Pre-workout supplement

[The Sauce]

Please - no "supplements suck" comments.

I am a shift worker which makes working out tricky. Some workouts I have no energy just from switching around my shift times or working overnights. I find it useful to sometimes get a little stim boost for my workouts - maybe 1-2 times a week max. Often I just have a cup of coffee and whey protein before the workout but I want to try a pre-workout blend just to see what it's all about. I have tried NO-Xplode a few times before and thought it was ok, though the taste made me gag. All I really want is some stimulant effect (i.e. caffeine, ginseng), BCAAs (especially l-leucine) and some NO enhancer (arginine, citrulline). The rest of the ingredients in these things seem pretty sketchy.

Seems like the top marketed brands are NO-Xplode, Superpump, Jack3D, 1MR, Amino Energy, NaNO Vapor, NO Plasmacore. Optimum Nutrition's Amino Energy seems the most legit with regard to its ingredient list - it's mainly green tea extract, caffeine, BCAAs, arginine and beta-alanine.

Anyone have any experience with these or any preference?

 

[douglasb]

I've tried Superpump250, White Flood, Creadryl, and 1MR. I have a bottle of Superpump MAX but haven't tried it yet. Anyways, I probably liked Creadryl the best, then SP250/White Flood (tie), and I liked 1MR the least. 1MR tastes like pure caffeine to me; the taste is just SO bad that I couldn't get past it.

 

[Zivic]

My preference is AST's Anabolic Rush. A friend from the gym likes white flood.

I used gaspari's super pump 250. It was OK, but needed 3 scoops of it compared to 1 form anabolic rush

 

[The Sauce]

It looks like Superpump 250 is being replaced by Superpump Max and they have it on clearance at a few places.

 

[Zivic]

It looks like Superpump 250 is being replaced by Superpump Max and they have it on clearance at a few places.

it works well, but like I said, I needed to take their full recommended serving of 3 scoops. If you are at a lighter body weight and/or are a bit more sensitive to these types of 'helpers' it is a good choice. For me, at 240+ lbs and haven taken these types of products for a while now, it takes a lot to get me rollin'.

 

[douglasb]

it works well, but like I said, I needed to take their full recommended serving of 3 scoops. If you are at a lighter body weight and/or are a bit more sensitive to these types of 'helpers' it is a good choice. For me, at 240+ lbs and haven taken these types of products for a while now, it takes a lot to get me rollin'.

You might like 1MR then...300mg of caffeine per scoop. Gives you quite a boost to your workout if you don't have a heart attack in the process.

 

[Koing]

I nap 15-20mins on the commute back home so that really puts me in a good mood for training. I then cycle 10mins back home, get change and hit the gym. I drink a carb high sports drink mixed with water. Works well for me.

Koing

 

[NGC_604]

I have a decent 60-90 minute commute home, and this winter it has been tough to go workout when I get home. I workout in my basement, but I'm usually tired and wouldn't do it. I just started taking Jack3d a couple weeks ago and I like it. It gives me enough energy to get my ass in gear and I'm not jittery or having any negative side effects. I am taking roughly 1.5-2 scoops. The first couple of times I got a tingly feeling in my face for a few minutes, but that was it. No stomach side effects, no crash, and no problems keeping me up all night.