[Davy25]

Guys,

For the sake of cost savings in the long run, i am making my own pre. Right now i have arginine, creatine monohydrate, citrulline malaye, and beta alanine.... and of course caffeine. Can you guys suggest anything else that is essential to energy, focus, and pump?

[Jm88888]

I’m in for the suggestions of others. But here is mine:

(Power and Strength)
1. Creatine
2. Beta Alanine
3. Betaine

4. Ginseng and other stuff for focus and some auxiliary blood flow benefits

(Pump)
5. L Citrulline (no Malate)
6. Agmatine Sulfate
7. HydroMax Glycerine Powder

8. Keep caffeine separate so you can cycle on and off of stimulants and keep using rest of the ingredients.

[mrhappyoz]

Dextrose monohydrate - 25-50g. I usually add the same again to my water bottle.

Depending on your workout type, 30g of protein powder (not for cardio / HIIT, or vomit may happen)

Modafinil - this would be taken at least 2 hours prior, and at least 12 hours before bed. BTCnootropics.

BCAAs, perhaps. Not really a huge amount of evidence on how they work *effectively*, but from what I’ve read, I suspect their real “sweet spot” purpose is triggering protein synthesis (muscle tissue), where your protein input is less than 30g per serving. >3g of Leucine being the key driver here, which normally requires a big protein serving. Probably not useful unless you have protein levels up. This will also give you a serving of L-Glutamine.

There are a bunch of others, but depends on your needs.

[Jm88888]

Dextrose monohydrate - 25-50g. I usually add the same again to my water bottle.

Depending on your workout type, 30g of protein powder (not for cardio / HIIT, or vomit may happen)

Modafinil - this would be taken at least 2 hours prior, and at least 12 hours before bed. BTCnootropics.

BCAAs, perhaps. Not really a huge amount of evidence on how they work *effectively*, but from what I’ve read, I suspect their real “sweet spot” purpose is triggering protein synthesis (muscle tissue), where your protein input is less than 30g per serving. >3g of Leucine being the key driver here, which normally requires a big protein serving. Probably not useful unless you have protein levels up. This will also give you a serving of L-Glutamine.

There are a bunch of others, but depends on your needs.

Excellent points on the dextrose... If bulking especially...
Bulking- I’d add the carbs into the pre workout. And I would have a protein shake during workout with some carbs also

Cutting- I’d go with no carbs in pre workout. And my protein shake during would be carb less as well.
Forget about BCAA’s just take whey....

[Slims]

Pump
L-Citrulline
Agmatine
HydroMax
Sea Salt

Strength
Betaine (TMG)
Creatine Monohydrate

Focus
ALCAR
Alpha-GPC
L-Tyrosine

Stims
Caffeine Anhydrous
Caffeine Malate

[mrhappyoz]

Yeah electrolytes.. good call

[Piledahlaren]

I use a simple and cheap product called Intra Boost

per serving
4g AAKG
5g Citrulline Malate
1g Taurine
7g Beta-Alanine

Buy it for ~$9 on sale (which they often have) 500g lasts forever : )

[LeanEngineer]

Pump
L-Citrulline
Agmatine
HydroMax
Sea Salt

Strength
Betaine (TMG)
Creatine Monohydrate

Focus
ALCAR
Alpha-GPC
L-Tyrosine

Stims
Caffeine Anhydrous
Caffeine Malate

This is pretty close to what I was going to suggest. I always go for pump when I make my own preworkout so I make sure I have citrulline and agmatine for sure which are both pretty cheap to buy in bulk.

[Jm88888]

Pump
L-Citrulline
Agmatine
HydroMax
Sea Salt

Strength
Betaine (TMG)
Creatine Monohydrate

Focus
ALCAR
Alpha-GPC
L-Tyrosine

Stims
Caffeine Anhydrous
Caffeine Malate

Good call on the salt and ALCAR

[Jm88888]

I use a simple and cheap product called Intra Boost

per serving
4g AAKG
5g Citrulline Malate
1g Taurine
7g Beta-Alanine

Buy it for ~$9 on sale (which they often have) 500g lasts forever : )

You use 7gs of BA? Don’t studies show that after 2g’s the benefits of increased dosage flatten out?

[Jm88888]

@Davy25
This was a good thread man.

[mbonheur]

I do pretty much the same as said before

Citrulline and AAKG (8g each)
Red Beet Powder (nitrates and good to cover the taste of the other ingredients)
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon Himalaya Pink Salt (imo best salt for sports performance)
Caffeine, ALCAR
Gingko and Ginseng extract

Optionally I do have some synephrine, Kigelia Africana extract, higenamine, etc. at hand if more is needed. Not too often.

Intra, I consume carbs, coconut water powder, EEAs and again 1/2 tablespoon of Himalaya pink salt.

My pump is very good I might add

[muscleupcrohn]

I do pretty much the same as said before

Citrulline and AAKG (8g each)
Red Beet Powder (nitrates and good to cover the taste of the other ingredients)
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon Himalaya Pink Salt (imo best salt for sports performance)
Caffeine, ALCAR
Gingko and Ginseng extract

Optionally I do have some synephrine, Kigelia Africana extract, higenamine, etc. at hand if more is needed. Not too often.

Intra, I consume carbs, coconut water powder, EEAs and again 1/2 tablespoon of Himalaya pink salt.

My pump is very good I might add

Beet root powder isn’t going to provide any meaningful amount of nitrates. If it helps with taste and/or color, that’s cool, but don’t expect any benefits from the nitrate content.

[mbonheur]

Beet root powder isn’t going to provide any meaningful amount of nitrates. If it helps with taste and/or color, that’s cool, but don’t expect any benefits from the nitrate content.

My powder/juice is standardized for nitrates obviously (one serving contains a little bit more than 400mg). Otherwise I agree with you. With everything that I am taking, I am not aiming for more than 500mg nitrates anyways.

[muscleupcrohn]

My powder/juice is standardized for nitrates obviously (one serving contains a little bit more than 400mg). Otherwise I agree with you. With everything that I am taking, I am not aiming for more than 500mg nitrates anyways.

Beetroot juice I can see. You have a beetroot powder standardized for 400mg nitrates that isn’t a massive dose? Would you mind telling me what it is? I’ve only seen juices that have that high nitrate content. I usually go with potassium nitrate caps for nitrates.

[mbonheur]

Beetroot juice I can see. You have a beetroot powder standardized for 400mg nitrates that isn’t a massive dose? Would you mind telling me what it is? I’ve only seen juices that have that high nitrate content. I usually go with potassium nitrate caps for nitrates.

I was not being accurate actually. It is not really powder, more like concentrated juice. 35ml is about 426mg nitrates and I like the taste. It is a UK company that is doing it. Not sure that I can say the name of the brand, you might beet it

[muscleupcrohn]

I was not being accurate actually. It is not really powder, more like concentrated juice. 35ml is about 426mg nitrates and I like the taste. It is a UK company that is doing it. Not sure that I can say the name if the brand, you might beet it

Haha. I know what you’re talking about now. I was a little confused, as all the standardized powders I’ve seen have been something like 2% nitrates.

[mrhappyoz]

I use a simple and cheap product called Intra Boost

per serving
4g AAKG
5g Citrulline Malate
1g Taurine
7g Beta-Alanine

Buy it for ~$9 on sale (which they often have) 500g lasts forever : )

Cheapest I found around here at the moment was AUS$45.. so I bought some anyway - I had a small amount of loyalty points to spend, so it was free.

Who does the $9 specials?

[mbonheur]

I think he talks about an UK bulk supplier with the initials GN

Great sales all the time

[Anabaholic]

I've made my own pre in the past, I would say stick to just a few ingredients at full doses or you might get some stomach upset of you're sensitive. Also, I always had a hard time making them taste okay. Some recipes I've used in the past are: 300mg caffeine, 3g beta alanine 3g l citrulline 3g creatine hcl. 200mg dmha 100mg caffeine 5g glycerol 3g creatine hcl 3g l arginine. To flavor it I've tried adding MIO (those little syrups you squirt into water) crystal light, and fruit juice. Every supplement has a taste of it's own so it can be hard to make taste 'good' but it should end up good enough.

[Wobmarvel]

Dextrose monohydrate - 25-50g. I usually add the same again to my water bottle.

Depending on your workout type, 30g of protein powder (not for cardio / HIIT, or vomit may happen)

Modafinil - this would be taken at least 2 hours prior, and at least 12 hours before bed. BTCnootropics.

BCAAs, perhaps. Not really a huge amount of evidence on how they work *effectively*, but from what I’ve read, I suspect their real “sweet spot” purpose is triggering protein synthesis (muscle tissue), where your protein input is less than 30g per serving. >3g of Leucine being the key driver here, which normally requires a big protein serving. Probably not useful unless you have protein levels up. This will also give you a serving of L-Glutamine.

There are a bunch of others, but depends on your needs.

From what I understand the purpose of BCAAs is to prevent muscle catabolism. This would only be relevant during longer sessions where you could reach a point of negative returns. Your body will be less likely to break down muscle tissue if it can utilise the BCAAs in your system. You could have plenty already from your diet throughout the day however and a whey protein drink would provide more than just BCAAs but if your on a cut or workout fasted (zero carbs specifically) then I feel they can be very beneficial. Plus some people can't work out on a full stomach. I also think whilst on a cut sipping on them throughout the day helps curb appetite and helps keep to a calorie deficit. If your bulking however and have already consumed 3000 calories before your workout then drinking BCAAs will not make any difference.

Also did someone here say they take 7 grams of beta alanine? That would make my face explode lol.

[Jm88888]

Why not just have some whey in place of BCAAs. And yeah, BA clinical dose should be near 2g

[irone93]

I did this for a while, still have a huge box of raw powders. I switched to mesomorph plus viagra, works way better.

[mw1]

Agmatine
Citrulline malate
Betaine
Potassium nitrate

[mrhappyoz]

Why not just have some whey in place of BCAAs. And yeah, BA clinical dose should be near 2g

I just tried that Max’s Intraboost today and I’ve had paresthesia all day. Hopefully it’s gone when I wake up. Thinking it’s my response to 1g of BA.