Taking pre-workout supplements is an emerging trend among both beginners and pros, but many people who take these products often don’t know how and why they work. Just to clarify, pre-workouts are specially designed mixes to help boost your workout, not do it instead of you. So, if you’re looking to cut corners in order to reach your goals – then that’s not the way to go. What would be the right way then?
First and foremost, sleep. Then, proper dieting. Finally, sufficient hydration. Sounds simple, but it takes a lot of willpower to turn these seemingly ordinary tips into ongoing habits. Only then will you be able to reap the full benefits that pre-workout supplements can offer.
Pre-Workout Supplements Benefits
Pre-workout supplements can provide a wide array of physical benefits.
Pre-Workouts Provide A Boost of Energy
Being able to handle loads of energy during a workout is an obvious perk that most of us would kill for. Pre-workout products supply the body with more energy thanks to one ingredient in particular – caffeine. A pre-workout with caffeine in its formulation acts as a stimulant that sufficiently raises the bar during your workout. When combined with arginine, caffeine gets even more powerful and starts delivering results beyond normal measure. Having the right ingredients in the right dosage can make miracles come true, at least while pumping iron at the gym.
Pre-Workouts Will Help You Perform Better
Maybe one of the biggest advantages of high-quality pre-workouts is their ability to increase your energy output – without resorting to chemically inappropriate means. Pre-workouts contain ingredients that work together to bring about the best out of users and make them go the extra mile during workout. They do this by increasing stamina, endurance, the ability to operate under pressure, and pure, raw power from which the lean muscle operates.
Pre-Workouts Will Speed Up Your Metabolism
Most pre-workouts have indirect effects that enable users to lose fat faster than usual. As we mentioned, quality pre-workouts will usually include caffeine in their formulas, which is a well-known weight loss agent. Upon ingestion, caffeine conducts several key processes:
Kick-starts thermogenesis in the body
Enables the oxidation of fat
Boosts metabolism
Delays hunger onset
The effects of a sped up metabolism spread far and wide. One for instance, lets you stay fit and lean even if you’re not trying to lose weight. If weight-loss isn’t your jam, no problem: opt for pre-workouts that are stimulant-free in their entirety.
Pre-Workouts Will Help You Recover Faster
Even if they’re labeled as ‘pre-workouts’, these products can actually help you after training as well. Putting your best out there can bring results faster, but it can also leave you feeling sore for extended periods of time. Pre-workouts are known to pack decent amounts of creatine monohydrate, an ingredient that helps reduce muscle soreness – while also increasing insulin and glucose levels after training. This way, not only will you crush those reps in no time, but you’ll also get the additional benefits long after you’ve finished with your last exercise for the day.
You’ll Have a Greater Focus and an Iron-Bound Willpower
In order to be fully engaged with your workouts, it’s only logical that you’ll need every ounce of willpower to proceed accordingly. Some of the ingredients in pre-workout mixes (like caffeine) elevate a given workout to the next level. These ingredients sharpen your mental game and improve hand-eye coordination so that you come out miles ahead of your competition.
Pre-Workout Supplement Ingredients
Some of the more common ingredients that you can find in pre-workouts include (but are not limited to):
Caffeine
As we mentioned, this is the key compound that makes pre-workouts powerful performance boosting formulas. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system to overcome any potential obstacles while working out. In addition, caffeine plays a crucial role in sparing carbs and using fat as the body’s primary energy source.
Creatine
An essential compound for athletes that like to train hard. Creatine adds more power, increases the size of muscles, and enables the body to achieve its peak while performing strenuous training activities.
Beta-alanine
This is a very important ingredient that completes any pre-workout blend. Beta-alanine buffs hydrogen ions, which increases the ability to keep up with prolonged sessions at the gym. In short, this highly potent ingredient will put forward the best out of any user who’s willing to try it.
L-arginine
An essential amino acid that is crucial in nitric oxide synthesis. More nitric oxide means increased and improved blood flow – which leads to positive effects among athletes looking to get that extra kick.
Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)
Group of amino acids comprised of leucine, isoleucine, and valine. They regulate protein metabolism, increase protein synthesis, and suppresses the breakdown of protein in the body.
Additionally, BCAAs are known to protect against delayed onset muscle soreness, putting you back on track as soon as the day after.
Taurine
An amino acid as well. Taurine increases the sensitivity of insulin in the body, while decreasing oxidative stress. Crucial for proper metabolising – with the additional effect of torching flab among users who happen to be overweight.
Tyrosine
This amino acid is a precursor to norepinephrine. NE is a hormone that travels to and out of the brain in order to stimulate the metabolism of the body. Prolonged strenuous activities can deplete norepinephrine levels and lead to poorer performance in the long run. Supplementing with Tyrosine offsets NE depletion and improves mental focus.
Carbohydrates
Are the fuel the body uses to properly function, period. Carbs are basically non-negotiable supplements for gym-goers and pro athletes, but the problem lies within their chemical structure and the way they’re consumed among users.
Generally speaking, there are two main types of carbs:
Simple
Complex
Simple carbohydrates are found in sugary drinks, candy bars, and other junk foods that are a definite no-go if you want an increase in your power output. What happens with simple carbs is, they tend to convert to energy very fast – making peaks and valleys in your blood sugar in a manner of minutes. Plus, simple carbs block the body’s natural ability to burn fat – making you prone to building up that which you’re actually trying to get rid of.
Complex carbohydrates, on the other hand, work their way into the bloodstream in a slow and steady manner. They provide satiety and additional energy for prolonged periods of time. Most quality pre-workouts are packed with complex carbs, if any at all.
Picking up the right pre-workout supplement for your individual needs can seem like a difficult task – but it’s actually simpler than you may think. Find out what works for you, including the right mix of ingredients, dosage, and taste, and follow through when you’re ready. Taking a pre-workout formula is an effective way to see results much faster than what you’d accomplish just by training on your own.
