How often should I take preworkouts?

You don't need pre-workouts or protein shakes after each session. Just eat normally , making sure to get enough protein during the day. Timing around workouts is not important for most people.

I used to be into pre- workouts. Not anymore. They're a waist of money from a results standpoint. I know they get you worked up, but I don't like that in my workout. I would take them in place of coffee in the morning. Now I drink black tea. I just feel like they'll burn you out.

Preworkouts and post workout shakes probably won't give you noticeable results.

Go back a step first.... Why do you think you need pre-workouts and post exercise protein shakes?

Depending on the amount of time between your morning workout and breakfast you may want to consider some kind of recovery snack or drink but that relates more to glycogen replacement than anything else otherwise you could skip the protein shakes & pre-workout and try to hit your macro goals through food (cheaper & tastier).

Pre-workouts do nothing for your body composition but they can provide a "boost". I personally like the high caffeine and beta alanine mix in any PWO's I take.

Pre-workout has been my savior in the mornings. I get up at 4:30am to get to the gym by 5 and I'm not sure I could have as effective a workout as I do without it. I've used pre-workouts for evening sessions before, but sometimes the energy from food is enough for a good workout. If it doesn't keep you awake I don't see the harm in it. Also, play around with the dosage. The one I use had a dosage of two scoops, but I only need one.

Michael190lbs wrote: »

mgalovic01 wrote: »

Michael190lbs wrote: »

I do C4 with creatine every morning before my workout LOVE IT!!! Post workout stuff is a myth if your getting enough calories (Macros) through out the day

You know C4 has Creatine in it. Are you cycling the Creatine? Also, I think the post workout shakes actually feed your body, unlike the pre- workouts, not that you can't get that from food, but they do produce some results.

Of course I know C4 has Creatine in it so does the 1-1.5 lbs of meat I eat everyday and my Macro/calorie shake has 2 grams of creatine. Do I cycle creatine I don't think so why would I?

Any calories through out the day benefit the body the question is does a Post workout drink give you any more benefit than a well balanced diet throughout the day would. The answer has been proven NO!

Daily Macro's weekly Calories

Every article I read about Creatine recommends cycling it.
The post workout shake is just a quick and easy way to get some very bio-available nutrients to your muscles when they need them most. That being said, you never know what contaminants may be in there, so food might be a better way to go.

mgalovic01 wrote: »

Every article I read about Creatine recommends cycling it.

i must have read others, or additional ones. i found the 'cycle' advice too when i first checked into it, but there's also plenty of literature that says you don't have to bother with either loading or cycling. so i don't bother. i just take 3-5 grammes of it daily and call it a thing.

i don't listen seriously to the not-with-caffeine thing either. i assume those were instructions based on more early research, though don't quote me on that.

mgalovic01 wrote: »

Michael190lbs wrote: »

mgalovic01 wrote: »

Michael190lbs wrote: »

I do C4 with creatine every morning before my workout LOVE IT!!! Post workout stuff is a myth if your getting enough calories (Macros) through out the day

You know C4 has Creatine in it. Are you cycling the Creatine? Also, I think the post workout shakes actually feed your body, unlike the pre- workouts, not that you can't get that from food, but they do produce some results.

Of course I know C4 has Creatine in it so does the 1-1.5 lbs of meat I eat everyday and my Macro/calorie shake has 2 grams of creatine. Do I cycle creatine I don't think so why would I?

Any calories through out the day benefit the body the question is does a Post workout drink give you any more benefit than a well balanced diet throughout the day would. The answer has been proven NO!

Daily Macro's weekly Calories

Every article I read about Creatine recommends cycling it.
The post workout shake is just a quick and easy way to get some very bio-available nutrients to your muscles when they need them most. That being said, you never know what contaminants may be in there, so food might be a better way to go.

Try this
http://examine.com/supplements/Creatine/#scientific-research

canadianlbs wrote: »

mgalovic01 wrote: »

I'm thinking that cycling is more conducive to hypertrophy, because you get greater muscle cell volumization through expansion. Plus I like the idea of getting some time off of it, since you never know what it could be contaminated with.

yeah; i wouldn't know. i just like a simple life so i started to take it and kept taking it, apart from now-and-then times where i got bored or just wasn't in the mood to drink that much water. volume isn't hypertrophy though. you can stuff your muscle cells with atp and the water it likes to hang out with, but that doesn't actually grow brand-new cells.

the occasional break just in case though - i can relate to that. not so much on the contaminant front as just because i do kind of like the idea of giving my [whatever organ] a break. just inb4 someone comes out with a study 'proving' long-term use makes you grow extra heads.

Though it might not grow new cells, it expands the ones you got. I wonder if it could be used to increase flexibility.

mgalovic01 wrote: »

Though it might not grow new cells, it expands the ones you got. I wonder if it could be used to increase flexibility.

it makes me feel great, that's for sure. my tissues glide more easily; i know they get less of the kinds of irritation and inflammation you get from friction alone. but for what my own experience is worth, it doesn't do anything about regular doms tenderness, i.e. the kind you get from plain lengthening and contraction. and it can't make trigger points disappear.

it's a bit weird that way.

mgalovic01 wrote: »

I used to be into pre- workouts. Not anymore. They're a waist of money from a results standpoint. I know they get you worked up, but I don't like that in my workout. I would take them in place of coffee in the morning. Now I drink black tea. I just feel like they'll burn you out.

These are all opinions, and forgive me for not fully valuing the opinion of someone who doesn't know the difference between "waist" and "waste". Based on all of your responses it seems you are dead set against any sort of supplement including whey protein. Unsure of what "contaminants" you continue to refer to unless you're buying some cheap brand from China. Use a company that is certified 3rd party tested (such as NutraBio or JYM) and you can eliminate these risks.

All that being said, using a PWO is a matter of personal preference and I agree with the need to cycle PWO but not creatine. The reason being more related to caffeine sensitivity than anything else.

mgalovic01 wrote: »

I found pre- workouts ruined my workouts. They raise your heart rate, and wear you out. How are you supposed to go to sleep if you take it in the evening?

If you take a preworkout that focuses more on enabling your body to physically do more (muscle perfusion) instead of just amping you up with caffeine like most do then you will have a better workout and won't get worn out. I use Liporidex PRE/T in the evenings and I have no trouble sleeping.