I recently came upon the acquisition of an energy shot, and was wondering when the proper time to use it is. I am planning on using it for a fitness test i have to do. So should i take it before i begin (and if so how long before), or should i take it during the test?

I was thinking i would take it about an hour or so before hand.

Those things are horrible for your body, and a horrible idea in general.

What they call giving you "energy" is really just causing your body to send out a natural jitter and high that numbs the senses of being tired. It doesn't enhance your body's ability to accomplish physical activities, and it doesn't make you avoid physical exhaustion, either. So, you're not going to get a better score on a physical exam because you took an energy shot, you're just not going to be able to fall asleep when you're done running.

Your best "energy shot" is a banana in the morning, rest the night before, and exercise every day. This craze of energy drinks is ridiculous, and is only good for helping you stay awake at night trying to play Halo, not running the mile.

I'm not trying to be the bearer of bad news, but that's just how it is. Good luck on your fitness test.

Drinking an energy shot before a fitness test is not going to give an accurate assessment. Unless you take an energy shot before every single time you work out or do something physical, you're not going to get the same results. You'll probably end up with a heart attack. You're better off eating right, drinking water & getting a good amount of rest the night before the test.

However, the best energy shot that I've taken was the 5-hour. It tastes like sour butt crack, but it works and doesn't make me jittery.

Alright. You've made me change my mind. Mostly cuz i don't want to drink the thing, get sick and do terrible on the test (it's my first one ever).

Should i bulk up on carbs throughout the day to achieve a good amount of energy?

Do a little bit of research on carb loading. Some people do it the night before, some do it the morning of. Just eat reasonable food, don't eat pizza the night before, or the morning of for that matter, either. Honestly, drastically changing your diet isn't going to help you at all. If you're not accustomed to eating a lot, then decide to eat 6 bananas, 2 rolls, and an apple for breakfast, you're going to start your test and you're going to curl over and puke. Yes, it's eating healthy, but you have to remember this: Your body runs off of routine and recognition, so making drastic changes at the last second can be very harmful. I would suggest eating about the same amount as usual, just try to eat healthy foods.

Carb loading is dumb. Carbs turn straight to sugar. If you eat a majority of protein, carbs only from Green vegetables and whatever fruit you want (yes there are about 35-55 carbs in an apple depending ont he size) but they burn pretty quickly. Do it for 3-4 days before hand. The idea is to get your body into Ketosis where it burns fat instead of carbs for energy. You'll have very FEW carbs in your diet, but enough to maintain bloodsugar where it SHOULD be instead of it being constantly elevated like everyone elses.
My deal: Drink water all day (NO JUICE - Straight up sugar and carbs), Milk is okay in moderation (SKIM ONLY), black caffienated coffee is fine. If it has more than ONE ingredient, dont drink it.
5 Eggs for breakfast, a handful of baby spinach leaves, a banana (and half a cantaloupe when its in season), sometimes a flax muffin (3carbs + 3grams of dietary fiber = 0 net carbs)
For lunch - 7-9oz of Chicken cooked in grapeseed or coconut oil (Even avacado oil), another handful of baby spinach leaves (or kale), an apple, sometimes some more veggies, depending on how Im feeling (NO BREAD)
Dinner - About the same, maybe a steak 6-8oz with a baked sweet potato (EAT THE ENTIRE THING, skin and all, thats where the fiber is), and some more spinach.

AVOID HYDROGENATED OILS, Soybeans, Wheat products (trust me its hard but its worth it, you feel great), peanuts, lechtin (comes from soybeans), Vegetable oil (hydrog), Shortenings (vegetable oil), refined sugars (especially white sugar).

Introduce things like: Almonds, LOTS OF WATER, Walnuts, Oils from Grapeseed (med/hi), Coconut (high heat frying), Avacado (med), canola (low heat), olive (no heat drizzled over salads)<-released toxins and has a low smoke point), Almond flour (almond meal), Coconut flour (good for cakes and cupcakes when you just cant resist), Blue Agave (sweetener replacement for sugar), Eat fruits when you want a snack or

My snack:
"Cereal" - Sliced almonds, walnuts, blueberries (Frozen - Preserved nutrients better than fresh), some skim milk. Its a great quick energy snack and the blueberries help bring your blood sugar down

Between Eggs and Spinach, you have enough lutein to aid in brain function too(I actually noticed a difference). After a while, your skin clears up too(proactiv is bull). You feel a lot better, you sleep better. Not to mention when I was eating like this, less now, but I've been busy, I was running 2-3.25 miles a day. Plenty of energy to get you through the day and just enough to get you to bedtime. No headaches, no drowsiness, dont feel bogged down or bloated, plus you'll have veins like made (bodybuilders do this to accentuate their veins a few days before competitions), and you'll have some abs to show for it. You'll trim up big time.

Good luck....if its a food product, AVOID IT. Replace a good portion of your carb intake with protein, and make sure to eat high (and real) fiber foods, eat the skins on your fruits and veggies, and drink plenty of water.

-Justin

Need I mention that this is my grocery list
-Two 18 cartons of eggs
-Enough chicken to eat 10 or more meals on
-Beef about the same
-Uncured bacon (hormel makes it), no Sodium Nitrite!
-Two gallons of skim milk (the roommate drinks most of it)
-A bag of small apples
-5 or 6 large Organic apples
-a bunch of bananas (I eat one before I go to run and sometimes one before class)
-A bag of baby spinach leaves
-During the summer I get 3-4 Cantaloupe (eat half every morning for breakfast) - Lots of sugar but its good for a start, I have an active job and lifestyle
-A bag of flax seed every once in a while (search google for 1 minuts flax muffin recipe, GOOD STUFF! Except use blue agave instead of artificial sweeteners.
-A case of Water, i'm getting a good water-bottle soon, but I recycle all the bottles. Aquafina ONLY, others have added sodium, and its not for taste, its to make you drink more....
-Its good to have a good selection of spices to make your meals interesting.

Turkey tacos are great too. Make your own taco seasoning:
Cumin (main ingredient), Garlic, Seasoning salt, Pepper, Salt to taste (celtic sea is best), a dash of cinnamon, some ground mustard. About it, but you can find your own recipe online.
Just either use low carb wraps, or use none at all (avoid corn), Put your cheese, lowfat sour cream (low carb too), and meat on a plate, and just eat more meat to counteract the lack of carbs. Eat it all with a fork. ENJOY!

-Justin

Justin, what do you mean by a 'food product'?

He means look at the nutrition guide, if it has words you can't pronounce, it is a food product. Anything that is loaded with chemicals and processed junk. Stick with natural foods.

Coaches always used to tell us to eat something like mashed potatoes or pasta the night before the event, get a good nights sleep, and eat a fruit before the actual event. Always seemed to last longer when I stuck to that advice, wasn't burned out by the 5th inning.