what energy/nutrient drink do you guys recommend to get thru a long shift?

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pencilandpen

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I work a lot of long, full day shifts, usually 12 or 13 hours with no lunch break. Any body got recommendation on a good nutrient drink to get thru the day?
Looking for something to provide a little bit of caffeine, but mainly nutrients to sustain my body. I have tried Ensure, wondering if there's anything better out there.
 
If you don't have problems digesting soy, Soylent is a great option with 400 calories per shake
 
Sweet:
Vega Protein and Energy (Vega Protein alone doesn't have the caffeine)
Muscle Milk Coffee
I do not recommend the gamer drinks as you crash pretty hard from them.

Savory:
Usually use a soup, I tend toward animal blood soups like a Polish Czernina or Juka for wakefulness. It also guarantees that other people won't steal it unless they've had encounters with Eastern European food before.
 
Spark is decent, and slightly overpriced but convenient.
 
Crush a caffeine pill or half and mix it with a drink of your choice. What I do.
 
Caffeine tablets (more so for accuracy knowing dose, liquids problematic/more likely to consume fractions, etc.) and maybe pseudoephedrine intermittently of course. I tell myself if I live long enough, I'm bound to develop BPH anyways

Caffeine capsules (for opening) - I believe Sundown still makes this product/available most retail stores
Crushed tabs don't taste that bad (bitter alkaloids)...acquired taste

5 Hour Energy is not bad...just the economist in me is not happy (cheaper options)
 
Coffee in the morning, if I'm cutting weight I'll take a 200mg caffeine pill with 25mg of ephedrine around when I would start getting hungry for lunch. In terms of energy drinks, the new "bang" and "REIGN" drinks have the most caffeine per can and usually are BOGO somewhere, although i wouldn't put any merit in the BCAA/Creatine marketing.

I usually drink a meal replacement product for lunch if I don't remember to pack something to eat and I pretty much always drink at least one on my doubles. I thought the Soylent shakes were okay depending on the flavor, but I currently use Huel which is another total daily nutrition shake system type gimmick. Huel is an acquired taste, it has a large amount of ground up oats in it so it tastes a bit like, well, oatmeal. Its quite filling, has a great nutritional profile, and can be flavored to your liking with your own additives (cocoa powder, cinnamon, ect) or the company now sells flavor shots which I haven't tried yet.

There's a ton of companies that make meal replacements now in multiple formats (powders, premixed bottles, biscuits/bars, ect) your best bet might be to try to sample a few and see what works for you. (Jake, Huel, Soylent, SuperBodyFuel, Hol Food)
 
Bang/Reign is just good flavoring + 300mg caffeine, and negligible BCAAs and creatine. Ingredients are listed by weight.

Careful for palpitations if you don't have high caffeine tolerance.
 
You could buy protein powder and mix with your drinks to increase the calories. Hemp powder has lots of fat and protein to keep you full for many hours.
 
Lipton tea / hot water / 2 splendas

Costs about 10 cents per serving, maybe 10 calories total, and works better than everything else.

Can't be too close to bedtime though, or I'll be up well past when I want to be sleeping.
 
I drink soylent a lot. 400 calories and it's nice and fast.
 
When I work inpatient it’s not a concern because we get lunch breaks.

When I do longer retail shifts (say, longer than 10 hours), I tend to drink a 20 oz Dr Pepper somewhere around hour 8-9. On shorter shifts I tend to fast (but still drink water) until I get off. I find that without some little source of sugar at some point, I lose focus late in the 12/13 hour days. Unfortunately for my health, I tend to binge eat my entire daily caloric requirement immediately after...and usually with fast food.

That said, the NOS energy drinks in the blue/orange/gray cans are pretty awesome and I occasionally drink one after a long bicycle ride.
 
You got so many drugs available to you, why take supplements?. Just pop a few adderalls. 😉
 
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I rip Zero Calorie Monsters like it's going out of style
I lose count how many of these I've downed in my career thus far
 
My goodness this thread is sad

How many people are overweight/obese here?

Take care of yourselves please.
 
Majority of the drinks ITT are zero calorie. Are you dense?

Yes because all these zero calorie products are healthy?

There is plenty of conflicting info showing the risks of relying on these products and what they do to your body.

Think about it, why are people needing caffeine to get through a shift anyways? While there have been days where I've dragged, regular shifts shouldn't need caffeine to get through the day.
 
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Kirkland(costco brand) bulk packs of energy shots. They work well and are less than $1 each. Don't taste too bad either. Stuff a few in your pocket and rock on. Get lots of sleep, don't drink, and eat healthy.
 
Yes because all these zero calorie products are healthy?

There is plenty of conflicting info showing the risks of relying on these products and what they do to your body.

Think about it, why are people needing caffeine to get through a shift anyways? While there have been days where I've dragged, regular shifts shouldn't need caffeine to get through the day.
I like these Monsters specifically for the use of Erythritol, which is shown not to mess with blood sugars. I don't need them to get through my shift, I enjoy them. I just like soda. That's also my only vice; I eat healthy and stick to a certain number of calories a day. It's not for everyone, nor is it "healthy".
 
I like these Monsters specifically for the use of Erythritol, which is shown not to mess with blood sugars. I don't need them to get through my shift, I enjoy them. I just like soda. That's also my only vice; I eat healthy and stick to a certain number of calories a day. It's not for everyone, nor is it "healthy".

I'm just hoping people are being cautious and not putting their job before their health.

Nutritional drinks or like me actually eating a meal are the way to go not zero calorie drinks.

I also don't recommend "snacks" since the typical snack you see pharmacists eat are not good for you.
 
I'm just hoping people are being cautious and not putting their job before their health.

Nutritional supplements are the way to go not zero calorie drinks.

I also don't recommend "snacks" since the typical snack you see pharmacists eat are not good for you.
Yeah I agree with you on that one. I can tell you from experience when I worked for CVS I would have 2-3 Mountain Dews a day and not eat, because I was so busy and I prioritized filling scripts over my health. Never again. I sit for breaks so I can eat my meals, give myself little breaks here and there, etc. Also don't work for that devil company anymore haha
 
Yes because all these zero calorie products are healthy?

There is plenty of conflicting info showing the risks of relying on these products and what they do to your body.

Think about it, why are people needing caffeine to get through a shift anyways? While there have been days where I've dragged, regular shifts shouldn't need caffeine to get through the day.


The data shows that in excessive quantities and in a younger population, they may be harmful. I have yet to see anything regarding healthy adults consuming normal quantities.

People need caffeine to stay alert and focus on a computer screen for 10-12 hours at a time without killing someone... seems pretty reasonable to me. Everyone on this planet consumes caffeine through coffee/tea/soda. Is their nutrition optimal? No, but whos is?
 
The data shows that in excessive quantities and in a younger population, they may be harmful. I have yet to see anything regarding healthy adults consuming normal quantities.

People need caffeine to stay alert and focus on a computer screen for 10-12 hours at a time without killing someone... seems pretty reasonable to me. Everyone on this planet consumes caffeine through coffee/tea/soda. Is their nutrition optimal? No, but whos is?

Mine?

You seem to be missing my point that I've already posted.
 
All about making assumptions...I'll embrace my "caffeine demons" thank you very much
FYI 6'0'' 160-165lbs sub 10% bodyfat....for religious beliefs, I consult the "Swoley Bible" by Dom Mazzetti (...joke...weight lifting & cardio for like 20+ years now)

#Moderation

I'm glad you take care of yourself, too many pharmacists I run into do not.
 
Um fruits vegetables meats (not much red meat) dairy, lots of water, etc.

I don't think this was as interesting as you were expecting.

I'm glad you take care of yourself, too many pharmacists I run into do not.

No ****, it'simple. Too bad 40% of the nation is obese, and healthcare is not immune. There is still nothing wrong with having a zero-calorie 200mg caffeine drink during your day. Plus, it actually is beneficial since most of your coworkers are fat and don't need the extra caloric intake from sugar. You should be applauding them for taking the healthier choice, rather than a 300-400kcal starbucks drink. Hell they might get a little extra thermogenesis and lose a few kcals sitting on their fat asses.
 
No ****, it'simple. Too bad 40% of the nation is obese, and healthcare is not immune. There is still nothing wrong with having a zero-calorie 200mg caffeine drink during your day. Plus, it actually is beneficial since most of your coworkers are fat and don't need the extra caloric intake from sugar. You should be applauding them for taking the healthier choice, rather than a 300-400kcal starbucks drink. Hell they might get a little extra thermogenesis and lose a few kcals sitting on their fat asses.

This anger isn't good for your health either.
 
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This anger isn't good for your health either.

Oh god you're one of the anti-artificial sweetener zealots.

Have you actually read the studies (obviously not)? At the dose that an average healthy adult consumes, they're extremely safe.

The dose makes the poison.
 
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There are plenty of studies both for and against people relying on artificial sweeteners and weight gain.
 


People can make their own interpretations of the data.
 
Interpret this 2019 meta-analysis: Association between intake of non-sugar sweeteners and health outcomes: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomised and non-randomised controlled trials and observational studies

Hint, people who consumed non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) did not weigh more than those who didn't consume NSS.

Neither did they lead people to be hungrier, or eat more.

Neither did they elevate risk of various types of cancer.

Less fear-mongering and more science on this forum please. Enjoy your diet coke/pepsi or low cal energy drink in moderation, and get on with your life.
 
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