Pre-Workout – Benefits and Drawbacks

Pre-workout supplements, more commonly known as pre-workout, have recently skyrocketed in popularity. You’ve probably noticed it in action- people swallowing a cup of powder or mixing it in their water before a workout.

While some people swear by the benefits of pre-workout, others say it’s unnecessary. So is pre-workout a requirement in your workout regimen?

At Mighty Gyms, we’re all about providing unbiased information that people need to attain their dream body. As such, we’ve curated a guide to help you decide if pre-workout is meant for you.

The Purpose of Pre-Workout

Pre-workout is a concoction of energizing ingredients meant to increase your endurance and energy levels during a workout. More energy and vigor imply a more effective workout session. Generally, this mixture exists in powdered form, but pre-workout pills are available as well. Gym goers gravitate towards it because:

  • It’ll help you sustain a longer workout session.
  • You can increase your reps.
  • It boosts endurance levels, ultimately helping you lift and drop heavier weights.

The difference between Pre-Workout and Protein Powder

Pre-Workout vs Protein Powder is a pretty common debate among bodybuilders. On one hand, protein powder helps your body restore muscle tissue ultimately helping you gain more muscle. Thus, the best time to consume protein powder would be post-workout.

Alternatively, pre-workout aids in pumping your body with energy to maximize your workout potential. A lot of people are often reluctant to take both these together, so, just to clarify this out, there is no risk involved in consuming them together, since both have their own objectives, and help your body in different ways.

Pre-Workout Ingredients

The potential of pre-workout comes down to the ingredients that make up this supplement. Here are a few common ingredients you can find in pre-workout.

  • Caffeine: increases attention and energy levels.
  • Citrulline Malate: this amino acid converts to nitric oxide, leading to more blood flow in the body.
  • Creatine: increases energy levels and strength.
  • Protein: essential for muscle building.
  • Vitamin B12: helps metabolism.

The Side effects of Pre-workout 

There is a downside to pre-workout as well. One of them being that pre-workouts are not FDA regulated. Meaning that anyone can throw a nice label onto the box, list some ingredients, and call it the “Best Pre-Workout.”

As a safety precaution, it’s best to do some research on the pre-workout ingredients to ensure it’s safe to consume. A few side effects of pre-workout are

Caffeine Jitters

Excess caffeine causes increased blood pressure and trouble sleeping. 

Headaches

Some ingredients cause an increase in blood flow which can lead to headaches and migraines.

Upset Stomach

Ingredients such as magnesium or caffeine can cause an upset stomach. In serious cases, it can lead to diarrhea.

Dehydration

Creatine can massively dehydrate your body. It takes away water from your body organs to help your muscles.

Alternatives

Don’t give up hope if pre-workout isn’t for you. Getting a good night’s sleep or sipping a cup of coffee or maybe snacking on a banana half an hour before a workout is an alternative way to stimulate energy.

Creatine is one of the big reasons people disapprove of pre-workouts, so creatine-free pre-workouts are now readily available. Better yet, you can create your own completely natural pre-workout from the ingredients that are always sitting in your kitchen. Some of these are;

  • Banana and Apple juice
  • Coconut water
  • Oatmeal and yogurt
  • Watermelon energy booster drink
  • Coffee

Bottom-line

Since many of us have transitioned to doing everything at home (that includes working out), energy levels may be waning off, so we can all use a dose of an energy booster to sort that out.

At Mighty Gyms we like to promote what’s best for you and your body. As such for your at-home exercises if pre-workout is great for you, stick to it! Just make sure the ingredients are safe to consume and you’re good to go.