Pre Workout Tip For Higher Energy Levels

For those of you who want to add a little more energy to your workouts, you might want to give this gym workout tip a try.

I've been using this weight training tip on and off now for over 15 years and it helps me add a little bit of energy to my workouts.

This workout tip is very simple to do and can help you boost your workouts if you've been feeling a little tired or lazy in the gym.

By adding this simple gym workout tip to your weight training sessions, you can add more energy to your workouts, especially during those hard and heavy leg days where you have absolutely no energy left after you've completed your squats.

Here's what I usually do. I'll make myself a workout drink. It's a pretty simple drink and one that you can make up, right in your kitchen sink.

What I do is make the drink, put it in the freezer for about 30 minutes and than take it to the gym with me. Along with this drink, I'll take a bottle of water with me. The drink is made up of:

• Simple carbohydrates - Dextrose;
• Whey Protein;
• Drink crystals - usually cherry or lemon - lime crystals

That's it. You can get all of these ingredients from your local bulk food store and the ingredients are usually dirt cheap. You can usually get a months supply for under 20 bucks.

What I do is mix one and half tablespoons of dextrose, two tablespoons of whey, and one and a half tablespoons of cherry flavoured crystals with about 3 or 4 cups of water (1000 ml).

I usually add these ingredients to a shaker bottle, which you can get at your local wal-mart or k-mart in the tupperware section. Remember to really shake the mixture well so that no clumps of whey are sitting at the top of the drink.

Now, depending on your size, you may want to play around with the amounts. Also, you may want to get a mixture that suits your taste. You may also be wondering why you may need this kind of workout drink. Well, you don't.

I'm not saying it's necessary because it isn't. However, I have personally done some experimenting and have found that when I'm doing some very intense workouts, this kind of workout drink helps me with my energy levels.

I think it's because after a hard and heavy set of squats, my glycogen levels are way down and need instant replenishing. Some of you may be able to relate because after my final set of heavy squats, all I want to do is lie down and sleep. It takes all my energy plus my reserves to get up, and drag my ass over to the leg press machine.

I've found that once I start sipping on a protein/carbohydrate drink while I'm working out, my physical and mental focus improves. Since whey protein is absorbed almost instantly (with the help of the dextrose), it helps keep my protein levels high during high intensity workouts.

If your goal is to build muscle and strength, than you have to keep your glycogen levels high. That is, you must always strive to replenish your glycogen levels during and immediately after your workouts. This way, you have a steady stream of energy going to your muscles during your workout.

Essentially what your doing is allowing your body to have a constant flow of amino acids and glucose which in turn, go directly to your muscles. This will help prevent muscle breakdown and glycogen depletion.

You are also suppressing cortisol concentrations which is a good thing because cortisol is an catabolic hormone that helps breakdown muscle tissue. Not only that, you are also improving your bodies blood flow.

In essence, by sipping on a protein/carbohydrate drink during your workouts, your giving your muscles a boost and will allow you to get over that “training hump” that sometimes occurs during workouts. It will allow you to train harder and heavier from start to finish.

Also, you may want to bring a bottle of water during your workouts in addition to the protein/carbohydrate drink. Remember, you want to slowly sip your drink because if you chug the drink in one sitting, you may end up with a slightly upset stomach.

Here's what I suggest, start sipping on your drink once you've done your warm ups and initial sets. If your thirsty, bring your water bottle with you as well.

All the best,

Blake