How to Boost Your Workout Performance With the Right Pre-workout Supplement

Written by Guy Gustafson
June 07, 2021

share this workout

Are you unhappy with your current pre-workout supplement? Is it not giving you the kinds of results the label promises? If your pre-workout isn’t making your training sessions better, it might be time to upgrade. Read on to learn how to boost your workout performance with the right pre-workout supplement.

Are you unhappy with your current pre-workout supplement? Is it not giving you the kinds of results the label promises?

If your pre-workout isn’t making your training sessions better, it might be time to upgrade. Read on to learn how to boost your workout performance with the right pre-workout supplement.

Why Pre-Workout Is Important

Do you even need pre-workout? You might have found yourself asking this question, especially if your current supplement isn’t providing the kind of benefits you’re looking for.

Pre-workout supplements aren’t required to have a good workout. They can make a big difference, though, especially if you have a specific goal you’re trying to accomplish.

The following are some of the top reasons why it’s worth it to continue your search for the right pre-workout supplement:

More energy and motivation, which makes it easier for you to push yourself while training and exercising regularly
Increased focus and concentration so you can perform exercises with good form and experience a stronger mind-muscle connection
Increased endurance so you can push through during tough workouts and maintain good form longer
Better pumps and blood flow, which increases energy and promotes faster post-workout recovery

Many pre-workouts are also formulated to provide additional benefits beyond increased energy and better pumps. For example, thermogenic pre-workouts can help you to burn more calories while training, and testosterone-boosting pre-workouts can improve hormone balance.

What a Pre-Workout Should Have

You know that you’re not satisfied with your current pre-workout. Do you know what would make it better, though? Do you know what a pre-workout should have when it comes to things like ingredients and dosing?

Not all pre-workouts are created equal. Outlined below are some key characteristics to look for when shopping:

Science-Backed Ingredients

Your pre-workout should have a detailed list of ingredients on the back, not just a “proprietary blend” and no further information. Some effective, research-backed ingredients that it might contain include:

Caffeine: A central nervous system stimulant that increases energy, focus, and stamina
L-Citrulline: An amino acid and nitric oxide booster that increases blood flow, produces more noticeable pumps, and improves post-workout recovery
Beta-Alanine: An amino acid that increases carnosine levels and reduces lactic acid buildup, which helps you fight fatigue while exercising
Creatine: An organic compound that provides extra energy to the muscles and improves stamina during high-intensity workouts

Except for caffeine, which isn’t included in stimulant-free pre-workouts, you’ll find these ingredients in most high-quality pre-workout supplements.

Safe and Appropriate Ingredient Concentrations

Of course, the ingredients your pre-workout contains matter. The concentrations of these ingredients matter as well, though. This is especially true of stimulants like caffeine.

If you take a high-stim pre-workout and are sensitive to caffeine, you might end up experiencing unpleasant side effects like jitters or stomach problems.

On the flip side, if your pre-workout contains very little caffeine, you may not get the energy boost you’re looking for and will be disappointed in your results.

Positive Testimonials and Reviews

What do people have to say about the pre-workout you’re considering?

Are they generally happy with it? Have they noticed any side effects? Is it as effective as the label claims it will be?

Before you buy a particular pre-workout supplement, read reviews and testimonials from past customers. This information will help you to decide if it’s a good product and, more importantly, if it’s a good product for you.

Lab-Tested Formulas

Finally, consider whether or not your pre-workout powder has been third-party tested and Informed Choice Certified.

Third-party testing and Informed Choice Certifications do not always make a pre-workout supplement a good one. There are plenty of effective products that don’t have these credentials.

That being said, this is a helpful thing to look for if you’re prepping for a competition and need to avoid accidentally ingesting banned substances. If this is a concern for you, look for a product like HYDE Pre-Workout that goes through extra testing.

How to Boost Workout Performance with Pre-Workout

The first step to boosting workout performance with pre-workout is, of course, choosing an appropriate product for your needs and goals. There’s more to the story, though.

If you really want to see great results from your pre-workout, you need to make sure you’re using it properly. Listed below are a few tips that can help you ensure you’re not sabotaging your outcomes by misusing your pre-workout:

Time It Right

On average, caffeine reaches its peak effectiveness within about 30-60 minutes of consumption.

If you’re taking a pre-workout that contains caffeine and want to see the best outcomes from it, try to take it 15-30 minutes before your workout starts. This allows you to experience the maximum benefits of the caffeine by the time you get into the most intense part of your workout.

If you’re taking a stimulant-free pre-workout, the 15-30 minute rule is still a good one to follow. For most people, this is enough time to start feeling the effects of the ingredients, especially Beta-Alanine, which produces a very distinct tingling sensation.

Start Small

Are you sensitive to stimulants or other ingredients commonly found in pre-workout? Are you new to pre-workout supplements, in general?

In any case, it’s a good idea to start with a small dose of pre-workout. Limit yourself to one scoop, or possibly even one-half or one-quarter of a scoop.

This will help you reduce your chances of experiencing side effects. For those taking stimulant-containing pre-workout, it also helps them to avoid becoming dependent on a higher dose of stimulants than they need to improve performance.

Cycle On and Off

Some people take pre-workout supplements before every single workout, whether it’s a low-impact mobility workout or an advanced HIIT session.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with this, especially if you’re not exceeding the safe upper limit for caffeine (which is around 400mg or 0.014 ounces). However, there are also benefits to cycling on and off of stimulant-containing pre-workouts over time.

For example, you could take your stimulant-containing pre-workout for two or three weeks. Then, spend a week using a non-stim pre-workout.

This helps you to avoid building up a tolerance to caffeine. It also ensures that you continuously feel the effects of the pre-workout over time.

Be Realistic

Finally, make sure you’re not doing other things that could be sabotaging the effectiveness of your pre-workout.

For example, are you consistently getting poor sleep night after night? If this is the case, even the strongest pre-workout supplement likely won’t be enough to help you feel and perform your best.

Consider your diet, too.

Are you eating enough food to fuel your workouts? Are you getting a good balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fat? Are you overdoing it on nutrient-poor processed foods?

If this is the case, you might feel sluggish or fatigued while training even after taking pre-workout.

Find the Most Effective Pre-Workout Supplement Today

Have you been looking to boost your workout performance with the right pre-workout supplement?

If so, keep the information outlined above in mind as you start shopping for a new product. They’ll help you choose the most effective pre-workout for your needs.

Whether you want a high-stim pre-workout, a no-stim pre-workout, or something with fat-burning potential, we’ve got something for everyone at ProSupps. Check out our vast pre-workout selection today to find the right pick for you.

Back to blog