Pre-workout drink Review | Do I need it and are there any side effects?

Have you heard of Beachbody Energize? It's an all-natural pre-workout drink designed to help you bring more energy to your workouts so you can get better results, faster. Today I’m talking about pre-workout drinks, whether or not you need them (not everyone does) and also sharing a review of my favorite brand.

Is a pre-workout drink necessary for a good workout?

The honest answer is no. No one “needs” a pre-workout. However, we also don’t need lip gloss and mascara, but I’m sure we’ll all agree, it’s better to have it.

If you have tons of natural energy to bring to your workouts, then you don’t need a pre-workout supplement. It was never something I used regularly in the past, but as I get older, my energy isn’t what it used to be, so it helps. That might be the case for you too, or perhaps you just want better performance for faster results. Either is possible with a pre-workout!

That said, not all pre-workouts are made the same, and some have some pretty nasty ingredients. Beachbody Energize is one of the few supplements I take every day without any concerns of side effects because it’s make with all natural products. If I’m being honest, from a supplement standpoint, I think this is the best product that Beachbody makes. Even more so than the Chocolate Plant-based Shakeology (and I really love that stuff).

Beachbody Energize Label & Ingredients

The main ingredients for Energize are:

• Beta-alanine (800mg) - a naturally occurring amino acid
• Quercetin (500mg) a flavinod that acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.
• Caffeine (100mg) equivalent to one cup of coffee

It also has trace amounts of cane sugar, citric acid, green tea extract, natural lemon flavor and silica. Each serving of Energize has only 15 to 20 calories, depending on the flavor.

The Benefits of Energize: What to expect

According to Beachbody, here's what you can expect when you use Energize regularly right before a workout:

• Increased energy and endurance
• Improved intense exercise performance
• Sharpened focus and reaction time
• Increased muscle power output
• Delayed exercise-induced muscle fatigue

Here's what their own staff scientists have to say about the product and it's formulation:

Beachbody Energize Results after 1 year:  Why I still use it

I started using Beachbody’s Energize product when I started doing 21 Day Fix Extreme. Ya’ll, it’s a tough workout, but the results are hands down, the best I’ve ever had and the workouts are only 30 minutes. I also followed my own 21 Day Fix Low Carb Meal Plan, but the Energize really helped me burn more calories during those intense workouts.  

Why am I using it? Honestly, as I get older, I find I don't have the same amount of energy as I had even 2 years ago, so using a pre-workout really helps me bring more intensity to my workouts, so I can keep getting results. 

Energize Pros

• It's simple, clean ingredients that you don't have to be concerned about, even if you use it every day
• It really does give you a boost!  My workouts are much more effective with it than without it.  The difference is very noticable.
• It's part of my morning ritual.  I know that once I drink my pre-workout, it's go time or else all that go-go juiciness will go to waste.  If you're a procrastinator, this is a powerful motivator.

Cons

• It's not cheap (although you get what you pay for) and you can get a 25% discount if you sign up for a discount membership. (Drop me an email or comment below if you want info)
• It has some traces of sugar.  Not much, but I am not a sugar fan.

What’s comparable to Beachbody Energize?

I found this Organic Muscle product that has a lot of great ingredients in it. It seems like it’s more than just a pre-workout which makes me doubt that it would bring the energy quite as much, but it might.

What to watch out for with cheap pre-workouts

There are a lot of pre-workouts on the market with varying levels of quality. If you’re working out 4 to 6 days a week, you want to make sure that you’re not ingesting a pre-workout with dangerous chemicals. The worst offender is artificial coloring. This brand has trace amounts of Red number 40. Here’s a description of what that is:

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Red 40 and other AFCs can cause allergic reactions in some people. Research shows they can also cause hyperactivity in children and immune system tumors in mice. ... One study found that Red 40 lowers reproductive success in rats.

Does Beachbody's Energize have Side Effects?

I have never had any side effects from taking energize, although you do get a slight tingling feeling about 10 minutes after ingestion. One thing I love about it is that you don’t get that jittery feeling that you get when you have too much coffee.

How many servings does Beachbody Energize have?

Energize has two forms of packaging - a 40 serving tub with a scoop or 32 little travel sachets. Personally, I prefer the tub as it is a little more economical, but if you’re on the road a lot, the sachets might be a better option for you.

What flavors of Energize are available?

Fruit punch or Lemon - these are the two flavor options. Hands down, I recommend lemon. I’ve had the fruit punch and it’s fun, but lemon just tastes a bit better to me and it has 5 fewer calories than the fruit punch (<-slow down, calorie police).

Where to buy Beachbody Energize?

You can buy it from Beachbody’s website. It’s definitely a better deal when you buy it with the protein powder, which is designed to help you recover from intense workouts and not feel overly sore the next day (I love that stuff as well).

I recommend both products if you’re doing a really intense workout, like Insanity, Lift4, or The Work (<-this one is crazy hard!).

If you’re not ready to commit to a full tub, you can try a 10 pack sample to see if you like it. As with all Beachbody’s products, there’s always a 30-day Guarantee (which I love).

If you try it, let me know what you think!  PS - the lemon flavor is better IMHO.