The hardest part of any workout program is motivation. Once you get started, it’s usually easy to keep going. However, it can be hard to get started, especially if you aren’t feeling your best. Is there a supplement that can help you to overcome that initial hurdle? Yes indeed, there is! They’re called pre-workout supplements, and we are going to take a closer look at them right now.
What is a Pre-Workout?
A pre-workout is simply a supplement that is designed to be the first step in the workout process. The ingredients are meant to produce a feeling of motivation and energy, while also offering nutrients that enhance results and performance. The basic idea is that, if you are energetic and motivated, you will be able to do longer sets and longer workouts. This maximizes your results and contributes to even more motivation. In short, a pre-workout supplement is a mixture of mild stimulants and bodybuilding nutrients.
Who should Take Pre-Workout?
These supplements are primarily designed for those who have motivation issues. Speaking for myself, I tend to be a slow starter. Once I get going, the adrenaline kicks in and keeps me going, but getting to that initial rush can be a challenge. A small dose of a pre-workout supplement helps to give me that little extra push.
These supplements are also intended for those who want to maximize the speed with which they will burn fat and build muscle. If your workouts have become dull and monotonous, a supplement of this type will often help you to ramp things up to the next level.
Ingredients will vary greatly between products, but certain substances are found in most pre-workout substances. The most common (and obvious) ingredient is caffeine. Yes, you could get this from a cup of coffee, but you wouldn’t get any of the other benefits of a pre-workout. Besides, there is evidence to suggest that pure caffeine (which is used in most pre-workout supplements) is more effective than coffee or tea due to its higher strength. With a purer, stronger ingredient, you can get the same benefit from a smaller dose. Also, coffee and tea are usually sweetened, and the sweetener is undesirable for a couple of reasons.
It should be noted that coffee and tea themselves are not bad for your teeth. In fact, some studies suggest that these things can be good for your dental health, which is a little surprising. However, the sugar that will most likely be present in these drinks is bad for your teeth, and this high sugar intake can also have a negative effect upon your workout performance. This study tested the effects of concentrated sugars on male and female mice. The females experienced a significant increase in their mortality rate. The males, on the other hand, showed a reduced ability to compete with other males and a lower level of fertility.
Besides caffeine, pre-workout supplements usually contain nutrients like creatine and beta-alanine. Creatine is one of the most popular bodybuilding supplements of all time, and its effectiveness has long been established by solid research. Beta-alanine is also a common fitness supplement. Its main benefit is that it can suppress the onset of neuromuscular fatigue, resulting in improved mental and physical performance for the user. The ability of beta-alanine to do this is well-documented.
Here is a study in which the combined effects of creatine and beta-alanine were measured. Although the study found little difference between these two substances, they found that both creatine and beta-alanine would produce a noticeable improvement in athletic performance and muscle composition.
How to Find the Best Pre-Workout Supplement
Finding the best pre-workout supplement is a process that will be a little different for every individual. The body chemistry of all creatures will vary a little bit from one individual to another. For instance, your general level of caffeine consumption will play a role in the effects of your pre-workout supplement. If you drink coffee every day, for instance, your caffeine tolerance is likely to be a little higher, which means that your supplement will need to pack a slightly larger punch. Be careful not to overdo it, though, because too much caffeine will make you feel jittery and spastic. Too much caffeine will also elevate your heart rate to an uncomfortable level.
The best advice for finding the right pre-workout supplement is to research the ingredients. We have already given you the low-down on three of the most common ingredients, but don’t hesitate to do your research and learn more about your specific product and what it contains. We would recommend using a new supplement in small doses (at least at first) so that you can gauge your body’s reaction to it.
In the end, this kind of supplement may be just the thing for you, or it may be unnecessary. It all depends on you. However, it is true that most people can benefit from a little bit of extra energy and a little bit of physical enhancement. If you don’t have any motivation problems, and if you are already using a high-performance supplement, this kind of product might not be the thing for you. However, if you’re like the majority of people (especially those that are older than 30), you can almost certainly get a better workout through the use of a good pre-workout supplement.
Conclusion:
Although too much caffeine can be bad, the right amount can be incredibly helpful in the motivation department. Plus, if you’re going to ingest some caffeine, you might as well get some good performance nutrients in the bargain, thus killing two birds with one stone. In your efforts to find just the right supplement, the next step is to shop around. We invite you to check out our online store, where you will find a great variety of products to meet your needs. In particular, we recommend a product called Superpump Aggression due to its well-established pattern of effectiveness.
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