Is Pre-Workout supplement necessary? What our experts have to say!
February 27, 2023
Is Pre-Workout supplement necessary? What our experts have to say!
Pre workout supplements have long been in use among fitness junkies. While nutrition experts might have a different take on the effectiveness of such supplements, relentless advertising has resulted in a growing demand nonetheless.
You've seen them everywhere. In your gym, online stores, supermarket aisles and most certainly, endorsed by your favourite fitness influencers.
But what exactly are pre-workout supplements? Are these products really as effective as they claim to be? What do all those strange ingredients imply? Let's find out!
What are pre-workout supplements?
Pre-workout supplements are, as the name indicates, dietary supplements which are consumed right before a workout session for an increased energy output, resulting in better athletic performance.
Most companies market their 'pre-workouts' in powdered form which are most commonly mixed with water/energy drinks. What goes in these products vary widely but the most common ingredients are creatine, caffeine, beta alanine and artificial sweeteners.
How do they work?
Caffeine acts as a stimulant, which helps to increase mental focus and alertness thereby resulting in better mind muscle connection.
Creatine is an organic compound that our body naturally produces, found within the skeletal muscles and plays a vital role in regulating muscular strength and energy. Research studies have shown that external intake of creatine improves strength thereby resulting in increased workout volume and also better recovery time post an intense workout.
Beta alanine is an amino acid that helps prevent acid build up in our muscle tissues. Lactic acid build up causes the burning sensation while we workout and supplementing beta alanine resists this leading to longer workout duration.
Supplements vs Whole Food
Now onto the real question of debate, are pre workouts an effective substitute for whole food? The quick answer is - Maybe not.
Choosing to consume a pre-workout supplement is merely a choice of convenience for most people as it saves time and effort compared to prepping a balanced pre-workout meal. But our line of experts suggest that a macro-balanced meal results in better overall gains.
The bottom line is, while it is generally accepted that pre workout supplements do not pose any major health risks, it doesn't provide all that great benefits either compared to having a well-balanced whole food meal. Start prepping your healthy meal plans to stay on track.
More On Our Blog
Questions you might ask
Fitlab offers a wide variety of meal plans to make sure we cover the needs of almost everyone from athletes to busy professionals, moms, kids and individuals who wish to lose weight or simply maintain a healthier lifestyle. Fitlab also caters to some medical conditions such as Diabetes, Hypertension, PCOS, and Metabolic Syndrome.
In such a situation, reaching out to our sales team is the solution. They'll provide expert advice to help you select the most suitable option. You can also book a consultation with our nutritionist for further assessment and assistance. If your requirements can be accommodated by Fitlab then one of the listed meal plans will definitely align with your needs.
Yes. We try our best to accommodate food modification requests whenever possible, but certain ingredients are integral to the dish and we will be unable to remove them. In the event we can’t remove a certain ingredient from a dish, you can choose another meal or double up on a single meal on that day. You can view the ingredient list while choosing your meals, so you can avoid a meal with any dislikes or allergens. We currently do not provide gluten-free, dairy-free or keto meal plans.
The menu is updated every 2 weeks and new meals are added to our meal list every month. You can always choose and change your meals as many times as you wish easily from your dashboard 48 hrs prior to the desired change date. Our cut-off time is 5:00 pm.
You can do that by taking a quiz. You can also use our calorie calculator to calculate your daily caloric needs, this will help you choose the right meal plan variation. And if you think you need further assistance, our Nutritionist is a click away, you can easily book a consultation through our website or app.
We cannot build our meals according to certain macros provided by the client. However, our lunch and dinner come in three different sizes already to cover the needs of everyone, and for the snacks, breakfast, and side salads it’s one size. But you can always customize your plan to add, remove or replace any meal you think is out of range for your fitness goal.
Yes, the energy in Calories and macros in grams of protein, fat and carbohydrates for each meal are provided on both the website and the label on the meal.
It is generally safe to consume ready-to-eat food within 3 days if it has been properly stored. We recommend that you consume the meal within 2 days to ensure the best quality and freshness.
The label includes serving instructions, where we suggest the optimal way to enjoy the meal. However, feel free to consume the meal the way you like it. For heating, you can either choose a microwave or a stovetop. The average heating time for the microwave would be 60-90 seconds.
If you decide to cancel your plan, we're here to help. An exit fee applies, and any refund will be based on the remaining days of your plan. Reach out to our support team for assistance.
Refunds typically take 5 to 7 business days to appear on your original payment method. If you haven't received it after this time and you've received a refund email from us, contact your bank for assistance.
2023-2024 Fitlab Catering Services LLC. All rights reserved.
Stay in Touch
- +971 52 263 8788
- info@fitlab-me.com
- Office 301, Al Asmawi building, Dubai Investment Park 1, Dubai - UAE
2023-2024 Fitlab Catering Services LLC. All rights reserved.