But a good quality pre-workout is not about that.
If you are eating a nutrient dense diet of wholefoods you shouldn’t need to rely on stimulants to get you psyched up pre-workout.
Instead your Pre-workout should be determined by your workout goals.
One basic principle that applies to all trainers is to always eat before working out, otherwise the body is likely to hack into your hard earned muscle stores for emergency energy.
Eating some type of protein before training will benefit all trainers because we want to have the bloodstream loaded with amino acids when we get to the gym.
It is most optimal to have this protein based meal at least an hour before your workout so that your body has time to properly digest the food and you can direct maximum blood-flow to your muscles where you need it, you don’t want blood being diverted to the stomach for digestion during a workout.
It is also important when we are training to have a specific goal in mind so that we can be consciously working towards it and know when we are making progress.
Training without a specific goal in mind is like driving your car without a specific destination, we can’t concentrate our effort on getting anywhere and the end result is time wasting and frustration.
For this reason your pre-workout nutrition should be targeted to assist you in what you are trying to achieve in the session.
For example if you are training to lose body fat it would be advantageous to take a fat-mobilising supplement before your workout and if you are training for strength you might benefit from a neural enhancing supplement to improve neural connections.
In this article we will look at just a few of the supplements available for your specific training goal.
PRE WORKOUT SUPPLEMENTS FOR FAT LOSS
Combining Canitine & Omega 3 for Fat Loss
High doses of Omega 3 fish oil combined with Carnitine have been shown to help reduce body fat. This is because Omega 3 increases metabolic rate whilst Carnitine helps deliver the fatty acids for metabolising. Carnitine is key as the fewer fatty acids that get into a cell, the less energy that can be burned. Without taking Carnitine, fatty acids may go into a depository and be stored as fat. Increasing your levels of Carnitine increases fat burning. It also helps provide the cells with the energy they need to raise metabolism. This can result in you having more energy and motivation. Therefore taking Carnitine can help you burn excess fat by raising metabolism and providing the energy and motivation for exercise.
PRE WORKOUT SUPPLEMENTS FOR STRENGTH TRAINING
The best pre workout for strength training is a supplement that will boost the activation of your central nervous system.
Acetyl-L-carnitine is an amino acid (a building block for proteins) that is naturally produced in the body. It helps the body produce energy.
Acetyl-L-carnitine helps the body produce energy. It is important for heart and brain function, muscle movement, and many other body processes..
Caffeine Anhydrous Research demonstrates that this dry form of the stimulant is the best for increasing energy and strength. Taking caffeine helps reduce the perceived pain of lifting weights.
PRE WORKOUT SUPPLEMENTS FOR HYPERTROPHY (MUSCLE BUILDING)
These pre-workout supplements contribute to cell swelling and can be used to assist training for muscle building.
Creatine drives fluid into your muscle cells, blunting soreness and allowing you to lift heavier for longer. Look for creatine monohydrate, the gold standard of creatines.
Beta-Alanine This amino acid boosts muscular strength and endurance by increasing your body’s levels of carnosine, a small peptide formed of beta-alanine and histidine.
Cordyceps This Tibetan fungus helps boost immediate strength by contributing to your ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate) cycle. Combine creatine and Cordyceps for greater immediate strength.