Why you should not take pre-workout
now i know that is a weird thing to say as a supplement store owner, but hear me out. I absolutely love pre-workout products and there are so many out there. When i started working out regularly and “convinced” myself to try pre-workout, there were no regulations and brands were constantly being called out for incorrect labels. Now, that still happens today but way less often and brands are significantly more honest about what goes into their supplements. If you have walked into FA Supp shop you know we dont have many brands, for that reason. The products we have are designed to give you the best results without the filler ingredients. we love our products and know that you will too.
Back to pre-workout, at the very base level you can separate them into three categories: non-stim, stim, and high stim. probably the first thing a person looks at on the label is the caffeine content. This can range from 0 to 575 mg and there are probably some with more than that. for reference a standard cup of coffee has about 150 mg of caffeine per 8 0z cup, so a pre-workout with 400 mg will be extreme. yes, we do carry one with 575 mg of caffeine (not for the faint of heart). you could go deeper and separate by pump or focus or endurance, but we won’t get into that in this blog.
pre-workout became popular because it does provide an added edge to your workout intensity, helping you train harder and longer than if you only drank coffee before training. There are tons of products that go into them with different purposes, all to boost training intensity or absorption. it is easy to get “addicted” to that feeling and reach for the tub before each session. Inevitably you will build up a tolerance to some of the ingredients, thus coercing you to add a second scoop or reach for a stronger product. this is why i suggest not taking pre-workout.
if you are confused, i’ll hopefully clear that up here. pre-workout is not a product that you need and it should not destroy your workout if you run out. if you didn’t sleep well, you have been at work and need a pick up, or you are planning a particularly grueling workout then pre-workout would be beneficial. Grabbing for it every day for months on end will lead to needing more and more to feel the same effects. If you are taking a high stim most days, switching to a non-stim for a week or so will help the effects from your high stim stay high without you getting burned out.
i am slow to recommend pre-workout because the effects begin to diminish and you need more and more. i will use a standard or non-stim on most days of training, every now and then i’ll reach for the high stim. this method does not make me dependent on the preworkout and i know that my workout will be good regardless of whether i have a pre-workout or not. this is my recommendation to you. one month buy the high-stim if you so desire, one month use a regular stim, one month use a non-stim, or have all three and mix it up based on the workout you have planned.
as always, this is purely up to you, i am simply sharing my experience and my two cents. if you liked this article, please share with your friends. if you have questions or want to know more feel free to reach out by calling the store, visiting in person, or messaging on social media. thank you all for your support.
