Safest pre workout for women
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I ordered some Mixt samples, and a little tub of For Her preworkout came with it. I tried it before a fitness class. I am a regular coffee drinker. The only thing I notice was my face was tingling?? hahah I don't know what that was all about.. it was interesting to say the least!
The tingling is a side effect of Beta Alanine (a popular pre-workout amino acid). It promotes lactic acid buffering which, in theory, gives your muscles the capacity to work longer before feeling fatigued. It's one of the better-researched supplements out there. I take it pre and post workout.0 -
I like the C4, great flavors you can actually enjoy. It does give me the energy to make it through the longer workouts. I don't drink any type of caffeine (no coffee, tea or soda). The C4 is more than enough to get me through the workout and I haven't experienced any crash after the fact!
Edited to add that there are some pre-workouts that do give the jittery feeling or an itchy feeling. I tried one that made my hands shake and my heart beat was increased before I even started the workout. But C4 has never done that to me.0 -
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Packerjohn wrote: »nordlead2005 wrote: »
This is not true - I didn't use it when I started lifting. Now I do, after being shown - it does improve workout/lifts.
a quick perusing of studies show perceived energy, alertness, focus, and increased leg press abilities, but oddly enough no increased bench press abilities.
which, compared to studies on just caffeine, are similar results only the caffeine studies showed increased performance on every lift.
So, pre-workouts beyond some simple caffeine do have greatly exaggerated benefits. As JoRocka put it, some intestinal fortitude and coffee will get you just as far.
What studies? What ingredients in the product provide the improves? The comment "perceived" indicates at best a placebo effect and possibly the impact of caffeine.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3361498/ is one example, not saying I have a conclusive list, but a quick perusal gave similar results for various supplements (named or unnamed) all with caffeine as a major active ingredient. This study specifically notes that caffeine is a major active ingredient and that it has been shown to provide benefits similar to those found in this study. It also notes that there are multiple ingredients in this product and that it is impossible to pinpoint which provided the improved performance. As a note, in that study the perceived energy is stated as such because those results were based on a questionnaire.
So, preworkouts work, I'm not denying that, but do they work better than caffeine especially to the exaggerated level you see by those who just take it and say how awesome they are? I'm yet to see any evidence of that.0 -
My friend gave me some BCAA to try. It's been 2 weeks of use and all my workouts have been better then normal. I wasn't sure if psychological but I feel better throughout my workouts.
I'm so glad some have mentioned about the beta- alanine tingling, I had called my friend thinking I was having a reaction.
I have always drank caffeine in am prior to my morning workouts and a high protein breakfast. I'm gonna finish up what she gave me and then go without for a month to see if it makes a difference.0 -
Well you learn something new every day.
Just coffee for me.0 -
nordlead2005 wrote: »
So, preworkouts work, I'm not denying that, but do they work better than caffeine especially to the exaggerated level you see by those who just take it and say how awesome they are? I'm yet to see any evidence of that.
agreed... my personal opinion is most people aren't at a place where they need it- they want that feeling of being "motivated" - and at some point just sucking it up is what you need- I consider myself an intermediate level athelte/lifter- and I've never really taken any pre-workout other than a snickers and some coffee.
I don't feel at my level I NEED that- my training doesn't require me to do anything other than show up and grind- I don't need the workout to feel awesome- or my face to itch and personally I much prefer the feeling of weakness- that itself is a driving force to make me want to be stronger.
I'm a firm believer in not using artificially sourced motivation and drivers- why? Because I want my "want" to be good enough to drive me.
seriously- just have your coffee and suck it up and FEEL your body work- on it's own.0 -
OP - is there any reason you think you need a pre workout supplement or is this something you just heard you need?0
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Pre-workout is pretty gender neutral. It's a stimulant - how you react to it is specific to you, and has little to do with what's between your legs.0
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Your nervous system is stimulated for a short blast of energy (1 hour or so). If your nutritional intake and correct rest amount were consistent, there's no reason you shouldn't see the same results.
This is not true - I didn't use it when I started lifting. Now I do, after being shown - it does improve workout/lifts.
Realize that it's just a "proprietary blend" of caffeine and some other small dosage of other ingredients. Drink a strong cup of coffee, or some caffeine pills (200mgs) and you'll basically get the same boost for WAY LESS money.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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If you want to work out harder at the gym, that's more of an attitude adjustment than what pre workout you take.mermaid2290 wrote: »Thank you for all the responses. I do use coffee before work outs but I wanted to try something that will give me a little more of an urge to work out harder when im at the gym. I ordered c4 and will start with half the dose and go from there. Thanks again!
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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nordlead2005 wrote: »
So, preworkouts work, I'm not denying that, but do they work better than caffeine especially to the exaggerated level you see by those who just take it and say how awesome they are? I'm yet to see any evidence of that.
agreed... my personal opinion is most people aren't at a place where they need it- they want that feeling of being "motivated" - and at some point just sucking it up is what you need- I consider myself an intermediate level athelte/lifter- and I've never really taken any pre-workout other than a snickers and some coffee.
I don't feel at my level I NEED that- my training doesn't require me to do anything other than show up and grind- I don't need the workout to feel awesome- or my face to itch and personally I much prefer the feeling of weakness- that itself is a driving force to make me want to be stronger.
I'm a firm believer in not using artificially sourced motivation and drivers- why? Because I want my "want" to be good enough to drive me.
seriously- just have your coffee and suck it up and FEEL your body work- on it's own.
The bolded part so much. 99+% of us have much we can do to clean up nutrition, exercise, our mindset, etc that will do much more that any supplement will.
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nordlead2005 wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »nordlead2005 wrote: »
This is not true - I didn't use it when I started lifting. Now I do, after being shown - it does improve workout/lifts.
a quick perusing of studies show perceived energy, alertness, focus, and increased leg press abilities, but oddly enough no increased bench press abilities.
which, compared to studies on just caffeine, are similar results only the caffeine studies showed increased performance on every lift.
So, pre-workouts beyond some simple caffeine do have greatly exaggerated benefits. As JoRocka put it, some intestinal fortitude and coffee will get you just as far.
What studies? What ingredients in the product provide the improves? The comment "perceived" indicates at best a placebo effect and possibly the impact of caffeine.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3361498/ is one example, not saying I have a conclusive list, but a quick perusal gave similar results for various supplements (named or unnamed) all with caffeine as a major active ingredient. This study specifically notes that caffeine is a major active ingredient and that it has been shown to provide benefits similar to those found in this study. It also notes that there are multiple ingredients in this product and that it is impossible to pinpoint which provided the improved performance. As a note, in that study the perceived energy is stated as such because those results were based on a questionnaire.
So, preworkouts work, I'm not denying that, but do they work better than caffeine especially to the exaggerated level you see by those who just take it and say how awesome they are? I'm yet to see any evidence of that.
No, they don't provide some hulk-like transformation and are especially exaggerated when you see someone in an advertisement or youtube video toss a scoop in their mouth and wash it down and then immediately pull a PR.
If you like coffee, drink coffee. If you want caffeine pills, take them, if you want something that doesn't taste like coffee then use a pre-workout.
In my case, I can't stand coffee so I take a pre-workout. Not picky on the brand, whatever I have handy.0 -
most researched and backed up is coffee0
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I agree with several here that C4 is pretty mild but gets the job done of a gentle boost for a morning workout - I only get the tingles if I have a heaping scoop and they go away as soon as I start working out. C4 also tastes great to me compared to a lot of other brands - I often have a hard time choking down some of the "flavors" out there in other brands. I personally love their raspberry lemonade.
I also like Explosion fruit punch because its cheap, gives me a gentle boost, doesn't give me the tingles and it's sold at the baby Walmart near my house for super cheap; C4 I have to go to the big/super crowded store for... so sometimes I settle - i'm a settler
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A lot of people are using "pre-workout" and "stimulant" interchangeably here. Pre-workouts serve other functions, for some of which the timing is relevant (citrulline malate, taurine), and for others it's not (creatine, beta alanine).0
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nordlead2005 wrote: »
So, preworkouts work, I'm not denying that, but do they work better than caffeine especially to the exaggerated level you see by those who just take it and say how awesome they are? I'm yet to see any evidence of that.
agreed... my personal opinion is most people aren't at a place where they need it- they want that feeling of being "motivated" - and at some point just sucking it up is what you need- I consider myself an intermediate level athelte/lifter- and I've never really taken any pre-workout other than a snickers and some coffee.
I don't feel at my level I NEED that- my training doesn't require me to do anything other than show up and grind- I don't need the workout to feel awesome- or my face to itch and personally I much prefer the feeling of weakness- that itself is a driving force to make me want to be stronger.
I'm a firm believer in not using artificially sourced motivation and drivers- why? Because I want my "want" to be good enough to drive me.
seriously- just have your coffee and suck it up and FEEL your body work- on it's own.
I agree with that and I think it's probably true for 90% of people. I think it's a bit bizarre to see people think they "need" to go to the vending machine for a protein shake or bar because they've just done a bit of Zumba or pilates....
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Perhaps it makes some folk feel like they're more "serious". LOL0
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nordlead2005 wrote: »
So, preworkouts work, I'm not denying that, but do they work better than caffeine especially to the exaggerated level you see by those who just take it and say how awesome they are? I'm yet to see any evidence of that.
agreed... my personal opinion is most people aren't at a place where they need it- they want that feeling of being "motivated" - and at some point just sucking it up is what you need- I consider myself an intermediate level athelte/lifter- and I've never really taken any pre-workout other than a snickers and some coffee.
I don't feel at my level I NEED that- my training doesn't require me to do anything other than show up and grind- I don't need the workout to feel awesome- or my face to itch and personally I much prefer the feeling of weakness- that itself is a driving force to make me want to be stronger.
I'm a firm believer in not using artificially sourced motivation and drivers- why? Because I want my "want" to be good enough to drive me.
seriously- just have your coffee and suck it up and FEEL your body work- on it's own.
I agree with that and I think it's probably true for 90% of people. I think it's a bit bizarre to see people think they "need" to go to the vending machine for a protein shake or bar because they've just done a bit of Zumba or pilates....
Actually most of the people I see at my gym drinking pre workout are the cardio class participants and the body pump type people. Some of the powerlifters do but most don't even with their marathon training sessions.0 -
singingflutelady wrote: »nordlead2005 wrote: »
So, preworkouts work, I'm not denying that, but do they work better than caffeine especially to the exaggerated level you see by those who just take it and say how awesome they are? I'm yet to see any evidence of that.
agreed... my personal opinion is most people aren't at a place where they need it- they want that feeling of being "motivated" - and at some point just sucking it up is what you need- I consider myself an intermediate level athelte/lifter- and I've never really taken any pre-workout other than a snickers and some coffee.
I don't feel at my level I NEED that- my training doesn't require me to do anything other than show up and grind- I don't need the workout to feel awesome- or my face to itch and personally I much prefer the feeling of weakness- that itself is a driving force to make me want to be stronger.
I'm a firm believer in not using artificially sourced motivation and drivers- why? Because I want my "want" to be good enough to drive me.
seriously- just have your coffee and suck it up and FEEL your body work- on it's own.
I agree with that and I think it's probably true for 90% of people. I think it's a bit bizarre to see people think they "need" to go to the vending machine for a protein shake or bar because they've just done a bit of Zumba or pilates....
Actually most of the people I see at my gym drinking pre workout are the cardio class participants and the body pump type people. Some of the powerlifters do but most don't even with their marathon training sessions.
Oh totally. Same observation at my gym. Those consuming the stuff are most often those where IMHO the exercise doesn't really call for it.0
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