Getting a “pump” in your workout means you’re increasing blood flow to a muscle. For some, it might not just be an aesthetic benefit — more blood to the muscles may also help with hypertrophyand reducing muscle soreness. This specific pre-workout can help facilitate pumps by potentially widening your blood vessels the same way nitric oxide supplementsdo. RSP Nutrition claims their AminoLean pre-workout boosts natural energy without the jitters or crash, provides faster recovery time post-exercise, and promotes natural weight management to support a lean physique. There are caffeine-free pre-workouts available on the market, so if you’d prefer to avoid adding caffeine into the mix or are caffeine intolerant, these will be a good option for you. These are often referred to as ‘Stim-Free’ pre-workout supplements. 3. Look out for underdosed ingredients

Kalman, D. S., Feldman, S., Martino, E., & Krieger, D. R. (2012). Comparison of coconut water and a carbohydrate/electrolyte sport drink on measures of hydration and physical performance in exercise‐trained men. The FASEB Journal, 26(S1). The dose is adequate, but you will likely find higher doses in dedicated fat burners. But be careful not to overdo some micronutrients if you also take a multivitamin, Hays says. “The daily upper limit for copper is 10mg. One scoop of LEAN contains 1mg, [which already meets] your daily need.” Key Ingredients: 8,000mg of citrulline malate, 4,000mg of beta-alanine, 2,500mg of betaine, 1,300mg of taurine, and 300mg of alpha GPCSo you’re in a fat loss phase, and you want everything you ingest to support that goal? You really just need to be eating the right number of calories and macros, but sometimes a little extra help might be nice. Transparent Labs LEAN pulls double-duty as a pre-workout formula with ingredients you’d find in a fat burner. As impressive as LEAN is, though, for its fat-burning and energy-boosting benefits, we do wish there was a stimulant-free option for athletes wanting the perks of a quality pre-workout without the extra juice. Transparent Labs does have a worthwhile Stim-Free Pre-Workout, but its composition is more attuned to muscle gain, not weight loss. Ingredients like l-carnitine and green tea extract can be excellent additions to your pre-workout formula if your main goal is to lose weight. These ingredients can help you target those stubborn areas for improved energy conversion, potentially leading to a better caloric burn in the end. While not every weight loss pre-workout will include these components, they are a definite plus that can add some robustness to your supplementation. Flavors While adding a pre-workout to your supplement regimen won’t inherently trigger a fat-burning state, there are still a few perks that come with these training additives that can make for a more worthwhile weight loss journey. Better Caloric Burn

This formula also contains some major pre-workout players in solid doses, like citrulline, dosed at three grams. Citrulline works to help increase nitric oxide levels, which, in turn, can relax the blood vessels, improving blood flow. This can potentially help you achieve better pumps, improve recovery, and even improve endurance. ( 8) Created by blending Astragalus membranaceus and Panax notoginseng, InnoSlimⓇ has been designed specifically to assist weight loss. It is similar to AstraGin, but has the added benefit of assisting in the reduction of metabolic syndrome symptoms. L-carnitine is more common in worthwhile fat-burning supplements, but some pre-workouts also use the effective ingredient for weight loss-specific needs. Essentially, this compound can help deliver fatty acids into your mitochondria for improved energy conversion, making it great for targeting stubborn fat for the sake of improved caloric burn. ( 12) Green Tea ExtractOver the years, there has been a fair amount of controversy around fitness supplements, especially those such as pre-workout supplements, as they can contain a high percentage of stimulants. Some pre-workouts contained substances such as DMAA andDMHA, which are now banned due to their risky side effects. Second, look at the quantities. Having the right ingredients is all good and well, but they need to be included in the correct dosage to be effective. It isn’t third-party tested, although the pre-workout is produced in a Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP)-certified and FDA-registered facility. RSP AminoLean pre-workout contains an energy and focus proprietary blend that includes InnovaTea® Natural Caffeine 98% from Tea (Camellia sinensis) and Theobromine. Caffeine and theobromine are both natural stimulants that can help to boost energy levels. Caffeine can be found in coffee, tea, and chocolate, while theobromine is found in cocoa. Theobromine might have anti-anxiety effects which can help to improve energy levels without the jitters, but more research is still needed on the effects of this compound. Does AminoLean Pre-Workout Work? Regardless, you want to use at least 750 mg of creatine HCL in your pre-workout to maximize its effects on muscle building and strength. Creatine Monohydrate

Citrulline works to help increase the nitric oxide available for use to expand blood vessels and improve blood flow, while betaine may enhance muscular endurance. This is a winning combination for some gnarly muscle pumps. ( 8) This held true for our tester, who reported noticeable pumps and improved focus and workout mindset.

Clinically Dosed, 100% Natural.

Everyone has their definition of a “clean pre-workout”, so we’ll give you our take. A clean pre-workout in our book has a completely transparent label, excludes sketchy ingredients, and doesn’t use artificial sweeteners or colors. Alpha Lion’s CaloriBurn Gains Candy is a great alternative for those who prefer a capsule to a powder, and the Powher Pre Workout is the best low-stim pre-workout option for the ladies.