Pre work out supplement if you can only exercise after a strenuous work day

[RenaldoK]

Already having a 4am start to my day, the only time I have available to train is at 6pm when I get home. The problem with this is that I am quite strained an depleted at that time. What pre-workout would you suggest to have on the way home to ease the burden?

[JK7]

I wouldn't take any stimulant that time of day. Most preworkouts will have caffeine and other stimulants, and that will likely impair sleep, which will be more detrimental than a ride at a reduced effort.

 

Your body will adapt. First few rides will suck. Stick it out. You will get into it. Embrace the suck. More a mental thing at that time of day.

 

Hope that helps. Probably not what you want to hear

[King_Crispy]

Get a new job

[Chris_]

I didn't know people took pre-workout for cycling, unless you really are THAT tired, in which case maybe your body is trying to tell you something...

 

Agreed on the stimulants so late in the day, it's not ideal and depending on how sensitive you are to it it could ruin your sleep. Some of us though do get used to it over a long enough time so worst case it could be worth experimenting with. They're mostly filled with similar ingredients, and all filled with superfluous marketing so just pick a flavor you like. It's not like any of them are 'good' for you anyway.

 

What about joining an indoor class type thing in the evening? A little competitive edge always gets the blood going.

[daveno7]

Already having a 4am start to my day, the only time I have available to train is at 6pm when I get home. The problem with this is that I am quite strained an depleted at that time. What pre-workout would you suggest to have on the way home to ease the burden?

if you are training....have a few sessions spread over the week rather than everyday...

as others have suggested avoid too much caffine etc...have a good diet...bananas and oats combined etc are good...and maybe keep a food diary...good carbs etc over the week are a good idea

[Veebee]

Have a good coffee and a banana around 4pm, that should help you out.

 

But if you really want to try a pre-workout, you do get stimulant free stuff so look at those. Might still mess with your sleep but won't be as bad as those loaded with caffeine and other stims.

[Jewbacca]

Wouldn't endorfins and dopamine mess with sleep more than mild caffeine?

 

When I exercise in the evenings I struggle to sleep due to the above. 

 

When I eventually do it is a good sleep, but I tend to avoid finishing my runs or trainer rides after 6.

 

Like anything though, once you start being consistent, your body will settle into a routine soon enough.

 

IMHO nothing in a bottle or out of a jar can supplement motivation.

Edited January 27, 2021 by Jewbacca

[fanievb]

 

IMHO nothing in a bottle or out of a jar can supplement motivation.

This.

 

And a nice afternoon snack. Fruit or nuts or something natural, i.e. from nature not a factory

[Long Wheel Base]

Since having kids my early morning weekday rides have pretty much disappeared all together. Now, 90% of my training is late at night on the IDT and it is only once the kids have all gone to sleep so I have had dinner already and then anywhere between 19h00 and 21h00 I get onto the IDT. So for me my pre-workout supplement is dinner. On the weekends if I know I will be on the trainer for like 2 hours I have a cappuccino after dinner and when I hit the bed close to midnight I go straight to sleep. I am up again around 04h00 during the week as I also start work nice and early. In the beginning I struggled and was half asleep on the IDT and couldn't really get out of zone 2. Now I am used to it and actually prefer training at night.

[MTBeer]

Chow a banana or two and some biltong or nuts. Supplements are just going to pump your body full of rubbish.

[Aurora]

I use Nutritech Nuke for exactly this. 

I take half the recommended dosage and works just fine. 

It has never made me struggle to sleep afterwards either. 

[Jbr]

Avoid stimulants etc before training rides, keep that for race days and maybe very hectic workouts.

Just have something sweet before your ride and electrolites in your water as it's pretty hot at the moment even at 6. Start slow, you will feel better once you're starting to enjoy the ride

[Nico van Loggerenberg]

Scoop of Pronutro    brings back the childlike energy

[MrJacques]

Creatine HCL, maybe.

 

But it might affect your sleep later.

[RocknRolla]

Keep it natural. Bananas preferable, about 15 to 20mins before your ride.

 

You can also keep your intensity lower during your ride. Not sure about your training load or fitness level. but not every session needs to be balls to the wall sweatpuddle type  of workout. Long term these will just fatigue you with no gains in fitness.

[corrie.kuilder]

What usually works for me, Bottle with Bcaa's during training, espresso shot before training,just make sure you had a light snack (PB on appleslices/provita) earlier to avoid that mid afternoon slump