Pre-workout question

firef1y72

After seeing the effects of caffeine energy gels during longer runs (wow that was a nice boost), I'm wondering if it's worth adding a pre-workout before my heavier lifting sessions. The guy I work with at the gym has suggested that they may help (I struggled big style and ending up failing the lift I was attempting this morning) give me that extra bit of omph at the final, heaviest set. But of course he would be selling me the supplement, and he kind of said that the gels I use for running are a little too concentrated and I'd be better with something to mix in to my water. But will they help, do I need to buy something designated as pre-workout or will the Isotonic sports drink tablets with added caffeine (50mg) be enough.

Oh just to add, I'm female, in my mid 40s, 164lb currently in a deficit but lifting as heavy as I can using 5/3/1

CharlieBeansmomTracey

you can buy preworkout anywhere you dont have to buy from him. you can try just plain old caffeine(coffee,tea,soda,etc) some days you mail fail at lifts it goes with the territory. also make sure you are eating enough calories and fueling your workouts as well.They may help you as they have caffeine in them. I do use them from time to time. just not always.Im going to be 43.so yeah they can give you more energy. just find different ones to try and see what works best for you.if those gels work for you then use them. hes just trying to sell you something.

slaite1

Double espresso or cup of coffee does the trick for me

not_a_runner

I find that preworkout is more to get me going, than to actually get me through a workout.
Using one vs not really never makes the difference between finishing a set or failing for me. That usually comes down to things like rest and hydration/fueling before a workout.

trigden1991

I wouldn't use caffeine during a run as it will raise your heart rate which is the opposite of what you want to do.

Any generic preworkout will probably work. Caffeine and beta alenine are the key ingredients I look for when picking one.

jseams1234

Just be careful about when you take some of the stronger preworkouts. I've had sleep issues on workout days (evenings) because of them... so instead of stopping my use I just take benadryl and melatonin on those nights instead. I'm bad. lol

stanmann571

Pre- Beta alanine+citrulline+caffeine pre or post- creatine/BCAA... depends on how you tolerate creatine.

BCAAs aren't necessary or essential, but they do seem to help... and they definitely flavor the creatine... or you could go with the ON Gel caps.

rdl81

Preworkout / Coffee (with some fat) can help concentration and focus. If your workouts are long you might want to consider an intra workout to keep you going I tend to mix BCAA Glutamine and some carbs that I start 30min in

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Packerjohn

Not needed.

Work on sleep and nutrition first. If anything, a legal supplement will maybe give you a couple of percent boost. Nice for the elite athlete, but not a game changer for the rest of us IMO.

TR0berts

TresaAswegan wrote: »

I find that preworkout is more to get me going, than to actually get me through a workout.
Using one vs not really never makes the difference between finishing a set or failing for me. That usually comes down to things like rest and hydration/fueling before a workout.

Yeah, this is me, too. I typically just drink some coffee, along with eating a protein bar, 30-60 minutes beforehand. I get just a little boost from the coffee and a little energy from the protein bar.

erienneb66

I cannot take a preworkout because the caffeine concentration is too high and I get heart flutters and rosatia. I just make sure I'm fueled properly before my lifts, stay hydrated. I fail lifts sometimes but I highly doubt a preworkout would have gotten me through the things I've failed.

stanmann571

erienneb66 wrote: »

I cannot take a preworkout because the caffeine concentration is too high and I get heart flutters and rosatia. I just make sure I'm fueled properly before my lifts, stay hydrated. I fail lifts sometimes but I highly doubt a preworkout would have gotten me through the things I've failed.

You could figure out what you want, and mix your own from bulk powders.

That's what I've started doing... since Beta Alanine and Citrulline are frequently underdosed... and are inexpensive in quantity.

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ritzvin

firef1y72 wrote: »

After seeing the effects of caffeine energy gels during longer runs (wow that was a nice boost), I'm wondering if it's worth adding a pre-workout before my heavier lifting sessions. The guy I work with at the gym has suggested that they may help (I struggled big style and ending up failing the lift I was attempting this morning) give me that extra bit of omph at the final, heaviest set. But of course he would be selling me the supplement, and he kind of said that the gels I use for running are a little too concentrated and I'd be better with something to mix in to my water. But will they help, do I need to buy something designated as pre-workout or will the Isotonic sports drink tablets with added caffeine (50mg) be enough.

Oh just to add, I'm female, in my mid 40s, 164lb currently in a deficit but lifting as heavy as I can using 5/3/1

(1) As a quick easily digested fuel source: If you are not sweating a ton over a long period (like when cycling/running), then cheap fruit snacks will generally suffice vs the gels/chews (in the case of the running gels/chews, they've added sodium and potassium chloride to what is pretty much starch & sugar syrup and now charge you $2+ vs $0.30). Some gels have caffeine, some don't. some people prefer it, others don't.
(2) Gels CAN be mixed into water. Quite a few cyclists do dilute them into one of their water bottles, versus taking them straight.
(3) other people here will have a better idea of whether the additional ingredients might be useful or just a waste. (I can mainly only comment on whether it would be a waste for a quick fuel &/or electrolyte source).

se015

firef1y72 wrote: »

After seeing the effects of caffeine energy gels during longer runs (wow that was a nice boost), I'm wondering if it's worth adding a pre-workout before my heavier lifting sessions. The guy I work with at the gym has suggested that they may help (I struggled big style and ending up failing the lift I was attempting this morning) give me that extra bit of omph at the final, heaviest set. But of course he would be selling me the supplement, and he kind of said that the gels I use for running are a little too concentrated and I'd be better with something to mix in to my water. But will they help, do I need to buy something designated as pre-workout or will the Isotonic sports drink tablets with added caffeine (50mg) be enough.

Oh just to add, I'm female, in my mid 40s, 164lb currently in a deficit but lifting as heavy as I can using 5/3/1

It all comes down to personal preference and how your body reacts to stuff like that. Some people like the way pre work outs feel, some pre work outs have certain ingredients that others do, but they ALL have caffeine, it's just a matter of how much caffeine. Some are more focused on dilating your arteries to allow more oxygen pump through your blood vessels, some people like more Beta Alanine which opens up your capillaries or something like that giving you a tingling sensation, which I do NOT like. So you have to really experiment and find what works best for you, I've gone through quite a few different ones and right now I'm pretty content with the one I'm using although the one I really like is super difficult to find.

WendyLeigh1119

Black Coffee set on "espresso" is really all you need.

If you want your "capillaries open", you can buy a good old bottle of Niacin is about $4.00. Or you can sit in a dry sauna for 30 minutes for the same effect.

se015

WendyLeigh1119 wrote: »

Black Coffee set on "espresso" is really all you need.

If you want your "capillaries open", you can buy a good old bottle of Niacin is about $4.00. Or you can sit in a dry sauna for 30 minutes for the same effect.

true

joeybrid

Lmao guessing your friend is trying to sell you that advocare trash?

se015

advocare?