best pre workout

i currently looking for some pre workouts. i have used clean labs and i am using cellular c4 right now. i like c4 a lot but i was wondering if there are any better out there. I'm a girl so I'm not looking for anything crazy but i really like the feeling that its working or the tingling i guess? something powerful that will get me through HIIT. any recommendations? thanks
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Replies

  • ROBOTFOOD
    ROBOTFOOD Posts: 5,527 Member
    I'm using Shadow X by Cobra Labs. I love it! I use the lemon flavor and mix it w Gatorade
  • jessef593
    jessef593 Posts: 2,272 Member
    If you like the tingling it's called beta alanine. The tingling is paresthesia which is the firing of your nerve endings under the skin. Beta alanine when consumed at 3g a day has been shown to increase muscular endurance by increasing carnosine levels. You can buy it separately and add it too your supplement stack. I personally like BPI's 1MR. With that I add beta alanine, citrulline mallate, and taurine. Most preworkouts give you minimal dosages of supplements, so it's generally more cost effective to buy a cheap one and add your own. Personally I'd take the time to actually research what is in the preworkouts rather than blindly taking them because some popeyes rep has suggested them. My friend almost purchased a BCAA pushed on him that would put him in the hospital due to the added L-carnitine which counter acts his thyroid medication. Just an example to keep in mind.
  • txdc48
    txdc48 Posts: 14 Member
    edited June 2016
    My favorite pre workout is from IDLife. It's just called PRE .. It doesn't give me a jittery or crazy crash later or make me feel weird. It really helps push through a
    Workout so much easier though ! I'm super impressed with it. If you want a
    Coupon for it let me know, I can send it to you.They have a pre and post combo deal too.
  • jessiethe3rd
    jessiethe3rd Posts: 239 Member
    edited June 2016
    Beta Alanine and Taurine. Cheap and highly effective. Be prepared for pins and needle rage (so I like to call it). Feels like you are being pricked into working out. Im a bit of a glut for punishment though.

    I also use Amino Energy by ON with my Beta Alanine and Taurine stack. With a meal in my belly I rip through workouts
  • jessef593
    jessef593 Posts: 2,272 Member
    Beta Alanine and Taurine. Cheap and highly effective. Be prepared for pins and needle rage (so I like to call it). Feels like you are being pricked into working out. Im a bit of a glut for punishment though.

    I also use Amino Energy by ON with my Beta Alanine and Taurine stack. With a meal in my belly I rip through workouts

    Heyyy somebody that's done their research! Welcome to the club
  • cgvet37
    cgvet37 Posts: 1,189 Member
    I use Amino Energy by ON as well. I drink mine during my workouts though, but it can be used as a pre-workout.
  • sweets201212
    sweets201212 Posts: 2 Member
    I use The Curse in the blue raspberry. It has worked good so far but it does have creatine in it. It also tastes good but I do not drink sodas, so it is sweet to me.

    It contains the following:
    3000mg of Beta-Alanine, Creatine, Citrick acid
    1000mg of Citrulline & Arginine
    155mg of caffeine
    Sucralose

    I do add other supplements as well...
    Hope it helps...
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Everyone responds differently to the various stims and whatnot in pre-workouts. If you've got something you like, stick with it. Otherwise, just try a bunch and see what you think.
  • kkarcher94511
    kkarcher94511 Posts: 196 Member
    blackstone labs Angel Dust, Mutant Madness or MTS Rukus, all very high quality and taste amazing, effect from each are slightly different. I add in the Mutant pump to them all also
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    Coffee.
    Anything else is just marketing.
  • jessef593
    jessef593 Posts: 2,272 Member
    Chieflrg wrote: »
    Coffee.
    Anything else is just marketing.

    Says the countless studies showing how certain amino acids taken at specific dosages can improve physical performance. Does your statement include creatine? Obviously they aren't anything magical. But several supplements can without a doubt give you that extra couple percent that you need to break a PR or recover just that much faster
  • pdxhak
    pdxhak Posts: 383 Member
    I mix 1 tsp L-Glutamine (amio acid), 5g of creatine, and a little bit of gatorade powder with 16 ounces of water for pre-workout. I drink half of it 15 minutes prior to working out and finish the rest about half way through the workout. I also take a caffeine pill 30 minutes prior to working out.
  • cgvet37
    cgvet37 Posts: 1,189 Member
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Chieflrg wrote: »
    Coffee.
    Anything else is just marketing.

    Says the countless studies showing how certain amino acids taken at specific dosages can improve physical performance. Does your statement include creatine? Obviously they aren't anything magical. But several supplements can without a doubt give you that extra couple percent that you need to break a PR or recover just that much faster

    Studies also have concluded that amino acids in raw form are more beneficial.
  • pbandalyssa
    pbandalyssa Posts: 86 Member
    I LOVE BPI 1MR. I only need half a scoop because it hits me pretty hard, but it gets me through even the most intense workouts, and helps me PR my lifts all the time. It's bomb.
  • Lojo124
    Lojo124 Posts: 75 Member
    Read up on Pre Jym it's by Jim Staponie .. works wonders for me
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    edited June 2016
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Chieflrg wrote: »
    Coffee.
    Anything else is just marketing.

    Says the countless studies showing how certain amino acids taken at specific dosages can improve physical performance. Does your statement include creatine? Obviously they aren't anything magical. But several supplements can without a doubt give you that extra couple percent that you need to break a PR or recover just that much faster

    Comparing Caffeine to Creative ftw.

    Quite certain he didn't say all supplements are useless. He said that preworkouts are generally marketing. You can obtain the same sort of effect from standard caffeine via coffee, or tabs at a much more appealing price.
  • williammuney
    williammuney Posts: 2,895 Member
    edited June 2016
    Bunch of nonsense 200 mg caffeine pills ftw
  • kwtilbury
    kwtilbury Posts: 1,234 Member
    Pre-workout:
    Caffeine
    Creatine
    Taurine
    Beta-Alanine
    Citrulline Malate
    Agmatine Sulfate (because I got it free)

    Intra-workout:
    BCAAs

    Post-workout:
    Creatine
    Beta Alanine
    Glutamine
    Leucine
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    edited June 2016
    livescience.com/53095-do-preworkout-supplements-work.html





    Says the countless studies showing how certain amino acids taken at specific dosages can improve physical performance.

    Peer reviewed? Citations?





  • Antd420
    Antd420 Posts: 161 Member
    ericar21 wrote: »
    i currently looking for some pre workouts. i have used clean labs and i am using cellular c4 right now. i like c4 a lot but i was wondering if there are any better out there. I'm a girl so I'm not looking for anything crazy but i really like the feeling that its working or the tingling i guess? something powerful that will get me through HIIT. any recommendations? thanks

    I use Ephedrine and Caffeine combined, it's cheap and very effective.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    edited June 2016
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Chieflrg wrote: »
    Coffee.
    Anything else is just marketing.

    Says the countless studies showing how certain amino acids taken at specific dosages can improve physical performance. Does your statement include creatine? Obviously they aren't anything magical. But several supplements can without a doubt give you that extra couple percent that you need to break a PR or recover just that much faster


    Creatine can help some some serious lifters get that extra rep but for most people at least on this site, it wouldn't be noticeable at the stage they are currently at in lifting. Personally I think more people like the visual side effect of creatine more than it actually does for them in the gym. With the general experience level here a form correction is needed way before supplements.

    If someone wants to use pre, I can care less...its not going to help more than a cup of coffee IMHO. If it helps them even if its a placebo effect, cool. Put the work in, eat, sleep and you will be rewarded if you take pre, creatin, coffee, banana or nothing.

    Much the same to protein powders, very little people really need it. Though its one of the first thing they want to buy to "build" muscle when they start.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    Chieflrg wrote: »
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Chieflrg wrote: »
    Coffee.
    Anything else is just marketing.

    Says the countless studies showing how certain amino acids taken at specific dosages can improve physical performance. Does your statement include creatine? Obviously they aren't anything magical. But several supplements can without a doubt give you that extra couple percent that you need to break a PR or recover just that much faster

    Creatine can help some some serious lifters get that extra rep but for most people at least on this site, it wouldn't be noticeable at the stage they are currently at in lifting. Personally I think more people like the visual side effect of creatine more than it actually does for them in the gym. With the general experience level here a form correction is needed way before supplements.

    If someone wants to use pre, I can care less...its not going to help more than a cup of coffee IMHO. If it helps them even if its a placebo effect, cool. Put the work in, eat, sleep and you will be rewarded if you take pre, creatin, coffee, banana or nothing.

    Much the same to protein powders, very little people really need it. Though its one of the first thing they want to buy to "build" muscle when they start.

    and most of those wanting to "build muscle" are probably eating 1200 calories a day ...

  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Chieflrg wrote: »
    Coffee.
    Anything else is just marketing.

    Says the countless studies showing how certain amino acids taken at specific dosages can improve physical performance. Does your statement include creatine? Obviously they aren't anything magical. But several supplements can without a doubt give you that extra couple percent that you need to break a PR or recover just that much faster

    citations?
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    Chieflrg wrote: »
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Chieflrg wrote: »
    Coffee.
    Anything else is just marketing.

    Says the countless studies showing how certain amino acids taken at specific dosages can improve physical performance. Does your statement include creatine? Obviously they aren't anything magical. But several supplements can without a doubt give you that extra couple percent that you need to break a PR or recover just that much faster

    Creatine can help some some serious lifters get that extra rep but for most people at least on this site, it wouldn't be noticeable at the stage they are currently at in lifting. Personally I think more people like the visual side effect of creatine more than it actually does for them in the gym. With the general experience level here a form correction is needed way before supplements.

    If someone wants to use pre, I can care less...its not going to help more than a cup of coffee IMHO. If it helps them even if its a placebo effect, cool. Put the work in, eat, sleep and you will be rewarded if you take pre, creatin, coffee, banana or nothing.

    Much the same to protein powders, very little people really need it. Though its one of the first thing they want to buy to "build" muscle when they start.

    and most of those wanting to "build muscle" are probably eating 1200 calories a day ...

    Exactly.
  • cronus70
    cronus70 Posts: 191 Member
    Personally I use Pre and Post Jym by Jim Stoppani.

    Pre contains (amongst others)
    Citrulline Malate 6g
    Creatine Hydrochloride 2g
    Beta-Alanine 2g
    Betaine 1.5g
    Taurine 1g

    Post contains
    Creatine Hydrochloride 2g (4g total)
    Beta-Alanine 2g (4g total)
    L-Carnitine L-Tartate 2g
    Betaine 1.5g (3g total)
    Taurine 1g (2g total)

    Potent stuff and I genuinely believe it's having a positive effect.
  • cgvet37
    cgvet37 Posts: 1,189 Member
    kwtilbury wrote: »
    Pre-workout:
    Caffeine
    Creatine
    Taurine
    Beta-Alanine
    Citrulline Malate
    Agmatine Sulfate (because I got it free)

    Intra-workout:
    BCAAs

    Post-workout:
    Creatine
    Beta Alanine
    Glutamine
    Leucine

    Are you consuming more than 5 grams of creatine a day?
  • cgvet37
    cgvet37 Posts: 1,189 Member
    Chieflrg wrote: »
    jessef593 wrote: »
    Chieflrg wrote: »
    Coffee.
    Anything else is just marketing.

    Says the countless studies showing how certain amino acids taken at specific dosages can improve physical performance. Does your statement include creatine? Obviously they aren't anything magical. But several supplements can without a doubt give you that extra couple percent that you need to break a PR or recover just that much faster


    Creatine can help some some serious lifters get that extra rep but for most people at least on this site, it wouldn't be noticeable at the stage they are currently at in lifting. Personally I think more people like the visual side effect of creatine more than it actually does for them in the gym. With the general experience level here a form correction is needed way before supplements.

    If someone wants to use pre, I can care less...its not going to help more than a cup of coffee IMHO. If it helps them even if its a placebo effect, cool. Put the work in, eat, sleep and you will be rewarded if you take pre, creatin, coffee, banana or nothing.

    Much the same to protein powders, very little people really need it. Though its one of the first thing they want to buy to "build" muscle when they start.

    I'll disagree with you. I have had good results with creatine. I know others who have as well. As for protein shakes. I for one can not consume enough food to get my 200 grams of protein per day. I use it as a post workout protein source. An optimal time to consume protein. Again, I see a lot of generalizations. Some supplements are nothing but marketing, I agree. Some are very useful. It's a matter of knowing its use, and not relying on it like it's magic.
  • cgvet37
    cgvet37 Posts: 1,189 Member
    The reason I use Amino Energy, as it gives me extra amino acids, with caffeine from natural sources. I also use it if I need a little more enegy throughout the day. I have noticed a difference in the gym since I have been using it.
  • brilliantwords
    brilliantwords Posts: 97 Member
    edited June 2016
    I used to like Cellucor C4, but find it doesn't do all that much for me anymore, even though I've never used pre workouts on a regular basis. I think it's due to having a caffeine tolerance from my recent coffee addiction.

    I had "The Curse" by Cobra Labs, and Mutant Madness recommended to me. I've tried both, and while each do give me some effect, it's still not "enough" for me. I love the beta alanine tingle (that was very mild for these), and a high caffeine content, so if someone can recommend something with more of these than the ones I've tried, I'd love some suggestions.

    I've also just taken caffeine pills- 200mg x 2 (Two is more than the recommended dose, so I wouldn't recommend others do this). That DOES help a bit, and is extremely cheap compared to pre workouts. I'm sure one would be sufficient for an average person looking for a cheaper but effective option.

    Interested to see more recommendations because I don't want to buy multiple brands before finding one Im content with.
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    edited June 2016
    @brilliantwords Most sources like mayo clinic etc say no more than 400 MG of caffeine a day. If you're taking 3 pills hope that is your only consumption.