When choosing a pre-workout powder, most people look for the greatest amount of caffeine. We want that feel-good buzz—that extra boost to smash our gym goals. The problem is that the caffeine half life is 5 hours. It lingers in the body long after your workout, which can wreak havoc on your sleep schedule if consumed after noon. What if there was an alternative?

Non-Stim Performance Pre-workout Powder: Max Lift

When choosing a pre-workout powder, most people look for the greatest amount of caffeine. We want that feel-good buzz—that extra boost to smash our gym goals. The problem is that the caffeine half life is 5 hours. It lingers in the body long after your workout, which can wreak havoc on your sleep schedule if consumed after noon. What if there was an alternative?

Non-stimulating pre-workout powder offers a natural boost, providing energy, endurance and enhanced performance without the jitters, crashes and lack of sleep associated with caffeine and other stimulants. Here are the key ingredients to look for when choosing a non-stimulating pre-workout powder.

 

Creatine

Creatine is one of the most researched natural and non-stimulating pre-workout amino acids [1]. It’s the king of making adenosine triphosphate (ATP)—energy within your cells. ATP is broken down to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) when you workout. So when you’re pushing out multiple reps, your ATP levels deplete [2]. 

Creatine helps you turn ADP back into ATP. So you can increase your reps on your bench press or lat pulldown.

 

Beta alanine

Apart from losing energy, the other factor that slows you down in the gym is a build up of acid. Lactic acid is the enemy of anyone who has worked out hard. It hurts and stops you getting more reps out of your exercise program. 

This is where beta alanine comes in. Beta alanine can actually buffer against the lactic acid build up in your muscles so you can work out harder and longer [3].

L-citrulline

L-citrulline is an amino acid that boosts vasodilation. It helps boost blood flow to your muscles. This means that your muscles can get the nutrients and oxygen they need to perform their best. 

With l-citrulline, you want a dosage of 2 to 3 g before your workout. Taking higher dosages of this will give so much of a muscle pump that it may become debilitating and impede your workout.

 

Alpha-gpc

A workout can be just as mental as it is physical. This is why so many people turn to caffeine—to help your brain focus. But there are alternative nootropics that won’t impact your sleep.

The most researched is a nutrient called alpha-gpc. This amazing compound can increase choline levels in your brain, which can increase your focus so you can workout longer and harder. 

But that’s not all it’s good for. If you take 600 mg of alpha-gpc, you will also improve growth hormone release [4]. This can help you build great muscle mass and tone from your workouts.

 

Electrolytes: Sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium

Electrolytes are the other important piece of the puzzle. When you sweat, you lose electrolytes like sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium [5]. This can lead to muscle cramps, fatigue and decrease performance. 

Replacing these electrolytes while you workout is the best way to maintain proper hydration, support muscle function and perform at your best.

 

Herbal and plant-based medicines

Herbal and plant-based medicines can also effectively improve your performance. The two most researched plants are schizandra berries and pomegranate [6][7]. 

Both plants help in many areas of the body, namely the electron transfer chain. They also act as potent antioxidants to mop up the free radicals that you generate when you're exercising hard. When choosing a pre-workout powder, ensure these plant-based medicines are in the formula.

 

Our recommended pre-workout powder: Max Lift

Max Lift is a non-stimulating pre-workout powder that combines the above mentioned performance amino acids and electrolytes in the correct amounts, so you can get the most out of your performance. And it’s caffeine free.

Available in Lemon Icy Pole, Mango Orange and an unflavoured version so you can stack with other supplements if you choose, learn more about Max Lift here.

 

The take-home message

Life is busy. Who has time for ineffective workouts? But turning to caffeine pre-workout powders to increase your performance can impact your sleep schedule, which can impact your overall health. 

There is an alternative. Choosing a non-stimulating pre-workout powder, with the key ingredients listed above, like Max Lift, will help you achieve your goals sooner and ensure you get the most out of your workout—without losing sleep.

Max Lift, embrace the power of non-stimulating ingredients and take your workout journey to new heights.

 

 

References

1. Wu SH, Chen KL, Hsu C, Chen HC, Chen JY, Yu SY, Shiu YJ. Creatine Supplementation for Muscle Growth: A Scoping Review of Randomized Clinical Trials from 2012 to 2021. Nutrients. 2022 Mar 16;14(6):1255. doi: 10.3390/nu14061255. PMID: 35334912; PMCID: PMC8949037.
   
   
2. Mendes RR, Tirapegui J. Creatina: o suplemento nutricional para a atividade física--conceitos atuais [Creatine: the nutritional supplement for exercise - current concepts]. Arch Latinoam Nutr. 2002 Jun;52(2):117-27. Portuguese. PMID: 12184144.
   
   
3. Huerta Ojeda Á, Tapia Cerda C, Poblete Salvatierra MF, Barahona-Fuentes G, Jorquera Aguilera C. Effects of Beta-Alanine Supplementation on Physical Performance in Aerobic-Anaerobic Transition Zones: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2020 Aug 19;12(9):2490. doi: 10.3390/nu12092490. PMID: 32824885; PMCID: PMC7551186.
   
   
4. Ziegenfuss T, Landis J, Hofheins J. Acute supplementation with alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine augments growth hormone response to, and peak force production during, resistance exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2008 Sep 17;5(Suppl 1):P15. doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-5-S1-P15. PMCID: PMC3313098.
   
   
5. Maughan RJ. Fluid and electrolyte loss and replacement in exercise. J Sports Sci. 1991 Summer;9 Spec No:117-42. doi: 10.1080/02640419108729870. PMID: 1895359.