Pre-workout is an essential part of any athlete or gym-goer's routine. Helping to boost focus and productivity, pre-workout helps fuel performance, allowing you to get the most out of every workout.
But what is pre-workout, what does it do, and should we take it before all our workouts?
In this guide, we're breaking down everything you need to know about pre-workout before bringing you the best on offer at Discount Supplements, so if you're new to the pre-workout game, we've got you covered.
Prepare for your most focused workouts yet!
Table of contents:
What is pre-workout?
What does pre-workout do?
What is in pre-workout?
How long does it take for pre-workout to kick in?
Is pre-workout needed?
Is pre-workout bad for you?
What is the best pre-workout?
What is pre-workout?
Pre-workout is a supplement taken before a workout to increase energy levels, stamina and focus. It's the ideal supplement when you have low energy levels or are tired from a previous workout.
Perfect for endurance athletes, high-intensity and strength training, pre-workout is used by runners and weightlifters alike to get the most out of their training programme.
What does pre-workout do?
Although its main aim is to improve stamina and focus, pre-workout also improves performance. It can help enhance fat loss due to its metabolism-boosting ingredients, improve blood flow, increase mental alertness and aid recovery.
Most pre-workout products contain ingredients such as caffeine, which offers an effective energy boost, and creatine, which helps improve muscle mass - perfect for high-intensity and strength-focused workouts.
What is in pre-workout?
There isn't a set formula for pre-workout, and many different options are available on the market. However, most pre-workouts have some key ingredients in common, but these may occur in different quantities depending on the brand you choose.
Here are some of the most common pre-workout ingredients;
Caffeine
Included to boost energy and improve focus, most pre-workouts contain anything from 100-350 mg of caffeine, like drinking around three cups of coffee, to supercharge all your workouts.
Beta-alanine
Beta-alanine is often included in pre-workouts as it helps prevent lactic acid build-up in the muscles, allowing you to workout for longer. It also causes the tingling sensation you sometimes feel when taking pre-workout.
Creatine
A hero supplement on its own, creatine helps energy flow to the muscles, increases muscle mass and supports strength. It's the ideal ingredient for pre-workout formulas, and it's one of the safest and most widely tested supplements on the market, adding an extra performance boost.
BCAAs
BCAAs, or branched-chain amino acids, are the building blocks of protein that help to aid muscle repair. Fuelling muscles during a workout and reducing fatigue, this hero ingredient can help to reduce recovery time.
B vitamins, nootropics and metabolism boosters such as green tea extract also feature in many pre-workout formulas, all chosen to aid focus, further enhance energy or aid fat loss.
How long does it take for pre-workout to kick in?
Generally, pre-workout supplements need 30 to 90 minutes to take effect, but the exact time will depend on your product of choice and its ingredients.
For example, pre-workout products that contain caffeine take around 60 minutes for you to feel their full effect, as this is the point at which caffeine peaks within the bloodstream. Other ingredients, such as beta-alanine and creatine, need longer to build up in the body.
Take your pre-workout between 30 and 60 minutes before exercising for best results, as timing is crucial. Taking your pre-workout too early may mean the effects of it will quickly fade, whereas if taken too late, you won't feel the benefit of the supplement until much later into your workout.
If taking pre-workout containing caffeine, supplementing this late in the day could greatly impact your sleep. Caffeine won't just disappear after your workout; it has a half-life of between three and seven hours, meaning half of the caffeine taken could stay in your system for the entirety of this time. If you're sensitive to caffeine, you may prefer to use a stimulant-free pre-workout instead.
Is pre-workout needed?
Pre-workout isn't necessary. As with any supplement, it enhances the nutrients you ingest from a healthy, balanced diet, lifestyle, and proper sleep cycle. However, if you are low in energy or want a more focused, energy-fuelled workout, pre-workout can help to give you the edge and extra energy if you're working out before a meal.
Is pre-workout bad for you?
Most pre-workout formulas are considered a safe choice for healthy adults. However, as with many supplements, there are some side effects worth considering before you take it, such as the following:
Caffeine can increase anxiety levels
Most pre-workouts (except stim-free options) contain large amounts of caffeine, which can lead to side effects in some people, such as anxiety, heart palpitations and, in some cases, chest pains. If you are someone who is sensitive to caffeine, you may need to consider these effects before taking it.
High caffeine levels can also increase your headaches, so stay hydrated during and after workouts to keep these headaches at bay.
Insomnia
The caffeine content in pre-workout can make it difficult to fall asleep after using it, particularly if you train later in the day.
Digestive issues
Some ingredients in pre-workout, such as sodium bicarbonate, creatine, magnesium and caffeine, can cause gastrointestinal distress or digestive discomfort.
Health conditions
If you have preexisting health conditions, such as kidney problems or heart arrhythmia, always consult your doctor before taking pre-workout.
Similarly, if you are pregnant, seek medical advice to ensure that pre-workout is safe for both you and your baby before you continue to use it.
The most common side effects from pre-workout are mild nausea, headaches and a jittery, tingling sensation caused by the beta-alanine within the formula. To ensure that side effects are kept to a minimum, follow the recommended dosage or take a slightly lower dosage to see if this makes a difference.
What is the best pre-workout?
Now you're more aware of the benefits, ingredients and potential side-effects of pre-workout, we thought we'd pull together our top pre-workout recommendations to kick-start your daily workouts! With options from some of the leading brands in the supplement industry, you'll be guaranteed intense focus, energy and improved results with every scoop.
Applied Nutrition ABE (aka All Black Everything)
Applied Nutrition ABE continues to set the standard as a daily driver pre-workout. A great entry-level product, ABE features all the important ingredients you'd expect from a pre-workout, it tastes amazing and is affordable!
Another added benefit of ABE is its high creatine levels, so you won't need to supplement your creatine separately.
ABE is an all-around good quality product that has even been batch-tested on athletes to give you extra confidence when using it.
Take 1 level scoop of ABE (10.5g) with cold water 15 minutes before your workout for best results.
Efectiv Nutrition The EDGE
Using some of the finest ingredients sourced from the USA and manufactured in the UK, Efectiv's The EDGE is a high-quality pre-workout that helps to bring you 'the edge' without generating unwanted side effects, such as increased anxiety and elevated blood pressure.
Combining caffeine, Dynamine ™, and TeaCrine®, The Edge helps to lift your mood, energy, and focus just 15 minutes after taking it. With the addition of TeaCrine to extend the caffeine's total exposure within your body, you won't experience a caffeine crash post-workout.
Available in three delicious flavours, the hardest part will be choosing your favourite!
Trained by JP DNFM Stim Pre-Workout
An extreme pre-workout, DNFM by Trained by JP is made for those who enjoy heavy stimulation ahead of their workouts.
Combining all of the strongest stimulants on the market, including juniper berry, kigelia and juglans, DNFM is currently the only pre-workout on the market to use all three in one formula, so be sure to use with caution and stick to the recommended dosage.
Because of the nature of the strength of DNFM, we recommend you take just one scoop of this pre-workout and move on to two if you can tolerate it. Also, due to the strength of DNFM, avoid taking it after 5 pm as it could impact your sleep.
Available in four delicious flavours, Sour Cherry, Candy, Tangy Orange and Apple Sourz, DNFM will fuel you for intense workouts from start to finish.
Enhance your workouts with Preworkout from Discount Supplements
Find the best pre-workout to fuel your training with our extensive collection at Discount Supplements. You'll find options from some of the industry's best brands, from extreme pre-workouts for more intense training to stimulant-free options for those more sensitive to caffeine. Shop the collection and prepare for more effective workouts whenever you hit the gym! Looking for options to optimise your training goals? Shop whey protein and creatine.
