Do you want to increase your energy, perform at a higher level, and see real changes in your body composition? Read on to learn more about pre-workout and post-workout drinks and the differences between pre-workout and post-workout supplements.
What’s The Difference Between Pre-Workout And Post-Workout Supplements?
Pre-Workout Supplements
You have probably heard of pre-workout supplements. Pre-workout supplements and drinks are widely popular as they’re designed to give you a bit of an edge before your workout. They fuel you up, energize you, and prevent glycogen depletion.
Pre-workout supplements are designed to set you up for what lies ahead. Usually, the main ingredient in these drinks is caffeine. Caffeine provides an energy boost, so you’re more alert and focused, ready to attack your workout. Pre-workout drinks can also include things like BCAAs to further flood your muscles with essential nutrients.
Post-Workout Supplements
Post-workout supplements are very different than pre-workout supplements. The aim of a post-workout drink is to help your body after you have worked out. You can split them into two categories:
- Post-workout drinks for immediately after your workout
- Post-workout drinks to take hours later
The first category comprises whey protein shakes and other drinks like these. Here, the aim is replenishment. They flood your body with protein to help your muscles recover and help them grow big and strong. They are also likely to contain some extra calories to replace the energy you used during your workout and to refuel your glycogen stores.
The second category consists of drinks that you might take later in the day. These are the drinks you have before going to bed. Again, they include protein, but they’re also commonly referred to as a chill drink. They’re likely to contain things like glycine to improve relaxation and preserve your muscles. The aim of these drinks is to help your body recover and rejuvenate for the next day. Additionally, they help relax you.
As you can see, the differences between pre-workout and post-workout supplements is the timing in which you consume them, their ingredients, and the function that they play in the body.
Do You Need Pre and Post-Workout Supplements?
Technically, no; you don’t need anything. Yet, they make a big difference in your energy and physiology.
If you already feel pumped and energized before your workout and if you are performing at your best, there’s no need to take a pre-workout supplement. For a little bit of an energy boost, you can simply have some caffeine. Or a simple incorporate a warmup routine to get the blood flowing and help you feel ready to work out.
As for post-workout drinks, they aren’t essential either. However, they do hold great value. On one hand, it’s easier to have a protein shake right after working out than it is to eat a meal after the gym. They are a quick and convenient way of refueling your body following a tough workout. In addition, post-workout drinks assimilate rapidly so your muscles get nourishment right away without having to wait for food to be digested. Some organic post-workout supplements provide antioxidants and electrolytes to help you replenish.
In regards to post-workout drinks you take in the evening, they are also not a necessity. But, again, they can be quite useful. If you often struggle to sleep or have issues recovering the next day, a post-workout drink might help you sleep better and avoid constant muscle soreness.
The bottom line is this, you do not need to take any pre-workout or post-workout supplements at all. Technically, you can feel energized all day and have your muscles recover on their own. You can get all the benefits of pre and post-workout drinks through your own nutrition.
Nevertheless, if you feel tired hours after working out, if you feel very sore the next few days after working out, if you don’t have the time to eat a nutritious meal post-workout, or if you are not seeing the results you want, you will benefit from the ingredients found in pre and post-workout supplements.
As you can see there is a big difference between pre-workout and post-workout supplements. They both serve very specific functions. Incorporate the best supplements for you so you can augment your performance and take your body to the next level.
To a Fitter Healthier You,
The Fitness Wellness Mentor
