I'm Prone to Mid-Lift Nausea. This Supplement Is the Only Thing That Helps
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Every Saturday, pretty much without fail, you can find me at the gym grinding through a brutal leg day all in the name of forcing my former chicken legs to grow.
My routine usually kicks off on the treadmill, leads into some bodyweight warmup work, and routes me directly to the leg extension machine for soul-crushing sets of 20 (because my trainer is literally trying to kill me). From there, I crawl over to the leg press. I'll admit my current routine isn't nearly as terrifying as the heavy squat, deadlift, and walking lunge gauntlets that plagued my early 20s, but it's still intense enough to make me want to yak about 45 minutes in.
For the longest time, I assumed I was just pushing myself too hard, especially since I navigate a nerve disorder that specifically targets my legs. But the second I started sipping a carb-infused drink midway through the workout, the nausea completely vanished. That instant relief made me realize my issue wasn't just my messed-up legs working overtime, but rather a textbook blood sugar crash where my muscles desperately needed readily accessible energy.
I initially kicked the crash by copying my powerlifting friends and chowing down on Rice Krispies Treats mid-set, but honestly, I'm just not an artificial-treat-mid-workout kind of girl. That's what ultimately led me to Tailwind Endurance Fuel, which keeps things simple with clean ingredients like dextrose and sucrose to deliver a hit of fast-acting carbs that actually match what your body is biologically designed to absorb.
How Intra-Workout Carbs Helped My Mid-Lift Nausea
While I usually try to carb up before my workouts, especially on leg days, my go-to pre-workout bowl of oatmeal and glass of orange juice just wasn't working. As it turns out, eating this right before a heavy lift meant my stomach was still bogged down with heavy fiber and acidic liquid the second I started training. The slow-digesting fiber in the oats was actually trapping the fast-acting sugars in the orange juice, preventing my body from absorbing the energy and triggering a mid-session blood sugar crash. Which is exactly why switching to a mid-workout Tailwind drink makes me feel human again.
"When we don't fuel our bodies properly before or during exercise, glycogen stores can become depleted, leading to drops in blood sugar that can cause feelings of nausea," says Jane Leverich, MS, RDN. "That's where products like Tailwind Endurance Fuel really come in handy. Their easily digestible carbohydrates not only help replenish glycogen stores but also support more stable blood sugar levels during exercise."
Related: Leg Day Nausea Is Real. Here's Why Your Body Rebels During Heavy Sets (and How to Stop It)
What Is Tailwind Endurance Fuel?
Tailwind Endurance Fuel was born out of a nearly identical experience by Jeff Vierling, the co-founder and CEO of Tailwind Nutrition. Despite having never raced a competitive mile in his life, he decided out of the blue to sign up for the Leadville 100 MTB, a grueling 100-mile mountain bike course that packs about 12,000 feet of brutal elevation gain. After crossing the finish line, he headed straight for a trash can, deeply regretting his pre-race fueling strategy. That exact moment of stomach distress sparked the creation of Tailwind's signature drink.
"We designed Tailwind's Endurance Fuel exactly for this purpose: avoiding nausea during high-intensity workouts," Vierling said. "Endurance Fuel works because it contains simple sugars (glucose and sucrose), electrolytes, and water. Together, these activate the transports in the small intestine, allowing for quick absorption without stressing the digestive tract or sloshing around in your stomach. It's the fastest way to get the energy, electrolytes, and hydration your body needs to sustain high intensity, all in one simple drink."
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 100
- Sodium: 310mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 25g
- Calcium: 27mg
- Potassium: 90mg
- Magnesium: 12mg
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Health & Fitness section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 12:02 PM.