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Are there any pre workouts which don't rely on caffeine to give a boost?

  • 17-01-2014 08:13AM
    #1
    BetterThanThou
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 944 ✭✭✭


    I recently decided to give a pre workout a shot, but it seems my body just isn't affected by caffeine in any way. I've built up too great of a tolerance. To explain how great my tolerance is, I got some C4 Extreme. First day I got it, took one scoop, no effect, second day, 2 scoops, no effect. Stopped using it. Eventually I decided to try a test, I took 4 scoops of C4 at the same time, didn't go to the gym, so I could see the effects properly. And it had practically no effect on me. I can lie down to go to bed with a cup of black coffee and go sound asleep for the entire night. Has anyone got suggestions for a pre work out which doesn't rely on caffeine? Or will I have to give up caffeine and get my tolerance down if I want an effective pre workout?


Comments

  • #2
    Hanley
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 21,981 ✭✭✭✭Hanley


    1) stop drinking so much bloody coffee
    2) stop relying on preworkouts
    3) eat better


  • #3
    BetterThanThou
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 944 ✭✭✭BetterThanThou


    Hanley wrote: »
    1) stop drinking so much bloody coffee
    2) stop relying on preworkouts
    3) eat better

    My diet is pretty much perfect, bar the occasional cheat, my diet basically 100% natural and I've had great results with the diet I've been on.
    Surprisingly, I drink quite little caffeine these days, 3 cups of coffee or tea maximum per day, and that's not even black coffee/tea, it's usually quite heavily milk based.
    I don't rely on pre workouts, but I do sometimes have days in the gym where an energy boost could come in handy, so I'd like to have a pre workout for those days.


  • #4
    colman1212
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,127 ✭✭✭colman1212


    BetterThanThou wrote: »
    My diet is pretty much perfect
    BetterThanThou wrote: »
    3 cups of coffee quite
    heavily milk based.
    Post your diet out of interest.
    Also, Do a week or 2 with no coffee, the have a double espresso pre workout and see what happens :D


  • #5
    BetterThanThou
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 944 ✭✭✭BetterThanThou


    colman1212 wrote: »
    Post your diet out of interest.
    Also, Do a week or 2 with no coffee, the have a double espresso pre workout and see what happens :D
    Will probably try a week or two without caffeine, seems like the best option.
    Currently, I do an intermittent fasting diet, which involves eating for only 8 hours per day, but making up for all the calories you would have missed by increasing portion sizes.

    First meal which occurs around 1 usually contains wholegrain bread, tuna, eggs, porridge, an occasional tin of baked beans(not the most natural, I know.), I usually aim for 50 grams of protein and around 1000 calories.

    Second meal usually takes the form of a large dinner, main staple is brown rice, along with 400 grams of lean beef or chicken, this meal usually totals to around 100 grams of protein and another 1000 calories. I also throw in vegetables, usually broccolli.
    When I'm trying to gain weight, I simply up the carbohydrates.


  • #6
    runawaybishop
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,541 ✭✭✭runawaybishop


    I think Hanleys point about eating well was that if you are eating properly you don't need a pre-workout. Which you don't anyway.


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  • #7
    Hanley
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 21,981 ✭✭✭✭Hanley


    runawaybishop wrote: »
    I think Hanleys point about eating well was that if you are eating properly you don't need a pre-workout. Which you don't anyway.

    exactly.

    And having seen what a "perfect" diet looks like, my first post stands.


  • #8
    Ah_Yeah
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,020 ✭✭✭Ah_Yeah


    BetterThanThou wrote: »
    Surprisingly, I drink quite little caffeine these days, 3 cups of coffee or tea maximum per day, and that's not even black coffee/tea, it's usually quite heavily milk based.

    3 cups a day is still a lot


  • #9
    JJayoo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,025 ✭✭✭JJayoo


    Ah_Yeah wrote: »
    3 cups a day is still a lot

    No but it's milk based and we all know that milk magics away the caffeine.


  • #10
    COH
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,799 ✭✭✭COH


    I used to be very reliant on caffeine. I'd drink 3-5 coffees a day, some times I'd ask for a 6shot americano in starbucks on the way into the gym if I'd have a long day... then a can of monster or red bull then a double serving of preworkout before training even if it was just a handy prehab or accessory session... I have since quit caffeine/stimulants in all forms and guess what...

    Didn't get weaker
    Appetite increased
    Sleeping better
    No anxiety/post training crash
    Saved a heap of money in the process


    I don't think caffeine is unhealthy at all - I'll be back drinking coffee soon enough but all the stimulants in the world wont help you through a bad workout if you don't have the right fuel in the tank and if it becomes a crutch then its best to learn to use your legs again.

    Before training I take a Vit B complex, 5-10g creatine, 3g HMB and 3g beta-alanine. When I go back to sweet sweet coffee I have no doubt I'll be running through walls


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