Pre-Workout: Good or Bad?

Hey guys! I wanted to research the positives and negatives of pre-workout. I have always been very curious about using pre-workout, but lately I have started to actually use it. There are some days when I might want to do a workout however my energy levels just aren’t as high as I want. Recently I felt this way and I remembered that my sister had bought pre-workout and decided to try it out. It can also be hard to find the energy to workout after a long 8 hours of school, especially as a second semester senior when the senioritis is hitting hard. Lets get into my personal review of pre-workout as well as the research I found.

Personal review:

As of right now, I have used pre-workout about 5 times. I really like it. I first started with half a scoop to test my tolerance and its affects. With this amount, I didn’t feel much. I think it was mainly a placebo affect that worked on me for the first time. A placebo affect is ok though…whatever works and gets you energized and feeling good! I could also see pre-workout being good as a workout starter if that makes sense. It can be challenging to get the motivation to start the workout, but pre-workout can be used as the impetus to get started. The next few times I tried it out, I used the full scoop and this is when I really felt it working. It was like a switch flipped inside me, refilling my energy levels, and sparking excitement within me. It was like a little kick to get me going.

I also definitely felt less fatigued after my workouts. I think it is important to note that it won’t always be like you’re flipping a switch of energy. There are days when I feel like it works less and days when I feel like it works more. I would recommend taking it 15+ minutes before a workout because I had been taking it right before my workout (because of timing lol) and it didn’t kick in until halfway through.

I almost always workout right after school because I don’t like late night workouts and my brain needs a break from school work. However, the day is tiring! It can be hard to gear myself up for an intense workout. I find that being tired or lacking energy can make me feel nervous about a workout because I get worried that I won’t be able to complete it. This should not be a worry! Working out is supposed to be a fun way to move around not something you are nervous about. With this, pre-workout has helped take away the cause of my nerves.

I am currently using the Alani-Nu Hawaiian Shaved Ice pre-workout. I really like this flavor and brand.

Research:

I thought that pre-workout was going to be filled with bad ingredients and additives; however, pre-workout mainly contains ingredients like caffeine and protein. It is said that along with that, it contains vitamins and minerals to support health and muscle development. The amino acids can help grow muscles.

Pre-workout helps grow muscles, boost energy, and improve strength.

Since pre-workout is filled with caffeine it gives you tons of energy. However, you must be careful when drinking too much. This can cause you to be jittery or nervous.

Pre-workout has carbs that are essential inspirit nutrition. The carbs will keep your energy stores full for the duration of your workout.

I was shocked to find that there are no huge side-effects or negatives of pre-workout. While it may make your stomach upset or give you a headache,  nothing major will occur.