I am not the greatest fan of all the pre-workout products available on the market today. Some of them actually scare me. Many of them contain a very high amount of caffeine, or equivalent to 3-4 cups espresso in one shot. This is alarmingly high amount of caffeine, that can lead to increased heart rate, high blood pressure, weak adrenals, kidney failure – and other pretty serious problems!
I can understand why athletics and others use pre-workouts. Most people get more energy when they consume it and can therefor train harder and more intense. But we have to consider if it is worth it? We have to take in the picture both the benefits and the risk of our actions. I am one of those that can not tolerate these high caffeine pre-workouts. I have a very sensitive body and need to take good care of myself. But I train hard and love to have high energy while I am training. What I have found out works wonder for me is a combination of fruits, super fruits and fat before training, in moderate amount.
Here is my pre-workout recipe. I do not need to consume a lot of it to get massive energy. It tastes like chocolate candy, but instead of draining my energy like pre-workout drinks do, it gives me power!
- 1 banana
- ½ avocado
- 1-2 dates
- 1 tsp. Raw cacao powder (you can use more if you like, I just want the benefits, but not the heavy chocolate taste)
- 1 tsp. Lucuma powder (optional)
- 1 tsp. Maca powder (optional)
- 1-1,5 tsp coconut oil
- Water and/or almond milk (as required – choose a consistent that you like)
Why do I use these super fruits and why do I consume fat before working out?
Lucuma is a super fruit that gives a bit of a sweet taste, but it does not spike the blood sugar. It contains iron that helps oxygen to get into the cells, it is rich in vitamin-B3 which is important vitamin for muscle development. Lucuma is also anti-inflammatory, a great wound healer and supports the digestion process. All very important for energy, growth and post workout healing.
Maca is an excellent all-natural energy source that improves stamina. It is also a good hormone stabilizer and a great promoter for clear mental focus. It is important to have a good mental focus while training. Remember, what you focus on, grows!
Raw cacao is known for it‘s high amount of antioxidants, that shield the cells from damaging. It is also known for its benefits on heart health, cardiovascular system, insulin production and is rich in important minerals, that can be lost while training – magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper, calcium, manganese and iron. And it boosts your mood, which can help make your training even better.
Coconut oil not only gives the food, you add it to, a greater taste, moist and creaminess; but it also digests slower than carbohydrates, that gives longer lasting energy. Even though it is fat and it digests slowly, it does not mean that it makes you fat. Quite the reverse, coconut oil is actually weight loss friendly fat. The combination of the fatty acid in coconut oil has a powerful effect on the metabolism system.
If you are a fan of coconut water, you can use that instead of water or almond milk. It changes the taste a little, but it is REALLY hydrating and fills the body with lost electrolytes. Personally, I do not like it in my pre-workout drink, but sometimes I drink a bottle of coconut water while I train or after training. It is actually a great post-workout drink!!
Have a great workout ❤
