thoughts on craze pre workout?

[softie]

i went through about half a tub of craze preworkout couple weeks back and then my mum watched a thing about pre workouts and craze got mentioned about being bad so she took it off me, i found the tub at the botttom of the cupboards and was just wondering whats really bad about it ive done my research and they say nothing is to bad about it but i think its banned now?, im16 turning 17 in a month should i even be taking pre workouts? all my mates do and there around the same age they take like curse and xplode and stuff, i dont really need the pre workout i just really dont mind having that extra pump and doing that 1 more rep.
so any way im just asking your guys opinions on craze pre workout, if i should take pre workouts and if so what are some good 1s? your guys thoughts would be much appreciated

[FellowshipOfTheRon]

do you need preworkouts?

nah no one does its a a nice to have not a must have like good food and rest. having said that though, athletes/lifters of all sizes, ages and different goals can benefit from them in though you'll find some people are so dependant on it that they just can't go gym if they don't get a good 2 shots of their NO Xplode lol. you gotta learn to work really hard without it and find that will power within yourself to keep pushing through and every now and then add in the preworkout stimulants to help get you that extra rep (sounds like you're doing it right). that willpower/drive/determination is so important and way too many people overlook that aspect and head straight to the chemical concoctions.

 

the tv feature - 

i know exactly the one you're talking about lol. that was a very misinformed view on the matter. the instructions say to start with 1 scoop or less on your first try.. the reporter who doesn't even work out and never took stims before went straight for 3 scoops (which is insanely strong, her heart rate would have jumped even if all she did was sit on the couch). not only that but she was taken in to a high intensity workout for some reason which would also be bashing her heart. sure enough, her heart rate skyrocketed and she was experiencing all kinds of strange feelings. in fact what happened was nothing out of the ordinary, the results would have been exactly the same if she had some red bull or starbucks before heading in to that gym session, only over sensationalized because a) she strongly overdosed it b) typical media scandal/shock value

 

is it banned?

yes it banned as it contained a banned substance (DMAA 1,3) and should not have been on the shelf. i don't remember the exact details but i think it had something to do with them not being able to prove that it was a naturally occuring extract of something (not because it was super harmful).

 

alternatives -

the pre-made stimulants are very expensive and many contain lots of shitty fillers that you don't want/need in your system. one point that the TV feature highlighted that we should all note is that there were products which contained shit that wasn't written on the label - definately something to be worried about. i wouldn't chuck out my tub of craze if i had it but i wouldn't go buy another one any time soon either. completely cut out stuff like fizzy drinks and other caffienated drinks like coffee, that'll get your sensitivity to caffiene up real quick. then you can start just drinking a cup of coffee every now and then before gym when you feel you need a boost. you'll find even cheap stuff like a cup of coffee will give you a very noticable bump in energy when you keep your diet clean like that.

 

 

anyway i don't want to sound like a dodgy guy encouraging a impresionable 16 year old to take a banned substance, your mum is just in a position where shes trying to do the best for her kid based on the information (very bad information) she got from the media. if i were in your position i would save the tub and use it as required rather than chuck it out. once it ran out i would take a break from any stimulants for like a month then just drink some coffee everynow and then before a session.. if you need to go a bit stronger then there are 200mg caffiene pills (each one is like 4 coffees) which can be had for real cheap but honestly you shouldn't need that until ages later.

 

disclaimer : with all your supplements make sure you understand what it is that you are putting in to your body and that you need to be sensible about serving sizes as well as keeping yourself well hydrated. this is even more important if you are in or intend to enter any drug tested sports federations.

[softie]

thanks man! very helpful, yea i think ill just finish the tub and wait a while see how im going and then i might look at getting another pre workout later in the future

[Pseudonym]

Awesome post, Ron! I missed it the first time round. Repped.

*good*

[STUMBLES]

I swear by Peak Body Kaffeine Kick as my Pre Workout.  Straight after my last meal before lifting I will take some Twinlab MCT Fuel, about 45mins later and about 30 mins before liftoff I have a serving of Kaffeine Kick.   Drama is - I am moving to NZ soon and I cant get either KK or Twinlab MCT anywhere - I have looked all over Trade Me, Suppzilla etc etc...... As mentioned by Ron - a good strong coffee can do the trick just as well !    We had Jack3D up here with the DMAA in it & it got banned - pulled off the shelf.  If you use a pre workout all the time, when you come to a comp then you just dont get the same benifit, you end up using twice as much to get a buzz, then injure yourself cos you are way over your top capacity for lifting.