fuel FAQs

Read the answers to questions asked by Lucozade Sport visitors.

How quickly does your CHO replenish?

If the question is related to recovery, then it is likely that with the appropriate consumption of carbohydrate after exercise - in the region of 1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight - the stores of carbohydrate within the body can be replenished within 8 hours or so. However, this does depend on the extent to which the stores were depleted as this can take up to 24 hours if severely depleted.

If you don’t consume carbohydrate i.e. as per the Atkins diet, where do you get your energy from?

Fat would be the main provider of fuel under such circumstances, although it remains the predominant fuel source at low intensity activities.

In extreme instance protein can also be used as a fuel source, but this tends to only occur during ultra-endurance events (> 4 hours) and in situations of carbohydrate depletion.

Do you need to take water with the gel to make it work effectively?

There is no physiological reason to take water with a carbohydrate gel. However, due to the consistency of carbohydrate gels, it is advised that water is consumed to enhance the product experience.

Why would I want to drink a sports drink when I want to lose weight and burn calories?

Losing weight is all about energy intake versus energy expenditure over a 24 hour period. A sports drink like Lucozade Sport has been shown to be beneficial to performance under a number of situations, in addition to enhancing feelings of well-being.

Furthermore, under many situations that people exercise it is known that they are not well prepared and a sports drink could help them get the most out of their exercise. As such a sports drink can be very important.

Energy intake is therefore best managed (reduced) during the other meals of the day.