If it works for you then that's fine but IME milk feel like it's increasing saliva levels so you feel like having to spit more and clear your throat. Milk tends to coat (internal) surfaces. Maybe it's to do with the fat so I take your point about using skimmed milk...not something I've drunk for years.
Pre-workout drinks
Re: Pre-workout drinks
Paul, 49M, 5'11" 83kg (sprint PBs HWT), ex biker now lifting
Deadlift=190kg, LP=1:15, 100m=15.7s, 1min=350m
Targets: 14s (100m), 355m+ 1min, 1:27(500m), 3:11(1K)
Erg on!
Deadlift=190kg, LP=1:15, 100m=15.7s, 1min=350m
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Targets: 14s (100m), 355m+ 1min, 1:27(500m), 3:11(1K)
Erg on!
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- 500m Poster
- Posts: 71
- Joined: November 1st, 2019, 1:10 pm
Re: Pre-workout drinks
Hey i'm with you! Nothing gets between me and my morning coffee; i go to bed excited every night because bedtime means that soon i get to drink more coffee. Only point is, those "pre-workout" formulas that the gym bros use--some with outrageous names like "Total War" or whatever--have a lot of ingredients, but very often the only ones that have been clinically demonstrated to be effective as ergogenic aids (and, importantly, safe) are caffeine and creatine.alex90 wrote: ↑January 3rd, 2020, 2:37 amI can’t say a ‘grainy’ coffee appeals to me! Or adding a boat load of other stimulants found in them. Though there are plenty of home made recipes out there.dknickerbocker wrote: ↑January 2nd, 2020, 4:12 pmbefore the gym, I often use a pre-workout. Current one i'm trying out is called PurePump as it's natural and i think certified to not contain banned substances. Although my guess is that you could do just as well by adding creatine to your coffee in the morning, bc pretty sure those are the only ingredients that do much.
Age: 36. Weight: 72kg ht: 5'10"
5K: 19:21. 10K: 41:42. 30min: 7,518
5K: 19:21. 10K: 41:42. 30min: 7,518
Re: Pre-workout drinks
I've drunk too much of the stuff for years which is probably bad (as is anything taken to excess) but I don't notice any side effects. However, in recent years I have seen some psuedo science progs on TV that claim to prove that milk was actually the best post exercise re-hydration option and the best for muscle recovery. Beat water and all the isotonics and specialist sports drinks, etc. (Of course the study could have been financed by the Milk Marketing Board, I've no idea, but since it validated what I already do, I was delighted!)Gammmmo wrote: ↑January 3rd, 2020, 3:50 amIf it works for you then that's fine but IME milk feel like it's increasing saliva levels so you feel like having to spit more and clear your throat. Milk tends to coat (internal) surfaces. Maybe it's to do with the fat so I take your point about using skimmed milk...not something I've drunk for years.
Mike - 67 HWT 183
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Re: Pre-workout drinks
Ain't nuthin wrong with consuming plenty milk. Lots of b vits calcium etc etc. I like a good swig of milk or bowl of 3-4 weetabix before bed.. it helps promote sleep and the weetabix is good for dem muscle gains 

46 yo male 5'10 88kg (Rowing since june 9th 2016) PB's 5k 19:22 30min 7518m
Re: Pre-workout drinks
I used to have Weetabix for breakfast every weekday (oatmeal on weekends) but other than on Amazon (at an exorbitant price) I can't find it anymore (St Louis MO, USA), so none for me.
Re: Pre-workout drinks
No I know...as long as you're not lactose intolerant! Alot of people are aren't don't know it. I consume ALOT of whole milk for the good fats in it and as a way to get easy calories in althought FWIW prefer semi-skimmed in my British cuppa (tea). My point was that milk doesn't work for me as a pre-workout drink for the reason cited but the caveat to that being skimmed milk may be better on the grounds of reduced fat potentially being the reason for increased phlegm. Chocolate milk is often held up as a good recovery drink, MPx.
ASIDE: Anth, I notice since doing more weights your own weight hasn't gone up that much. Is that because you are reducing fat too, or because you're focusing more on isolation exercises or ...? Compound exercsies have been my bread and butter and by eating 3000+ cals/day I am steadily gaining weight and strength without adding a tonne of fat.
Paul, 49M, 5'11" 83kg (sprint PBs HWT), ex biker now lifting
Deadlift=190kg, LP=1:15, 100m=15.7s, 1min=350m
Targets: 14s (100m), 355m+ 1min, 1:27(500m), 3:11(1K)
Erg on!
Deadlift=190kg, LP=1:15, 100m=15.7s, 1min=350m

Targets: 14s (100m), 355m+ 1min, 1:27(500m), 3:11(1K)
Erg on!
Re: Pre-workout drinks
I think I saw "Total War"...is that a Redcon product? The reason I started the thread was because I was wondering whether proprietary blends (of pre-workouts) are any different having seen them mentioned by quite a few fitness Youtubers I watch. Now, obviously I know some of those may well be on the payroll of the manufactuers but I've never actually tried such a product so was curious...dknickerbocker wrote: ↑January 3rd, 2020, 1:55 pmHey i'm with you! Nothing gets between me and my morning coffee; i go to bed excited every night because bedtime means that soon i get to drink more coffee. Only point is, those "pre-workout" formulas that the gym bros use--some with outrageous names like "Total War" or whatever--have a lot of ingredients, but very often the only ones that have been clinically demonstrated to be effective as ergogenic aids (and, importantly, safe) are caffeine and creatine.
Paul, 49M, 5'11" 83kg (sprint PBs HWT), ex biker now lifting
Deadlift=190kg, LP=1:15, 100m=15.7s, 1min=350m
Targets: 14s (100m), 355m+ 1min, 1:27(500m), 3:11(1K)
Erg on!
Deadlift=190kg, LP=1:15, 100m=15.7s, 1min=350m

Targets: 14s (100m), 355m+ 1min, 1:27(500m), 3:11(1K)
Erg on!
Re: Pre-workout drinks
At the moment, my schedule involves waking at 4:45am and getting on the gym erg by around 5:20. Not much time for breakfast or proper prep. Which means I do sip a pre-workout on the way.
In terms of performance, I can’t really rate them as the few I tried had different levels of ingredients. But for me, I liked the Grenade 50 calibre cola flavour. And currently I am using ‘no x-plode’ by finish first.
As I say, I wouldn’t particularly recommend anyone to take these, for me I’m just needing a quick boost to get me going. I do feel a difference around 30 minutes into a session - seem to get a sort of tunnel vision, and you really focus on the screen and everything around you fades out. But maybe that is down to the product or maybe not
In terms of performance, I can’t really rate them as the few I tried had different levels of ingredients. But for me, I liked the Grenade 50 calibre cola flavour. And currently I am using ‘no x-plode’ by finish first.
As I say, I wouldn’t particularly recommend anyone to take these, for me I’m just needing a quick boost to get me going. I do feel a difference around 30 minutes into a session - seem to get a sort of tunnel vision, and you really focus on the screen and everything around you fades out. But maybe that is down to the product or maybe not
37M HW, 5'10 (178cm), 95kg
2k: 7:29.8, 5k: 19:37.2, 10k: 40:34.9, HM: 1:28.56.8, 30R20: 7211m
2k: 7:29.8, 5k: 19:37.2, 10k: 40:34.9, HM: 1:28.56.8, 30R20: 7211m
Re: Pre-workout drinks
I've definitely packed on more size Paul, since last time i was on the scales, and that was a long time ago, and when i was mostly rowing and rowing 5-6 days a week as well. So ignore the weight stat in my sig!!!! Tbh, i need some new scales as my old one's got broken and i've not bothered getting a replacement!!! As for reducing BF, i am leaner now, and belly fat is much reduced, i believe that is not just down to the better diet, but also now training smarter and allowing my body to recover properly.Gammmmo wrote: ↑January 4th, 2020, 4:22 amASIDE: Anth, I notice since doing more weights your own weight hasn't gone up that much. Is that because you are reducing fat too, or because you're focusing more on isolation exercises or ...? Compound exercsies have been my bread and butter and by eating 3000+ cals/day I am steadily gaining weight and strength without adding a tonne of fat.
46 yo male 5'10 88kg (Rowing since june 9th 2016) PB's 5k 19:22 30min 7518m
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- 500m Poster
- Posts: 71
- Joined: November 1st, 2019, 1:10 pm
Re: Pre-workout drinks
Not sure about Total War—haven’t used it, just threw the name out bc it’s the most outrageous (in a good way) product name I’ve seen so farGammmmo wrote: ↑January 4th, 2020, 4:29 amI think I saw "Total War"...is that a Redcon product? The reason I started the thread was because I was wondering whether proprietary blends (of pre-workouts) are any different having seen them mentioned by quite a few fitness Youtubers I watch. Now, obviously I know some of those may well be on the payroll of the manufactuers but I've never actually tried such a product so was curious...dknickerbocker wrote: ↑January 3rd, 2020, 1:55 pmHey i'm with you! Nothing gets between me and my morning coffee; i go to bed excited every night because bedtime means that soon i get to drink more coffee. Only point is, those "pre-workout" formulas that the gym bros use--some with outrageous names like "Total War" or whatever--have a lot of ingredients, but very often the only ones that have been clinically demonstrated to be effective as ergogenic aids (and, importantly, safe) are caffeine and creatine.

I think the blends ARE different but I’m not sure how much of a difference it makes when all is said and done
Age: 36. Weight: 72kg ht: 5'10"
5K: 19:21. 10K: 41:42. 30min: 7,518
5K: 19:21. 10K: 41:42. 30min: 7,518
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- Paddler
- Posts: 3
- Joined: January 15th, 2020, 1:29 am
Re: Pre-workout drinks
I find good well timed food more beneficial than pre-workout drinks.
I've experimented with quite a few things, but for the most part; caffeine, water and a decent amount of carbs will get 99% of the job done.
If I'm attempting a PR I'll follow something more like this - over a week of rest I would work up to 10g creatine, 10g beta alanine, 200mg caffiene. Around 30-45 minutes before I would drink around 500mL of water with sports drink concentrate (carbs/electrolytes). 60-90 minutes before I would eat a decent amount of carbs, usually you need to find what works best for you (what sits well). I found my best to be a toasted sandwich with 2 bananas inside. 120-240 minutes out I'll have a high carb, low fat, low protein meal, generally a bunch of rice or sweat potato, as well as a small smoothie with a bunch of blended spinach in orange juice.
If it's a really long piece, it's worth exploring water, electrolyte and carb loading the day before, but probably not needed unless your exceeding 60-120 minutes of effort. I would typically just do it anyway since I end up doing 2-a-days.
I've experimented with quite a few things, but for the most part; caffeine, water and a decent amount of carbs will get 99% of the job done.
If I'm attempting a PR I'll follow something more like this - over a week of rest I would work up to 10g creatine, 10g beta alanine, 200mg caffiene. Around 30-45 minutes before I would drink around 500mL of water with sports drink concentrate (carbs/electrolytes). 60-90 minutes before I would eat a decent amount of carbs, usually you need to find what works best for you (what sits well). I found my best to be a toasted sandwich with 2 bananas inside. 120-240 minutes out I'll have a high carb, low fat, low protein meal, generally a bunch of rice or sweat potato, as well as a small smoothie with a bunch of blended spinach in orange juice.
If it's a really long piece, it's worth exploring water, electrolyte and carb loading the day before, but probably not needed unless your exceeding 60-120 minutes of effort. I would typically just do it anyway since I end up doing 2-a-days.
31 / Male / Brisbane, Australia / 6'1 / 75KG
100M: 14.0, 500M: 1:19.5, 1000M: 2:58.0
100M: 14.0, 500M: 1:19.5, 1000M: 2:58.0