Are you one of the millions of people who have committed to improving your health and fitness in the new year? If so, congratulations! We are excited to support you on your journey to becoming a healthier you in 2020. When starting a new fitness program, we often look for the perfect equipment, technology, outfits, and supplements to set us up for success. A few weeks ago, we published an article with some of our favorite health brands to check out as you fill up your gym bag with new gear. Today we are going to dive deeper into supplements, and more specifically why you should use pre-workout.
What is pre-workout?
Pre workout powder is a supplement that is meant to be used before (or during) your workout to improve your endurance, energy, and overall performance. We recommend drinking it about 15 – 20 minutes before you get to the gym for optimal results. The common ingredients in nearly every pre-workout powder are caffeine and beta-alanine (click the links for more information on these two ingredients). Both caffeine and beta-alanine help to increase your energy and endurance during a workout. However, different brands of pre-workout contain different quantities of these ingredients to achieve a particular stimulus. For example, Legion Pulse Pre-Workout contains 350mg caffeine and 3.6g beta-alanine per serving and delivers an intense burst of energy and lots of jittery tingles from high doses of caffeine and beta-alanine respectively.
While certain crowds prefer the intensity of a more “hardcore” pre-workout, others are looking for something mild. If you find yourself in this camp, you should give Red Leaf Pre Workout Energizer a try. With only 40mg caffeine and 1.0g beta-alanine per serving, Red Leaf Pre-Workout will give you just enough of a boost to energize your workout without all the jitters, tingles, and crashes of a more intense formula. Read our blog for more information on how to pick the right pre-workout for you!
In addition to caffeine and beta-alanine, pre-workout powders contain a variety of other ingredients, many of which differ brand to brand. Some formulas contain electrolytes for hydration, others like Red Leaf contain BCAA’s and antioxidants to improve muscle recovery during and after your workout.
People use pre-workout for lots of reasons. Many of our customers who use Red Leaf religiously tell us their primary reason for using pre-workout is simply that they are exhausted and need a little extra boost to make it into the gym before or after work. Others say they use it to help them them have more sustained energy during lifts, or for better recovery between sets. I rely heavily on Red Leaf Pre-Workout to get me through a local CrossFit competition called Strength in our Streets that my box participates in every year. With 5 intense workouts in about 8 hours, it gets pretty taxing and I need the extra energy and endurance from pre-workout to keep me performing my best! Also, if you find a pre-workout like Red Leaf that tastes amazing, it works great as a lower-caffeine alternative to your afternoon latte. Some people drink pre-workout simply because it gives them energy and they love the flavor.
If you were to ask us why you should use pre-workout, here is what we would tell you:
- Energy. We’re all exhausted. Especially after a long day at work, it can be really tough to make ourselves workout. Take some pre-workout about 15 minutes before you leave work and you are guaranteed to have the energy you need to crush your workout by the time you get to the gym.
- Endurance. Beta-alanine is the non-essential amino acid responsible for improved muscle endurance during workouts. If you find yourself gassing out before your last set or feeling fatigued during high intensity training, pre-workout could help you perform at a higher level.
- Trying to cut back on caffeine. If you use a lower-caffeine pre-workout, like Red Leaf, replacing a high-caffeine energy drink or grande americano can be a great way to cut back on your total daily caffeine intake.
