Pre-workout supplements are the new cool thing in the fitness industry. Every time you go to the gym you will hear trainers and exercisers discussing why they were never able to figure out how to build muscle until they discovered the latest, greatest product they are currently using. Today, however, we are going to delve into this topic and ask if you actually 'need' one of these to build a bigger, better body.
If muscle building magazines are to be believed, then it's hard to get any results in the gym unless you are packing the latest in pre-workout stimulants. Of course, this is more marketing hype than actual fact.
While the last three decades has seen countless improvements in our knowledge of fitness and nutrition, the basic rules of building a leaner, more powerful physique have remained largely untouched.
There is a big risk of getting lost when it comes to supplements. Every product claims to yield life changing results, or to be the best in it's class. This often leads most people down a path of trying every product and hoping for the best.
The first step to understanding a particular supplement is to look at the main job it has.
When it comes to pre-workout supplements you have one very simple task at hand. They are created to increase your energy before a gym session, that's it.
With every product claiming to be the best, what do you need to look for to find out the truth?
In order to stop yourself getting sucked in by the hype of every 'next big thing' to hit the supplement market you simply need to learn the basic ingredients and you'll know what to look for the next time you see a product making bold statements about it's capabilities.
Pre-workout supplements usually contain a big serving of N.O. boosters or caffeine, designed to ramp up your energy levels immediately before you hit the gym. The products often claim that they will increase your ability to experience muscular hypertrophy but in reality they do this indirectly. By increasing your energy, they are hoping you will be able to lift heavier weights or train with more intensity than usual, therefore increasing hypertrophy as a result. You're still doing the work, it is not a miracle pill.
One reason there is so much hype surrounding this type of supplement is that the market can become a little bit 'hit and miss' for most gym users. What works for one individual won't necessarily work for another, because you probably have your own tolerance level to most of the ingredients in them, like caffeine, through your daily diet. This is often why people switch between different products every month in a bid to find one which continuously works for them.
While it is nice to boost your energy before any strenuous physical activity, there is a massive over-importance placed on the shoulders of pre-workout stimulants in today's society. If you desire to learn how to build muscle you can definitely succeed without spending your hard earned cash on a caffeine supplement, despite the big claims it might make to you.
If muscle building magazines are to be believed, then it's hard to get any results in the gym unless you are packing the latest in pre-workout stimulants. Of course, this is more marketing hype than actual fact.
While the last three decades has seen countless improvements in our knowledge of fitness and nutrition, the basic rules of building a leaner, more powerful physique have remained largely untouched.
The importance of diet is just one of the five rules touched upon in the video guide on how to build muscle accompanying today's article.
There is a big risk of getting lost when it comes to supplements. Every product claims to yield life changing results, or to be the best in it's class. This often leads most people down a path of trying every product and hoping for the best.
The first step to understanding a particular supplement is to look at the main job it has.
When it comes to pre-workout supplements you have one very simple task at hand. They are created to increase your energy before a gym session, that's it.
With every product claiming to be the best, what do you need to look for to find out the truth?
In order to stop yourself getting sucked in by the hype of every 'next big thing' to hit the supplement market you simply need to learn the basic ingredients and you'll know what to look for the next time you see a product making bold statements about it's capabilities.
Pre-workout supplements usually contain a big serving of N.O. boosters or caffeine, designed to ramp up your energy levels immediately before you hit the gym. The products often claim that they will increase your ability to experience muscular hypertrophy but in reality they do this indirectly. By increasing your energy, they are hoping you will be able to lift heavier weights or train with more intensity than usual, therefore increasing hypertrophy as a result. You're still doing the work, it is not a miracle pill.
One reason there is so much hype surrounding this type of supplement is that the market can become a little bit 'hit and miss' for most gym users. What works for one individual won't necessarily work for another, because you probably have your own tolerance level to most of the ingredients in them, like caffeine, through your daily diet. This is often why people switch between different products every month in a bid to find one which continuously works for them.
While it is nice to boost your energy before any strenuous physical activity, there is a massive over-importance placed on the shoulders of pre-workout stimulants in today's society. If you desire to learn how to build muscle you can definitely succeed without spending your hard earned cash on a caffeine supplement, despite the big claims it might make to you.
About the Author:
About the Writer: Russ Howe PTI is a trusted personal trainer. Learn how to build muscle with our free video guide giving the 5 steps to a more muscular body and creatine.
