As you get geared up for your big workout, ask yourself this: what you are doing during your workout to ensure it’s a good one? If you’re like many people, the answer is not enough.
It’s necessary to ensure that you get a pre-workout meal in before you hit the gym. But when you’re actually in the gym grinding it out, it pays to go that extra mile. Doing so will help make absolutely sure you’re on track to making maximal progress.
The answer? Intra-workout supplementation.
So what should you be looking for in an intra-workout supplement and what will they help you do? Let’s go over these important details.
The Benefits Of Intra-Workout Supplements
First, let’s talk benefits, so you know what it is you are trying to accomplish here. The right intra-workout supplement is going to do a few things to boost your performance.
1. Decreased catabolism
The first real benefit you’ll see from using intra-workout supplementation is a decreased level of catabolism. Every time you’re in the gym, you’re breaking muscle tissues down, causing them to become weaker.
After you step out of the gym, you’ll need to spend time building those muscles back up again, so you are stronger than you were before.
If you aren’t able to build the muscles back up fully before you hit the gym again, this is what leads to a degradation in performance and even injury.
By using intra-workout supplementation, you prevent the body from becoming catabolic and help it stay anabolic [1]. This will be a huge benefit if your goal is to build muscle or maintain muscle while dieting.
2. Maintenance of important electrolytes
Another big benefit that you’ll see from intra-workout supplementation is that it helps you improve your electrolyte status. When you’re in the gym working hard, you’re sweating and losing electrolytes [2]. If you lose enough of them, this can cause you to become lethargic, dizzy, and very weak.
Sodium and potassium are two key electrolytes that must be replaced, and an intra-workout solution can help you do this. For those doing longer or intense workouts, this is an absolute must.
3. Hydration
This brings us to our next point: hydration. Hydration is critical to sustaining optimal performance; it’s something you simply can’t sacrifice. Good hydration takes place all day long, but during your workout, hydration is especially important.
Some people just don’t drink as much water as they should during their workout, even though their body is crying for water.
The good news is because intra-workout supplements taste great, you’ll be that much more likely to reach for it, thus sustaining your hydration needs.
Even mild dehydration can significantly reduce strength output levels and endurance, so it’s not something you want to compromise. [3]
4. Energy enhancement
Did you know that certain amino acids can provide a boost in energy? Branched-chain amino acids, which are the primary ingredient in intra-workout supplements, are special amino acids that go right into the muscle tissue. From there, they get used as muscular fuel.
Most amino acids that you consume don’t do this, and instead, have to move through the stomach and kidneys for processing. But these particular amino acids can bypass this and hit the muscle tissues almost instantly. So you may just find that by using your intra-workout supplement, you can do more each session because you have that higher performance level.
5. Faster recovery between workout sessions
Because of the great benefits noted above, you’ll also see faster recovery between your workout sessions when you use an intra-workout supplement. By providing your body with branched-chain amino acids, it will kick-start the repair process and begin rebuilding muscle tissues the moment you step out of the gym.
The more often you can complete your workout sessions, the faster you are going to see results. Doing so means you are simply doing more work over time.
6. Improved performance
Finally, a good intra-workout supplement will also help you feel stronger during your workout session. The best intra-workout supplements contain added ingredients to help enhance blood flow to the muscle tissues. This will improve your muscle pumps and increase your ability to tolerate fatigue.
They also contain stimulatory ingredients to help boost your energy and strength, enabling superior performance.
So while a pre-workout supplement is good to use, don’t overlook the benefits from an intra-workout supplement.
One of the best on the market today is Jacked Factory’s Intrasurge. This product not only gives you the branched-chain amino acids you need, but it also provides L-citrulline, L-tyrosine, caffeine, and AstraGin. All of these ingredients help you go that extra mile.
While many intra-workout supplements just provide BCAA’s, this one goes over and beyond to help you deliver performance when it really counts.
Using Your Intra-Workout Supplement
So how do you get started with your intra-workout supplement? You’ll want to sip it during the workout session itself, starting the moment you step foot in the gym.
Some people also like serving these slightly prior to their workout as well, and you can definitely do that. Likewise, some choose to use them during off days as well to help further recovery.
Just do be aware that if yours does contain caffeine, you’ll want to make sure you aren’t overdoing it from the caffeine in other sources as well. Balance is key.
So there are the facts you should know about intra-workout supplementation. It’s a great idea to get this on your side.
References:
- Shimomura, Yoshiharu, et al. “Exercise promotes BCAA catabolism: effects of BCAA supplementation on skeletal muscle during exercise.” The Journal of nutrition 134.6 (2004): 1583S-1587S
- Coyle, Edward F. “Fluid and fuel intake during exercise.” Journal of sports sciences 22.1 (2004): 39-5
- Goulet, Eric DB. “Effect of exercise-induced dehydration on endurance performance: evaluating the impact of exercise protocols on outcomes using a meta-analytic procedure.” Br J Sports Med 47.11 (2013): 679-686
