Something that everyone should know about when using some form of pre-workout supplement is how to take time off. Your reading this right now tells me that you're no stranger to pre-wo's, and you can probably still recall your first time using one. You felt like you had unlimited energy, drive, and focus which produced some of the most productive workouts you'd ever had up to that point. But what happened then? A couple weeks later, you take the one scoop you took before, but feel nothing. Then two or three scoops, and you feel something but not more energy. You actually start feeling more tired than before the supplement.
An ever increasing number of people find themselves in this position, and it can be nothing short of confusing. How is this making me feel more tired than I would without taking it? My point with this article isn't to tell you to stop using pre-workout supplements; I personally love them! What I am here to do is help you understand why you're getting burnt out, and how to get past it by making a few smart decisions. This will help you to keep your pace at the gym, and be able to benefit from pre-workouts for years to come.
So Why Are You Crashing?
Nearly all pre-workout supplements contain a pretty big dose of caffeine along with some other stimulants like Yohimbe extract and others. The recently removed 1 3 dimethylamylamine (DMAA) ingredient was also a big factor in producing the crash we're talking about, but it has been banned nowadays. Basically, when you consume stimulants, it sends a message to your brain to release adrenaline and cortisol into the blood stream. These are both produced by the adrenal glands. In a sense, you can think of those as two little fuel tanks for our bodies (one is located on each kidney).
When you start taking an ever increasing amount of caffeine, you start to make these glands work harder and harder, but they can only provide so much fuel each day. So, by consistently stressing these glands with consistent caffeine intake, it doesn't give the body enough time to replenish those fuel tanks. So how do you keep them topped up?
By "Cycling" Your Pre-Workout Supplement!
If you can stick to an "On" cycle from pretty brief periods of time like 4-6 weeks, followed by a 1-2 week "Off" period with little to no caffeine intake - it will allow your little energy tanks to become full replenished, and get you get you back on track. I know this "Off" period can be tough with how interlaced today's world is with caffeine. This means no soda, no energy drinks, no party drugs, no coffee etc..Stim-Free pre-workout supplements can also come in handy here. The sudden drop of caffeine can lead to some withdrawal symptoms like headaches or anxiety, but believe me it will be worth it at the end. You'll get to experience your pre-workout just like it was your first time. Thanks for reading!
An ever increasing number of people find themselves in this position, and it can be nothing short of confusing. How is this making me feel more tired than I would without taking it? My point with this article isn't to tell you to stop using pre-workout supplements; I personally love them! What I am here to do is help you understand why you're getting burnt out, and how to get past it by making a few smart decisions. This will help you to keep your pace at the gym, and be able to benefit from pre-workouts for years to come.
So Why Are You Crashing?
Nearly all pre-workout supplements contain a pretty big dose of caffeine along with some other stimulants like Yohimbe extract and others. The recently removed 1 3 dimethylamylamine (DMAA) ingredient was also a big factor in producing the crash we're talking about, but it has been banned nowadays. Basically, when you consume stimulants, it sends a message to your brain to release adrenaline and cortisol into the blood stream. These are both produced by the adrenal glands. In a sense, you can think of those as two little fuel tanks for our bodies (one is located on each kidney).
When you start taking an ever increasing amount of caffeine, you start to make these glands work harder and harder, but they can only provide so much fuel each day. So, by consistently stressing these glands with consistent caffeine intake, it doesn't give the body enough time to replenish those fuel tanks. So how do you keep them topped up?
By "Cycling" Your Pre-Workout Supplement!
If you can stick to an "On" cycle from pretty brief periods of time like 4-6 weeks, followed by a 1-2 week "Off" period with little to no caffeine intake - it will allow your little energy tanks to become full replenished, and get you get you back on track. I know this "Off" period can be tough with how interlaced today's world is with caffeine. This means no soda, no energy drinks, no party drugs, no coffee etc..Stim-Free pre-workout supplements can also come in handy here. The sudden drop of caffeine can lead to some withdrawal symptoms like headaches or anxiety, but believe me it will be worth it at the end. You'll get to experience your pre-workout just like it was your first time. Thanks for reading!
About the Author:
Learn more about pre-workout supplements today. Stop by Mark Robinson's site where you can find out which made the Best Sellers List for 2013 by clicking here.
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