Which Pre Work out do you use??

What's the general nature of your workout?

Generally, I'm a skeptic. I don't use one myself.

For most typical workouts, pre-workouts aren't essential for good progress, if there's a context of overall good nutrition and sensible timing of eating around the workouts. Pre-workouts are kind of trendy, though, and it seems like many so-called influencers tout their own (or affiliates') brands.

Generally, there's amino acids, creatine, caffeine, sometimes other ingredients.

If you get enough protein through the day from food (a good idea!), eating isolated amino acids usually isn't necessary.

Creatine can be useful in some scenarios, but the research suggests that taking it routinely is
best, not just on workout days. (Creatine monohydrate is affordable and available on its own.) Sometimes the pre-workouts contain less than the research-validated amounts, besides.

Caffeine can produce an energy boost of course, but we do adapt to consistent dosages (thus need more to get the same effect). Coffee or an energy drink can be a more affordable source than a pre-workout, if you need that boost.

There may be other ingredients, some of which would be better gotten from food-sourced nutrition (such as vitamins or "plant powders"); others of which don't have any great evidence behind them; and some that are potentially useful, but are present in a standard pre-workout in amounts too small to be very useful.

Some people will find they benefit (in energy level) from timing carb intake before a workout, but that tends to be kind of individual. I do, at times, but will usually just eat some small amount of applesauce, sweet dried fruit, or even some sugary candy if I think I need that. For me, it mostly makes a meaningful difference when strength training if already a bit fatigued, or when doing fairly vigorous exercise for a longer than typical duration, or multiple things back to back. In the latter two cases, I'd time the carbs part way through, usually.

I'm sure some folks will chime in that they find pre-workouts helpful, and I don't doubt their subjective experience. Research evidence of benefits is mixed, though.

My workouts are morning- loaded. I like to spin my rings several times by lunch and chill the rest of the day, other than walking the High Anxiety Dog on high anxiety walks.

I just make sure I have a solid, protein rich breakfast and a big ole cup of coffee. My breakfast of choice is protein enhanced pancakes, with a swish of melted peanut butter or homemade cream cheese (easy: put fat free Greek yogurt in a strainer and strain for two or three days til thick and spreadable). Or I might change it up and have avocado on protein rich keto bread, with a large bowl of cottage cheese, honey and a sprinkle of muesli.

I work with a trainer a couple of mornings a week. She thinks my pancakes are hilarious, because I make them with cake mixes, but magical. It’s a running joke if I’m flagging during my session ,”Did you eat your pancakes this morning? What did you eat?” As a third person, she can easily tell if I’m not nourished.

So, nourish and fuel sensibly!!!! That’s the best kind of pre workout.

I use Alani-Nu brand “cosmic stardust” flavor and it is so so good.. I get mine at Walmart

@kshama2001, maybe I'm remembering wrong, but I'm thinking it was you who've mentioned having worked for a supplements company? If that's right, do you have any thoughts on pre-workouts from that perspective?

I don’t use one personally, it’s not necessary!!

I eat food post workout, just a double expresso before.