Pre-Workouts

How do pre-workouts work on the body?

Stimulation of the central nervous system

One ​​of the main effects of pre-workouts is stimulation of the central nervous system. Caffeine, a popular ingredient in many pre-workout preparations, quickly enters the bloodstream and affects adenosine receptors. The effect? ​​Reduction in fatigue, increased alertness and willingness to exert effort. That's why even after a hard day at work, reaching for a pre-workout with caffeine can give you a noticeable boost of energy.

Improved blood flow and performance

Another important area of ​​pre-workout activity is improving blood flow in muscles. Compounds such as arginine, citrulline, and nitrates stimulate the production of nitric oxide (NO) in the body. This in turn leads to vasodilation and increased blood flow in muscle tissue. In practice, this translates into:

• Increased "pump" effect – a feeling of fuller muscles,
• Better oxygenation of muscle tissue, which helps extend intensive series,
• Faster removal of metabolic waste products, which allows for more effective regeneration during exercise.

Increased muscle endurance

A common ingredient in pre-workouts is also beta-alanine. This substance, converted in the body into carnosine, is responsible for buffering lactic acid in the muscles. This can effectively shift your fatigue threshold, allowing you to perform more repetitions in sets or run a longer distance without a sudden drop in strength.

Support for psychological processes and concentration

Many pre-workouts contain ingredients such as tyrosine, theanine, or choline, which support the nervous system and cognitive functions. Thanks to them, the athlete is able to maintain greater concentration throughout the training, not allowing for moments of deconcentration or deconcentration of the technique of the exercises performed.

Stimulating pre-workouts

Stimulating pre-workouts are the most popular group of products in this category, dedicated to people looking for an immediate energy and mental "kick". Their formulas are based on a synergistic combination of ingredients stimulating the central nervous system (CNS) with substances supporting performance and muscle pump. Many modern, strong pre-workouts also contain other, legal compounds with stimulating effects, which work synergistically with caffeine or offer a slightly different stimulation profile. Examples of such substances are DMAA, DMHA, Eria Jarensis extract, Methylliberine. They often also offer nootropic additives such as noopept, GLPC, huperzine, alpha GPC.

Stim-Free pre-workouts

For people who are sensitive to stimulants, train in the evenings or simply want to avoid the effect of stimulation, an excellent alternative are stim-free pre-workoutsants (stim-free). They focus on maximizing muscle pump, endurance and focus through mechanisms other than CNS stimulation. In no-boosters you will usually find citrulline, agmatine, beta-alanine, glycerol, but sometimes also adaptogens such as Rhodiola rosea and lion's mane. Sometimes no-boosters without stimulants also have added nootropic substances that do not have a typical stimulating effect, such as CDP-choline, choline, huperzine.

How to choose the right pre-workout?

Determining Training Goals

The first step in choosing a pre-workout supplement is to precisely define your goals. Do you mainly care about increasing energy and concentration, or maybe intensifying the "muscle pump" and faster regeneration? Knowing your needs will allow you to choose the product that best meets your requirements.

Taking into account Individual Sensitivity

Not every body reacts the same to stimulants. If you are sensitive to caffeine or avoid stimulation before bed, stimulant-free supplements will be a better choice. On the other hand, people looking for a quick energy boost and an intense stimulating effect should pay attention to preparations containing the right dose of caffeine and synergistic additives. If you don't like stimulants, feel irritable, have trouble sleeping, then aim for no-boosters without stimulants.

Monitoring your body's response

During your first uses, it's worth observing how your body reacts to the pre-workout supplement. If you experience any undesirable effects, such as excessive stimulation or stomach problems, it's worth modifying the dose so that it doesn't cause any undesirable effects.