The prescribed ’60 servings’ stated on the side of the container is provided you take an extremely minimal dose of half a scoop to 1 scoop (even though the manufacturer recommends you take 2 scoops for best results).
I realized I was easily blowing $5 each time I wanted to take my pre-workout supplement, that’s hundreds of dollars a month.
Pre workout supplement companies are trying to trick you
If you read the side of just about any pre workout supplement on the market you’ll a fancy name for the products ‘matrix’.
Ingredients can be grouped into a matrix (utilizing a proprietary blend loophole) so they do not need to disclose the compounds and quantities of the ingredients within the pre workout supplement you’re buying.
For example, let’s say you and I decide to team up and create our own supplement.
To lure in newbies and unsuspecting potential customers we could have the ‘Explosive Energy Matrix’ labelled on the side of the container, little do our customers know this fancy ‘proprietary blend’ is comprised of 300mg of caffeine and 1mg of creatine. Both being cheap, common ingredients.
Some gym goers may fall in love with this ‘Explosive Energy Matrix’ because they feel hyped up and ultra-focused, little do they know this is solely due to a big dosage of caffeine, the quantity of creatine in our matrix is so insignificant it would not provide any tangible benefits in terms of strength & endurance.
Pre workout supplements are loaded with filler ingredients
You wouldn’t pay excessive amounts of cash for a tub filled with caffeine and creatine would you? Of course not… and supplement companies know this so they ‘pad’ the ingredients list of the pre workout supplements you’re buying with a plethora of junk ingredients and supplements that have no science to back them up.
These useless supplements often have big, fancy and scientific names in order to seduce you into handing over your hard earned cash.
There is enough information and studies available freely on the internet right now for everyone to know which supplements and ingredients are affective (and the dosages!) for increasing strength, performance, endurance and focus.
Stop supporting the supplement companies that are out to scam us with their proprietary blend bullshit.
Introducing The Solution…
Make your own pre workout supplement at home!
Save money, get better results and increase your knowledge on supplementation by making your own pre workout supplement at home, it’s extremely easy… allow me to share with you how I’ve been making my own pre workout supplements that have assisted me in overcoming strength plateaus.
Simply purchase the essential ingredients listed below, add in the optional ingredients if you wish (like I said, these are nice but not necessary) and mix them together in water. Consume 20 – 30 minutes before your workout.
The Essential Ingredients to Make Your Own Pre Workout Supplement At Home
200 – 350mg
Caffeine is a stimulant that increases muscle endurance & improves mental focus.
5g
Beta Alanine is a naturally occurring amino acid that reduces fatigue and induces a ‘tinging’ feeling.
5g
Creatine Monohydrate is one of the most well researched and documented supplements on the planet, creatine is an amino acid that can assist us in increasing lean muscle mass and gaining strength.
8g
Citrulline is an amino acid used to stimulate the production of Nitric Oxide which increases blood flow to the muscles resulting in that full, pumped feeling when lifting. Citrulline also has been proven to relieve muscular soreness and increase endurance.
The Optional Ingredients To Optimize Your Home Made Pre Workout Supplements
The below additions are not necessary, however may suit you!
BCAAs (Branch Chain Amino Acids)
Brain Chain Amino Acids assist in preventing the breakdown of muscle when training fasted, if you’re performing cardio first thing in the morning (provided you haven’t eaten for 6~ hours prior) you’ll be in an optimal zone to burn fat, however you run the risk of muscle breakdown too.
Supplementing with Brain Chain Amino Acids such as these are the solution for your fasted cardio.
Conclusion
Stop supporting the crooked supplement companies, save yourself some money and have better workouts by making your own pre workout supplements at home.
The more people that get sucked into the marketing ploys and sales gimmicks of supplement companies the more under dosed and overpriced pre workout supplements will continue to enter the market.
Give my pre workout supplement a try and let me know your thoughts!
What ingredients do you use in your own homemade pre workout supplement?
Studies
Caffeine increases muscle endurance:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16937961
Beta Alanine reduces exercise induced fatigue
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17690198
5 grams appears to be the sweet spot for Beta Alanine supplementation
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3257613/
Build muscle & increase strength with creatine
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12945830
Citrulline increasing Nitric Oxide production
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17693747