Going to the gym or resorting to exercises at home have become the latest trend among the people all over the world. You will find a gym in every locality all equipped with the latest work out training instruments. While exercising all the participants wish to exert the maximum so that fullest benefits can be accrued from the training. In order to help such people to be able to train hard they often drink pre-workout supplements.
What is a pre workout supplement
The pre-workout supplements which are often mentioned nowadays as pre-workouts are supplements that are carefully formulated using a number of potent ingredients with an avid aim of providing the trainee with enough energy for high performance as well as improving the performance levels of athletes.
Such supplements are generally available in a powdered form and are to be taken after mixing with water before you set out for the gym or for the exercises at home. On the market there are wide varieties of pre-workout supplements containing blending of varied ingredients with varied amounts. Some common ingredients that are often included in such supplements are
- Amino acid
- Beta alanine
- Caffeine
- Creatine
- Sweetens (artificial)
The best pre-workout for weight loss on the market are
- Intensive Pre-train (Crazybulk): expert’s choice
- Powher: best for the females
- Blackwolf Pre-workout: best for the male
- Pre-lab Pro
Intensive Pre-Training Crazybulk
Crazybulk is a popular pre-training supplement which the manufacturer claims to be a legal steroid having all the benefits of the steroid but without any side effects. The company came out with their products about six years ago and immediately raised a storm in the realm of pre-workouts. Looking at the immense quick benefits of the pre-training supplement people became crazy about the products.
This product is specifically targeted for men. Testosterone is the hormone that is responsible for all the manly traits like growth of powerful big muscles, hoarse voice, hair on the body etc. the ingredients of the supplement have been selected that can boost the testosterone levels using various vitamins and minerals.
Ingredients of Crazybulk per serving
- Citrulline Malate 2:1 8000 mg
- Beta-Alanine 4000 mg
- Taurine 1300 mg
- L-Tyrosine 1000 mg
- Alpha GPC 300 mg
- Organic Caffeine 200 mg
- L-Theanine 200 mg
- Theobromine 50 mg
- SenActiv 500 mg
- Black pepper extract 5 mg
- Boron citrate 3000 mg
- Vitamin B6 5 mg
- Vitamin B12 100 mg
- Zinc 10 mg
- Sodium 180 mg
- Potassium 125 mg
Instructions for use
Take 8 to 10 ounces of water and mix half a scoop of Crazy Bulk powder into it. You are to take the mixture 20 to 30 minutes prior to training. You may increase the amount of the powder to one scoop when more intense training is desired. For one scoop powder you have to take 16 to 24 ounces of water. But never exceed the limit of two scoops per day.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- The quality of the product is ensured through a third-party testing method.
- There are a number of flavors in which the supplements are available.
- You can get the effectiveness of the supplement by taking a small amount of the powder.
- The ingredients are so selected as to enhance the levels of testosterone.
- All the ingredients are legal
- All the anabolic effects can be achieved without any of their side effects.
Cons
- NCAA-certification is not there.
Also Read : Achieving great muscle gains and increasing lean muscle mass.
Frequently Asked Question
Question: can I pass through the drug testing for my athletic performance?
Answer: you can safely take the pre-workout crazy bulk as the supplement is free from any kind of illegal drugs. You can show the ingredients of the supplement without any sort of fear to the coach and they would surely find no abuses in the supplements.
Question: why the supplement has not included creatine?
Answer: the supplement contains a large amount of caffeine. A high amount of caffeine has a negative consequence on the ergogenic effects of the added creatine. That is why creatine has been excluded from the list of the ingredients.
Question: what is to be done for getting the maximum effectiveness of the supplement?
Answer: firstly you have to take the supplement as per instruction 20 to 30 minutes prior to the training. Initially you may take half a scoop of powder mixed with 8 to 10 ounces of water. Later if you feel you want to increase the intensity of the training you may take one scoop of the powder mixed in 16 to 24 ounces of water. Limit the intake of the supplement to two scoops per day.
Powher pre-workout
This supplement has been formulated with an aim of avoiding all the jittery effects of the other supplements on the market advertising images with bulging muscles mostly achieved using over-stimulated ingredients. Rather the supplement has given emphasis on boosting your energy so as to perform hard training without resorting to stimulants.
The question may arise how come you achieve boosting the energy without using stimulants. The answer lies in the unique formula of the company Powher: EnXtra. This weapon of the company is basically a caffeine amplifier. It means that the formula by working alongside with the small amount of Powher caffeine is able to boost your energy and you feel the energy for an extended period of time.
Ingredients of Powher pre-workout
- EnXtra, a caffeine amplifier prepared from alpinia galanga of ginger family
- Caffeine from green coffee beans
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
- Coconut water powder
- Oxyjun
- Rednite
- l-Tyrosine
- Beta Alanine
- Leucine
- Folic acid
Supplement facts
Vitamin B6 2 mg
Folic acid 400 mg
Vitamin B12 3 mg
Beta alanine 2000 mg
Leucine 2000 mg
Rednite 500 mg
L-Tyrosine 500 mg
cocoMineral 500 mg
Oxyjun 400 mg
EnXtra 300 mg
Caffeine 100 mg
Pros And Cons
Pros
- GMP certified
- Manufactured in FDA registered facilities
- Minimum stimulants avoiding side effects of caffeine
- Buying 2 items gets you free shipping
- 90 day money-back guarantee
- Best supplement specially for the women
- Contains unique ingredient EnXtra that stimulates the power of the caffeine without causing any side effects of more caffeine.
- Free from creatine as it does not suit the women
Cons
- Contains artificial sweeteners
- Quite expensive compared to other pre-workouts on the market
- Some unique proprietary ingredients are included that may not be supported with sufficient research such as EnXtra, rednite and oxyjun
Must Read : Benefits of fruits and vegetables just in the form of capsules for healthy living.
Blackwolf Pre-workout
The brand claims the following advantages of taking the pre-workout supplement.
- Carefully formulated providing optimum amounts of proven ingredients
- Targets improvements in focus, energy levels and endurance
- The supplements taste great with three different flavors
- Liked by reputed athletes
Ingredients of Blackwolf pre-workout
- L-Citrulline Malate 6000 mg
- Beta Alanine 3200 mg
- Creatine Monohydrate 3000 mg
- Betaine Anhydrous 2000 mg
- L-Arginine 1000 mg
- Caffeine Anhydrous 200 mg
- Taurine 1000 mg
- L-Tyrosine 600 mg
- Dynamine 126 mg
- Coconut water powder 320 mg
- Bioperine 5 mg
- DMAE 150 mg
- Huperzine 10 mg
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Made in the USA
- Made in facilities approved by FDA and GMP certified
- Vegan
- Full transparency with all the ingredients declared with amounts
- No fillers and no proprietary blends
- Available in 3 flavors: blue raspberry, green apple and fruit punch
- Caffeine free supplement is Fruit punch flavor
Cons
- We do not find any user review on the official website
- Some people may have itching and tingling of the skin
Frequently Asked Question
Question: who can take the weight loss supplement Blackwolf?
Answer: the supplement is suitable for people of all ages whose age is over 18 years. The supplement is aimed at enhancing the levels of performance in training and athletics. But the supplement is not advisable for the women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. For the people having any other underlying physical issue it is better to talk to their physician before starting the supplement.
Question: what are the main ingredients of Blackwolf supplement?
Answer: the supplement contains three blending called Blackwolf Fruit Punch, Blackwolf Green Apple and Blackwolf Blue Raspberry. The main ingredients are L-Citrulline, creatine, dynamine and caffeine for giving you sustained energy. These along with L-Tyrosine and taurine gives you the focus. Endurance is given by L-Citrulline, beta alanine, betaine and AAKG.
Question: what is the instruction of taking the supplement?
Answer: one scoop full of the powder is to be mixed with water. The mixture is to be taken 15 to 30 minutes prior to the workout.
Question: how long does the supplement take to stimulate the energy to increase the performance?
Answer: the effect of the supplement occurs after 30 minutes of taking the supplement. This is the reason why the users are advised to take the supplement 30 minutes before starting the workout.
Question: what can I expect from the Blackwolf pre-workout supplement?
Answer: the supplement has been formulated aiming to heighten your energy and performance abilities. It also enhances concentration and focus thereby improving the quality of the fitness routine. With this pre-workout you will be able to enhance your performances to its maximum level suitable for maximum intense hard training.
Question: what are the side effects of Blackwolf pre-workout?
Answer: generally the supplement causes no side effects when taken according to the instructions given on the bottle. It is possible for someone to notice a sensation of tingling. This happens due to beta-alanine as it starts the kick. This is also the indication that your body is ready for the blasting performance during the training.
Question: is there a possibility of the supplement causing intolerance in me?
Answer: it may occur for some people. If, by any chance, you feel some sort of intolerance then you may take a break for 2 weeks by which time the sensitivity comes back to normalcy.
Question: does taking the supplement necessitate any change in diet?
Answer: there is not much requirement of changing the diet. However it is natural for a performer like you to follow a healthy diet and lifestyle along with drinking plenty of water. It is also recommended to reduce your intake of caffeine on the days of taking the supplement.
Question: is the Blackwolf supplement vegan?
Answer: yes the supplement is suitable for vegetarian
Pre-Lab Pro
Pre-Lab Pro pre-workout supplement is manufactured by Opti-Nutra and is suitable for vegans and free from artificial additives. It is formulated to enhance the performance in the gym that is essential for building strong and big muscles which would result in weight loss.
Ingredients of Pre-Lab Pro
- Natural caffeine ( extracted from Coffea Robusta Seeds) 80 mg
- L-Theanine 160 mg per serving
- L-Tyrosine 400 mg per serving
- Citrulline 2200 mg per serving
- Red Beet Powder 1500 mg per serving
- Vitamin D 12.5mcg per serving
- Vitamin B12 2 mcg per serving
- Vitamin B2 500 mcg per serving
- Vitamin B6 750 mcg per serving
- Folate 167 mcg per serving
- Potassium 49.5 mg per serving
- Iron 2.5 mg per serving
Taste of the supplement
The supplement is made in a single flavor only: berry flavor.
Selecting the right pre-workout supplement
This wide variation in the ingredients and their amounts poses a great problem for the people to select the right pre-workout supplement for them. Unfortunately there is not much research on the pre-workout supplements where we can get some information regarding the effectivities of the ingredients contained in the supplements. We have been able to collect some information regarding the usefulness of some ingredients from a few studies which are being given below:
Nitric oxide
Our body produces nitric oxide naturally. Nitric oxide helps the blood vessels to relax, improving the flow of blood. Pre-workout supplement therefore uses compounds that help in producing nitric oxide by the body. Such compounds are L-Citrulline, L-Arginine and a few dietary sources such as beetroot juice etc.
These compounds therefore help in transporting oxygen as well as other nutrients to the muscles resulting in enhancement of the performance. Citrulline is responsible for boosting performance while arginine boosts the production of nitric oxide.
Caffeine
Caffeine is the most common ingredient for improving alertness, focus, memory and performance during training. This ingredient is found in all the pre-workout supplements.
Creatine
This compound is also produced naturally by the body. It is found stored in the skeletal muscles. The compound is very often included in the pre-workout supplement and is very popular among the high performers like weightlifters, athletes and bodybuilders.
External supplementation of creatine has been found to improve performance, recovery time and strength of lean muscles.
Beta-alanine
It is an amino acid that helps in preventing acid built-up in the muscle tissues. As a result the muscles can work harder and for an extended period of time. However it is reported that a sort of tingling sensation comes on the skin by consuming the ingredient. It is unpleasant but harmless.
Branched Chain Amino Acids ( BCAAs)
BCAAs are adequately found in the protein diet. It has been found to enhance the performance levels, helps in muscle growth and reduces soreness of the muscles. The compound is included in most pre-workout supplements.
The ingredients that should be avoided
It is true that the pre-workout supplements are safe and effective. But there are some ingredients found in the pre-workout supplements that may not suit all the people.
Artificial sweeteners & sugar alcohol
Many pre-workout supplements contain these substances for enhancing the flavor and the taste. But there are some sweeteners that cause discomfort in the intestines.
High consumption of sugar alcohol may also cause diarrhea, bloating and gas. These discomforts would discontinue the performance. It is better to avoid pre-workout supplements having large amounts of artificial sweeteners.
Caffeine
Caffeine is found in almost all the pre-workout supplements. But excess intake of caffeine causes many side effects like sleeping disorders, increase in BP, stress etc.
Most of the pre-workout supplements contain 240 to 475 ml of caffeine equivalent to 1 to 2 cups of coffee. Try to add further caffeine in your diet so that the level of caffeine does not become abnormally high.
Pre-workout supplements not passed through third party testing
Without the quality assurance through third party testing procedures, it is difficult to ensure the quality of the product. This may result in the consumption of banned substances or ingredients with amounts that are dangerous for the body.
FDA also regulates such supplements as foods thereby letting gaps due to which the companies may resort to false product labels.
As such look for the supplements that are passed through third party testing from agencies such as NSF and USP.
Conclusion
One important point must be made clear in the concluding remarks that the pre-workout supplements are not meant for everyone. This has been formulated targeting the young people who want to prepare for some high performance. The people who are athletes, bodybuilders and weightlifters are mostly interested in these supplements.
For normal day to day symptoms such as weakness and fatigue, it is better to go for other corrections such as good sleep, healthy diet, hydration etc rather than going in for the supplements.
Further the wide variations in the ingredients and their amounts make it very difficult to arrive at the right choice. Also there is no clear evidence of the supplements achieving their effectiveness more than consuming whole foods that contain equivalent nutrients.
The supplements are very expensive compared to the whole foods available to us. However that does not mean that you turn your face from the supplements. What is meant is take care to select the right supplement for your specific needs.
