Everybody’s heard of pre-workout, but creatine might be a little more of a mystery. You’ve probably walked past it on the shelves countless times without recognising its potential, and you may even be scratching your head right now, wondering what on earth it is.
Both pre-workout and creatine can elevate your performance in the gym, supporting your energy, endurance and strength, among other things. These formulas can help you turn an ordinary session into a PB-shattering workout that will have you walking out of the gym with relief, belief and satisfaction.
So, what are these supplements?
Let’s take a deep dive.
What is Creatine?
Consider creatine to be your muscle-building buddy.
Creatine is an amino acid found primarily in your body’s muscles as well as the brain. Creatine is mainly ingested through seafood and red meat, but those levels are far below that of creatine supplements.
You’ll mostly find creatine stored as phosphocreatine in your muscles, where it is used for energy to support performance and increase muscle volumisation and mass (Mayo Clinic. 2021). If you haven’t added creatine to your stack, pull up another tab and buy some while you’re reading. Trust us. It’s a game-changer.
Creatine can amplify your muscle size, strength, and performance and is one of the most well-research and effective supplements on the market.
What is Pre-Workout?
Pre-workout needs no introduction. Everybody knows what it does. But… just in case, let us recap.
Pre-workout supplements are designed to give you energy when you train, motivating you through those excruciating leg days and fuelling you through those muscle-pumping chest days. Pre-workout is commonly powered by ingredients like caffeine, beta-alanine, amino acids and creatine and can enhance your endurance, focus and alertness while supporting your recovery and lowering fatigue (WebMD. 2021).
Creatine vs Pre-Workout!
Now that you know what they do, you’re probably wondering which one to choose, why you should choose them, and the difference between them.
What’s The Difference?
Let’s discuss what makes creatine and pre-workout different from each other.
A pre-workout can give you a natural boost of power and endurance while supporting energy levels and stimulating muscle growth. Pre-workout supplements commonly contain small doses of creatine to support your muscle mass while you train (MasterClass. 2021).
Creatine is similar in many ways and is considered the top supplement for improving performance in the gym. Like pre-workout, creatine can support exercise performance but puts extra emphasis on promoting muscle volumisation and strength. Creatine can aid muscle repair, increase cell hydration, and reduce protein breakdown while supporting short-term and long-term muscle growth (Mawer, R. 2022).
A key difference is that pre-workout will provide energy and stimulation that can fuel you throughout a session, while creatine provides the tools to achieve your muscular goals.
Do You Need Both?
So, is it a case of one or the other, or can they coexist? The correct answer is YES!
Creatine is generally flavourless, making it perfect for stacking with your pre-workout before a session. The best time to take creatine is shortly before or after you exercise, so even if you don’t want to take it with your pre-workout or amino acids, combining it with a protein shake in the aftermath of a session can help you maximise the muscle-building benefits.
If you want to take it before you train to take advantage of the endurance and power-enhancing properties, that is also an option. Let us elaborate below.
Can You Use Creatine as a Pre-Workout?
Creatine can be an effective alternative to pre-workout due to its performance and muscle-building properties, but did you know that it can also enhance your energy production?
That’s right! Creatine supplementation can increase your body’s phosphocreatine stores, which helps produce new ATP during high-intensity exercise. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the most basic form of energy in your cells, playing a critical role in metabolism and muscle function. Your ATP energy runs out after 8-10 seconds of high-intensity exercise, but creatine can help you produce new ATP, supplying extra energy before fatigue sets in (Mawer, R. 2017).
Most creatine formulas are unflavoured, making them perfect for stacking with your favourite pre-workouts to combine the performative benefits of both! If you’re looking for a 100% creatine monohydrate formula to support your workout intensity, consider picking up a tub of Evolve Creatine. This pharmaceutical-grade formula offers the best support in ATP production and muscle volumisation. If you plan on consuming creatine alone before training and aren’t interested in the flavourless formulas, Creatine RX comes in 2 refreshing flavours that can support your strength, power, performance and recovery while helping to increase muscle fibre size and mass.
If you’ve been sleeping on creatine. Wake up and add it to your stack because this supplement is a game-changer.
Summary
Don’t worry about deciding which one is best for you. Choose both. The more, the merrier, right?
Both supplements support each other while providing benefits that can boost your performance, recovery, and, most importantly… results.
If you’re looking for the best pre-workouts and creatine formulas to support your training goals, don’t be shy; head in-store or reach out online, and our friendly team can help you find the perfect supplements to complete your stack. You can also book a FREE 15-minute consultation with our team of nutritional supplement experts, who can help you find the right products for you!
Until next time, stay FIT.
References:
Mayo Clinic. 2021, ‘Creatine’, Mayo Clinic, accessed 22 December 2022, <https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-creatine/art-20347591>
WebMD. 2021, ‘Health Benefits of Pre-Workout Supplements’, WebMD, accessed 22 December 2022, <https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/health-benefits-pre-workout-supplements>
MasterClass. 2021, ‘What Is a Pre-Workout? 7 Common Pre-Workout Ingredients’, MasterClass, accessed 22 December 2022, <https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-a-pre-workout>
Mawer, R. 2022, ‘Everything You Need to Know About Creatine’, Healthline, accessed 22 December 2022, <https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-is-creatine>
Mawer, R. 2017, ‘How Creatine Helps You Gain Muscle and Strength’, Healthline, accessed 22 December 2022, <https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/creatine-for-muscle-and-strength>