Figures show that a growing number of female athletes and fitness enthusiasts are using some form of pre-workout. And why wouldn’t they? Staying motivated to go to the gym on a regular basis is hard enough.
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CliffsNotes on Best Pre-Workout Drinks for Women
Here’s a quick table of the list pre-workout drinks below
| Brand | NLA Uplift | SkinnyFit | RSP Nutrition | Sheer Strength | Red Leaf |
| Caffeine mg | 169 mg | 175 mg | 125 mg | 175 mg | 40 mg |
| Multiple Flavors | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Calories | 15 | 10 | 0 | 30 | n/a |
When you don’t feel motivated or don’t have the drive, having a little pre-workout might be just what you need to get your butt in the gym and sweat it out. Not surprisingly, a majority of supplements were geared towards men, but that has changed. No matter if you’re doing a home workout (Does Working Out at Home Really Work) or doing two-a-days, there’s something for everyone.
The health and fitness industry is booming and for good reason. Little tips, tricks, powders, and supplements can help people achieve their fitness goals. They will never replace the hard work it takes to achieve your fitness goals, but they can assist.
What’s The Difference Between Male and Female Pre Workout Drinks?
Men’s supplements tend to have a solid amount of creatine for building muscle. If you go into the gym you’ll see that men tend to be in the weight area, and women tend to be in the cardio area or group workout areas.
This isn’t always the case, and everybody has different goals, but this tends to be the norm. The fact is that women tend to focus more on a cardio workout vs weight resistance. Creatine is common in supplements for men, as it’s used to bulk up. Creating is also known for water retention and a bit of bloating. Since women are usually looking to get toned or lean up, creatine might not be a good ingredient for your pre-workout.
Caffeine is a big component of pre-workout formulas. And this isn’t much of a shocker. Caffeine is known to perk up you and give you a kick in the morning. It makes sense that your pre-workout drink will have some caffeine too. For women, approaching 200 mg is a bit much in my opinion. For guys, 200-300 is probably okay, as they tend to be a bit bigger and can metabolize more caffeine.
The side effects of caffeine are also pretty well-known. They can cause you to be jittery, interrupt your sleep if taken too late in the day, and your body can become dependent on it.
Overall, men’s and women’s bodies are different, so women shouldn’t be using a supplement tailored to men.
Buying Guide for Female Pre Workout Drinks
A good pre-workout for women should include an energy-boost and fat burning ingredients. A pre-workout for women will most likely have a reduced amount of creatine (depending on your goals) since they tend to be smaller than men.
If your goal is to lose body fat and burn through calories via a longer cardio workout, large amounts of creatine in your pre-workout isn’t suitable. Any testosterone building ingredients or enhancers might not be necessary for a women’s pre-workout either, for obvious reasons.
Reduced milligrams of caffeine. This rings especially true if you tend to do your workouts at the end of the day. Disrupted sleep is definitely not a side-effect you want to contend with. At rest is when your body actually repairs itself and builds muscle, so cutting into your much-needed sleep time is not an option.
Not all pre-workouts are created the same. They have different formulas depending on what they want to achieve. This is the same with women’s pre-workout. You’ll need to know what your goals are so that you can find a suitable supplement for you.
Below is a list of the top 5 best pre-workout drinks for women.
Best Pre Workout Drinks for Women
NLA For Her
1) NLA Uplift Pre Workout – Contains clean energy for top-notch performance, muscle building ingredients, and is scientifically formulated for women. Supplementing with uplift 20-30 minutes pre-workout will help you attack your workouts with intensity, drive, and focus. Giving you sustained energy that helps you to push your body to the next level and achieve the body you want. Current users are loving this in the morning saying “it gives them the pep they need to wake up and the energy to power through.”
Features and Benefits:
- Clean and sustained energy so you don’t get the dramatic ups and downs
- Creatine-free so no water retention or bloating
- Hassle-free refunds if not satisfied with the product
- Great tasting, so no choking it down
SkinnyFit
2) SkinnyFit Jumpstart – This SkinnyFit is a powerful pre-workout supplement, formulated specifically for women who need a boost of energy and focus to get the most out of their workout. If you’ve been looking for something that will help you kick your workout into high gear—this is it! SkinnyFit Jumpstart provides long-lasting energy to fuel any physical activity without the crash and jitters you get from coffee and energy drinks. It gives you the push to power through any exercise.
Features and Benefits:
- Helps boost energy levels
- Helps endurance to power through your entire workout
- Contains amino acids to help promote toned muscles
- Only 10 calories per serving, so great for keeping calorie intake low
RSP Nutrition
3) RSP AminoLean – AminoLean is the ideal energy, weight management, and recovery solution for those looking for a great tasting supplement that delivers real results, without all the extras. Using select ingredients from natural, healthy sources such as Green Tea Extract and Green Coffee Bean, AminoLean features an energy blend that can provide a boost of sustained clean energy and enhanced mental focus any time of the day. By blending the recovery power of Essential Amino Acids and BCAAs with the natural weight management benefits of CLA and L-Carnitine, AminoLean can also help you build lean muscle, manage your weight, and recover faster.
Features and Benefits:
- Free of calories and sugar, AminoLean supports your weight goals
- A comprehensive blend of 5g BCAAs & EAAs to boost performance and recovery
- 125mg of natural caffeine; a perfect pre workout energizer
- Multiple flavors available to suit everyone’s tastes
Sheer Strength
4) Sheer Strength Pre Workout – This is a custom-formulated workout enhancer supplement for women looking to enjoy better results from their workouts, without the post-workout crash you can get from lower-grade pre-workout drinks. It’s made for smart, driven women who want to slim down, tone up, and finally see real results from their workouts.
Features and Benefits:
- Non-GMO and gluten-free
- Made in the US
- Non-habit-forming formula
- Customers say it tastes great, without the chalky taste associated with other drinks
Red Leaf
5) Red Leaf Pre-Workout – You’ll be amazed by Red Leaf’s fresh, citrus taste. It’s naturally flavored with real citrus crystals to bring out a refreshing cranberry lime flavor with just the right ingredients to power your workout and improve your recovery. But it doesn’t stop there- with antioxidant-rich green tea and fat-burning raspberry ketones, this unique blend of ingredients is designed to give you the energy you need to fuel any workout. With no chalky aftertaste or harsh flavorings.
Features and Benefits:
- Only 40 mg of caffeine, so you can use it for evening workouts
- It’s the first pre-workout to include cranberry extract, a high ORAC superfood that’s packed with antioxidants
- 1,500mg BCAA’s for recovery during and after your workout
- Great-tasting substitute for coffee and other high-caffeine energy drinks
What is a Pre Workout Drink?
A pre-workout supplement is a powder, pill, or processed snack (usually a bar) that you take around 30-45 minutes before you exercise. What I like about taking a pre-workout is to increase performance by both increasing energy and delaying fatigue so you can get the most out of every workout.
Arguably, you get the most gains and benefits when you’re pushing yourself at the end. To get that toned look, you have to be willing to feel the burn during those last few repetitions, and this is where you can get the best results.
Whether you like to run, climb, lift, box, swim, spin, pre-workout drinks for women help you stay focused and work harder for longer. That being said, no pre-workout drink will replace a generally poor diet. You cant expect to out-workout a poor diet. Sorry ladies, you have to eat healthily!
Should You Use a Pre Workout Drink?
Many people are skeptical and advise against using supplements and pre-workout drinks. And I can understand why. Pre-workout drinks don’t fall within the FDA guidelines so they’re not evaluated by the FDA. As consumers, we have to rely on the manufacturers, personal experiences, and third parties.
Pre-workout drinks usually contain amino acids, a sugar or sugar-replacement, carbohydrates, and some caffeine. Some high-level athletes prefer to get these via other means and just don’t like using pre-workout drinks. This is especially true for individuals that have a low tolerance for caffeine.
Most of the pre-workouts have as much caffeine as a cup or two of coffee. If you do your workouts after work, consuming this much caffeine, later in the day could keep you up at night. So, it will come down to a personal preference as to whether you like to bump up your workouts with a pre-workout drink.
Pre-Workout Drink Tips
The most expensive pre-workout doesn’t correlate to the best pre-workout. Additionally, while a lot of these pre-workouts are tested by third parties or by their own company, they are not regulated by the FDA.
You have to take some of their claims with a grain of salt. If they do claim independent testing or NSF testing, that’s a good thing.
Admittedly, some of the benefits they express have been proven in case studies, but correlation doesn’t always mean causation. Keep this in mind when you read about “fat falling off” on any supplement label.
Speaking of labels, be sure to read them carefully. Sometimes, companies will use sugar or sugar-like synthetics to make their drinks “taste the best.” You want to avoid any pre-workouts with a lot of sugar.
Wrapping up Best Pre-Workout Drinks For Women
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. There are no magic pills, powders, or elixirs that will replace the hard work it takes to get the toned, lean figure you want. I’ve tried a variety of pre-workout drinks, some from the list above and they’re not for everyone. It doesn’t take much caffeine for me to stay awake at night, so I prefer a pre-workout with lower amounts of caffeine.
If you’re looking to push yourself a bit, I would recommend using a pre-workout drink, and see if it’s for you. They can help burn calories and reduce your body fat when used in conjunction with a proper bodyweight exercise (Bodyweight Burn Review) plan and proper nutrition.
As always, be sure to check with your doctor before trying any new supplements or dietary replacements. Everyone is different so I would suggest not buying in bulk or a big tub until you’ve had a chance to try the pre-workout. This will be better for your body and your purse.
FAQ on Best Pre-Workout Drinks For Women
What is the best supplement to help a workout?
Everyone is different so there isn’t a universal supplement that will help everyone. For me a bit of caffeine that helps me push through workouts is the best.
Can I take a pre-workout drink while fasting?
Anything outside of water, tea, and arguable ACV, will break your fast. If your body doesn’t adversely react to caffeine, you could. It will differ for each person. Taking a pre-workout on an empty stomach usually doesn’t fair well with most people.
Is it good to take a pre-workout without exercising?
Pre-workout drinks are designed to help you through your workout. If you’re not exercising after your pre-workout, there won’t be any benefit.
Is coffee considered a good pre-workout?
Since caffeine is the main active ingredient in pre-workout drinks, a cup of coffee before your workout, could provide the same energy boost as a pre-workout drink.
Can pre-workout drinks cause internal organ problems?
Since these drinks are not regulated by the FDA, so more research is needed to confirm causation. Some smaller studies have linked supplements to kidney and liver problems, which is why a doctor consult is highly advised.