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Healthy energy drinks?

6,327 Views | 73 Replies | Last: 6 days ago by Reel Aggies
FSGuide
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12:55p, 3/16/26
I struggle to stay awake a lot of the time when I'm doing surveillance.
I really don't like coffee. I drink 1 big cup a day but it really doesn't help keep me awake. I can fall asleep not long after I drink it. Copenhagen and nicotine pouches used to keep me up but I quit those.

I don't think regular caffeine works on me. Cokes and tea don't seem to keep me awake either. I don't really drink sodas on the regular but I do drink iced tea.

Stuff like Red Bull and monster seem to help me perk up, but I don't want to drink a lot of them.

I see a lot of other energy drink options out there. Any of them halfway healthy and work too?


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Maximus Johnson
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1:24p, 3/16/26
AG
HIGHLY recommend MTN Ops Egnyte. Look at the nutrition facts. I think it is about as clean of an energy drink/preworkout as you are going to get.

Also look into Beta Alanine
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Whitetail
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1:40p, 3/16/26
AG
Take caffeine pills.
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ttha_aggie_09
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In reply to FSGuide • 1:58p, 3/16/26
AG
I would bet regular caffeine works just fine but it's the amount you're sensitive/responsive too. Cokes and tea are only like 30-40mg of caffeine (depending on size and brand) whereas Redbull is double or more and other energy drinks are up to 5 times as much.

I would look at making some sort of drink with zero or no sugar but with a lot of caffeine and see how you respond. You can buy caffeine in bulk or you can look at premixed packets of things like Spark, Propel Energy Boost, or similar. You could always just take raw caffeine powder and add to water.

I will caution you that caffeine has a very long half life and watch your overall consumption. Even if you feel tired, your overall sleep can still impacted by caffeine. I have cut out all but about 180mg a day and sleep 1000x better now. Just telling you this to keep this in mind as you bump up your intake.

Good luck!
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Claude!
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In reply to Whitetail • 2:00p, 3/16/26
Whitetail said:
Take caffeine pills.



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Spore Ag
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2:11p, 3/16/26
I started mushroom coffee. An acquired taste which is why some add stevia in it so I avoid that.

Also some has coffee added to it.
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strohag
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2:22p, 3/16/26
AG
Jocko GO are pretty solid. They have a GOOD rating on the Yuka app which looks at food ingredients. All of the flavors taste pretty good. They don't make me shaky and are more subtle than some of the more popular brands out there. HEB has them if you want to try them.
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Trout
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2:23p, 3/16/26
I mix a LMNT electrolyte packet with 5g creatine. Very basic and the creatine is good for brain and staying awake. Pretty simple, healthy unless maybe you eat a lot of junk and have too much salt already in your diet. Very little additives like an energy drink. Works great.
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schmellba99
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In reply to Claude! • 2:26p, 3/16/26
AG
Claude! said:
Whitetail said:
Take caffeine pills.




You, sir, are a hero for posting this
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schmellba99
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2:27p, 3/16/26
AG
Be a man.

Snort a line of Columbian bam-bam off of a hooker's hiney first thing in the morning. Caffine not required.
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ttha_aggie_09
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In reply to Trout • 2:30p, 3/16/26
AG
Trout said:
I mix a LMNT electrolyte packet with 5g creatine. Very basic and the creatine is good for brain and staying awake. Pretty simple, healthy unless maybe you eat a lot of junk and have too much salt already in your diet. Very little additives like an energy drink. Works great.

Creatine should be added to most active men's daily supplement list. It is a very important and impactful supplement and something I have taken for almost 20 years now with zero side effects.
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ghollow
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2:35p, 3/16/26
AG
When I do drink them, I drink Celsius Energy Drinks. They give you a boost but are sugar free.
So the greatest civilization is one where all citizens are equally armed and can only be persuaded, never forced. It removes force from the equation... and that's why carrying a gun is a civilized act.
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ttha_aggie_09
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In reply to ghollow • 2:50p, 3/16/26
AG
200mg of caffeine will usually do that to you
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Naveronski
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3:32p, 3/16/26
AG
How's your sleep? Have you ever had a sleep study?

Might be time for a CPAP.
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Hullabaque
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In reply to ttha_aggie_09 • 3:39p, 3/16/26
AG
What kind of creatine do you take? Do you have any issues with water retention? I used creatine back in college and I got a lot stronger, but also puffed up. Although a diet of beer and creatine will likely do that to you.
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ttha_aggie_09
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In reply to Hullabaque • 3:49p, 3/16/26
AG
Either Nutra Bio or Optimum Nutrition Creatine mono but any cheap creatine only option will do the trick. Creatine is only made in like 3 places in the world and all source from them (or at least last time I checked). Do NOT load it. Just jump right into 5-10g daily.

Regarding the water retention, sure - you'll have some water retention but not enough to make you look bloated unless you're sub 10% BF. A few people do get an upset stomach with it but I have never had that issue.
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FayetteAg92
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5:09p, 3/16/26
I don't know how healthy or unhealthy they truly are, but I've been drinking ranch fuels for the last few months. Get them shipped straight to my house.
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AgEng06
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In reply to ttha_aggie_09 • 5:39p, 3/16/26
AG
ttha_aggie_09 said:
Either Nutra Bio or Optimum Nutrition Creatine mono but any cheap creatine only option will do the trick. Creatine is only made in like 3 places in the world and all source from them (or at least last time I checked). Do NOT load it. Just jump right into 5-10g daily.

Regarding the water retention, sure - you'll have some water retention but not enough to make you look bloated unless you're sub 10% BF. A few people do get an upset stomach with it but I have never had that issue.

Have you ever tried HCL over mono? HCL is apparently better at water retention (or lack thereof), but for whatever reason I haven't tried it. I may give it a shot after I run out of my current tub.
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reproag
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In reply to strohag • 6:04p, 3/16/26
AG
strohag said:
Jocko GO are pretty solid. They have a GOOD rating on the Yuka app which looks at foot ingredients. All of the flavors taste pretty good. They don't make me shaky and are more subtle than some of the more popular brands out there. HEB has them if you want to try them.

2nd
I will NEVER apologize for being American
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ttha_aggie_09
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In reply to AgEng06 • 6:05p, 3/16/26
AG
Yes and found little difference between the too other than serving size is much smaller on HCL.
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SweaterVest
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7:42p, 3/16/26
AG
You can get Celsius Orange packets on Amazon that come out to about $1/ea. 200mg of caffeine, tastes great, vitamins, and you can mix them in less water if you're on surveillance all night and want to minimize piss breaks.
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C ROC N
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7:44p, 3/16/26
Try Course Record with 5-10 grams of creatine for mental clarity and focus.

https://drinkcourserecord.com/pages/functional-hydration
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aggiesundevil4
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7:51p, 3/16/26
AG
I haven't had caffeine in over 3 years. 2 simple changes - I take a daily vitamin D pill (5000 iu) and a vitamin B complex pill. The combo has been phenomenal. Natural all day energy. Improved happiness. Seriously.

Finding the right caffeine is like getting good at the wrong sport.
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Tex Aggie
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7:53p, 3/16/26
AG
First phorm
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CactusThomas
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9:06p, 3/16/26
AG
I always say, the key to a successful crystal meth habit is moderation.


Wait, what were we talking about?
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SweaterVest
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In reply to C ROC N • 9:22p, 3/16/26
AG
C ROC N said:
Try Course Record with 5-10 grams of creatine for mental clarity and focus.


Yeah, I agree with this too. Unless you have a health reason precluding it, creatine should be in your routine.
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MyNameIsJeff
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9:38p, 3/16/26
AG
Wait, are the white Monsters not good for us?
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suburban cowboy
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9:48p, 3/16/26
AG
Celcius
Sugar-free Red Bull
Sugar-free Monster
MTN Ops Ignite
Alp caffeine pouches
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dr_boogs
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In reply to AgEng06 • 9:56p, 3/16/26
AG
AgEng06 said:
ttha_aggie_09 said:
Either Nutra Bio or Optimum Nutrition Creatine mono but any cheap creatine only option will do the trick. Creatine is only made in like 3 places in the world and all source from them (or at least last time I checked). Do NOT load it. Just jump right into 5-10g daily.

Regarding the water retention, sure - you'll have some water retention but not enough to make you look bloated unless you're sub 10% BF. A few people do get an upset stomach with it but I have never had that issue.

Have you ever tried HCL over mono? HCL is apparently better at water retention (or lack thereof), but for whatever reason I haven't tried it. I may give it a shot after I run out of my current tub.


The vast majority of well designed studies haven't detected a difference in forms of creatine. Monohydrate still the most cost effective and easiest form to take. Most of the"other forms"stuff is pure marketing without strong science.
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agcivengineer
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10:19p, 3/16/26
AG
I drink Celsius when given the choice, however I strongly suggest keeping high caffeine intake to a minimum. These should not be used every day, or even more than 2 times per week (in my opinion). They will get you going, but that high of a caffeine intake has to impact you at some point.
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aftershock
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12:10a, 3/17/26
There are some that are healthier like Gorgie, but I don't like the taste.
So if I'm at HEB, I'll pick up a Tru Apple Kiwi. It's one of the better ones thats more natural, but tastes ok.
If I'm hitting up a gas station or something, I'll get an Uptime (white can, sugar free). Sweet Melon is $.
If they don't have those I'll get a Celsius.
I also like BUM. Harder to find on the road, but most Kroger/HEB have them. They have a root beer flavor that is pretty good if I'm craving more of a "coke" taste.

I've found that alot of times in the mid afternoon I want something like an energy drink… or just something other than water. If that's the case, and I don't want a major caffeine hit, I'll get a Bubblr. It's got a less caffeine (like 70ish mg), but is kinda in the same flavor profile (fruity). That sometimes helps me get over my craving.
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ChoppinDs40
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7:03a, 3/17/26
AG
I like 5hour energies diluted in a bottle of Gatorade or something
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Aust Ag
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8:12a, 3/17/26
AG
All I know is that the Energy drink section at my HEB is insane. Sooo many choices…yet not ONE brand with a twist off container. So annoying. I don't always need the whole can.

But apparently the entire industry wants you to drink it in one sitting.
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AgEng06
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In reply to Aust Ag • 8:24a, 3/17/26
AG
They don't care if you drink it all or not, they just want you to pay for a new one every time.
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aggiejumper
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8:35a, 3/17/26
AG

Sparkling water, organic cane sugar, organic lemon juice concentrate, organic flavours, monk fruit juice concentrate, organic green tea extract, organic stevia extract, citric acid, organic guarana extract, organic echinacea extract, organic Panax ginseng extract

Small can is 80mg caffeine.
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