[quote]i_am_ketosis wrote:
[quote]mathew260 wrote:
[quote]i_am_ketosis wrote:
Something I never understood:
If the point of pre-workout supplements are in part to give you these awesome pumps, why do most(if not all of them)contain insane amounts of caffeine, which is a vasoconstrictor? I’m not saying caffeine is bad by any means, but it does the exact opposite of what you want when you lift weights. After all the aakg, citrulline malate, etc, in addition to the caffeine, you are probably at the same place you started before you drank your pre-workout, but about $30 lighter in your wallet. [/quote]
I know caffeine is a mild vasoconstrictor, and does not have a huge impact on peripheral VC. It’s not like a pack a day habit. The other supps that promote nitric oxide release, are not negated by caffeine consumption to the extent they are cancelled out. I tried a google search just now but couldn’t really find anything extensive above what I already know. I didn’t even know it was a VC until i started using DMAA a couple years ago. I’ll have to check out pubmed and see if there have been any studies on caffeine and nitric oxide inhibition. In terms of personal experience, caffeine doesn’t seem to impact pumps at all. [/quote]
I’ve tried just about every pre-workout under the sun. Well, it’s been awhile since I’ve used any but I still think I’ve tried most of the big ones out there and I never really noticed a huge difference, pump wise. On the other hand, I’ve gone non pre-workout with a handful of l-arginine tabs(which is supposed to do jack shit on it’s own, or at least that’s what the science says)and had the best pumps of my life. This leads me to believe caffeine does inhibit the effects of vasodilation supplements when taken together to some extent, or it really doesn’t matter what supplements to take if you don’t work hard for that pump. I’m leaning towards the latter. Unless someone can chime in about getting a wicked pump by taking vasodilators while sitting on the couch watching tv.
I’m not saying those supplements are worthless either, I’m just saying we might be fooling ourselves a bit on how effective and or necessary they are. [/quote]
Hmm. Yea it depends on which one you were using. Most, at the minimum dose do not have enough ingredients to increase nitric oxide levels to the degree where it would be noticeable. It also depends on diet and all the other secondary factors. Carbs, vegetables and fruits all increase nitric oxide levels and carbs contribute a great deal to pumps, so all things equal, it would be interesting to see if caffeine is the difference. I take upwards of 300-500 g on some and days don’t notice any difference. I also take my own pre- workout blend currently, which includes 6 g of citrulline malate, and my wife notices a HUGE difference if you catch my drift. Things like aspirin, and garlic can make a difference in blood circulation so a weekend of Italian food, and a backache or two followed by a Monday with sets of 8-12 will give you a workout with insane pumps. Opposed to Friday morning after a light breakfast, late hours all week, cigars with poker the night before and a Waterbury 10x3 day.