3 Weird Pre-Workout Alternatives That Actually Work

Whether you’re new to the gym or an experienced bodybuilder, we can all agree that our bodies each respond differently to all sorts of aspects of training. This can be applied to the exercises you prefer, your love/hate relationships with different machines, or to the supplements you take.

Pre-workout drinks have become more and more divisive in recent years, primarily due to the high volume of caffeine per serving, which can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort, paresthesia, and even cardiovascular issues. But if pre-workouts aren’t for you, we still recommend that you find an alternative to get you energised before heading to the gym. Here are some suggestions:

1: Beetroot Juice

Known for its distinctive colour and divisive flavour, beetroot juice has become a widely adopted pre-workout alternative – particularly by natural lifters who prefer not to consume processed supplements (or worse). 

Beetroot juice contains nitrates that convert to nitric oxide, which will boost both your blood flow and oxygen delivery to muscles, resulting in an almighty pump that’ll draw envious looks from even the most experienced, unnaturally enormous bodybuilders. 

For the best results, drink just over an hour before your workout. Just a heads up: don’t be surprised if your urine or poop are red – it’s completely normal.

2: Nicotine 

This recommendation is aimed at anyone who is already a smoker or vaper. Because yes, vaping and smoking in particular carry substantial health risks, so if you’re looking to quit, while at the same time searching for a pre-workout that’ll give you a boost in the gym, nicotine might be a good option for you.

Multiple studies and meta-analyses have found that nicotine increases alertness, reaction times, and fine motor skills, making it a potentially viable alternative to both pre-workout and smoking. You can find nicotine in the form of gum or pouches, like Nicopods. 

Also, if you’re a smoker, quit smoking. 

3: Honey and Salt

What? You’ve never had the urge to gobble down some honey and salt before a workout, like some kind of crazed, muscular Winnie the Pooh? Me neither, to be absolutely frank. But as preposterous as it sounds, there is a method to the madness.

It’s a simple, natural way to get the quick-release energy you need in the form of glucose from the honey, along with electrolytes from the salt. Electrolytes help maintain the balance of water in the body, while replacing the salt lost in sweat. Staying hydrated is always important, but especially during a workout. Retaining water in your muscles doesn’t just give you a pump, it helps your muscles repair themselves to be even stronger during recovery.

In Conclusion

Working out in the gym is one of the most challenging, meditative, and rewarding things you can do in your free time. But if you realise that processed pre-workouts aren’t for you and want to try something that’s a bit different, hopefully we’ve been able to point you in the direction of some options that are a little more out there.