Pre-workout supplements aren’t for everyone, but there are a variety of benefits behind these products.
I’ve been a gym rat for almost as long as I can remember and have tried many different pre-workout supplements along the way. Some of these have given me tons of energy and others nowhere near enough. Some have given me skin-stretching pumps that force so much blood into my muscles they feel like they might pop, while others have inhibited blood flow to the point that my muscles were oxygen deprived and I ran out of gas during my workout.
There are a lot of pre-workout products that do many different things, but why take them? Some people want more energy than others, some are looking for a great pump, and some, like me, want something that helps to create a tunnel-vision focus on the weights in front of them.
The main reason I take a pre-workout is for the mental aspect it provides. A good pre-workout will give you an energy boost and should have a vasodilation blend to help you force more oxygen-rich blood into your muscles so that you can grind out every last rep possible but – all the energy and blood flow in the world won’t help your workout if you don’t want to be there.
For me, the mental focus & motivation a pre-workout can provide is why it is such a benefit to my training. Once your mind is right, the benefits of the supplement begin to shine. Drinking a pre-workout can help give you the energy to get off your butt and go to the gym, and if you find one that ignites your mind, the gym seems to come to you.
Depending on your training, you may have different needs:
- More Energy
- Better Endurance
- Increased Strength
- Improved Focus
- Greater Blood Flow/Pump
Picking the right pre-workout for you is very important. Don’t be afraid to try something new – and when you find the right one, you may surprise yourself in your workouts.