People who actively exercise - What is your opinion on pre-workout supplements?

[WeaponZero]

I know they're full of additives and caffeine and as a result aren't really good for you, but I find that after a busy day of work I just don't have the energy left in me to properly go about my workout at full intensity without it. I went a month without taking any form of pre-workout supplements and I pooped out on the treadmill after only 15 minutes of 2 min jog one min sprint intervals. Taking some pre workouts however I was able to go for 20 minutes at increased speeds. I can't say how it affected my lifts, but it definitely made a difference in how effectively I was able to hit the cardio portion of the workout. What are your opinions on them?

The one I took was C4 by Cellucor.

[kheserthorpe]

Supplements that have a ton of stuff in them tend to be ... expensive for what you're getting. Some may be good, others not so much.

Things that stood out for me looking at C4:

- caffeine has been demonstrated to have a positive affect pre-workout.

- creatine is useful, it helps store more water in muscle fibres. I don't know about their claims that their version of creatine is better then buffered creatine.

- beta alanine has been shown to help with endurance, but I seem to recall that pre-workout would actually NOT be the best time to take it. It should be loaded, like creatine.

- nitric oxide is claimed to be mainly cosmetic. It gives you a 'pump'. I haven't heard of much research showing actual benefits.

- there are other vasodilators. Possibly these help offset the caffeine's vasoconstriction?

There are measurable benefits to loading creatine and beta alanine and taking caffeine pre-workout. If this is a convenient and cost effective way of doing that, great. If it seems to have other properties you like, great. Otherwise consider using those three separately. They're all very cheap.

[WeaponZero]

I tried a few different brands before I got the C4. I like it.

[WeaponZero]

Also I don't typically drink caffeine and don't get it from other sources.

[ShishKabob]

I used to, now occasionally, though it seems I built up a resistance. I primarily went with Jack3d as I liked the taste and it would occasionally drop to $20 shipped on Amazon. Slowly stopped noticing the tingling feeling, so moved on to White Rush, felt nothing. Tried NO-Xplode, pretty much nothing. I've gone 6 months with no preworkout supplements and not too much caffeine intake (generally dehydrates me and gives me the runs in high dosage) and I still haven't had that tingling feeling again, even trying 4 scoops. I've heard of another product that apparently works if you've built up resistance to Jack3d, but don't recall the name.

It gave me a boost to power through a workout after a long day, but dehydrated me too much to use it for cardio. At least lifting I take waterbreaks.

[Anonymous]

Personally I just drink Lucozade sport during training, perks you up just enough to get through it without being too bad for you.

[Hyrule]

I exercise often, both lifting weights and doing cardio, and I never use supplements, and I never would either. I understand what you are saying about not having the energy to do it properly. I love working out and I have (in my opinion) a fairly high discipline that helps me.

Do you eat a healthy and balanced diet otherwise? If not, you could try improving on that and see what happens. Otherwise, I say to each his own, if you feel that you need to take them, do. ^^

[WeaponZero]

My diet is just fine. Consistently rate B or better on caloriecount.com's nutrition tracker. I really only take it because I go straight to the gym from work with really no rest or anything in between aside from the bus trip from work to the gym (which is only about 20 minutes) and after work I don't have it in me otherwise to be able to hit it at full intensity. I used to work out in the mornings and things were different then.

[Hyrule]

well then, I say, if you feel that you need to take them, and want to, do it. I would never use it but I do not judge those who do. ^^

[WeaponZero]

Fair enough, thanks for your opinion =)

[Hyrule]

No problem.

[currannaaach]

Superpump - I loved the few free samples I got. My friend swears by it and has been using it for years now (unfortunately he has trouble working out without it)

Jack3d - One of my favorites, but I only use it about once to twice a week at most. It gives some of my friends awful acne.

Caffeinated beverages - fine, but eventually you lose sensitivity and they don't work.