Lactic acid buildup??

[Erin_Akey]

Does anyone know anything about this supplement called Inhibilak? Or do any of you eat or take anything that is supposed to help stop lactic acid production in your muscles?

I am very intrigued by all of this and learning!

 

[joel_maxwell]

Never heard of it. Personally, I try to raise my LAT with certain exercises and just go with nature. I would stay away from pills until a lot of research is done. I guess I just weary of some types of modern medicine.

 

[Donald Duck]

Never heard of it. Personally, I try to raise my LAT with certain exercises and just go with nature. I would stay away from pills until a lot of research is done. I guess I just weary of some types of modern medicine.

I agree with Joel. Stay away from pills. If ANYTHING, I take a salt stick cap on a really long run, but thats pushing it for me.

Lactic acid just comes with the territory. There was one runner who I saw on TV a few weeks ago (Real Superhumans with Stan Lee) whos lactic acid levels dropped the longer he ran, so he can just keep going.

I just mentally shut off my pain switch...which doesn't really work for serious injuries, but fatigue, lactic acid, muscle soreness and all the other running pains I just - shut off some how.

 

[Master Yoda]

jmaxwell007 and Donald Duck speak the truth. Until the company has actual, credible (credible is the key word) research done and published then stay away. So many of the supplements are based off of anecdotes, shoddy research and folk medicine that when put to the test fail miserably to perform. In the end all most of them are good for is separating money from your wallet and making your urine incredibly expensive.

 

[joel_maxwell]

I agree with Joel. Stay away from pills. If ANYTHING, I take a salt stick cap on a really long run, but thats pushing it for me.

Lactic acid just comes with the territory. There was one runner who I saw on TV a few weeks ago (Real Superhumans with Stan Lee) whos lactic acid levels dropped the longer he ran, so he can just keep going.

I just mentally shut off my pain switch...which doesn't really work for serious injuries, but fatigue, lactic acid, muscle soreness and all the other running pains I just - shut off some how.

Have you ever felt lactic acid pulsating in your forearms a little after pulling a big hill or something? It always happens in the first mile, but Ill get this achy feeling for about 10 seconds or so. Weird.

jmaxwell007 and Donald Duck speak the truth. Until the company has actual, credible (credible is the key word) research done and published then stay away. So many of the supplements are based off of anecdotes, shoddy research and folk medicine that when put to the test fail miserably to perform. In the end all most of them are good for is separating money from your wallet and making your urine incredibly expensive.

I would love to take something like a few Fig Newton with me instead of a GU packet for that 45 minute + energy boost, but something about carry them in your pocket, all hot and mushed up a bit just makes me want to gag. :lol:

Plus, Id waste half my fluid supply washing that thing down.

 

[Phonedave]

Does anyone know anything about this supplement called Inhibilak? Or do any of you eat or take anything that is supposed to help stop lactic acid production in your muscles?

I am very intrigued by all of this and learning!

You really can't stop lactic acid production. Your muscles produce it as a result of performing work.

What happens is, when you are in an aerobic mode, the lactic acid (well a lactic acid precursor actualy) is broken down using oxygen, and lactic acid never forms.

When you enter anaerobic stages that oxygen is not available, and the lactate (the precursor) turns into lactic acid and it starts to build up.

I GUESS that some sort of suppliment *could* help to break down the lactate when oxygen is not available, OR it could provide additional oxygen to help stave off anarobic work. Poking around on the web, it's not a new product, Inhibilak has been around since at least 2004. Looking at what it contains, I can't see how it works. It does have a bunch of simple carbohydrates in it, so that will provide some energy, but thats about all.

If you really want to stave off lactic acid build-up, you need to extend your anaerobic threshold. You do this by excercizing in the anaerobic state +/- 85% of your max heart rate. That will increse your VO2, which means more oxygen in the blood, which is more oxygen for the muscles, which results in less latic acid.

There are also breath hold and oxygen utilization exercizes (as well as working out at altitiude) but thats pretty hard core. People training for a mountain ascent do use them though (I am slated to hike Mt. Washington next July, so I will let you know how that goes )

-dave

 

[Erin_Akey]

glad I posted here before going out and getting something like that! sounds like I just need to keep pushing myself and it will get better!

thanks once again for very useful info!

 

[joel_maxwell]

You really can't stop lactic acid production. Your muscles produce it as a result of performing work.

What happens is, when you are in an aerobic mode, the lactic acid (well a lactic acid precursor actualy) is broken down using oxygen, and lactic acid never forms.

When you enter anaerobic stages that oxygen is not available, and the lactate (the precursor) turns into lactic acid and it starts to build up.

I GUESS that some sort of suppliment *could* help to break down the lactate when oxygen is not available, OR it could provide additional oxygen to help stave off anarobic work. Poking around on the web, it's not a new product, Inhibilak has been around since at least 2004. Looking at what it contains, I can't see how it works. It does have a bunch of simple carbohydrates in it, so that will provide some energy, but thats about all.

If you really want to stave off lactic acid build-up, you need to extend your anaerobic threshold. You do this by excercizing in the anaerobic state +/- 85% of your max heart rate. That will increse your VO2, which means more oxygen in the blood, which is more oxygen for the muscles, which results in less latic acid.

There are also breath hold and oxygen utilization exercizes (as well as working out at altitiude) but thats pretty hard core. People training for a mountain ascent do use them though (I am slated to hike Mt. Washington next July, so I will let you know how that goes )

-dave

I achieve this every workout now that I can see the % due to my HR monitor. Dang that thing is so useful.

 

[WishIwasThere]

I have also been told to 'drain my legs' after long runs, by my PT marathoner wife I have. It helps to get the bad stuff left in your legs drain up to your torso.

Lay on the floor, with you but as close to a wall as possible. Put you legs up against the wall and just lay there for a while. I swear it does help.

 

[Phonedave]

I have also been told to 'drain my legs' after long runs, by my PT marathoner wife I have. It helps to get the bad stuff left in your legs drain up to your torso.

Lay on the floor, with you but as close to a wall as possible. Put you legs up against the wall and just lay there for a while. I swear it does help.

If you have it available, and you can stand the pain, putting you legs in an ice bath also works very well.

Barring that, a cold swimming pool is another option.

The cold first causes your muscles to contract, and also cools them down, this reduces swelling. Then because of the cold (it has to be cold, not cool) you body responds with a systematic response to the cold area - it opens blood vessels and increases blood flow to try and warm the effected area. This has the effect of 'flushing' out your leg muscles.

-dave

 

[WishIwasThere]

Thanks Dave. Hadn't heard of that one.

 

[Erin_Akey]

I need to try that drain the legs thing. I also need to do some research on sciatica. That is really bothering my left leg lately. SO much to learn now!

 

[Donald Duck]

Have you ever felt lactic acid pulsating in your forearms a little after pulling a big hill or something? It always happens in the first mile, but Ill get this achy feeling for about 10 seconds or so. Weird.

I would love to take something like a few Fig Newton with me instead of a GU packet for that 45 minute + energy boost, but something about carry them in your pocket, all hot and mushed up a bit just makes me want to gag. :lol:

Plus, Id waste half my fluid supply washing that thing down.

No, I've never felt it build up in my arms. Always my legs though. But like I said before, I just shut off the switch . I think there is something to that whole "mind over matter."

 

[joel_maxwell]

No, I've never felt it build up in my arms. Always my legs though. But like I said before, I just shut off the switch . I think there is something to that whole "mind over matter."

It is a weird sensation indeed. It is like 4 or 5 good heart beat feelings in the forearms with this tingling feeling in the muscle.

Weird. It isnt bothersome at all... just a sign that I pushed a little hard before truly warming up (usually after the first half mile or mile)