Pre-Workout

What are pre-workout supplements?

Pre-workouts or pre-workout supplements are high quality multi-ingredient dietary formulas that are especially designed to boost your energy and athletic performance. Most pre-workout supplements come in powder form that you can easily mix with water and have before your workout session. The main ingredients of most pre-workout supplements are –

1. Caffeine
2. Betaine
3. Creatine
4. B-alanine

All these help increase your athletic performance and improve your endurance for training yourself harder. Whether you’re an athlete, bodybuilder, weightlifter, or are just starting your fitness journey, including pre-workout supplements in your routine will be greatly helpful. Make sure to stick to the mentioned dosage.

Also it is recommended that you consult your doctor before taking any kind of supplements. It is best to talk to your trainer and dietician to know which pre-workout supplement will work best as per your fitness needs and goals.

Benefits of pre-workout supplements

Pre-workout supplements have various benefits for the body. The most common ones are –

• Improve athletic performance and efficiency
  One of the biggest benefits of consuming pre-workout drinks is that they improve your ability to train harder and in a more efficient manner. They enhance energy, stamina, and performance and whether your aim is to build muscles or lose weight, pre-workout supplements will be helpful.
• Get more energy to workout
  Having more energy for workouts is indeed a benefit that all fitness enthusiasts, bodybuilders, and athletes look for. Pre-workout supplements contain caffeine which acts as a stimulant helping you feel energized and you get more energy to workout.
• Helps with weight loss and metabolism
  Most ingredients of pre-workout supplements improve your metabolism which ultimately helps in weight loss. Caffeine which is one of the major ingredients increases body thermogenesis and fat oxidation, boosts metabolism, and delays the onset of hunger. But, one should not consume pre-workout supplements without proper amount of exercise.
• Helps with faster recovery
  One of the major concerns for athletes is quick recovery. Pre-workout supplements have powerful ingredients like caffeine and creatine monohydrate that reduce muscle soreness and increase glucose and insulin levels after you workout and that’s how it helps with quicker recovery.
• Improves concentration and focus
  Pre-workout supplements help in preventing you becoming mentally strained after a strenuous workout and that’s because it is loaded with caffeine.

When and how to consume pre-workout supplements?

An important question is when to take pre-workouts. As its name suggests, ideally these supplements should be taken before working out. But then what time before workout and in how much quantity? For best results you can take your pre-workout supplement 20 – 30 minutes before the workout session. Make sure to read the label for specific instructions and the right dosage.

If you’re taking pre-workout supplements in powder form, then mix the powder with water, milk, or any other beverage of your choice and have it before workout. Some people prefer taking pre-workout supplements in capsule form. GNC supplements are available in powder and tablet form.

Pre-Workout Supplements in powder form

• GNC Pro Performance Amp Gold Series Ultra Rush
  GNC Pro Performance Amp Gold Series Ultra Rush is one of the bestselling pre-workout supplements by GNC available in powdered form. It is a great pre-workout drink for better energy and performance and helps achieving your goals by supporting blood flow and pump. It is available in three delicious flavors – fruit punch, watermelon, and raspberry. The highly advanced Power and Performance Matrix to promote muscle strength and endurance during high intensity exercise
• GNC Amp Gold Series Intensity N.O
  GNC Amp Gold Series Intensity N.O is an advanced Next Generation Pre-Training formula that delivers excellent strength, stamina, and performance. The combination of ultra performance matrix, energy and intensity blend, and pump and blood flow blend makes it one of the top GNC pre-workout supplements in India.
  It is available in 2 flavors – tropical fruit punch and juicy watermelon. It improves endurance and strength, reduces fatigue, enhances focus and boosts energy for high intensity workouts.

Pre-Workout Supplements in capsule form

• GNC Amp Creatine HCL
  GNC Amp Creatine is one of the top 5 pre-workout supplements in tablet form. Made with advanced technology it is proven to get into your muscles and improve your strength in a more effective manner. The main benefits of this supplement are – you get the power of 5 grams of creatine in only two easy-to-swallow tablets, improves muscle strength and performance more efficiently than creatine monohydrate, and increases strength and performance with ¼ the dose of creatine monohydrate. As a dietary supplement you should take two capsules every day or as recommended by your doctor and dietician.
• GNC L- Arginine and L-Citrulline
  GNC L- Arginine and L-Citrulline is one of the bestselling GNC pre-workout supplements in tablet form. It increases nitric oxide production and helps maintain blood vessel tone. Each serving provides 500 mg of L-Arginine and L-Citrulline each. Arginine is an essential precursor of nitric oxide and L-Citrulline can be recycled in the Citulline - NO cycle. Arginine and Citrulline both lead to production of nitric oxide and nitric oxide help maintain blood vessel tone and thus plays a role in protein synthesis. Take one to three capsules daily or as suggested by your doctor.

Where to buy the best pre-workout supplements online in India?

If you’re looking for the best range of pre-workout supplements online in India, then www.guardian.in is the official Indian website of GNC where you’ll get complete range of supplements. Order pre-workout supplements from the safety and comfort of your home and get them delivered right at your doorstep. Guardian.in is an authentic and genuine website, which only sells 100% original products so you can be rest assured that you’ll get the best quality pre- workout supplements online in India at best prices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Should I take pre-workout supplements?

To get optimum energy level, one needs to have a proper balance between adequate hydration, good diet, and sound sleep. A combination of these three will not just improve your muscle mass but will also be helpful in muscle recovery. But if you face the problem of lack of energy even after taking care of the three factors mentioned above, then you should consider including a pre- workout supplement in your routine.

Make sure to consult your dietician and doctor before consuming any pre-workout supplement. Also check the ingredient list and nutritional information given on the pack carefully to avoid any allergic reactions and to know the right dosage for best results.
 

Q. What are the advantages of taking pre-workout supplements?

Some of the main benefits and advantages of taking pre-workout supplements include –

• Caffeine is known to block pain in muscles during intense workouts
• Pre-workout supplements improve concentration and focus
• They improve stamina, energy, and motivation
• It improves endurance and reduces fatigue
• Stimulates the central nervous system
• Increases body strength for improved endurance during strenuous training
• Helps to process fats in the body and therefore maintains normal body functioning
   

Q. What are some side effects of pre-workout supplements?

Most of the pre-workout supplements are safe to consume as long as you stick to the mentioned dosage. Don’t exceed the dosage or else there can be certain side effects. The most common ones are –

• They make you feel jittery
• May increase water retention
• May trigger mild reactions
• Can cause indigestion
• May cause headaches
   

Q. What ingredients should I look for in a pre-workout supplement?

Apart from caffeine, these are some of the ingredients that your pre-workout supplement should have.

• Creatine Monohydrate – It increases muscle power and performance during training.
• BCAAs – Branched chain amino acids are necessary for the body to perform various functions. They are also known to improve endurance during exercising and increase the strength by maintaining cellular energy and supporting protein synthesis.
• Nitric Oxide – Nitric oxide is a compound that’s naturally produced in our body. It helps to relax blood vessels and improves blood flow. It can also stimulate the release of hormones like insulin and growth hormones.
• B Vitamins - Vitamins B1, B2 B5, and B6 all play important roles in energy production and efficiency, while Vitamin B12 supports blood production and Vitamin B3 boosts DNA repair and promotes healthy skin.
   

Q. Is taking pre-workout supplements worth it?

Pre-workout supplements enhance and heighten your exercise performance by providing high levels of caffeine. If your energy goes down throughout the day or you want to give a boost during workout, then taking pre-workout supplements will be beneficial for you. The effects last 1 – 3 hours. If you’re sensitive to caffeine or other stimulants, it is best to check the composition and read the nutritional value before choosing the best pre-workout supplement.

Pre-workout supplements aren’t for everyone. If you feel lack of energy or cannot complete your workout successfully, the first step shouldn’t be turning to supplements. There are other factors that need to be considered are – good diet, hydration, and getting enough sleep. Also, make sure to avoid taking any form of pre-workout after 5 pm, as it may cause trouble in getting proper sleep.