Infinit... what say you ENers?

CharlieH

Hey

So I've run out of my current recovery drink (PHD 2:1 Recovery) which is a carb/protein etc etc. recovery drink. Bit like orange squash. Done me well.

Tempted to change to Infinit as I've heard it's quite popular and you can tailor make your drink. What do you all think? Does anyone use a carb/protein mix? Does it taste good? Did you make your own blend or use a stock reovery drink? Fire away....

chris malone

I have my own recipe but the stock blend is fine too. I use very light flavoring and some with caffeine, some without. Love it.

Michele Cellai

I have a custom set up. Change the flavor to prevent boredom. Done me good past 3 years.

Chris G

 Great stuff.  I also go really light on the flavor so that I can concentrate it without making it taste gross.  I used to have some protein in my mix cause I thought it stopped me from feeling hungry.  I have a good gut though, some have issues with protein.

wieczynski

I love it. Great service and support--I recomend talking to them the first time to get the custom mix for you. I have had a history of races at the half ironman where I ran from porta potty to porta potty. All that went away once I moved to Infinit.

X3 on light flavor.

Mike Hedman

It's the best.
EN also has a discount code, which can help ease the sticker shock.
Mike

CharlieH

Cool. Does it work with Inifinit UK? I'm going to call on Monday and order. Only heard good things...!

michaelgasser17

I'm still waiting on my order because I ordered during their blowout sale. What I can comment on is the phone consult I had with Laurie. I was pretty awesome. She seemed very intent on getting me exactly what I was looking for and what would be best for me on raceday. I also have a different situation with living outside the US and using an APO as my primary address. Definitely made me feel like I wasn't "just another customer".

trigirl1203

I am also going to be trying Infinit for the first time this season, and am about to put an order in. On the bike at IM and halfs, do you guys just take that in? Nothing solid? Thanks!

wareagledusty

I must be missing it but I can't find a EN discount code for Infinit. Is there one?

Nate Parady

@Dusty, believe I used EN2010 as a promo code and it worked just fine.

I'm a first time user also, for my mix, I took the EN cocktail and tweaked it a bit. Dropped the flavor down, upped the calories to 250 and the Sodium to 500. My thought process on the calories and sodium is that this is what RnP recommend as the minimum amount needed/hour during a full IM race.I plan to concentrate the mix so that's why I dropped the flavor down.

Big bag of Infinit is still on the shelf for me...just waiting for my first long ride to break it out.

dotcatlin

I just got my order in the mail. Wow, the bags are big, but I'm sure I'll make my way through them. I'm excited to try this route. I definitely thought that using Infinit is what you use.period. But, when I told the guy at my bike shop I'm using Infinit this season he said, "That's good, I've used that before." I said, "I think it will be easier. Last race my whole bento box was filled with clif bars, sandwiches, etc." He said, "Oh, you'll still need some real food. You can't just use Infinit as your only source."

Left me confused. Was he wrong, or am I? Is Infinit just for the bike and we use something else for the run? Hmmm. Please share!

HayesSanborn

I've done two Ironman races on zero solid food, Infinit only. Calories are calories with the liquid variety easies on the tummy.

 

 

mattsull

I go all liquid in all my races. I use Infinit on the bike and gels on the run. Gels are easier to carry, I think, and it offers some variety.

jburbatt

I also used only infinit on the bike and gels on the run last year at IMWI and was totally cool. Like Hayes said calories are calories, and generally as long as there's some protein in it I never got hungry at all during the race or while training. As always, don't listen to your LBS

Michael Byerts

I have two separate Infinit blends for the HIM -- bike and run. Bike has a few more calories, a little protein and some caffeine (because you can't absorb as many calories per hour running and my stomach doesn't like protein or caffeine during the run). It worked for me last year. I do it like this because I don't like to rely on course support for anything more than water and ice.

@Nate. When I had my phone consultation with Infinit, they told me not to concentrate it because that will affect the osmolality(and consequently the absorption rate) of the fluid. Others know the science better, but I was instructed to mix it in the prescribed amounts.

Carl

I ordered some EN Jet fuel and really like it during my workouts. Also ordered some with protein and without. Really like it. Tried ordering my own version and wow did it tear my gut up, nauseat me and give me the roto virus type of blow outs.....but have to say I have gone all infinite and no more messing with the GU packets.

penlynwilson

Posted By Dottie Catlin on 16 Mar 2011 02:18 PM

I just got my order in the mail. Wow, the bags are big, but I'm sure I'll make my way through them. I'm excited to try this route. I definitely thought that using Infinit is what you use.period. But, when I told the guy at my bike shop I'm using Infinit this season he said, "That's good, I've used that before." I said, "I think it will be easier. Last race my whole bento box was filled with clif bars, sandwiches, etc." He said, "Oh, you'll still need some real food. You can't just use Infinit as your only source."



Left me confused. Was he wrong, or am I? Is Infinit just for the bike and we use something else for the run? Hmmm. Please share!

You can use Infinit as your only source. Many people do. If you are going to concentrate it, practice with it so you know how to dilute it on the fly.

A lot of people have two flavors and different mixes for the bike and run.

John Withrow

@Penny (or anybody) - Um, I've never used infinit, but since everyone seems to swear by it, I'll probably try it this year, but... dumb question here, what does that mean, "dilute it on the fly"... I thought you simply had water in say the aero bar bottle and infinit on the down tube. I figured people meant that when they concentrated it, that they just made a thicker batch so they can get several hours worth of calories in one bottle and then took thicker swigs and chased it with a sip of water... Am I missing something?

penlynwilson

Posted By John Withrow on 16 Mar 2011 07:35 PM

@Penny (or anybody) - Um, I've never used infinit, but since everyone seems to swear by it, I'll probably try it this year, but... dumb question here, what does that mean, "dilute it on the fly"... I thought you simply had water in say the aero bar bottle and infinit on the down tube. I figured people meant that when they concentrated it, that they just made a thicker batch so they can get several hours worth of calories in one bottle and then took thicker swigs and chased it with a sip of water... Am I missing something?

Hi John: "dilute on the fly" = being sure you are either mixing enough water or drinking enough water with each concentrated swig to dilute it in your stomach. If you don't do get in enough water to dilute it, you will end up with all sorts of GI issues. You want to be confident it works for you well in training before trying to execute it on race day.

Does that help/answer your question?

John Withrow

Thanks! Got it. That's kind of what I though, but I just wanted to be sure.

jwpicciotto

@John - to add on to what Penny is saying. The osmolality of the inifinit is predicated on 2 scoops to 20 ounces of water. Changing the ratio, changes the absorption rate. That said, when we concentrate the inifinit, the idea is that we drink it with enough water to get it back to the same ratio as 2 scoops to 20 ounces of water. Some people do this by taking a swig of concentrated infinit and the taking down some water. This is what you have to practice. If you take down one ounce of concentrated infinit and one ounce of water, the ratio will be off, and your gut will let you know that you screwed up pretty quickly. Unfortunately once that happens it takes time to recover and usually requires a display of digestive pyrotechnics. Use your training rides to figure out what your tempo on this is. ie I take one mouth of inifinit and then three mouths of water every 15 minutes, or whatever the right thing for you is.

dotcatlin

Ok. Thanks for all the tips.

Now, do people use salt tabs too, or is the infinit just enough? If tabs-the Scaps?

And, just to be clear-
1.people who are using all infinit are putting it in a fuel belt for the run?
2. if solution is properly diluted you still have to take in water too, right?
3. if using just infinit you don't also take anything on the course like the soup, gatorade, etc.

Sorry. I'm a noobe. Jjst want to try to get this figured out early. I think I'll go read some race reports too for nutrition on the course info--

jwpicciotto

@ Dottie - I will also use S-Caps on the course. This is so that I can adjust the electrolytes that I take down based on conditions. If the day is cool, I do not need to suppliment with S-Caps. If it is very hot, I do.

For the run I put the inifinit in a fuel belt. On question of do you do anything else, I also use shot blocks in addition to the inifinit. I call it my plan B. Sometimes deep into the run, I just can't mentally take another sip of inifinit. At that time I swap over to the shot blocks. Other times, I have no issues and just keep going with inifinit. The other thing that I do on the run is use a different flavor and formula. The different flavor is to avoid flavor fatigue and the different formula is because I can't tolerate as many calories or protein on the run as I can on the bike.

On the question of water, again it depends. I tend to mix in water as well even if the infinit is not concentrated. I do this, one for a change of pace, and two to be able to adjust hydration based on conditions. The best example is on the bike. Here at home during the summer when the temps at 8 in the morning are in the high 80's low 90's, I find myself taking down 40-60 ounces of water per hour. If I just did inifinit I would end up taking down too many calories. Instead I take down one bottle of inifint and one to two bottles of water every hour. In the winter, its one bottle of inifinit an hour and no additional water. This allows you to adjust to current conditions.

The biggest thing is to practice and find what works for you. Nutrition is just like any other aspect of your training plan and you have to train your nutrition as well.

Coach Rich

Many of us have been using Infinit for years:

• Very simple. You start with a bottle of concentrate your bike, have another in your bike special needs back. Then, all you're taking from the course is water which is multipurpose: drink it, cool/wash yourself off with it, etc
• You can customize the cal content, flavor, caffiene, sodium, etc any way you want.

It's been a while since I've needed anything special for training and racing purpose. However, if I were to mix my own formula right now, it would be:

• Light flavor
• About 200cals/serving
• Medium sodium content
• Some caffeine
• NO protein. I personally think it complicates things and I've found my stomach and digestion has become more sensitive, and slowed down, as I've gotten older.

All that said, this year I'm going with using Powerbar stuff exclusively for the ultimate simplicity on race day: just take everything I need off the course. I train with the SoCal rep so easy for me to get anything I need, talk to him about it, etc.

Finally, PLEASE listen to and read the Race Nutrition Webinar and PnI did. It's in the race execution section of the wiki. Very, very good information for you all.

GMAN 19030

@ Dottie:

I'm a firm believer in Infinit on the bike. I'm a firm believer in using whatever is on the course for the run. The main reason is because I can't stand carrying anything on the run. I don't want anything in my hands and if you ever see me wearing a fuel belt it's because there's a guy running behind me with an assault rifle and forced me to wear it.

Cyclingmaniac

I am going to jump in on this thread.  I would recommend that you try Infinit.  It came highly recommended from a sports nutritionist that I worked with while trying to dial in my nutrition issues due to my diabetic condition.   Another point that was prompted by one of Coach Rich's comment.   He mentioned (stomach sensitivity due to protein?) changes with age.   I think that it is a truism that our bodies do not remain stagnant or stay the same.  We are always changing due to many internal and external situations and conditions. Thus our nutritional needs change.  The benefit of Infinit is that you can change the formula by customizing it for your nutritional needs from order to order.  It gives you plenty of flexibility.  

[Deleted User]

I used infinite last year for Timberman, and for training leading up to it, and generally liked it. The one thing I did not like too much was the somewhat funky taste and foaming from the protien. I'm considering ordering it without protien this year. Or maybe just very little. I've read protien may help keep me from getting hungry, and there is a potential performance boost. But tastewise I would rather leave it out. Any comment or input?

GMAN 19030

@ Jim
Dial down the flavor strength. Mine is at maybe 10% on the flavor slider.

jwpicciotto

@ Jim - I will second on dialing down the taste. Also, for your bike formula, try to just dial down the amount of protein. Protein does help with hunger, but you don't need a huge amount. I do about 5g per hour on the bike because that's about all I can handle. On the performance side, the jury is still out on it. There were initial claims of increased performance. Then a significant number of studies came out saying that there was not. Now there are a couple of studies coming out saying there are.

Also, if you can't handle the protein in Infinit, remember that there are other ways to get protein into your system. You have to do what you are comfortable with.

John Withrow

I have another dumb question for you all. I get that everyone says to go very weak on the flavor.   I also know this is a totally a personal thing, but would you all mind chiming in if you have an opinion on which flavor taste best (or least bad). Orange, Lemon-Lime, or Fruit Punch?