Enhance Athletic Performance: The Power of Pre-Workout Supplements

Want to take your workout to the next level before you even set foot in the gym? Enter the pre-workout supplement. 

Whether you’re an experienced athlete or new to training, pre-workout supplements can give you the extra boost of energy, focus and endurance you need to reach your fitness goals. 

But, what are the other pre-workout benefits? And how exactly do these supplements work? 

Let’s explore the power of pre-workout supplements for maximising your workouts so you can get the results you deserve. 

What Is a Pre-Workout Supplement? 

First things first, a pre-workout supplement is a powder, pre-made beverage, capsule or pill that is designed to help you perform better and recover easier after a workout. 

Also known simply as “pre-workout,” these supplements are typically a powder that you can mix with water to create a shake. 

What Are the Benefits of Pre-Workout Supplements? 

Pre-workout ingredients work together to primarily improve energy levels and athletic performance during exercise. Additionally, they have been shown to: 

• Prep your body for workouts 
• Aid post-workout recovery 
• Minimise exhaustion and the risk of training injuries 

Some of the most common ingredients found in pre-workout supplements include creatine, beta-alanine, nitric oxide boosters and caffeine. 

That said, there are often many different ingredients used in pre-workout supplements. Therefore, it's important to read the labels to find one that contains safe and effective ingredients for you. 

How Do Pre-Workout Supplements Work? 

Let’s dive deeper into how the most frequently used ingredients work in pre-workout supplements. 

Caffeine 

Caffeine is a common pre-workout ingredient given that it’s a stimulant that can improve mental alertness, memory and focus. Studies also suggest that it boosts physical energy and exercise performance without making it feel like you’re exerting yourself harder. 

By dilating your blood vessels, the blood flow to your muscles increases. This gives your muscles more power and strength, and can reduce body fat. 

We love the Pre-Workout Coffee by Bodyscience. This coffee blend is packed with antioxidants, nootropics, amino acids and superfoods for a supercharged performance. 

Creatine 

Creatine is a naturally occurring compound that’s found in the body and mainly stored in skeletal muscle. You can take creatine as a pre-workout or standalone supplement, which is popular amongst weightlifting, bodybuilding and athletic circles. 

Supplementing with creatine increases the amount of this compound in your body, helping to produce energy and build muscle mass and strength. It can also improve your recovery time during high-intensity workouts. 

If you did want to try a standalone creatine supplement, we suggest the ProCreatine Essential by PC Laboratories. This offers you the best in muscle-developing support, intensifying mass-focused workouts and lift power for big gains. 

Beta-Alanine 

Exercising at high intensity causes your body to produce lactic acid, which can cause fatigue and muscle soreness. Beta-alanine is an amino acid that can prevent acid buildup in your muscle tissue to increase endurance. The advantages of pre-workout containing beta-alanine are longer and more intense workouts, improving both your performance and results. 

It’s important to note that consuming beta-alanine may cause a tingling sensation, but this is completely harmless and nothing to worry about. 

We’re big fans of Blackout Pre-Workout by Ryse, one of the leading pre-workouts laden with advanced ingredients including beta-alanine. This was specifically developed for athletes looking for a revolutionary training experience that they can literally feel working. 

Nitric Oxide Boosters 

Your body naturally produces nitric oxide boosters, like arginine, citrulline and agmatine, to increase blood flow and nutrient delivery to the muscles. 

Pre-workout supplements often contain nitric oxide boosters to help transport more oxygen and nutrients to your muscles. Studies claim that this can then enhance athletic performance. 

Case in point: the Disorder Pre-Workout by Faction Labs. Available in several delicious flavours, this powder contains stimulants, nootropics and nitric oxide boosters for enhancing your energy, focus and pumps during training. 

B Vitamins 

B vitamins, like vitamin B3 or B12, are a group of water-soluble vitamins that are essential for energy metabolism and converting food into energy that can be used during exercise. 

The main advantages of pre-workout supplements containing vitamins are elevated performance and delayed onset of fatigue, meaning you can go harder for longer. B vitamins can also support the immune system and aid recovery after your session. 

The Cross-Eyed Extreme Pre-Workout by Zombie Labs contains vitamins B3, B6 and B12 to amplify your energy levels throughout your workout. These B vitamins teamed with caffeine and beta-alanine will fire up your muscles and mental focus for extreme results. 

Taurine 

Taurine is an amino acid that has been shown to enhance exercise performance by increasing the body’s ability to use oxygen during a workout. It can also increase force generation in muscles, boosting mass and strength so you can intensify your workouts without feeling fatigued. 

Taurine may also reduce muscle damage and soreness to accelerate recovery between workouts so you can train more frequently. 

We highly recommend Pride Pre-Workout by EHP Labs, which is known as “the king of pre-workouts.” Each serving contains 500mg of taurine to boost your energy, mood and metabolism for peak performance. 

How to Take Pre-Workout Supplements 

One of the advantages of pre-workout supplements is that it doesn’t take them long to get into your bloodstream post-consumption. The usual recommendation is to take a pre-workout supplement 30-60 minutes before exercise.

If your pre-workout contains caffeine, this will take effect in around 30 minutes, but it can stay in your system for several hours. Keep this in mind if you’re consuming pre-workout later in the day as caffeine can disrupt your sleep cycle. 

If your pre-workout contains creatine and beta-alanine, these ingredients can take a lot longer to build up in your body. Therefore, you should supplement consistently to maintain muscle stores and maximise the benefits of pre-workout. 

Final Thoughts on Pre-Workout Benefits 

Pre-workout supplements are effective for giving you an extra boost of energy, focus and endurance before physical activity. However, it’s important to use them as a part of a well-rounded approach to fitness, which includes a healthy diet, regular exercise, and proper rest and recovery. 

Although the advantages of pre-workout are plenty, they can interact with medications you may already be taking. If in doubt, consult your doctor before using these products.