What forms of pre-workout side effects have you encountered? And do pre workouts have any side effects, really? Read through to find out more about pre workouts. I will start by saying this…
I have been a health and fitness trainer for over a decade now. This means that my eyes are always on the lookout for different ways that people can easily improve their diets and possibly get much more out of their workouts.
I always strive to ensure that anyone who is looking for this type of experience does so while avoiding the consumption of any form of harmful substances.
This is because proper care and dieting, will in many cases, lead to ideal fitness and superior results for any form of workout.
While this is what I strive for, I am not surprised that today, many people have found the market flooded with several ineffective pre workouts and sometimes even very harmful ingredients to go with.
So what can you do to avoid such? Well, in this post, I intend to bring you in on some cool tips about pre workout that you should know.
I’ll start briefly on what a pre work out is and slowly dive into some of the possible side effects that you need to know about pre workout and how to deal with them.
My main goal is to ensure that by the end of this post, you can easily make an informed decision about pre workout and how to make use of them for the benefit of your fitness.
Let’s dive right into it.
What is a Pre Workout Supplement?
A pre-workout supplement contains a set of specific ingredients that include the following options.
- Caffeine
- Citrulline
- Creatine
- Beta-alanine
- BCAA (branched-chain amino acids)
While these ingredients that I have mentioned are some of the primary ingredients, the truth is different brands can often include several variations of the ingredients that are used in their supplement.
What Benefits Does a Pre Workout Have?
As I mentioned, pre workouts will have different variations depending on the company of origin. Even so, they have more or less the same type of benefits to your body. They are tailored to:
- Boost your levels of energy
- Provide you with more strength and stamina
- Give you the endurance for hard workout sessions
The best pre workout is mostly found in the form of powder. You can use this powder to form a solution by mixing with water and shaking. It is this solution that you will consume at least 15 minutes before your workout program begins. Make sure that you keep the measurements as advised by the manufacturer.
How Does Pre Workout Impact Your Body?
The common pre-workout products will help your body to experience a viable increase in its current energy levels. This should help you to train harder and run your reps for longer.
However, you shouldn’t associate these pre workout products with any form of doping since they are not. Even though they may sound like it, the best pre workout is usually produced from natural ingredients, which makes them totally legal.
So does pre workout work?
Yes. Pre workout will work. However, you should control your expectations to fall within the realistic objectives. With proper use, any good pre workout will give you an energy boost of around 10 to 25% on top of your overall performance.
Even so, improper use of a pre workout can lead to some unwanted pre workout side effects. The same applies when you buy poor grade pre workout. That’s our next topic of discussion. Take a look.
What Pre Workout Side Effects Can You Expect?
It is not in anyone’s intentions to expect any form of pre workout side effects. Even so, certain side effects such as these might be experienced after using a pre workout.
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Jitters
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Increased blood pressure
While this is true, I have learnt over time that most people will only experience these side effects if they suffered from certain allergies or possible intolerances to some of the ingredients used in the pre workout product.
That’s why I have lately encouraged most pre workout users to ensure that they read their product labels carefully so that they can be sure that the product they intend to use has nothing that can trigger any side effect.
This doesn’t mean that I have completely written off the possibility of encountering any negative reaction. So take your time to study the pre workout properly before using it.
One thing that you must understand, though, is this. The major ingredient in a pre-workout, which is again charged with energy-boosting, is caffeine.
However, any form of excessive intake of caffeine stimulants will easily lead to several negative side effects, including increased blood pressure, anxiety, and again impaired sleep.
Pre Workout Side Effects
When looking at your pre workout and its possible side effects, there are several specific things that you should look out for. These things include the following, and as I mentioned, are triggered by excessive consumption of caffeine where allergies are not involved.
Nervousness and Headaches: This is triggered by a high concentration of caffeine in your pre workout product. It can also happen to anyone that drinks a lot of tea or even coffee within the day. These two side effects are experienced before you are hit with the jittery feeling.
Insomnia/ Impaired Sleep: The other negative side effect that the consumption of caffeine can trigger is poor sleep of insomnia. That’s why it is advisable that you remain very careful if you are using both coffee and a pre workout product.
This is one of the most common side effects that I have also encountered several along the way while using these products.
Possible Diarrhea: Diarrhea is possible. However, it is not very common. It could cause some form of a laxative effect due to the combination of caffeine, creatine, and even sodium bicarbonate. However, this one depends more on the sensitivity of someone’s digestive system.
Is Pre Workout Bad For You?
With all these side effects that you’ve seen, you’d probably be wondering if the pre workout is bad for you. Well, the answer is no. Like you will find out, many people don’t actually suffer from any side effects, and if you find some, there are cool ways to address them.
How to Address Pre Workout Side Effects
Let’s take a look at how you can address some of the pre workout side effects that you might encounter.
- Insomnia: Regulate the amount of coffee that you take throughout the day.
- Diarrhea: Make sure that you understand your digestive system too.
- Dehydration: Drink a lot of water and fluids too.
- Headaches: Take your doses appropriately and replenish your body fluids
- Hypertension: Avoid taking any stimulants. You can seek the doctor’s advice.
With proper care, and if you stick with your user guide, you can easily limit the effects of any pre workout. You can also get the experiences and have an even better health program for your workout routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
With that said, here are some of the most common questions that new pre workout users often ask.
How long can the pre workout affect you?
If you have a healthy body, you can expect your pre-workout effect to last anywhere between 1 and 3 hours. However, if your body system is extremely sensitive to caffeine, it could be worse. That’s why you should start with very small doses.
What Can You Eat Before a Workout?
To have a great workout, you must watch what you eat before and after the workout. Here are some of the things that you can eat before a workout.
- Whole grain
- Peanut
- Banana
- Almond butter
- Chicken thighs
- Steamed vegetables
- Oatmeal
- Veggies
- Protein smoothie
Can the use of a pre workout cause you to gain weight?
Not exactly the case. However, it may trigger higher water retention. This is usually a problem that’s caused by creatine, which includes mild water retention, weight gain, bloating, and other digestive issues.
What should you do after a workout?
After completing your workout, it is highly advisable that you should get hydrated. This is essential and will help in replenishing your body fluids. You can also eat a healthy snack or take your meal within the first 45 minutes after your workout.
Conclusion
There are several pre workout side effects that you might encounter once you use such a supplement for your training. Even so, whether you experience them or not depends solely on the precautions that you put in place.
Among these precautions are knowing your allergies, sticking to your doses, and limiting the amount of coffee that you can take if you plan on using a pre workout.
More importantly, you should also understand the remedies that you can opt for in case you are faced with any side effects after using a pre workout.