do people here use either pre-workout or during workout shakes. I mean other then your protein shake that you take post workout. I've seen shakes that say to take before to get bigger pumps and more reps. Just wondering if they are a waste of money or something I should look into. I'm trying to build mass.

Hey man! Many bodybuilders usually take Pre-workout and Post-workout shakes. Whey( pre-workut) and Casein ( post-workout) are both protein. Both whey and casein are needed for proper nutrition. 

Whey is known as the “fast-acting” protein, meaning that the body can break it down and absorb the nutrients relatively quickly. You can choose from Whey powder, whey concentrate and whey isolate for your pre-workout.

Casein, often referred to as the “slow-acting” protein, takes slightly longer to digest .This is beneficial because, when the body is put under stress, such as with endurance exercise, the body needs to recover as soon as possible.

I usually take whey isolate for my pre-workout and post workout... sometimes I take casein if i have budget! BTW, consuming the right mass combination of carbohydrates to protein will give you serious mass that you want. Hope this will help you brotha!

Hey man!

I dont personally use an intra workout and neither should you. You might consider using BCAA's intra workout when you are cutting, because it has been shown to help preserve muscle mass while cutting.

For a pre-workout the best thing you should take is 5 minutes before stepping in the weight room and make your mind right. A good attitude and clear mind is all you need. Having said that, I have to agree with Mcmike above. Whey protein is perfect to take pre-workout. Not that it matters when you take it, but its a convenient time to slide it in. Many people love training with an empty stomach and so do I, but a banana and a scoop of whey works great 30-45 minutes before your workout.

As for a preworkout supplement, there are a lot. Do they help? Yes, they do. Personally, I have used Craze and NO.Xplode 2.0 and they both worked great. I got unbelievable results from Crazy and great results from Xplode but I stopped using them because they gave me anxiety and stress. I couldnt sleep well, and my heart was pounding. Even with half a scoop. They will give you pump though as well as strength and concentration/focus. I wouldnt really suggest them, because they can become addictive and then you have a hard time laying off of them.

Making your own preworkout supplement by bying the pure ingredients is a good idea too. Caffeine for focus and strength, citruline malate and arginine for pumps, and beta alanine and creatine for endurance/strength. In the long run it is much cheaper to "synthesise" your own rather than paying 40 dollars for 30 servings of a famous PW supplement.

Thats it from me!

#HTH!

I only have a protein shake post workout to spike insulin levels and create an anabolic response. If you have a pre-workout meal about 1 - 2 hours before training there is certainly no need for a pre-workout protein shake. In terms of intra-workout I am a huge adovocate. I take Anabolic Designs Aminotaur which is full of BCAAs. I find my training is better when I take it and my strength is increased. As Kostas said BCAAs do have an advantage when in a calorie deficit however you should also take them when in a surplus as I do.

If you are looking to primarily gain muscle mass try adding in 50g of maltodextrin (carbohydrate) into your post-workout shake.

Hey Wayne,

I personally have gone off pre-workouts. You don't NEED them, but they can definitely help give you an extra edge when you are tired. Also, pre-workout shakes like BSN N.O.-Xplode 2.0 are specifically designed to help increase blood flow, energy, and mental focus so they do have their benifits other than just taking them because you are tired.

I like to drink BSN AMINO-X. Consuming BCAAs during your workout is definitely a great idea to help with enery, offset DOMS and keep blood leucine levels high for muscle growth.

Thank you all for your inputs.

Whey protein is definitely not a waste of money bro. Its a very high quality protein and it is quickly digested which is why it's great before and after workouts. I have 2 scoops of whey with milk 45 minutes before I train and I have 2 more scoops of whey with milk immediately after I train. Its also good to get some fast digesting carbs in after a workout such as a glass of grape juice or orange juice to spike insulin.

Anytime man!

Hey man, I persoanlly use this pre workout combination which is a mix of a preworkout (Hemovez) and BCAA's (BCAA Sport). Like Scott said, you don't NEED the shake but it does help with the blood flow and mental focus.

One thing to keep in mind, like Whisper said, is that it could have negative side effects. Everyones body is different in how it absorbs nutrients. I'm pretty big guy at 6'1" 230lbs and taking 1 scoop of each works great for me, but if I give the exact same amount to my fiance who's 110lbs, she'll fly off the wall and have a better workout then me at the gym!

It's all about finding what works for you. For example, theres a pre workout called N'SANE and I took a 1/4 scoop and I literallty went insane. My workout was probably the greatest of my life, but it took hours before it wore off, made me super angry, and I couldn't sleep it off. Does this mean all pre workouts are bad? No, its all about finding what works for you becuase my firend Rico who was smaller than me, but pretty much all muscle with no body fat, was able to absorb a full scoop of N'SANE with no problem.

Hope this helps! Here is a link to the suppliments that I take:

http://nutrishopnm.com/shop/pre-workou/hemovex/

http://nutrishopnm.com/shop/repair-recovery/bcaa-sport/

And if you're interested in my post workout shake check out "My protein shake thread" others have also posted up what they take in that thread as well:

http://scotthermanfitness.com/forums.php?pageAction=POSTS&subForumID=29&threadID=368

Would there be any significant difference between taking your BCAA's just before your workout (thats what I've alway done) to taking them mid workout?

I really don't think so Markohumm,

I prefer to take mine during my workout just to have something to taste besides water. But if you are taking them daily... they are in your system.

I use BSN AMINO-x GRAPE... its like heaven to your tastebuds.

Hey Man,

I was anxious to buy a pre workout because of seeing everyone post about them. I bought 1MR Pre Workout and was pumped to use it. I used it for about a week then didnt have it in my bag and still worked out without it and didnt feel any different. I felt like a monster the first few days on it but probably only made me believe it was the Pre Workout. Many people use it and many people dont. Alot of people say its not worth it in the end. Good luck

Everyone has a different tolerance level to pre-workouts. Maybe you need to up the dosage to two scoops?

You don't NEED a pre-workout.. maybe just save it for the days you really need a kickstart?

I use BSN N.O.-Xplode 2.0.. Fruit Punch is my favorite flavor! #HTH

So i decided to try this preworkout called afterburne fuel and i a protein shake post workout. I was wondering if i will get fat taking the protein shake and gain muscle or just gain muscle?