Any of you stand up guys use caffeine pre workout?

Long story short I had abused caffeine and stims for a long time. Suffered from adrenl fatigue. Something like 10 years now. So I recently started cutting back. After last week when I drank an amped and felt like I wanted to sleep. Got my head kicked in for 15 rounds.

So curious what you guys use pre workout before training sessions. I'm done with caffeine and shit. Got to the point that 3 big redbulls a day and I was tired.

 

interesting. i never looked into adrenal fatigue and caffeine much. I like coffee but I only drink it on weekend mornings these days.

After drinking coffee I feel drowsy. It's weird coffee has always had this effect on me, makes me sleepy. Where as beer and alcohol get me wide awake.

I was told last year though a family friend who is also a highly respected surgeon and accupuncture/accupressure specialist that the reason I get drowsy is because I have overactive adrenal glands. She told me all this after touching my wrist and then my back for about 20 seconds.

but i still don't understand though how having "overactive adrenal glands" will give me the sleepyness feeling after coffee.

 

Well here's my take on it. If they are overactive they are constantly worked much like mine were from too much caffeine, ephedra. So in turn you drink a coffee and ask for more output that isn't there. Therefore taxing the body just to output very minute if any. I absolutely hit a wall. Every 5 hours taking 3 scoops of no explode or 24 oz redbulls or 24 oz coffee. I was irritable and fatigued and anxious beyond belief. I feel better everyday. It's only been bout 5 days so far. Maybe a cup of coffee in am and that's it

 

i would really recommend not doing it, ruined my shoulder and vomited during the same night the last time i tried training on it. it also made my cardio horrible when on it

 

That basically what it does for me, I can usually go a fair amount of rounds but if I have any caffeine the day I spar or train Im huffing and puffing 4 rounds in.

 

SO what do you guys use pre workout

 

I drink it when im working my upper body and core, but as for actually striking, that's a bad idea.

Your refelxes will be way too tense.

 

drink some water, eat some oatmeal, and stretch.

 

I made the decision to get back into it like 8 weeks ago and training has been hit and miss. I'm down to a coffee or two upon waking but already today I feel sluggish and burned out from it an hour later. And now I need a nap. Tomorrow I'm going to attempt to workout with none. It's become a bad habit. If I'm going somewhere I grab a coffee all the time. But tomorrow will he caffeine free.

I was feeling overtrained like when you try to lift 5 days a week doing a million sets but it transferred to striking. Too bad it took so long to figure it all out. Lol

 

I would advise not taking caffeine before training MAs. For one, intensity doesn't seem like it will help you learn(unless your doing clinch work at 4 in the morning)

If you have to dose before doing some activity, that activity may not be for you

 

I agree. I needed a redbull every four hours just to get through the day. Just to get out of bed. It's a viscious cycle

 

Yeah screw caffiene. It wakes you up for a bit but then i always feel flat and get a pretty bad headache. I always have a bowl of yoghurt, banana and nuts before i train.

 

After reading this thread, I'm guessing green tea before workouts are bad. All I ever drink nowadays is green tea and water.

 

I never used anything like that. Caffeine dehydrates you, so essentially while you may feel this initial rush, by the time you reach the sparring point of your training sessions, you will feel exhausted. Try carb loading (u.e eat some pasta before training day).

Ask yourself this, do you think any conditioned martial artist...(Taekwondo, Karate, Muay Thai, BJJ, Judo, Sambo, San Shou) would drink coffee before working out?

 

Very true. Today will be day one with none. Just took my vit b, c, and aminos and going to work out shortly. I was to the point I needed it to function. So I'm excited to see how the cardio system feels without it. My trainer tells me my heart rate will never come back down low enough between rounds if using caffeine. He was very against it

 

exactly

 

For a pre workout supplement, try Gaspari Superpump 250.

I've taken a number of other pre workout supplements in the past and they all left me with a jittery, hopped up feeling due to all the sugar and caffine contained in them.

Superpump has no sugar, aspartame, or caffine. You can google the active ingredients yourself to see what exactly it contains but from my experience there is nothing like it. The best description I can give as to it's effectiveness and which I have found to be true is this quote from Gaspari:

 

I take between 200 mg 400 mg pre-workout, depending on how intense I am lifting. I never take it before BJJ or striking.

 

Well just a little update. Sparred about 15 rounds. Cardio wise I felt great. Endurance seemed to be the problem. Couldn't go for as long as I was able to. Hopefully the body will adjust

 

15 rounds?