It’s only logical that you need to feed your body right to push your muscles and heart to the max. But what fewer people realize is that the timing of fitness supplements makes a huge difference for optimal results. To help you on your fitness journey, we’ve put together a guide on when to take pre-workout, when do you take BCAA, and when to take workout supplements to get the best bang for your buck.
Top Workout Ingredients to Include
First things first. Before we explain when to take pre-workout, let’s cover the main ingredients in workout supplements. In basic terms, fitness supplements are intensified versions of food that can help to fill the nutritional gaps and give you a targeted boost when you need it. Workout powders can’t replace a balanced diet, but they can supercharge your regular program when you don’t have time for frequent meals.
The most popular supplements that are used by fitness enthusiasts of all levels are:
- Whey protein isolate
- Vegan protein
- Collagen peptides
- Creatine
- Glycerol monostearate
- BCAAs + Electrolytes
- Antioxidants
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Caffeine
Taken in stacks, these ingredients can boost performance, endurance, and recovery. Let’s dive into the lowdown on when to take pre-workout, post-workout, and protein to see how it all fits together.
When to Take Workout Supplements
Morning
Win the morning and you’ve won the day. Begin the day with a protein-rich breakfast plus whey or vegan protein if you need to give your protein intake a boost. Getting your protein right at breakfast helps you sustain your energy without crashing mid-morning or wasting away muscle.
If the early morning’s the time when you train, jolt yourself into action with a pre-workout caffeine-based supplement around 20-30 minutes before working out and follow up with protein and breakfast to boost your recovery and retain your muscle mass. If you’re looking to shred fat, try our herb-based fat-burner with a small snack before working out and finish with a balanced breakfast.
Pre-Workout
Whether you exercise in the morning or afternoon, the instructions for when to take pre-workout are the same. Around 20-30 minutes before exercise, enjoy a pre-workout supplement with creatine, glycerol monostearate, and/or caffeine to boost your energy, endurance, and strength.
When do you take BCAAs and electrolytes? BCAAs and electrolytes can be added to your stack before, during, and after workouts. The minerals and amino acids contained in our formula help your muscles stay hydrated and strong.
Post-Workout
You know when to take pre-workout, now let’s talk post-workout. Whether you’re trying to burn fat or build muscle, it’s essential to refill after your workout for optimal recovery, energy, and repair. When you exercise, the tissues in your muscles suffer tiny tears, which heal to make your muscles bigger and stronger. Support this process and refuel your tank with a good dose of protein within 15-45 minutes of working out. If you’re trying to lose weight, don’t worry. Your body continues to burn additional calories for minutes to hours after you stop actively working out — and the number of calories burned actually increases as you continue to build your muscle mass.
Anytime
Asking when to take pre-workout and when do you take BCAA is a great start, but many of us end up discovering we could use a clean supplement boost at other times of the day as well. If you struggle to get out of bed in the mornings or routinely fall into an afternoon slump, expand your concept about when to take workout supplements with some super greens, vitamins, BCAAs, collagen, and protein. While our pre-workout, pump, and fat-burning formulas should only be used in limited quantities, these general nutrition products can be used in small amounts as needed to help you conquer the challenges of the day.
When to Pull Back
The guidelines for when to take pre-workout will suit most people, most of the time. However, there are times when it’s best to pull back.
Pregnancy
Ladies, staying fit during pregnancy is extremely important, and we encourage you to follow a program that’s tailored to your needs. However, when you’re getting pumped for that session of aerobics, pilates, swimming, or hand weights, go a little easier on — or eliminate — the caffeine. The daily caffeine limit for pregnancy is set at 200mg total, and some dispense with the stim altogether. Make sure you check the labels carefully and choose non-caffeinated pre-workouts when possible. Always consult with your doctor prior to beginning a new supplement routine during your pregnancy.
Creatine
Creatine is an amazing ingredient to include when you take pre-workout supplements. However, you need to know when to take creatine workout supplements for maximum results. We advise taking creatine supplements on a cycle of 4-6 weeks on, 4-6 weeks off. Be sure to boost hydration whenever you’re taking this product.
Protein
We love our protein, and so do our muscles, but there is such a thing as too much protein. If you’re trying to build muscle, start with 1 gram of protein per pound of lean body mass for the first three months, reducing to 0.5-0.7 grams of protein per pound of lean body mass for maintenance. Excess protein turns straight into fat and can cause additional problems for your health.
