Natural alternatives to PWO's?

[Lonewolff]

Hi Guys,

I currently use DS Craze (even after finding out what is in it - lol).

The problem is, it seems to be losing its effectiveness on me. It is starting to make me feel like absolute crap. Had some today to energise myself for my workout. Now I am pretty nauseous and have a bucket handy during bench - hehe.

Is there a natural way to get a boost instead of being 'chemically' enhanced?

Any help would be awesome.

[w8killer]

You shouldn't need a "boost" to get it done. I used to do my workouts just fine without any pre or meals for that matter. YES, I now take a pre most days just because I love the "jacked up" feeling.

Get some kickass music, maybe some motivational posters, etc.

Get excited to lift, it shouldn't feel like a crappy job. And if it does, then you probably shouldn't be doing it.

Just my .02

[Lonewolff]

Don't get me wrong I love to lift.

I have probably become dependent on PWO's to an extent. I'll have to break that sort of mentality.

It is a funny thing - when I am on the PWO's and on the absolute last rep, my muscles are screaming and the mind is going 'la la la, this is nothing'. The mind gives up easier when I am not on the PWO. My max also goes down by anywhere between 10 - 20 lbs.

I'll trying going without for a few weeks and see if I can train the mind to love the pain again. PWO's seem to be an easy way out anyway.

Some nasty stuff in Craze anyway.

[-=FLEX=-]

Is there a natural way to get a boost instead of being 'chemically' enhanced?

PWO's seem to be an easy way out anyway.

LMAO!

Craze is just like every other PWO: main active ingredients are creatine and caffeine.

[TheTwiglet]

LMAO!
Craze is just like every other PWO: main active ingredients are creatine and caffeine.

Not to be a kunt, but how is creatine an active stimulant?

OP - coffee.

[Lonewolff]

LMAO!

Craze is just like every other PWO: main active ingredients are creatine and caffeine.

No creatine or caffeine in Craze, bro.

[-=FLEX=-]

No creatine or caffeine in Craze, bro.

Really? ??

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/dr...rts/craze.html

Strong lack of knowledge of what you are taking.

[-=FLEX=-]

Not to be a kunt, but how is creatine an active stimulant?

OP - coffee.

I said ingredient not stimulant.

[JOHN GARGANI]

I said ingredient not stimulant.

RIGHT, and you ARE being a KUNT, Twiglet, and a good one , at that....

if you are going to "trespass" into our section, have more respect what you say about any of our regulars...

[Lonewolff]

@Flex, my bad - I was in the mindset of the active ingredients. Forgot that it had small amounts of caffine & creatine in it. Appologies here, not trying to start a flame war.

It is the active ingredients that have it banned in Australia & Sweden. Ask the forum owner here, they no longer supply it to Australia.

[ScubaDave]

Tell ya what...send me the money you spend on that crap, and I'll set my phone to call you and scream at you for 2 minutes prior to your workout. It'll be about as useful.

[pastorgbc]

Hi Guys,

I currently use DS Craze (even after finding out what is in it - lol).

The problem is, it seems to be losing its effectiveness on me. It is starting to make me feel like absolute crap. Had some today to energise myself for my workout. Now I am pretty nauseous and have a bucket handy during bench - hehe.

Is there a natural way to get a boost instead of being 'chemically' enhanced?

Any help would be awesome.

Here is a simple preworkout you can mix yourself:

Small cup black coffee
1 scoop of whey isolate, chocolate or vanilla will work best
1 tbsp. Unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp. Coconut oil

Put it in a shaker shake it up until cocnut oil melts and enjoy.

Kick from coffee, arginine and antioxidants from cocoa, energy from mcts in the coconut oil, protein from whey.

Ray

[ScubaDave]

Here is a simple preworkout you can mix yourself:

Small cup black coffee
1 scoop of whey isolate, chocolate or vanilla will work best
1 tbsp. Unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp. Coconut oil

Put it in a shaker shake it up until cocnut oil melts and enjoy.

Kick from coffee, arginine and antioxidants from cocoa, energy from mcts in the coconut oil, protein from whey.

Ray

Ray - much more responsible answer than my snarky reply....thanks - that's good info!

[acrawlingchaos]

OP, you may just be accustomed to the stimulant. I would just lay off them for awhile.

have more respect what you say about any of our regulars...

LOL Right... because it's ok to disrespect the newcomers.

[-=FLEX=-]

@Flex, my bad - I was in the mindset of the active ingredients. Forgot that it had small amounts of caffine & creatine in it.

It is the active ingredients that have it banned in Australia & Sweden. Ask the forum owner here, they no longer supply it to Australia.

Not sure what you mean by "active ingredients" because anything other than colour and preservatives are 'active ingredients' in my book.

And you don't know if there is a little or a lot of creatine or caffeine, because the product lists "proprietary blend" and then a bunch of ingredients.

And just about every PWO is mostly creatine.

Just buy generic creatine mono and either caffeine pills or drink coffee.

[Whiskeyjack]

I have never taken a PW for fear of a-fib or flutters but frankly if I make my mind up to go to the gym then I'll go and get in a good workout. If I am tired and find the weight heavy, I back off on the weight. Normally I will have a cup of black coffee and a piece of fruit before going.

[paqua17]

I wouldn't recommend you stop taking a PWO because it has some banned ingredients in some countries because there is hypocrisy built into decisions made by regulators. That said when you "have" to take a PWO to workout effectively I would be concerned about a dependency on it.

I take a PWO when I workout late, am tired and don't have to work the next day (which pretty much means my Sat night workout after a day of running around with my kids). Any other time during the week I don't take one because, for the most part, I workout early in the morning/afternoon/early evening and I have enough energy to carry me through.

Just my $0.02

Now to answer the OPs question: as FLEX said just take caffeine pills or drink some coffee.

[Do_Somethin]

LMAO!

Craze is just like every other PWO: main active ingredients are creatine and caffeine.

Except NOxplode - there's sh!t in that stuff to get the flavouring just right.

[bmccurdy]

OP, you may just be accustomed to the stimulant. I would just lay off them for awhile.

^^This.

OP, if you like the jacked feeling PWOs give you, layoff for a bit to let your tolerance drop back down. Its all just a bunch of chemicals that after awhile your body gets used to.

[michail71]

You can buy enough bulk beta alanine, l-citrulline and creatine powders to have months worth of clinically effective doses for what most PWOs cost. The PWOs typically don't have enough of those ingredients and have too many stimulants.

[lunchbreak]

Coffee and a banana works plenty fine for me.

[gorbyak]

Two tablespoons of Natural Cocoa. I thought this was a joke, but then I tried it. It works as good as C4.

[TouaregV8]

Take a teaspoon of honey 30 minutes prior to your workout.

Stop wasting your money on that supplement crap.

[2nd_chance]

You shouldn't need a "boost" to get it done. I used to do my workouts just fine without any pre or meals for that matter. YES, I now take a pre most days just because I love the "jacked up" feeling.

Get some kickass music, maybe some motivational posters, etc.

Get excited to lift, it shouldn't feel like a crappy job. And if it does, then you probably shouldn't be doing it.

Just my .02

Motivational Posters lol. I love pre-wo stims but don't use them any longer because I don't like the sides they gave me.

[Jtbny]

ITT lots of soap box standing going on...

OP Ive used a few pre workouts and all have lost their effectiveness over time. I haven't used one in over a year now but have been succesful eating a peice of fruit, usually a bananna, and like above, a spoon full of honey for an "energy boost". Caffenine doesn't do anything for me as I drink enough of it daily. I wll admit I haven't found anything to replicate the feeling of Beta Alanine common in preworkouts and will probably pick some up in bulk soon. BA is a natural Amino so that's an alternative for you also.

[Flounderbout]

In on the soap-box standing.

1. Drink cold pint of Man-the-Feck-Up.
2. Work out.

[EjnarKolinkar]

Folgers, Iron Maiden.

Apply alternately to affected area.

[somedude999]

I'm hardly an expert on PWOs, but so far I've found that large coffee with extra cream/sugar works better. I'm not sure why, but artificial caffeine has never worked as well for me as the stuff that's in coffee. The initial hit of an artificial source is more intense but burns out quickly. Coffee provides me with a slower, longer lasting burn.

[induced_drag]

I like Pre-wo stims.

Lots of studies show the effectiveness of caffeine in improving performance. There are benefits to other things as well. Ephedrine HCL (which is why it is banned WADA).

Some have mentioned Craze. That is a different type of Pre-wo. It does not rely on caffeine for a buzz. It is based on nootropics. PEA being one of them. It is not a stim heavy supp.


Personally, I make my own. I have bulk caffeine, 1,3, and ephedrine. Depending on what I am looking for, I will take one, or a mix of 2 of them.


I feel they have their place for sure. The other "kitchen sink" stuff....the creatine, beta-alanine....etc is best supplemented separately at appropriate doses.

[michail71]

Personally, I make my own. I have bulk caffeine, 1,3, and ephedrine. Depending on what I am looking for, I will take one, or a mix of 2 of them.

Wow, DMAA and ephedrine. I'm not sure I could handle that combo.

I tried DMAA in jacked but then I had some concerns about it being a vasoconstrictor.