THE TRUTH ABOUT PRE-WORKOUT

So here you are: Just walked through the RF doors for your workout.

You are *PUMPED* to see your favorite RF coaches (and finally, their beaming smiles) BUT don’t have much energy because:

….the kids kept you up ALL night!

….you had a work project to finish!

….a new season of your fave Netflix series just dropped!

Either way, you can already tell this workout is going to be a damn struggle and pray you can just “get by” with the little energy you do have.

We’ve all been there right?

Mentally, you want to be there, you want to have the most amazing workout and you want to leave feeling really good BUT….physically, you just aren’t feeling it. First, this is totally normal. Our energy levels aren’t always consistent.

And, to no surprise, in order to feel our best and have the energy to dominate your RF workouts, the trifecta of success includes a well-balanced diet, proper hydration and quality sleep. While we all know these lifestyle habits and choices are super important, life ain’t always perfect and some things are out of our control.

So, what do you do if your toddler kept you up or you didn’t have time to eat because all your meetings ran over?

This is where the topic of pre-workout come into play because hey, sometimes we find ourselves needing that extra boost from time to time!

If you are not (yet) familiar with pre-workout, let me break it down for you: Pre-workout products are intended to help you enhance your workout by promoting energy.

WHICH PRE-WORKOUT IS BEST FOR YOU?

Like everything else, not all pre-workout products are created equal. If you are new to this stuff, curious or want to research best options, here is what you want to be looking for when it comes to finding a high quality pre-workout:

• Caffeine Content- Some brands may use excessive amounts of caffeine which can be dangerous for certain individuals.

• Quality Ingredients- Be sure to read the nutrition labels. Many pre-workouts may contain added sugars and a laundry list of fillers

• Stimulants– Just like caffeine, some products may contain additional stimulants that your body can develop a tolerance to. Try either alternating or, switching to products that do not contain stimulants.

• Price– You get what you pay for when it comes to these products. Top-of-the-line products are typically higher in price and can become a pretty expensive habit.

Most times, pre-workout is a matter of personal preference. It is not uncommon to try out many different products before settling on one that you like. Once again, this can get pricey!

THE UGLY SIDE OF PRE-WORKOUT:

Pre-workout supplements should be used with caution as they can cause some uncomfortable side effects such as:

• Rapid heart rate

• Skin flushing/tingling

• Increased blood pressure

• Nervousness

When it comes to deciding if you should try these products, there are two very important recommendations:

#1. First, ALWAYS speak with your physician before including these products into your diet, ESPECIALLY if you have any health conditions or are taking medications. Both can possibly interfere with how your body reacts to a product.

#2. Do NOT start with a full serving size of a pre-workout product. It is typically best practice to start out with ¼-½ of a serving and first see how your body reacts. From there, you can decide if your body can tolerate more.

With all of that said, I have compiled a short list of the higher-rated products/brands on the market. You will notice the first, Nooma, is a available at RF. If you have questions about these products/brands, hit reply now and let’s chat! It’s important you understand this stuff as well as the pro’s and con’s.

• Nooma (available at RF)

• Nuun

• Optimum Nutrition

• Garden of Life Sport