I kinda, sorta hate drinking water – well, at least plain water.

I'm a bit of a hypocrite when it comes to drinking water, just about every one of the fitness books I've been fortunate enough to author has included a section on drinking at least 40 oz of water/day, many recommend up to double that amount… and I kinda, sorta hate drinking water. Well, at least plain water that is. I drink waaaay too much coffee a day, and throw in a Coke Zero or two and that pretty much covers a “normal” non-training day's hydration. Couple that with the fact that I live in the desert, and all signs point to “Brett is a Moron”. Of course I drink water when I train or run, but it's much more of a reactive drinking-when-thirsty versus hydrating early, often/continually.

To compound my hydration situation even further, most sports drinks are a gut-bomb for me, whether it's the sugar or flavor, I'm really not a fan of most gator/powerade products and how they affect my stomach – especially before a run.

Hydration By Addition

Every so often, I'll get on a kick by purchasing a squirt bottle of flavoring like Mio, and force myself to drink more water purely by adding flavoring. As soon as I run out, I'm back to my non-H20 imbibing self for the most part. I've tried some single-serving powder packets to blend in a water bottle before, but none of them really seemed to stick around long enough to become a habit.

When Q Energy sent me a box full of samples, I had the opportunity to not only test the product for flavor but also had enough of the packets around to integrate into my daily routine and eventually form a bit of a habit – really a smart move on their part! I've been using the product semi-regularly for pre-workout energy/hydration, during soccer matches, softball games, and in my water bottle during a run over the past month, and here's what I've learned.

Taste First – Performance Later

I'm not sure if you feel the same way, but I'm not going to stick with something I can't stand the taste of; if I'm not sick, there's no way I'm drinking something that tastes like medicine each day – it's just not going to happen. Luckily, Q Energy tastes great, and the Orange, Lemon Lime, and Wildberry all have subtle, distinct flavors that are pleasant and easy to stomach at any point throughout the day whether I'm active, thirsty, or just looking for an energy boost.

What They Say

Q Energy Drink provides an all natural and healthy energy boost using Quercetin and a unique blend of herbal extracts, vitamins, and electrolytes. Q increases energy, enhances performance, speeds recovery and supports the immune system and overall health. At only 15 calories and with minimal caffeine, Q offers honest energy that you can feel good about using. Q is made in Canada at an NSF Certified for Sports facility.

What I Say

Even after a month of use, I cannot verify their claims that Q Energy “enhances performance, speeds recovery and supports the immune system and overall health” but I can back up the increase in energy as I've replaced the occasional afternoon cup of coffee or a Monster Energy with one or two bottles of Q Energy and felt like the sustained energy didn't promote a crash afterward. I've also been experimenting a little bit with an “energy nap” where I'll drink a Q Energy and take a 15-20 minute nap and wake up really refreshed as soon as the energy kicks in. Maybe it's just an excuse for an afternoon nap, but I'm digging the results.

All 3 flavors taste good, and I don't actually have a favorite, I dumped all three 10 packs I received a ziplock bag and just use whichever flavor I reach in and grab. I haven't had any cramps during workouts or runs, and while that may be because of the electrolytes, I'm not prone to cramps all that much anyway.

Overall, Q Energy tastes good, is convenient and I enjoy the energy boost and the inclusion of electrolytes gives me a little-added confidence that I'm not going to cramp up. The biggest test will be whether I buy more after my supply has run out, and as of right now there's a very good chance that I will.

Share this post!