Q: Mike, could you shed some light on sports drinks such as Gatorade/Gatorade Light. Are they beneficial? It seems to me, that my pre- and post-workout meals should provide whatever such drinks claim to offer. When would such drinks be beneficial?

A: They're basically sugar with a few electrolytes (sodium, most notably) added in. I would not recommend using them for regular weight training sessions -- you're correct in that your pre- and post-workout meals should cover all your energy and nutrition needs in those case. These drinks can be a useful energy boost during endurance exercise such as long-distance running or during long sports games when atheletes cannot stop to have a regular meal.