Which kind is YOUR pre-workout?

Heading to the gym and need a little boost before you workout? You've heard of pre-workouts, but you don't know which one to choose? We know there's a LOT of them out there and it can be a little hard to find your way around!

Faced with this huge selection, we thought this was the perfect opportunity to present the different types of pre-workouts to help you identify the one you need to reach your goals while working out!

Beforehand, we must know that we all have our favorites when it comes to pre-workout products. Certain ingredients might be better suited for some, while others may like some specific ingredient groups, or certain quantities, and the list goes on. Today, we introduce you how to pick your next pre-workout supplement. 

Dividing your requirements into four categories is usually the way to go. Some categories might not go well with others, so picking one over the other would be unavoidable, which is why drawing up a priority list is desirable (don’t overdo it though, as this is more of a general guideline).

Here are the four categories:

• Stimulants

These are pretty much the staple of all pre-workout products. Caffeine, synephrine, teacrine, etc. These are all meant to boost your energy levels and alertness required to perform your workouts. Some people can’t stand the effects of stimulants, while others rave about them. One way to measure how much caffeine you really need is to compare it to your usual daily caffeine intake, as each cup of coffee contains about 100 mg of caffeine. Consequently, if you need two cups of coffee in order to get the proper energy boost, your pre-workout product will then need to include about 200 mg of caffeine. Please note that caffeine leads to vasoconstriction effects (narrowing of blood vessels and reduced blood flow), which means that more caffeine will lead to a decreased pump!

• Endurance 

This type of pre-workout usually includes the following ingredients: beta-alanine, PeakO2 and beet root extract. These ingredients allow you to push your limits for a longer period of time in the gym without burning yourself out. It basically gives you the ability to perform full-on reps during your workout! For those looking to enhance their endurance, pre-workout supplements include a hefty dose of beta alanine (from 3.2 to 6.4 g) or similar endurance-boosting ingredients (like PeakO2) are great options as well.

• Pump

This category provides the used with a great muscular pump, which explains its popularity. But what’s a muscular pump?

Muscular pump products increase nitric oxide levels, which is an endogenous signal (produced by our own body), dilating (enlarging) our blood vessels in order to let more blood through. This process provides the user with a “pump” feeling. Even though muscle cells are congested with a great amount of liquid for the purpose of stimulating muscular pump, we must however mention that pump doesn’t necessarily lead to muscle growth. The bloating effect is temporary and disappears a few hours after your workout. Pump-inducing pre-workout products generally include ingredients like citrulline, pine bark extract and arginine silicate inositol.

• Neurostimulants

Even though stimulants and neurostimulants technically lead to the same end result: increasing focus, energy and motivation, their mechanism is quite different. Caffeine takes action on your adrenal glands, which is also linked to the fight-or-flight response. For some people, this can lead to increased anxiety and stress (while some may like it, this is why we’ve said that it all depends on the individual). Neurostimulants have a direct impact in increasing neurotransmitters like acetylcholine, glutamate and dopamine, in order to raise them to proper levels, hence allowing your body and brain to function more efficiently. This category of ingredients includes acetyl carnitine, lion’s mane, tyrosine and taurine.

First of all, we must remember that pre-workout supplements are quite a subjective topic. Some will like one that contains a lot of stimulants without providing any pump, while others will desire strong neurostimulants, a heavy pump, without any real stimulant. Trying out a pre-workout product will help you determine if it’s right for you. However, picking a product using the criteria mentioned above will probably be your best bet. Also, don’t hesitate to visit one of our stores or contact us through Messenger in order to get more details!