More than three-quarters of Americans take some kind of supplement on a regular basis. Among those in the fitness community, some of the most popular supplements are pre- and post-workout products.
Have you been interested in trying these products out for yourself? Do you have questions about how they work or if they’re really necessary?
Read on to learn the basics of pre and post-workout supplements. You’ll also find out about the benefits they have to offer so you can decide for yourself if they’re worth taking.
Pre-Workout Supplements
Pre-workout supplements are an essential part of many gym-goers’ supplement stacks. There are tons of different pre-workout supplements on the market these days.
The majority of them are geared toward making you feel more energized. This, in turn, helps you perform your best during your training sessions.
How Do They Work?
Most pre-workout products contain some kind of ingredient (or sometimes a combination of ingredients) designed to get your body into a “fight or flight” mode. They stimulate your sympathetic nervous system, dilate the blood vessels to improve blood flow to the muscles and increase your heart rate. All of this causes you to feel more alert and energized when the time comes to begin training.
Caffeine is the most popular ingredient that causes these effects, and most pre-workouts are loaded with it. There are other ingredients that have similar effects without making you feel overly wired, though. Examples include beetroot juice or powder and amino acids like citrulline, arginine, and ornithine.
Most pre-workout supplements are carb- and calorie-free. There are some products on the market that do contain simple carbohydrates, though.
Carbohydrates are your body’s go-to energy source, especially when you’re performing a high-intensity form of exercise (a bootcamp class, an intense weightlifting session, a HIIT workout, etc.). Consuming some carbs before your workout will give you more energy and help you avoid feeling fatigued (both physically and from a cognitive perspective).
Do You Need Them?
There are lots of benefits that come with using a pre-workout supplement. The most obvious, of course, is that you will feel more energized during your workouts. If you exercise early in the morning, consuming a pre-workout drink or other product can help you get in the zone and get ready to tackle what your trainer has planned for you.
You can also use caffeine-free pre-workouts if you exercise in the afternoon or evening. These products will give you the energy boost you need after a long day at work, but they won’t keep you up all night.
“Pump-enhancing” pre-workouts, such as those that contain citrulline or beetroot juice, have added benefits as well. For example, they carry blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the muscles in a more efficient way. In addition to giving you a “pumped up” look after your workout, they also can help you recover faster afterward.
Post-Workout Supplements
Post-workout supplements, as the name suggests, are products that you consume once your workout is over. They’re often geared toward helping your body recover from the strain it experienced while you were training.
How Do They Work?
In addition to promoting faster recovery, post-workout supplements also aid in the muscle-building process. One of the most popular examples of a post-workout supplement is a protein shake.
Protein is an essential macronutrient, and it’s found in foods like meat, eggs, fish, and poultry. Getting all your protein from whole foods can be challenging, especially when you’re bulking and trying to put on size. Having a protein shake after your workout is an easy way to fit in more of this macronutrient.
There are lots of different types of protein shakes on the market these days. There are animal-based proteins like whey (a fast-digesting protein) and casein (a slow-digesting protein). You can also find plant-based options made from things like peas, hemp, and quinoa.
In addition to protein, some post-workout products also include ingredients like glutamine. Glutamine is said to help with muscle recovery. It may also minimize joint pain and soreness after a tough workout.
Some post-workout supplements contain electrolytes, too. You lose important electrolytes during your workouts, especially if you’re sweating a lot.
Consuming a supplement that contains magnesium, sodium, potassium, and calcium can help you replenish these stores. You can also avoid dehydration and the symptoms that accompany it, such as muscle cramps, fatigue, and headaches.
Do You Need Them?
Anyone can use post-workout supplements, but they’re particularly helpful to those who are looking to put on muscle or gain mass. A post-workout supplement can help you fill in gaps in your diet.
This is especially true when it comes to making sure you’re consuming enough protein. Your body needs protein to build muscle, and a post-workout shake will help you ensure you’re getting enough.
Post-workout supplements can also help you sleep more soundly at night. It’s when you’re asleep that your body produces the greatest amount of human growth hormone. This hormone is necessary for recovery and building muscle.
Remember, if you’re not sleeping well, you’re not going to see as significant effects from your workouts. You might also find yourself feeling sluggish in the gym and having a hard time pushing yourself as far as you have in the past (even if you’re using a pre-workout supplement beforehand).
When you take post-workout supplements on a regular basis, you’ll likely find that you have an easier time putting on muscle and gaining strength. They can also boost your immune system, minimize delayed onset muscle soreness (or DOMS), and improve your body’s bone mass.
Fulfill All Your Supplement Needs Today
Now that you know more about the ins and outs of pre- and post-workout supplements, what do you think? Do you want to make them part of your routine?
Keep this information in mind as you begin shopping for supplements. Don’t forget to check out the products in our online store, too.
We have lots of options available. It doesn’t matter if you want to feel energized during your workouts or want to speed up the recovery process once your training is complete. We’ve got you covered.
You’re working hard to build the body you want. Don’t undo all your good work with iffy supplements produced in non-certified facilities. Stick with supplements you can trust. Not sure FDA certified facilities matter? Think again. Here’s the rundown.
Quality Counts
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a federal agency charged with protecting consumers and promoting public health. The agency works to improve the safety of many products such as over the counter medicines, vaccines, dietary supplements, cosmetics and medical devices. In answer to that charge, the FDA requires that facilities adhere to a strict set of standards in order to earn and maintain their certification. FDA certified facilities manufacture products that are tested and can be trusted. Crazymass is an FDA certified facility.
Our Products are Made with Your Health and Safety in Mind
Crazymass produces safe and legal anabolic supplements. We use only natural ingredients with no known side effects. Our facility is cGMP certified so you can feel confident in getting products that are made with the highest quality ingredients using strict controls. Current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) are monitored by the FDA. We earned this certification by adhering to guidelines that… assure the identity, strength, quality, and purity of drug products by requiring that manufacturers of medications adequately control manufacturing operations. Our labs are FDA inspected annually so you can buy with confidence.
Products You Can Trust
Products produced in facilities that are not FDA certified may not be all you think they are. Differences in the strength and quality of the product may mean you are getting less of the product than you think. In worst case scenarios, you may be ingesting dangerous ingredients, ingredients that are inconsistent with product labeling or inappropriate amounts for your needs. Don’t gamble with your health or fitness goals. Know what is in the bottle.
Reliable supplements are manufactured under conditions required by cGMP (current Goods Manufacturing Process) standards to assure that quality is built into every step of the manufacturing process. FDA cGMPs provide for systems that assure proper design, monitoring, and control of manufacturing processes and facilities. cGMP requirements assure the safety and efficacy of supplements. You won’t gamble with Crazymass, take a look at our reviews.
We are proud to offer products that are manufactured in an FDA certified facility. Our commitment to quality means you can count on safe, legal alternatives to steroids for sustained growth…
Made with 100% natural ingredients, our products do not pose the risk to your organs that illegal steroids, nor will they interfere with drug tests the way steroids do. You can choose any of our supplements with confidence.
We are a team of bodybuilding experts and fitness coaches who thrive to educate others on the importance of a healthy lifestyle. CrazyMass helps bodybuilders around the world build muscle mass, increase strength, cut fat, and reach their workout goals. Our all-natural supplements are made in the USA in a FDA registered – cGMP facility using only the best high-quality, certified ingredients.
