I tried Novak Djokovic’s ‘magic potion’ he uses for Wimbledon

If you’re anything like me, then getting to the gym can be a real slog. The thought of lifting heavy weights in monotimous repetition simply drives my over-active mind up the wall and I can only manage a couple of weeks staring at machines, exercise bikes and dumbbell racks before I become demotivated.

And when the mind loses interest, the body’s ability to lift heavier, push through intense HIT workouts, and run for miles and miles on a treadmill also starts to deplete. Performance-enhancing supplements – both legal and sketchy – have been around for decades now, to both help bodybuilders get the edge on their opponents and help the average Joe get through a vigiourous workout without tapping out two minutes in.

You don’t have to look far online to find an abundance of influencers and athletes flogging pre-workout powders, muscle gainers, energy drinks and replenishing potions – and those are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to sports enhancement.

It’s no secret that I need something to get me through a workout – I mean, at the age of 30, I’m no spring chicken. My back is shot to bits, the brain fog is real, and I’ve never had much willpower or appeal in me to repetitively pick up pieces of iron over and over again.

But with no chance of me ever taking steroids due to the legality and adverse physical and mental health effects associated, I’d much prefer to use something legal, on the market and easily obtainable via next-day delivery. I was doing a little research into the top-trending supplements last week, when I came across SILA – a vitamin and electrolyte-packed drink fronted by tennis ace Novak Djokovic.

On the product, Djokovic says: “The idea to create SILA started more than 10 years ago. I started being more disciplined, passionate and relentless about finding the best ways to improve myself both on and off the court. I was so inspired by the overall wellness state I was in and how it was affecting my performance, that I decided to look into creating my own brand that could enrich people’s lives the same way it did mine.”

These little hydration cubes are simply dropped into water to dissolve before being consumed, and are said to contain Sodium, Calcium and Magnesium – as well as Vitamins B1, B12 and C. Even better still, they don’t contain caffeine – a real deal-breaker for me as I’ve never been able to stomach more than a couple of sips of those high-power energy drinks without seeing my bowel movements in a state of distress and sleeping pattern in tatters.

You get a pack of 12 cubes for the reasonable price of £11 – delivery included – so I popped some of the watermelon-flavoured ones in my basket and eagerly awaited their arrival. They turned up around three or four days later – when I was bed bound with the flu…no workout that weekend for me.

However, I did have the bright idea of trying one to see how it helped aid illness. I filled a glass with tap water and let a cube dissolve for around five minutes before slowly starting to sip the ‘magic potion’ in hope that it would somehow miraculous heal me – after all, I’ve read somewhere that electrolytes and vitamins – as well as rest – are key in mending from illness.

First and foremost, the taste of the product is incredibly sweet and sugary – despite being a zero sugar product; think you’re typical summer fruits diluted squash. The classic artificial watermelon flavouring was in the now pink-coloured water, and it was a treat to say the least.

In terms of curing my illness, did the SILA do it? No, of course not. I was bed bound for the best part of two days through that flu, sweating buckets and with absolutely no energy whatsoever. But in all fairness, it kept me nice and hydrated and kept the headaches at bay.

Earlier this week, when I was feeling fighting fit once again, I decided to trial SILA for its intended purpose of physical activity rather than a cure for illness. As I mentioned before, I’m not much of a gymgoer in your traditional sense – but I do go to kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes each evening Monday to Thursday, which offer arguably more of a workout that jogging on a treadmill does. After all, punching, kicking and grappling for an hour and a half every night is bound to tire even the most hyperactive of people out.

I loaded up on SILA and headed down to an advanced kickboxing session on Tuesday. The class entailed some technique work and drilling rounds with a partner, before about 20 minutes or so of sparring two-minute rounds, changing from partner to partner.

Now, in terms of BJJ sparring – or rolling as it’s called – my fitness levels will only allow me to scramble with one or two guys before I’m lying in a pool of sweat, struggling to catch my breath, and having to sit out as the rest of the gym go on without me. But this time at kickboxing, it was a different state of affairs.

I was unsure if I was even going to make kickboxing sparring after the intense technique work that ensued beforehand, with my arms built-up with lactic acid, heart rate through the roof and profuse sweat turning my grey t-shirt at least four shades darker. However, I was able to push on and spar everyone in my class at least once; I may have got my nose jabbed off and my legs kicked to bits, but I made it through.

I also didn’t feel dehydrated afterwards, which was incredibly pleasant. I usually have to go to the shop near mine and splurge on two or three bottles of Powerade to top my energy levels back up, but I didn’t actually feel too depleted – instead settling for normal water.

So can SILA effectively assist a workout and give you that push to keep going when the going gets incredibly tough? Yes, I think it evidently can. I was able to spar harder and for far longer than I usually would, and I woke up this morning feeling relitavely fresh too – perhaps thanks to the influx of vitamins and minerals that the product has to offer.

You get 12 tablets for £11 per box, which is also incredibly reasonably priced considering your average isotonic sports drink will set you back around £1-£1.50. The taste is pleasant enough, and you don’t have to go through the jitters of caffeinated beverages to receive good bursts of energy.

The one downside to SILA is that it sometimes doesn’t dissolve completely, leaving a gritty powder for the last gulp – but it’s a small price to pay considering the benefits that it has to offer. If it’s good enough for seven-time Wimbledon winner Djokovic, it’s surely good enough for everyone, right?