Written by Tim Rigby
Would you be satisfied if you found out the workout you just completed was 80 percent effective? How about 90 percent? We here at Inside Fitness sincerely hope that you are not satisfied with anything less than 100 percent effort and 100 percent gains. This is the exact basis for the ever-evolving family of pre-workout blends which put you in both physical and mental states to truly maximize your workouts. The results which you ultimately experience from training are determined from the intensity you advance and the muscle stimulation achieved. Pre-workout blends help you accomplish these objectives to a greater extent than if you simply worked out raw, on your own. They wake you up (safely), improve contractile strength, reduce fatigue, and keep you going longer. If you were at home plate and knew you could hit a home run, would you use a toothpick for a bat? No, you’d use the most effective bat available, to ensure the ball soars over high the fence. Be sure not to eschew this outstanding training partner, and use pre-workouts as prescribed for effective, safe gains.
CAFFEINE
This stimulant ingredient pays huge dividends when it comes to amping up your workout energy. Caffeine provides alertness and focus, coupled with physiological augmentations in strength and endurance. A little bit of caffeine goes a long way, but it’s most effective when you consume it exclusively prior to your workout; in other words, you’re better off not to consume additional cups of coffee throughout the day during rest periods. Caffeine also helps release fat (not burn it), so use the energy it provides to burn those cals yourself.
Standard Dosage: 200-300 milligrams per serving
CREATINE
The bastion of powerlifters, strength athletes and sports players, creatine is embraced widely as a safe and effective pre-workout ingredient. Original versions of creatine (from 25 years ago) were susceptible to side effects like bloating, but all of that has gone by the wayside in more current times. Creatine works by drawing water into your muscle cells to make them physically stronger and also appear fuller. Consumed regularly, it will ensure you optimize your resistance training in order to build your muscles and advance your physique.
Standard Dosage: 2-4 grams per serving
L-CITRULLINE OR CITRULLINE MALATE
Citrulline is an amino acid which has gained popularity over the last 15 years due to its effectiveness in workout performance. In addition to increasing practical strength and promoting endurance so you can work out longer, it also gives you one seriously powerful pump to flood your muscles with nutrients. One reason it gives you such a pump is because it’s closely related to the famous amino acid arginine, long-recognized as a potent nitric oxide (NO) booster.
Standard Dosage: 3-6 grams per serving
BETA-ALANINE
In technical terms, beta-alanine is considered a non-essential amino acid that your liver produces naturally. It also reaches your body in the food you eat and the supplements you consume, then binds with the amino acid histidine to form the bi-peptide carnosine. Ultimately, this will help you realize greater strength, power and endurance, so it’s easy to appreciate how effective it is in pre-workout blends. Some studies reveal that beta-alanine can even aid in fat loss.
Standard Dosage: 1,500 to 3,000 milligrams per serving
BCAAs
The three branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) are comprised of leucine, isoleucine and valine. When taken on their own, they have been proven to be an excellent long-term muscle builder and anti-catabolic agent. When consumed with other ingredients mixed into a pre-workout blend, they can act as a superbly effective fatigue fighter to prolong the intensity of your weightlifting and help you optimize your results. Truly a wonder supplement with both immediate and long-term benefits!