I have an uncle. He’s 58 years old. He went pretty much his entire life without taking any interest in working out or bodybuilding only to decide at age 53 that he wanted to get in the best shape of his life. He started weight training 5 days a week, hitting cardio regularly and fixed his diet. Granted, I could tell you all the little things he could do better or where he could improve but the reality is, the dude looks incredible and he’s doing it without living like a pre-contest bodybuilder. He does his best, but he also lives his life; I’d say he has struck a damn good balance.
From time to time, he asks my opinion on things; could be a diet he heard about, a gym supplement, a training technique etc. The other day, he asked me my opinion of pre-workout supplements and if I thought he should be using one. I was half amused and the other half surprised but I suppose that if I stop to think about it, I really have no reason to be.
The reality is, in the supplement hierarchy, pre-workout supplements are not something I view as foundational.
Products like ANIMAL Pak, ANIMAL Omega, ANIMAL Flex, ANIMAL Meal and ANIMAL Whey are products that form a solid foundation. They supply the body with nutrients that help it to function optimally.
They’re more like HEALTH supplements than they are SPORTS supplements and since the body functioning correctly at a fundamental level will always supersede functioning BEYOND that level, those foundational products I just mentioned will always come first in my regimen. That being said, pre-workout supplements have been around for a long time. What started off as an incredibly niche workout supplement category is now arguably as, or possibly even more mainstream, than multivitamins and EFAs! Case and point - my uncle asking me about them!
The pre-workout powder category has come a long way
There are a lot of great products out there, but a lot of crappy ones too. The thing that has become something of an annoyance for me is the fact that so many people using pre-workouts do so SIMPLY BECAUSE they assume it’s what they’re “supposed to do”.
And when I asked my uncle what he hoped to accomplish by using a pre-workout, he gave me the response that annoys me the most; “Oh I don’t know. Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do? Take a pre-workout?”
When you use a product, ANY product, it’s vital to know what it is you’re attempting to solve for
Not only does this help you to determine if you need the product in the first place, but it also serves to guide you towards the product that’s most suitable for you.
- If you train first thing in the morning or after a long shift at work and your workouts tend to suffer from your lack of focus or intensity, a stim based product is going to be what’s most relevant.
- f you train at night, you’re someone who doesn’t do well with stimulants, or you don’t NEED an energy boost (but would still love a product that helps drive volumization and pump), that’s going to require something totally different.
If you feel the need to use a stim based pre-workout EVERY SINGLE DAY and have been doing so for months on end, you need to take a break
If you feel the need for stims and can’t function without them, you’re likely dependent and the product is serving more as a crutch than a springboard at this point. Take some time off and address whatever deficiencies have been causing you to require daily stimulant use. Get some sleep, fix your diet and let your nervous system recover.
Guess what? Overtraining is a central nervous system thing, not a muscle thing. When you ABUSE stim products, you tax the very system that is already struggling to keep up! Stop doing that!
My suggestion: Use the pre-workouts without caffeine anytime, and save the stims for when you need them
Get yourself a solid, stim-free pre-workout that you can use daily, that helps drive blood flow and stamina without placing a strain on your nervous system. For me, ANIMAL Pump Non-Stim is the best non stim pre workout on the market:
- 6g of L-Citrulline
- 1.5g of Nitrosigine
- Over 3g of Beta Alanine
- 2.5g of Betaine
- An electrolyte complex
You won’t find a more jam-packed formulation. And with ANIMAL, if it’s on the label, it’s in the bottle so you know the potency is there. Also, if you feel that you benefit from a stim based product that also enhances focus and intensity, keep that on hand for the hard days; the leg sessions, the back training, the occasional day that you need a boost and add it in accordingly.
Primal is the most effective stim based pre-workout I’ve ever used
ANIMAL Primal, the stim component is extremely powerful, but when combined with Theacrine, Huperzine and Tyrosine, laser-like focus is the result. And when you abstain from daily use, the effects stay razor sharp and don’t dull when your body has adapted to it or needs it.
Bottom line
If you feel that you need a stim every day, something is broken that needs fixing. That’s me being honest. When it comes to your supplementation, it’s no different than your diet or your training. You’ve gotta be smart about it. Positioning the right products, at the right time, are what’s going to yield better results both today and in the long run.
About The Author
Evan Centopani has been part of the ANIMAL team since 2006. Earning his IFBB professional status in 2007 at 25 years old, Evan is a 3x IFBB champion who has competed several times in the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia, generously sharing his extensive knowledge of fitness and nutrition with the Animal community.
