Pre-workout supplements and cardio a bad idea?

[LightmanE300]

Hey guys - first post here. I've asked the site's customer service staff, and can only get generic copy/paste answers, or a suggestion to contact the supplement manufacturers themselves for suggestion. I was looking for something a bit more unbiased, or perhaps even scholarly, that can paint a clear picture of pre-workout supplements and their effects on the body. I think we all know that they are 'good' for weight training days, but what about cardio days?

The only pre-workout supplements I've tried are caffeine-free....I don't do well with caffeine or stimulants.. that said, I do endurance swimming 30-50 minutes without stopping and elliptical workouts a few times/wk. Some folks have warned not to use preworkout supps before those types of activities, or yoga. I believe a lot of those warnings though, are based on a fear of high heat/heart rate activity combined with a stimumlant like caffeine. If I'm talking a preworkout supp that is caff-free, am I then avoiding any issues? What about the nitric oxide and beta alanine etc? At the end of the day I'm drinking this stuff before my weight days, and am wondering on the others...I miss the extra motivation I get from taking it on those days, but don't want to explode anything that I need to breathe with either

Any info appreciated!

[qksc2]

Generally those warnings are because of the caffeine and stims that may increase heart rate. Personally, I probably consume about 1-1.2 grams a day in caffeine and have no ill effects from it. I have no problem taking things like a caffeine pre and fat loss supp together, some do. Honestly, in my opinion you will be fine. Keep your heart rate in check while on the treadmill, elliptical, etc. Two fingers and a wall clock with a seconds hand are your best friend. Then again, I am just some random 23 year old from the internet; so keep that in mind with the advice lol.

[BloodySalad]

I swim or run for my cardio and I normally take a pre-workout. The best one I've used for cardio is AI Sports Maniac and it's the one that I'm currently taking. Jack3d, WF and Craze, I found just a little too stimmed but if I hadn't come across Maniac, I'd still be using them.

I hate cardio and I find that a pre just makes the time go quicker. I also seem to perform a bit better. I've had absolutely no problems with health.
TBH, I probably bust my ass harder in the gym when I'm lifting than when I'm in the pool or on the treadmill.

[THux86]

I have used a PWO for an extra kick before cardio many times before. I'm not sensitive to Stimulants though.

Most of the time I was just using it to counteract a thermogenic fat burner I was taking that causes vasoconstriction, which can be hell on a cardio session. A little Pre-Workout with NO makes everything all better for me.

[gallagnm]

It depends on what cardio you do. I have never swam before with supps so i cant help there sorry. But when i used to do endurance cardio, there was one day where i was feeling so tired but needed to get my run in so i took a pre workout. It was literally the worst run ever because i had so much pump in my legs that i thought i was carrying around bricks on my feet. Also the caffeine was making my heart race so bad! I recommend BCAAs while doing some endurance cardio. Around 10g would be good to sip on through out your session.

[changemyoil66]

When I do cardio, its for my bodybuilding competition. So I never run, I do a slow step mill for 1 hour. I took my preWO once on an only cardio session and wanted to go faster. But I couldnt go faster because i would burn more muscle that way, which is not what I want to do.

i think preWO are good for actuall workouts only and not just cardio.

[PISTELERO]

caffiene pills are $5 per 100
all you need precardio

edit: didnt read entire post
if you dont like caffiene disregard this...

[LightmanE300]

Just got home and saw all these great replies! Thanks for taking the time guys, really appreciate it.

Here's the deal - I may be a weirdo, but I've always believed that if I'm tired, it means I need to get more sleep and plan my day better, instead of 'cheating' by using caffeine or other stimulants like 5 hr energy, etc. I have no problem with others doing it and please don't mistake that for judgment, it's just my own personal method. Also because I don't drink soda, or anything with caffeine, when I do have something like a dr pepper even, I will be wired out of my mind till the wee hours, and annoy the crap out of everyone around me like a chatterbox... it's bad. LOL. So taking into account that I have zero tolerance for caffeine and what a soda does to me, you might see why I'd be pretty hesitant to try a regular pre workout booster, and got the caffeine free variant.

So aside from caffeine, what about all of the other stuff in there? I've heard certain ingredients have the effect of raising your body temperature...I'm wondering for example in a hot yoga workout if this would be a bad idea... on my non weight days I either swim laps, do elliptical, or do yoga(not the chanting peaceful type, but rather the p90x yoga workout and similar classes at my gym). They work you really hard, and it's an hour and a half long in 100-110F room. you sweat bullets and sometimes feel faint.. I've been hesitant to try the preworkout booster there, even though a lot of the moves there have me quitting/gassing out due to muscle fatigue/failure, and perhaps the endurance benefits of the booster might be good..

[Big.Jazayrli]

that would entirely depend on how you tolerate stimulants. I don't think it would be the best idea to use something that is very heavily stimmed on your cardio days. Lots of users enjoy ErgoPump NMT at 1 scoop pre-cardio though.

[LightmanE300]

Oh cool, I wasn't sure if this forum had rules like some others where you couldn't post brands/specific products. I have been using the no-xplode 2.0 caffeine free, to be specific. I like the boost I get from it on my weight days, just wasn't sure if it'd be a bad idea for swimming, elliptical, or yoga.

[SwolenONE]

i would use a light stim, heavy stims before cardio doesnt seem optimal

[AcidBarrel]

i would use a light stim, heavy stims before cardio doesnt seem optimal

I do it all the time, key word is tolerance. Don't be taking enough stim to make your heart race, thats when it becomes a bad idea.

[way2wild21]

Hey guys - first post here. I've asked the site's customer service staff, and can only get generic copy/paste answers, or a suggestion to contact the supplement manufacturers themselves for suggestion. I was looking for something a bit more unbiased, or perhaps even scholarly, that can paint a clear picture of pre-workout supplements and their effects on the body. I think we all know that they are 'good' for weight training days, but what about cardio days?

The only pre-workout supplements I've tried are caffeine-free....I don't do well with caffeine or stimulants.. that said, I do endurance swimming 30-50 minutes without stopping and elliptical workouts a few times/wk. Some folks have warned not to use preworkout supps before those types of activities, or yoga. I believe a lot of those warnings though, are based on a fear of high heat/heart rate activity combined with a stimumlant like caffeine. If I'm talking a preworkout supp that is caff-free, am I then avoiding any issues? What about the nitric oxide and beta alanine etc? At the end of the day I'm drinking this stuff before my weight days, and am wondering on the others...I miss the extra motivation I get from taking it on those days, but don't want to explode anything that I need to breathe with either

Any info appreciated!

I used c4 extreme orange and jack3d alternating mostly c4 tho and would take a couple week off after a month from from pre workout supps it help me lose 106lbs no doubt about it. It help me take my cardio to the next level and at zero calories from the help

[Cheftepesh]

Personally I use some kind of PWO before every workout. If your concern is increased heart rate then look to one of the non stim versions like clout. I use Karbolyn personally on the non stim days. On the days I choose to use a stim I use K-Otic/

[yousafzai]

It depends on what cardio you do. I have never swam before with supps so i cant help there sorry. But when i used to do endurance cardio, there was one day where i was feeling so tired but needed to get my run in so i took a pre workout. It was literally the worst run ever because i had so much pump in my legs that i thought i was carrying around bricks on my feet. Also the caffeine was making my heart race so bad! I recommend BCAAs while doing some endurance cardio. Around 10g would be good to sip on through out your session.

I totally agree with this. I was doing Kris Gethins 4weeks2shredd where you have 2 sessions of cardio. One goes with preworkout because you have a workout before cardio but for the next session there is no workout so no pre workout. I found that my heart rate is usually very high and my legs are pumped making it hard to do cardio. But the 2nd cardio without pre workout was always fun relax and i found it hard to race my heart rate to 140-150 region ,(not without a sprint). hope this helps. I'm seriously thinking of "not" using pre workouts. All the chemicals are freaking me out... (not that this Freaking out is the most scientific way of thinking but thats that... hehe)

[HStudio00]

Nitric oxide is helpful for any kind of exercise, perhaps even more so for cardio because it increases oxygen uptake. And beta alanine is pretty much a vitamin B complex so I think you're good mate. Going back to nitric oxide, I personally would take PWO before swimming specifically for the reason that it does have NO.

Even if taking caffeine, it probably wouldn't hurt; I mean it increases stamina as well as giving more energy. It's an officially-recognized, legal PED lol

[Kewbrah]

I run marathons and ultramarathons and find preworkouts awesome for them. Currently using Redcon Total War before any serious run - and loving it.

[kixmgk3]

I run marathons and ultramarathons and find preworkouts awesome for them. Currently using Redcon Total War before any serious run - and loving it.

total war is a great pwo i use it currently.

[emergency]

Nutrabolics Carnibolic is low in stims and would be a good addition to your diet and training. Currently 20%