Pre-workout is a multi-ingredient dietary formula used by many athletes and builders to boost energy and athletic performance. Caffeine, creatine and amino acids are common ingredients, working together to improve blood flow, muscle mass, and strength, according to Health Line. 

     While caffeine and creatine work together to increase energy and focus, there are many negative side effects to the product. Each scoop of the powdery mix includes anywhere from 150mg to 300mg of caffeine, which increases blood pressure, impairs sleep, and causes anxiety, says Health Line. 

      The Cleveland Clinic says, digesting the powder dry instead of mixing in a drink, has caused heart beat irregularities and even heart attacks in some cases. In April, 2021, a 20-year-old girl was treated for a heart attack after dry scooping the substance, being influenced through social media, specifically TikTok. Other severe effects include respiratory and cardiovascular distress, leading to death. 

     Business teacher, Mr. Eugene Liebel said the effects of Pre-workout, “Derive from the caffeine entering the

body quickly, increasing heart rate. There are stories of people passing out and having heart attacks, so the benefit to risk ratio is not great.” Health teacher Mrs. Jacquelyn Williams said, “None of the workout supplements have been approved for kids because they can not test on people under 18.”

     Various North Harford athletes reflect on their usage of the substance in the gym and for sporting events. Junior Kian Pucher said, “[I] take two scoops of Total War and [I] dry scoop it because it is fun and gives me a boost of energy.” When using it, he notes, “Pre-workout makes your face itch, but after school and the gym [I] am definitely more tired if [I] do not use it.”

     Similarly, senior Nathan Preibe said, “Last year the lacrosse team dry scooped before games and we were in the locker rooms itching ourselves, but it was worth it because we won against Bel Air.” Despite the itching, “you get in a zone where you feel like you can pick up anything,” sophomore Shaun Anderson said. 

     Gym teacher Mr. Justin Martinek says, “It makes you itch because it is pushing toxins out of your body. Athletes should use it in moderation, like on a day where you are not really feeling it. It can be used as a crutch.”

     Anderson uses two different types of pre-workout, Dark Energy and Total War. When using “Dark energy [I] use one and a half scoops for a major pump and two scoops of Total War,” Anderson said. Similar to Pucher, Anderson said, “When [I] come out of school tired pre-workout helps, but when [I] do not use it [I] am more tired and get sore faster.”

      Given the two methods of activating pre-workout in the bloodstream, Anderson highlights the differences saying, “The easiest way to make pre-workout work the fastest is to dry scoop it because it will enter your bloodstream faster. When you mix it with a drink it takes around 30 minutes to activate, but if you dry scoop it takes 10 minutes.” 

     Despite knowing that pre-workout can possibly “Mess with your heart and nervous system,” Anderson and Pucher both agree that they will still continue using the product. Anderson claims, “[I] normally take around 1200 mg of caffeine a day and [I] have yet to have any problems.” Likewise, Pucher said, “[I] do it for fun and it gives me a sick pump.” 

      Healthier alternatives to pre-workout include, “eating what you need, like protein, fats, and vegetables,” Williams said. Leibel also recommends, “Coffee, sleep, and water.”