With great pre-workout, comes great responsibility

As this influx of students is observed by IMA workers, they have noticed that many students are fueled by various popular pre-workout products, to the point where an issue of overconsumption has come into question. Are students relying on these drinks to the point where it is counterproductive from a health perspective?

Pre-work products can usually be bought as a powder that you mix with water or in cans that can be found in most grocery stores or gas stations. Based on what I have observed from my own experiences at the IMA, out of the many different products that brand themselves as pre-workout, Celsius, C4, and GHOST have seemingly emerged as the most popular choices that students rely on to get them in the right frame of mind for going to the gym. But how beneficial are these products, and what are some of their drawbacks, especially if overused?

A benefit from these products is the high amount of caffeine that helps individuals "get in the zone" during their workouts — supposedly allowing for a better output. 

At the same time, high amounts of caffeine (C4 contains 200 milligrams of caffeine in a 16 ounce can) can potentially cause harm to cardiovascular health or disrupt sleeping patterns if these products are consumed regularly, making having a healthy balance when consuming these products a top priority.

Two UW students who frequent the IMA were asked about the pros and cons of these products and the role they play in their own fitness journeys.

"Pre-workout definitely increases my endurance and intensity," Stirling Barr, a fourth-year student, said. "However, I see it as a drug, so if you can build up a tolerance for pre-workout then it is essentially doing nothing to increase your exercise output."

Barr, when asked about health concerns such as chest pains or disrupted sleep patterns, expressed that he had no adverse effects from these products. He explained that he knew friends who consistently took pre-workout products experienced disordered sleep, citing that they either couldn't fall asleep or had trouble staying asleep.

IMA employee and fourth-year student Ethan Yamamoto described a more involved relationship with pre-workout products within his workout routine.

"I used to be religious about pre-workout, taking it for every workout," Yamamoto said.

Yamamoto experienced the deficiencies that Barr described, he said that they began taking a toll on his sleeping habits. For him, caffeine then became necessary to function.

"It was like a cycle where you get really bad sleep," Yamamoto said. "So the next day, you don't feel the same until you drink more caffeine." 

Barr and Yamamoto detailed the pros and cons of these products and drew from past experiences to highlight how an individual can get the most benefit out of these products. They warn that if you are looking at them as necessary for a "good" workout, then it might be time to rethink your relationship with these products.

The negative perception around pre-workout products may stem from the overall demeaning attitude towards "gym culture" held in society. People think that gyms are only packed with meatheads hyped up on cocktails of pre-workout, mindlessly tossing weights around. 

I think that this label is not true and unfair. 

A lot of professions use pre-workout-like products, especially many of the great writers. If you think your pre-workout is intense, try what helped Stephen King write "Cujo."

At the end of the day, pre-workout should be viewed as a tool that has positive and negative trade-offs. The role it plays in your workout routine largely depends on the individual. 

If you have never tried these products before, I would say try them for yourself while heeding the experiences of Barr and Yamamoto and find a balance that allows them to be consistently beneficial.

Reach writer Nick Alexander at opinion@dailyuw.com. X: @nickalex34

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