pre workout energy drinks

[theatrain]

Hey guys,

I often find myself tired before a workout so once in a great while I stop and grab an energy drink such as red bull to get me up and running at 100% for the gym...

Do any of you guys do this?

How can I do this in a healthier way? Some people tell me its very bad to do.. others say its not, what's the healthiest way to make sure I'm running at 100% in the gym..

I perform soo much better when I drink an energy drink before I workout. I can bench 225 maybe 3 reps, needing help on the 3rd rep.

Yesterday I did 6 reps no help, but I was on redbull...

I'm working on getting more sleep, but for the most part I get a good amount of sleep.. usually 6-8hrs on the weekdays and nearly 9 or 10hours on the weekend but I'm drained by 6o'clock when its time to workout.. I'm 20 years old I sholdnt NEED energy supplements..

[pliny_2001]

I hate to say it, but no energy supplement is going to double your reps on a bench. Maybe you just got in a good groove, maybe there was a cute girl nearby, but definitely you can do more than 3 reps --- so get on it!!

I'll drink redbull sometimes; it's sugar and not HFCS, so I'm generally fine with it. A lot cheaper to just get some caffeine pills, though (I've been doing research, and gatorade/soda/etc isn't going to help you at all - that part's all in your mind and in marketing).

Some people get bent out of shape about taurine, but I'm not aware of any negative effects. And it's only about a cup of coffee's worth of caffeine, so no probs that I'm aware of on that angle.

Good lifting!

[joker13]

N.O. Shotgun is supposed to make you go nuts. I jsut ordered some on amazon.com for 38 bucks no shipping. I will report on how well it works.

[theatrain]

I've witnessed it several times pliny.. I really don't believe its the redbull that's making me double my reps, but rather giving me a fresh start... I wakeup at 7am and work all day.. by the time I get to the gym I am in need of. Some rest.. so I think maybe the redbull puts me back at how I was in the morning..

Maybe if I was to workout first thing in the morning id have more energy for my workouts.

Other supplements that have done the same thing for me include no xplode.. but I felt like I was making "false gains" if that makes sense.. when I was taking no xplode I had this huge source of energy, when I missed a day I felt like shit....

So I didn't want to continue taking no xplode because I felt like I was relying on it to have a decent workout

[DEALER]

I was on redbull...

LOL... That shit is serious, LOL... like liquid cocaine or something.

I don't drink red bull before I hit the gym, but I have been known to have a cup of coffee a little while before I work out. I am more concerned with just pure H2O, I find that proper hydration makes the biggest impact on my workout performance.

I do like to take an N.O. booster pre workout. The best one I have taken is Super Pump 250. I don't consider any strength gains "false" while using the preworkout supps. It's more of a mental boost, which translates into better workouts. The increased blood flow does wonders for the mind, but also will have your biceps feeling like they are going to pop out of your skin, and your forearms, LOL... they get so pumped that I can't hold anything without straps, LOL.

[RunningMan27]

Has anyone tried Redline before?

I am not a fan of that energy supplement. I tried it once before I went swimming and it screwed me up...I did swim well and for a fairly long duration, but the side effects got to me. I was up all night and had the shakes for nearly the entire night. The warning label states to be 18 years of age, not to be pregnant, and not to have any heart condition problems.

Since that experience, I stay to vitamins and water intake only with cups of coffee or orange juice from time to time to get my energy level up as needed.

I don't think Red Bull or other energy drinks are bad, but I probably won't try them.

Is 5 Hour Energy the real deal? I like the fact that it is natural energy and contains much less sugar.

[IMFREAKZILLA]

The real test of what constitutes the "best" energy drink is whether the drink delivers the energy boost it promises with few side effects. Taste also matters. If the drink is considered a good value and it's healthy, that makes it an even better pick.
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Red Bull (*Est. $2.20 for 8.3 ounces) introduced the energy drink craze to the U.S.; it's still the best-selling energy drink in America, and the energy drink by which all others are measured. Interestingly enough, Red Bull is made in Austria and then shipped around the world. Red Bull contains sugars, 80 mg of caffeine (for the 8.3-ounce size), taurine and B vitamins, but no added herbal stimulants. It receives middle-range to high reviews from the websites that specialize in energy-drink reviews, with some reviewers expressing hesitancy to criticize the energy drink that created a whole category of drinks. Red Bull also makes Red Bull Sugar Freeinfo (*Est. $2.20 for 8.3 ounces). Taste test results are also lackluster. William Grimes, in his review for The New York Times, writes: "The drink looks like weak beer and has a lemony flavor, pleasant enough but not very distinctive."

Monster Energy (*Est. $2 for 16 oz.) is one of the best-selling energy drinks in the U.S. Several reviewers mention it as the energy drink to try after Red Bull because the taste and energy boost are similar to Red Bull, yet it comes in a can that is twice the size for about the same price. Monster Energy has 54 grams of sugars, 160 mg of caffeine and 2,000 mg of taurine. The Energy Drink Ratings blog says that this sweet-tasting citrus drink has a good kick and gives you good taste for the money. Monster also makes a variety of other flavors, including Monster Energy Lo-Carb (*Est. $2 for 16 ounces) which reviews say provides a decent energy kick -- it just may take a little longer for you to feel it.

No Fear is a brand of clothing that partnered with Pepsi to create an energy drink originally known as SoBe No Fear. In 2008, the SoBe name was dropped. No Fear Regular (*est. $2.30 for 16 ounces), gets mixed reviews for taste and energy. Jason Hargett at ScreamingEnergy.com feels the taste is too fruit flavored, while the Energy Drink Ratings blog thinks it tastes very good and has a nice kick with no jitter effects. No Fear contains 66 grams of sugars, 174 mg of caffeine and 2,000 mg of taurine per 16-ounce can. According to BevReview.com, now that Pepsi is distributing its own brand of energy drinks (Amp Energy) and has just taken over the Rockstar brand from Coca-Cola, No Fear seems to be a little hard to find.

5-Hour Energyinfo (*Est. $2.50 for 2 ounces) scores well with reviewers for energy kick. The Energy Drink Ratings blog and RateItAll.com rank 5-Hour Energy highly, and it has more than 400 user ratings at Screaming Energy. 5-Hour Energy is packaged in 2-ounce shots, packing in an estimated 100 mg of caffeine per shot, or the equivalent of a cup of coffee, plus 2,000 percent of the daily value for vitamin B6 and 8,333 percent of the daily value of vitamin B12. 5-Hour Energy is sweetened with sucralose and contains zero net carbohydrates. 5-Hour Energy is not made with additional herbal stimulants, but it does contain amino acids and includes taurine. One reviewer calls 5-Hour Energy "little more than a shot of vitamins B6 and B12, amino acids, with a caffeine chaser." But unlike most energy drinks, 5-Hour Energy is a low-calorie drink (four calories). It comes in three flavors: berry, lemon-lime and orange. The company now produces 5-Hour Energy Decafinfo (*Est. $2.50 per 2-ounce container), which contains a gentler blend of B vitamins and only 6 mg of caffeine -- about as much as half a cup of decaffeinated coffee. The company makes much of the fact that 5-Hour Energy doesn't need to be refrigerated in order to taste good, unlike most conventional brands of energy drinks.

Among the top-selling brands, Rockstar (*est. $2.20 for 16 ounces) performs best on the blogs, slightly outperforming best-selling Red Bull (*Est. $2.20 for 8.3 ounces) and No Fear (*est. $2.30 for 16 ounces). One 16-ounce can contains 160 mg of caffeine and 1,000 mg of taurine, as well as 62 grams of sugars, with guarana, ginseng and other herbal extracts as stimulants. William Grimes at The New York Times samples the original Rockstar flavor. He writes, "It's a middling sort of drink, with a bubble gum aroma and a pleasant enough, bland citrus flavor." The company has expanded from the original formula to offer other energy drinks including Rockstar Sugar Freeinfo (*Est. $2.30 for 16 ounces), Rockstar Zero Carbinfo (*Est. $2 for 16 ounces), three coffee flavors called Rockstar Roastedinfo (*Est. $2.40 for 15 ounces), several flavors of Rockstar Juiced (*Est. $2 for 16 ounces), and Rockstar Punchedinfo (*Est. $2 for 16 ounces). Rockstar Punched is particularly well regarded by reviewers. DrinkAddict.com rates it in its top five, and the "Energy Drink Guru" says "this stuff rocks." Rockstar Punched contains 240 mg of caffeine and 2,000 mg of taurine, along with 62 grams of sugars and herbal extracts. Many of the different flavors of Rockstar are also available in 8-ounce and 24-ounce cans.

Reviewers are impressed with the smooth, fruity taste, as well as the low price, of Rip It A'tomic Pom Energy Fuel (*est. $1 for 16 ounces). Chan of Canned Reviews says the taste is amazing, "almost too good for me." Both he and the EnergyGuru at Taurine Rules blog mention the pleasing grenadine aftertaste and carbonation that isn't too heavy, although the Taurine Rules blogger adds that he doubts there's any pomegranate in this drink. Nolan at Energy Heaven blog calls A'tomic Pom the best of the Rip It flavors. On his energy drink blog, Dan Mayer admits that his low rating for Rip It A'tomic Pom is unfair since he never likes any drink made with pomegranate. Putting taste aside, he does like the boost Rip It A'tomic Pom provides. At 260 calories per 16-ounce can, it contains 66 grams of sugar, approximately 204 mg of caffeine, and 2,000 mg of taurine.

[ImageDynamix]

I went through a couple of containers of Super Pump 250 and each time I would take it, I'd end up with stomach problems and having to spend a lot of time after the workout crapping my guts out.

I think I started taking White Flood after that... Definitely worth the switch The focus is insane and the energy is awesome, as well. Every once in a while I'd get really jittery, but I figured I just needed to lift stuff.

I recently ran out of White Flood and figured I'd try something else, so I bought USPLabs Jack3d. I used it today... I half expected this HUGE rush of energy, but that didn't really happen. I did, however, have a nice, sustained energy level through and after my workout.

I now take Jack3d about 30 minutes before my workout, Controlled Labs Green MAGnitude and Purple Wraath during, and Body Tech Whey Tech Pro 24/Muscle Milk afterward.

[Insex]

theatrain,

If you're sticking to a healthy diet that is plentiful in all the macro and micronutrients you need, and you're getting enough hours of good quality sleep, then you should be energized enough for your workouts without having to consume energy drinks.

Perhaps change your daily schedule. Arise at 5:00 in the morning and get your workout done at the beginning of your day while you're fresh--this also means that you'll have to go to bed earlier than you're used to. If you cannot make this change every morning, then try to do it once or twice a week.

[ckn]

Originally Posted by Insex

theatrain,

If you're sticking to a healthy diet that is plentiful in all the macro and micronutrients you need, and you're getting enough hours of good quality sleep, then you should be energized enough for your workouts without having to consume energy drinks.

Perhaps change your daily schedule. Arise at 5:00 in the morning and get your workout done at the beginning of your day while you're fresh--this also means that you'll have to go to bed earlier than you're used to. If you cannot make this change every morning, then try to do it once or twice a week.

I agree. A tailored exercise and diet will give you all the energy you need for general weight bearing workouts.

I tend to only have energy drinks when I'm doing a heavy cardio workout and then it's carefully timed. For example, if I go play/referee rugby, I have a sugary drink & a banana 45 minutes to one hour before kick off, another drink before kick-off and another at half-time. When doing non-contact stuff, I carefully monitor my body stats using my overly-expensive heart rate monitoring kit and have been known to burn >1500 calories in under two hours.

If you still find yourself needing energy during weight and aerobic workouts, you'd be much better considering slow release foods, such as bananas, and plain water.

It may be just me but I can't use caffeinated drinks when doing any workout or sport. It seems to screw with my reactions and general co-ordination. I tried to play a game of badminton once after a VERY strong large coffee and I found myself trying to hit the thing far too early; I gave up quite quickly that day!

[tidalwave]

Overall, I think Insex is correct that, like your physique, your workouts are largely a reflection of your lifestyle. A lot of people need some mega caffeine drink before going to the gym because they work long hours and/or stay out at the club half of the night. Adequate rest and a diet that provides sustained energy for your activity level is probably the best choice, but can take some experimentation to dial-in.

That said, I have tried, and still periodically use, a few pre-workout supplements.
- Labrada Super Charge was good, didn't make me too jittery and seemed to wake me up at 4:15am for my workouts.
- Gaspari SuperPump250 is also solid.
- N.O. Shotgun was ok, although I didn't feel as much.
- N.O. XPlode provides a large burst of energy, probably the most dramatic of the group.

I did not feel the 'skin-tearing pumps' that these products advertise. If anything, the caffeine got me so hyped, that I just lifted with greater intensity, creating a better pump. Your mileage may vary.

BTW, the benefit of N.O. supplements is highly suspect. IMO, without caffeine and some BCAAs, they lose most of their value. Also, I have found that it is very unwise to use these supplements if you workout in the evening. I won't drink one if after 2pm, but I think my body metabolizes caffeine slowly.

[IMFREAKZILLA]

on the part of working out in the morning vs working out in the evening .
There is a huge advantage for the most part working out in the morning
most gyms are fuller in the evening thus more people and more oxygen
being taken in and muscles need oxygen to work properly thus the fewer
the people the more the oxygen to your muscle.the stronger you will be
and thats a fact,I am not trying to hi jack this thread it was bought up
about working out in the evening which if you can get by without doing
so I would def go for it.

[lizzyb]

Yep.....diet/nutrition is a key element to energy levels in the gym.
I suspect if you ate a balanced meal that included some good carbs an hour or so b4 you train you'd notice a difference as well....go with whole foods whenever possible.