In this article, Stim vs Stim-Free Pre-Workouts, I will go over the benefits and differences of each of these types of Pre’s. Plus, I will review how to use them, what to stack them with, and whether or not you should cycle them. Finally, I’ll provide a few product suggestions. Let’s get going!
To Stim Or Not To Stim
Many lifters love a good high-stim Pre (definitely me!), but they are not for everybody. Simply put, not everyone wants stims. Furthermore, not everyone is able to use a stim pre-workout. Why, you might ask? If you work out later in the evening, you need to be able to go to sleep not long after you’re done. That last thing you need is a lot of stims. For those users, stim-free is the way to go. Another reason is that some people are very sensitive to caffeine. Yet another reason to use a stim-free pre.
The Advantages Of A Stim Pre-Workout
For many lifters, a stim pre is the best way to go. The stim complex is designed to give you energy (sometimes extreme energy), focus, and alertness. For many lifters, the stims help you get the absolute most from your training sessions. I’m someone that wants the stims. I’m not, nor have I ever been, a high energy person. So not only do I drink coffee, I like to use a Pre with about 400 mg of caffeine, plus any other stims I can get. But let’s be clear. I want balance. When I train, I want and use pre-workouts that give me motivation (think mind-muscle connection), endurance, pumps, focus and overall performance.
It’s true you can use a stim-based pre anytime you like. Even so, if you use one in the early evening, you most likely will have a hard time sleeping. Therefore, probably the best time to use a stim pre-workout, especially a high-stim Pre, is earlier in the day, say morning to very early afternoon.
Stim-Pre-Workout Suggestions
Here are a few suggested products.
Gorilla Mind Gorilla Mode
This is easily one of the best pre’s on the market, with 400 mg caffeine,
GAT Sport Nitraflex Ultra
Here’s a great newcomer with 350 mg of caffeine and 50 mg of Dynamine.
Alpha Supps Pre
A top contender in the “Core” pre-workout category, with 425 mg of caffeine from two sources.
The Advantages Of A Stim-Free Pre-Workout
Stim-free pre’s have become more popular in recent years. The advantage of a good stim-free pre-workout is that they will usually drive the pump to the max. Sometimes you will find one that also pushes focus to the extreme. Since these pre-workouts are stim-free, you can use one whenever you want, day or night. Not to mention, if you happen to be sensitive to caffeine and/or other stimulants, a stim-free pre-workout has your back. You can still get the pump, plus elevated focus and more endurance, with zero stims to worry about.
Stim-Free Pre-Workout Suggestions
Bucked Up PUMP-Ocalypse
A great stim-free pump powerhouse, with an impressive 3.5 grams of patented glycerol.
Using A Pre-Workout
For Best Results
To get the most out of your pre-workout, make sure you take it with 10-14 ounces of cold water 30 minutes before you train. Many pre’s suggest a 2 scoop serving, so more water makes sense. Also be sure you’ve eaten at least one meal about an hour or two beforehand. The later in the day you train, the more pre-workout meals you should be eating.
Cycling
Not everyone cycles their pre-workouts, but some lifters do, especially when using stim-based products. Personally, I tend to shop for the best deals, so in the sense that I may switch brands every couple months is as close as I ever come to cycling. I’ve been mainly using the new “Core” pre’s, which give you streamlined formulas at great prices. The thing is, each company’s idea of a streamlined formula can vary quite a bit.
Stacking
You can stack any pre-workout, stim or stim-free. What do you stack it with? Common Stacks include stacking your Pre with glycerol. This ingredient is, to me, the best thing since creatine monohydrate. When I use glycerol I not only get insane water-based pumps, I get incredible endurance. Another great Stack combo would be your Pre and creatine. Still another great Stack would be your Pre and an EAA powder. Better yet, stack everything I just mentioned for the ultimate pre-workout combo.
Pre and Post-Workout Nutrition & Supplementation
Pre and post workout nutrition and supplementation is critical to your workout success. As mentioned, don’t forget to have at least one pre-workout meal. Timing should be about an hour and a half to a couple of hours before you take your pre-workout. Again as noted, if you workout later, eat as many small meals as you can, with the last meal fitting into the above suggested timeframe. All meals should be light but high in protein and medium to high glycemic carbohydrates.
In fact, all the meals you have before your workout should be high in simple and complex carbs as well as protein. Then, as noted earlier, take your pre-workout with 10-14 ounces of water 30 minutes before you train. And of course, do not neglect your post-workout shake as soon as your workout is over, followed by a balanced meal about 2 hours later.
Summary
In this article, we’ve seen the advantages of stim and stim-free pre-workouts. We’ve also seen the best times to take a stim or stim-free pre, how to use them, what to stack them with, and finally, we reviewed pre and post workout nutrition. When it’s time to buy your next pre-workout, don’t forget to use the tips presented here and stop by illpumpyouup com for all your pre-workout needs!