4 Things You Should Know Before Taking Pre-Workout Supplements

When we think of pre-workout supplements, we think "crazy, bouncing off the walls, heart about to explode" types of products. And, in many cases, that's likely the truth. But, in reality, "pre-workout" means a supplement that's used before you work. Now, many types of pre-workouts supplements serve different purposes. To keep it simple, we will cover the main two types of pre-workout supplements and how they can amplify your workout, helping you achieve the results you desire even quicker!

The two main categories of pre-workout supplements are stimulant-based and non-stimulant-based. Stimulant-based pre-workouts were designed to stimulate the brain and central nervous system. These products typically include caffeine, green tea, taurine, and other herb-derived ingredients. Stim-based pre-workouts are best for increasing energy, focus, and drive for your workout. The idea is to dial in your focus and push the body harder than you would without the supplement. And for that purpose, these types of pre-workouts work well! Our #1 selling pre-workout is called P.R.E. This product is a lower stimulant option that increases energy and focus, helps reduce water weight, and aids in eliminating fat.

The second type of pre-workout is a non-stimulant-based pre-workout. These products are typically not meant to provide energy but are designed to increase blood flow, shuttle nutrients to the muscle tissue, and increase muscular endurance. These products can be used with stimulant-based pre-workouts for the added benefits list above OR can be taken alone. Our #1 seller is PUMP. A fan-favorite, this product is fantastic at increasing blood flow to the muscle and giving you that crowd-pleasing "PUMP" we all enjoy!

Given how complex and sometimes dangerous pre-workout supplements can be, we wanted to give you four tips to make sure you were educated so that you can make the best decisions for your workout and your body!

4 Things You Should Know Before Taking Pre-Workout Supplements

Know How Much Caffeine and Stimulants Are In Your Product

• It's not uncommon for products to be loaded up with LOTS of stimulants. And while these can be good for a "bomb-a$$" workout, being aware can make you smarter with your body. It's recommended to intake less than 400mg of caffeine per day. Always start with ½ scoop and assess your tolerance. It's also good to see how your body reacts to the ingredients. Some ingredients can make us nauseous, lightheaded, break out, or just make our heartbeat too fast. Always start slow!

• If you feel like you can't work out without a pre-workout supplement, that means that you've probably become entirely reliant upon the product. And like anything in life, we never want to be fully dependent upon something. Try to take 1-2 days a week without it or even replace it with ½ cup of coffee. 

• We recommend that you cycle on and off stim-based with non-stim-based pre-workout products. After a couple of months using a stim-based, try implementing a non-stim-based for a few weeks to a month. This helps give your adrenals a rest so that your body uses the ingredients to their full potential. The fan-favorite is our non-stim option PUMP product. 

• There will likely be a time when the effectiveness of pre-workout, coffee, etc., has fully diminished. If you feel like you can drink a cup of coffee at 8 pm and immediately fall asleep, this would be a red flag, which means that you are likely experiencing some adrenal fatigue. Adrenal fatigue just means that your adrenal glands have been fully exhausted. This causes issues with cortisol and other hormones in our bodies. In order to reset our body back to its natural healthy state, it's recommended to take an adrenal rest type of product while eliminating caffeine from your daily intake. Do this for 3-4 weeks before resuming regular caffeine intake. 

We all LOVE our pre-workouts. And, so long as we are taking them in a safe & healthy way, they can help us make strides in our fitness goals. Being knowledgeable is the first step to implementing the proper protocol for safe supplementation. Happy Lifting!

As always, please email info@strongphysiquez.com if you have any questions or concerns whatsoever.