Training is hard, that’s the whole point. So we understand if you look at the training of the day thought how am i going to get out of this? and looking for something to give you some extra energy to get by. If you lift in the morning, that something can be a pre-workout supplement with a huge dose of caffeine. But what if you hit the gym at night and don’t want to ruin your sleep in a few hours?
That’s why the “non-stimulation” pre-workout exists. It’s a supplement that you mix with water to make a (theoretically) energy drink that is stimulant-free, especially caffeine-free, so you can take it in the evening. At this point, however, you remove the most potent ingredient from the mix and still expect it to give you a mental or physical boost. And here’s where I think we need one little reality check.
What does pre-workout actually do for you?
This will shock some of you, but in the past, pre-workout didn’t exist. You can eat or drink something before your workout, but the idea of a pre-workout powder was invented by supplement companies, who started aggressively market it young people obsessed with caffeine about 15 years ago.
What’s inside ? We have a basic breakdown here. The main active ingredient is caffeine. Caffeine really does wake up, boost your performance little, and improve your ability to concentrate on a task. That is why it is popular among athletes and office workers. A caffeinated pre-workout will have a similar effect to drinking a large cup of coffee on the way to the gym.
Take the caffeine of a pre-workout product and there’s not much left. This does not mean that there is Nothing in pre-workouts without stimulation. They usually have citrullinewhich can increase blood flow and give a slight bump to athletic performance. Another common ingredient is beta-alanine, which may slightly increase stamina and may also cause your skin to feel tingly or itchy. The blend may also contain vitamins, amino acids, herbal extracts, and other ingredients without any significant, proven short-term benefit for athletic performance. In other words: Oeverything will be fine without it.
What you really need before your workout
The reason I write about pre-workouts without stimulation isn’t because they’re great or terrible (they’re fine, whatever). It’s because I keep seeing people wandering around forums like Reddit asking for help selecting “the best pre-workout without stimulation”, or asking what kind of pre-workout they should drink for an evening gym session, as if that were a crucial question and gains were at stake. My friends, you don’t need that.
Drinking (or, sigh, emptying) pre-workout has become a ritual for many. It’s part of getting ready for the gym, just like tying your shoes or putting on your pumping playlist. But the stuff In pre-workout doesn’t do much for you. If you are curious about whether you would benefit from the effects of beta-alanine or citrulline, do not hesitate to research these supplements and choose a product that contains them. But more often than not, the question people ask Really try to answer is, “how can i feel ready for the gym when i’m already a bit tired?”
A snack is a big performance booster
This is where I implore you to consider the humble carb. During intense exercise, carbohydrates are a major source of energy for our muscles. This can include blood sugar, as well as stored carbohydrates, called glycogen, that we keep in our muscles.
If you haven’t eaten in a few hours, your blood sugar is low and you may not have a lot of glycogen in your muscles. If you go to the gym after work and plan to have dinner afterwards, you’ll be shocked at how much better you’ll feel if you grab a little snack.
We have some ideas here for the best pre-workout breakfasts (as in, pre-workout). They also work well in the evening. A banana or granola bar are classic options. But really anything with carbs will do. Carbohydrates, including sugars and starches, have long been recognized as important for sports performanceespecially in endurance sports like running and cycling.
There Is more and more evidence that pre-workout carbs can also lead to better gym sessions for lifters, especially if the workout is long and you haven’t had a meal for a few hours. It’s not a new idea for weightlifters: the stereotypical powerlifter is walking around with a gym bag full of candy, and that’s exactly why. Want a real workout performance hack? You can buy Sour pcatch the kids by the pound.
