How Long Does Pre-Workout Take to Kick in?

In today’s fitness routine, many people take pre-workout supplements such as protein powders to enhance their physical strength and endurance during the workout. The main concern of people is to know how long any pre-workout takes to kick in or how much before should they take a pre-workout so that they reap all its benefits and get maximum results. But no more worries, we have got your answers right here in this article.

What Is A Pre-Workout?

Pre-workout is any dietary supplement that can be consumed before a workout that provides you with an energy boost and strength for the workout. They increase the blood supply to the muscles, boost energy and delay fatigue. It is basically a caffeine-based supplement that also contains arginine, creatinine, and other ingredients as well.

They increase the ‘pump’ that circulates the blood flow to the muscles. Caffeine boosts energy levels, arginine dilates blood vessels, and creatinine helps in increasing performance.

Before heading toward the main question of why you came here, let’s look at what a pre-workout is made of to better understand it.

What Is A Pre-Workout Made Of?

A pre-workout commonly comes in powder forms that need to be mixed with water. It is also available in capsules or bottled drinks. A pre-workout is made of:

• Caffeine
• Arginine
• Beta-alanine
• Creatinine
• Taurine
• L-Theanine
• L-Citrulline
• Niacin

Now, let’s answer the question for the reason you came to this article, how long does a pre-workout take to kick in?

How Long Does Pre-Workout Take To Kick In?

Normally a pre-workout takes about half an hour to an hour to kick in and get all the ingredients of the supplement to get absorbed and become effective in the body.

There is a ‘peak time’ of these supplements when everything in that supplement is completely absorbed in the body and circulating through it. Moreover, caffeine takes about 1 hour to reach its maximum effects so in this way, you will get an initial boom of energy from caffeine to get you started for the workout with extra strength from other ingredients.

The main deciding point that matters here is what type of pre-workout supplement you are taking like either it’s in a powder form or other forms like a capsule or any drink. This is because the pre-workouts in powder or drink forms are more quickly absorbed in the body than the capsules and kick in faster.

The question that might be coming into your mind is when should you take the pre-workout, so let’s get to it.

When Should I Take A Pre-Workout?

On average, it is suggested to take a pre-workout about 30 minutes to 60 minutes before starting the workout. If you are consuming a powder or ready-to-drink form of supplement, then it’s good to take them half an hour before the workout but if you are taking a capsule then make sure to have them at least 45 minutes before the workout.

How Long Does A Pre-Workout Last?

A pre-workout normally lasts about 3-5 hours before its peak effect starts to decline. When all the ingredients of a pre-workout have reached their peak point in blood, they start to degrade and eliminate from the body.

Conclusion

A pre-workout takes about30 to 60 minutes to kick in and get all its ingredients to get absorbed and become effective in the body. All pre-workout supplements have a peak time when all their ingredients have been absorbed into the blood. It also depends on the form of pre-workout as powder and ready-to-drink forms are easily and quickly digested and absorbed in the body as compared to the capsules. Normally a pre-workout lasts about 3-5 hours before its peak effect starts to decline.