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<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve been anywhere near a gym lately or searched fitness topics on instagram, you have likely heard of or seen promotions for pre or post workout supplements to boost your workout and weight loss results. Many of these supplements claim to help you lose more weight, burn more fat or grow more muscle as a result of taking them. You can pretty much find a different type of supplement for any goal you may have-\u201dslim down\u201d, \u201cbulk up\u201d, \u201crun faster\u201d, \u201close weight\u201d, \u201cburn fat\u201d and others are claims on supplement labels. Personal trainers and health coaches are often asked by their clients, \u201care supplements necessary?\u201d or \u201cWill they help?\u201d We are going to dive into some basic information about supplements to help you break down whether they are a good option or could even help you with your workout and weight loss performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n In general, pre-workout (or any workout type) supplements can be defined as any supplement that boosts workout performance. They can be taken in the form of a powder, pill or liquid form and most companies claim that they will help enhance your workout performance in the gym. There is a huge variance in ingredients based on company and from supplement to supplement, making it confusing for consumers who are trying to find a supplement to fit their personal workout or weight loss goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n While the list of ingredients is too exhaustive to cover here, we can give you some of the main pre-workout ingredients used in common pre-workout supplements. The goal is generally to boost energy, focus, muscle gain, or even burn more calories to help you reach a weight loss goal sooner. Here are some of the main ingredients you might find in a pre-workout supplement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Caffeine is a stimulant and often included in that morning cup of coffee. But some studies have shown that caffeine use can boost performance in the gym as well. In a 2012 study done by the Journal of Strength Conditioning and Resistance,<\/a> men who took a caffeine drink containing 179 mg of caffeine as a pre-workout supplement 60 minutes before exercise could lift more weights at a higher resistance than those who took a placebo. However, according to Live Science<\/a>, \u201ctoo much caffeine can pose a health risk, and supplements can contain much more than is found in food or drinks. A person could guzzle gallons of coffee and not suffer from a true caffeine overdose. But even at much lower levels, caffeine can worsen underlying conditions such as a heart arrhythmia, leading to cardiac arrest\u201d. In fact, some studies have shown that supplements containing caffeine sometimes contained more than 4 times the amount of caffeine contained in a normal cup of coffee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Creatine Monohydrate (also known as just creatine) is a common pre-workout supplement used to increase muscle performance and energy production. It has been a supplement that shows some positive reviews based on limited studies. According to Live Science<\/a>, some studies have shown that college football players taking creatine had fewer injuries and reported less cramping, achieved peak power performance and even increased some of their body mass. But they also report that creatine needs to be taken regularly to build up in a person’s system and actually be effective. It also only works well when someone REALLY pushes themselves in the gym and many people generally don\u2019t push themselves to the peak level of performance for the creatine benefits to truly be seen. And since some side effects of creatine involve the \u201cbulking up\u201d, most people who are trying to accomplish weight loss and slimming their bodies down will not want the building or bulking effects of the creatine supplement. Healthline<\/a> reports that weight gain, bloating, water retention and digestive issues can all be side effects of creatine supplementation, which definitely poses a challenge to those who have weight loss as their primary goal in working out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Guarana is a plant from the Amazon that has been harvested by Brazilians for decades, but has also entered the American market and is generally used as an energy booster. According to Very Well Health<\/a>, guarana is used to \u201cfight fatigue, boost mental alertness, and promote weight loss. The fruit contains caffeine-rich seeds that have up to three times the amount of caffeine as coffee beans. The seeds are also rich in tannins and the stimulants theophylline and theobromine\u201d. Since guarana contains caffeine, it is important to check any pre-workout supplement labels for the amounts of each ingredient included to make sure that the overall amount of caffeine you consume is not over the recommended usage. Some side effects noted from guarana usage can be agitation, stomach upset, headaches and other miscellaneous effects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) consist of three different molecules-leucine, isoleucine and valine. These amino acids are also contained in many foods, mostly protein rich animal products. BCAAs are known for their aid in the muscle building process and many bodybuilding supplement programs include them as a component. However, they are more well absorbed when eaten in their whole food form. According to Healthline<\/a>, use of BCAAs is generally safe, especially considering they are naturally occurring in many foods we already eat. But the benefit of supplementing them is currently mixed, it may be better to eat them in their natural form than buy an additional supplement to add to your weight loss routine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Pre-Workout Supplementation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are Pre-Workout Supplements?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Common Ingredients in Pre-Workout Supplements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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