Pre-workout gummies are all the rage right now among fitness enthusiasts who love a natural, holistic way to boost their ability to push themselves and build muscle.
Every brand that makes pre-workout gummies has their own formula, with a unique blend and ratio of different natural compounds known to play a major role in how efficiently and successfully we exercise. One of the most common ingredients you’ll find in a pre-workout gummy is caffeine, although not all of them contain them.
Caffeine, as we know, is a stimulant that’s in many things we consume, including coffee, tea, and even chocolate. That leads us to a very common question: can you take a pre-workout gummy that does contain caffeine, if you’ve already consumed a coffee or caffeine in the last few hours.
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What is A Pre-Workout Gummy?
The concept is simple: fruit-flavored gummy candies that contain specific active ingredients known to boost one’s performance when working out. The exact blend of active ingredients can vary between different brands, but overall, they promote better energy levels, physical endurance, focus, and motivation.
Why You’ll Find Caffeine in Many Pre-Workout Gummies
A lot of pre-workout gummies on the market contain caffeine, which is a natural stimulant that can give the mind and body the boost it needs to push itself harder. Caffeine can increase energy levels by acting on the body’s central nervous system, while increasing alertness and focus, to help us “stay in the game”.
In general, the body tolerates caffeine just fine, and as an added bonus, it can support the body’s anabolic process, which serves the purpose of repairing broken muscle tissue, leading to muscle growth.
Of course, some people happen to be highly sensitive to the effects of caffeine. The stimulating effects can be too much for some individuals who are more prone to feeling on edge, shaky, and unable to relax even hours after consumption. And, caffeine can increase cortisol levels – that’s the “stress hormone” – and because of that, you might want to watch your dosage if you’re stressed, prone to poor sleep, or have anxiety.
Is it Safe to Take Coffee or Multiple Doses of Caffeine in One Day?
Now, here’s where things get a bit complicated. We all have friends who can drink coffee throughout the day, without any ill effects of any kind. Then, there are some of us who feel extremely overstimulated if we have any.
Everyone has their own tolerance to caffeine based on how much they consume, how their body metabolizes it, and other physiological factors. The reason why we’re discussing this is because it does play a role in how you might feel, should you start taking pre-workout gummies that do contain caffeine.
Basically, how you might feel after taking a pre-workout gummy, with coffee and caffeine already in your system (like that cup of coffee you had an hour ago), may or may not create noticeable effects depending on your tolerance to caffeine, and whether or not caffeine gives you side effects – like irritability, an upset stomach, or dizziness. And, most of us have a pretty good feel for our caffeine tolerance, so we can make that call based on our experience.
Now, for some people, it can be dangerous. Those with certain heart issues should avoid excessive caffeine, so that’s something to keep in mind. Also, if you’re on prescription medications that have a stimulating effect, that could make the combined effects of two caffeine doses all the more intense.
How Might Coffee Affect Your Workout With Pre-Workout Gummies?
Now, let’s get more specific: how might having two doses of caffeine in your system impact your workout, in particular? Well, again, that depends on your unique tolerance. Some people with a high tolerance may simply feel more energized than they would without the prior serving of caffeine, and that can actually be beneficial as their high tolerance requires more caffeine to feel stimulated.
For others, again, it can be too much, and backfire, by causing feelings of anxiety, heart palpitations, and other side effects of overstimulation that can make the act of exercising uncomfortable.
What to Know About Taking Pre-Workout Gummies with Caffeine in Your System
Now, let’s get practical: what’s the best way to go about taking pre-workout gummies if you have had caffeine recently? Keep in mind that the effects of caffeine peak within 30-60 minutes of consumption, and last for up to 10 hours – although the effects are much stronger in the first 5 hours.
Regardless of your caffeine and coffee tolerance, we recommend that you wait a couple hours after taking caffeine before taking a pre-workout gummy – about 3-4 hours, preferably, so that the peak of the first dose has passed. If you feel that the effects of the combined doses aren’t too strong, you can shorten that timeframe until you find your sweet spot.
With caffeine, we tend to build a tolerance to the effects, so you may very well be able to consume a pre-workout gummy shortly after that morning cup in no time, and even feel totally fine.
Finally, we want to mention that obviously, being a stimulant, caffeine can keep us awake at night. So, you might want to avoid taking that cup of coffee after dinner, if you’re someone who works out in the evening, with a pre-workout gummy that contains caffeine.
Pre-Workout Gummies Paired With Coffee: The Key Takeaway
While not all pre-workout gummies contain caffeine, a lot of them do. And, that can be a good thing if you tolerate caffeine well. People with certain health conditions may want to avoid taking too much caffeine, however, in which case it would make sense to remodify your daily routine so that your pre-workout gummies take the place of, say, that afternoon cup of coffee that you usually reach for after work.
Ultimately, when it comes to taking pre-workout gummies as someone who already has caffeine in their system, we think that it’s best to talk about this with a doctor or nutritionist. They can take your medical needs into account to tell you what’s ideal for you.