2. Body weight training is IN. This type of training, which entered the list in 2013 has found its way to the top of the trend list. This type of training involves many isometric movements such as planks and bridges, and also includes more challenging exercises such as pushups and pullups.

  3. Pilates is OUT. It’s hard to say why this one fell off the list. These classes always seem full, but this may have been more of a “fad” than a “trend”.

  4. HIIT or high intensity interval training is IN. Still hanging out in 2nd place after being the top trend in 2014, fitness facilities are pumping a lot of marketing into these types of programs. The biggest reason HIIT may have fallen from the number one spot could be due to resulting in a higher injury rate.

  5. Indoor cycling is OUT. Because these are national trends, not local, this may seem surprising to people around the Kansas City or Midwest area. These group cycling classes have been a big hit on either coast for years, although local studios are just beginning to pick up speed around the city. Personally, I am indoor cycling at least 2-3 times every week and it’s the least stimulating activity in my weekly routine.

  6. Most other top trends of 2014 are IN. These include in no particular order: educated, certified and experienced fitness professionals, fitness programs for older adults and strength training.


For the complete list of 2015 trends, you can subscribe to ACSM’s Health and Fitness Journal.




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    Author

    Sarah Flogel
    ​Professional Fitness Trainer
    ​ACSM - CPT, NASM - GFS

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