Pre-Workout Supplements

[TechBoyJK]

Do you guys have any preferred pre-workout supplements?

There's a wide array of stuff available and I don't feel like experimenting.

I want to start increasing the effort I put into lifting and was curious about any safe supplements to take before working out that will give me a lift.

If I knew of something good and worthwhile I will use it. Until then I'm not going to use anything.

 

[wheresmybacon]

I take Controlled Labs Purple Wraath before I work out. http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/clabs/purple.html

I follow a 16/8 intermittent fasting diet, and the champion of this method suggests BCAA's before and after training. Scivation Xtend or Controlled Labs Purple Wraath were what he's used to some effect.

In terms of training fasted, it's the only way to go. When I began this protocol, I didn't use BCAA's, and honestly it was difficult to get through a whole workout, especially the last half. Now, I feel I can just keep going. My wife is convinced it's a placebo effect since she doesn't like the idea of a $45 tub of foul-tasting Kool-aid, but I'm a believer.

I'm going to try Scivation Xtend next simply because Purple Wraath tastes really, really bad.

 

[Malfeas]

I like a cup of coffee sweetened with honey, and either a banana or apple before I start training.

 

[Zen0]

I used to take Creatine, and BCAAs. I don't bother anymore but if you're trying to make faster progress, these will work and are safe.

 

[Pantlegz]

NO explode is awesome, as long as you don't get the jitters.

 

[MrEgo]

I've been taking Jack3d, the blue raspberry flavor. It's fairly cheap and it works really well.

I've also used NanoVapor, which worked really well for awhile. I had to cycle off of it because I got tolerant of it, so I started using Jack3d. Both were very effective, from my experience.

However, I can't speak for the safety of either one of these. Nothing has happened to me, but I wouldn't expect a limb to fall off or anything obvious.

 

[QueBert]

I started taking Jack3d last week, maybe it was just a fluke but 2 nights ago when I took it I was able to finish my jog routine that a few days before I had to stop with 2 minutes left (didn't take it that night) It tastes pretty bad, but you take it with a small amount of water so I find it bearable. The owner of the local nutrition shop swears by N'Sane, he gave me a free sample which I'll be taking tonight before I jog.

 

[NGC_604]

I also take Jack3d. Dumb name, but it works extremely well for me.

 

[MrEgo]

I started taking Jack3d last week, maybe it was just a fluke but 2 nights ago when I took it I was able to finish my jog routine that a few days before I had to stop with 2 minutes left (didn't take it that night) It tastes pretty bad, but you take it with a small amount of water so I find it bearable. The owner of the local nutrition shop swears by N'Sane, he gave me a free sample which I'll be taking tonight before I jog.

I actually think it tastes really good, at least the blue raspberry flavor. To each his own, I suppose.

 

[QueBert]

The N'Sane either f*cked me up, or it was the placebo effect from the store owner warning me about how strong it was. I didn't feel jittery, but my head felt weird and when I got out of my car my legs had pins and needles like they were falling asleep. I wasn't able to finish my jogging and 30 minutes after my stomach felt weird. I think I'm going to stick to jack3d

 

[darkxshade]

I started taking Jack3d last week, maybe it was just a fluke but 2 nights ago when I took it I was able to finish my jog routine

Are you supposed to take Jack3d for running/cardio? I usually run fine and if I need a pick me up, I'd drink a cup of coffee an hour before I begin. I'm just speaking out my ass here since I don't know for sure but I would think Jack3d is formulated for lifting.

 

[Zen0]

Oh Good Lord... Jack 3D is..

(Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate, Creatine Monohydrate, Beta Alanine, Caffeine, 1,3-Dimethylamylamine (Geranium [Stem]), Schizandrol A)

I would not take anything on that list, except I'm not sure if that form of Arginine is better or worse than regular L-Arginine supplements. Do you really need a Caffeine in a pill?

There are much more effective non-bloating forms of Creatine (not monohydrate). Schizandrol A and Demethylamylamine, OK, the fruit thing is probably harmless but a stimulant on top of caffeine?

 

[blackdogdeek]

call me crazy but i don't take any supplements. do they really help?

 

[Zen0]

call me crazy but i don't take any supplements. do they really help?

Sure they help. They help you get to where you want to be faster, and in terms of extremeness, get to superhuman levels where you can't really get to naturally.

They are a bit like extreme dieting to me though. Sustainability is far more important to me, so being able to drop almost all supplements as soon as possible is a worthy goal in my book.

 

[deedubbadoo]

I had some pretty good energy from VPX NO Shotgun, not so much with Muscle Pharm's Assault though. Different people react differently to stimulants, so your best bet would be to contact the companies for samples before buying.

 

[SZLiao214]

I have been taking 1 RM before work outs and it has been helping quite a bit. The difference in weight lifting isn't much but my cardio has been helped a lot.

 

[Powermoloch]

I usually have an apple + pineapple ice smoothy plain with no other additives. It works for me at least

 

[QueBert]

I take Controlled Labs Purple Wraath before I work out. http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/clabs/purple.html

I follow a 16/8 intermittent fasting diet, and the champion of this method suggests BCAA's before and after training. Scivation Xtend or Controlled Labs Purple Wraath were what he's used to some effect.

In terms of training fasted, it's the only way to go. When I began this protocol, I didn't use BCAA's, and honestly it was difficult to get through a whole workout, especially the last half. Now, I feel I can just keep going. My wife is convinced it's a placebo effect since she doesn't like the idea of a $45 tub of foul-tasting Kool-aid, but I'm a believer.

I'm going to try Scivation Xtend next simply because Purple Wraath tastes really, really bad.

humm the 1 serving sample is .25 where the 45 serving canister's 34 bucks. It let me add 45 sample's to the cart for $11.25 I wonder if they'd actually ship it

 

[douglasb]

humm the 1 serving sample is .25 where the 45 serving canister's 34 bucks. It let me add 45 sample's to the cart for $11.25 I wonder if they'd actually ship it

Probably not. But 45 individual packets would be way more convenient than a tub of powder.

 

[bigbaseballfan5]

The pre- workouts that work the best are the ones with the most powerful creatines and NO (nitric oxide) in them. There are alot of pre workouts out there but most of them are a waste of money. There are a bunch of new ones that just came out and I have tryed most but the one i found to work the best is Gamma Labs pre training formula. It gives you alot of energy and no crash after and the best part is it tastes good.!!!

 

[saratoga172]

I've tried NO-Explode. Made me feel bloated and sometimes have to shit in the middle of the workout. It did give a jacked feel throughout though. I noticed no real gains with it, outside of a little muscle hardness. I was also running 2 miles a day so that might have been a factor.

Jack3d worked very well for me. Only used a 25 serving tub, but I always had energy and felt the pump a little extra after the workout. Only minimal gains because I wasn't really eating right or sticking to a solid workout because of school and work.

I took a beta-alanine supp for a month and I'd say that was the best thing I've tried to date. Very sweet and tasted great. I diluted it a tad more and drank about 3/4 pre-workout then the other 1/4 during the workout. Gave me a tingling sensation throughout. Sits very light on the stomach and works well for lifting or cardio. Great effects with proper diet and workout.

Also tried pump fuel. Tastes like pasty cherry limeade and gives this sort of stare off into space feeling. It works fairly decently, tastes like shit and seems to keep my energy levels up high enough. Not worth it though over just eating a good meal a couple hours before, then having an apple and/or banana on the way to the gym.

 

[oscar24]

Hey Guys, I am new to this interesting hub and love to work out. There is a mention of many Pre Training Formula's out here and that makes it ideal for all of us to choose the right supplement. In my opinion an ideal Pre Training Formula is a blend of amino acids such as L-Argine and L-Citruline along with potent creatine as they increase the flow of Nitric Oxide ( NO) to the blood and that allows one to train harder and longer resulting in a strong muscle build up.

 

[shortylickens]

Just vitamin B complex. And enough water that I pee once before the workout starts. (Kidney stones.)

 

[Ghiedo27]

Doesn't supplementing creatine reduce the amount your body will naturally produce?

 

[alkemyst]

Doesn't supplementing creatine reduce the amount your body will naturally produce?

Wouldn't be significant if true. Creatine is a time proven and cheap addition to anyone looking to bulk up or get better recovery at the expense of water retention.

I have found workout supps are really dependent on time of day you hit the gym. I do it first thing.

I like a ECA stack usually. I am more meso/endomorphic so a little cutting goes a long way.

I take a Nitrogen product usually. I respond well and get pumped.

Creatine. BCAAs and protein powders all make my workouts more effective. I tried prohormones too, totally legal and legit. They were more expensive than real steroids (I have never tried real, I know a lot about them though)...I had great gains for the 2 months I was doing them. They were about $10 per day about 15 years ago.

Vitamins are great too...a lot of the B vitamins give great energy and are cheap. I usually take a balanced B and additional B6/B12.

I am at an airport now, but when I get home in a week I will go down my shelf of stuff.