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There are plenty of perks that come with adding a top-tier pre-workout to your supplement regimen. Increased energy, boosted focus, and better endurance throughout your workouts are just a few that immediately come to mind. But have you ever thought about this popular powder’s influence on your weight loss journey? While a healthy diet and consistent exercise still reign supreme...
The post The 8 Best Pre-Workouts for Weight Loss of 2023 appeared first on BarBend.
There are plenty of perks that come with adding a top-tier pre-workout to your supplement regimen. Increased energy, boosted focus, and better endurance throughout your workouts are just a few that immediately come to mind. But have you ever thought about this popular powder’s influence on your weight loss journey? While a healthy diet and consistent exercise still reign supreme when it comes to dropping a few pounds or pants sizes, the best pre-workouts for weight loss can help you slim down to that desired physique, as well.
Naturally, however, these fat-burning benefits require a closer look at the actual structure of the supplement, and finding the ideal combination of ingredients, value and (of course) taste can be tricky. Despite the extra legwork, we still think pre-workouts are a worthwhile supplement for weight loss journeys, and we’ve had the pleasure of getting hands-on with a number of high-quality powders over our years in training. If your fitness goals are looking for an added spark to help your weigh-ins take a turn for the better, we’ve got you covered.
The Eight Best Pre-Workout Supplements for Weight Loss of 2023
Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine.
How We Tested
The team here at BarBend is comprised of competitive athletes, certified personal trainers, detail-oriented fitness enthusiasts, and more. In our years of training and monitoring our nutrition, we’ve touched plenty of pre-workout formulations, including many of the weight-loss-specific options featured in this round-up. For this article, we leaned on those experiences as well as additional background research to confirm our stances. We also consulted with other user reviews to curate well-rounded reasonings as to why these picks earned their monikers as top-performing weight loss pre-workouts.
Best Pre-Workout for Weight Loss Overall: Transparent Labs LEAN
10% Off
Transparent Labs LEAN
Transparent Labs LEAN
Third-party tested and clearly dosed, Transparent Labs LEAN has a huge variety of ingredients for endurance, power, alertness, and focus. Use code BARBEND10 for 10% off.
Shop Transparent Labs
Specs
Pros
Cons
If you’re looking for a one-two punch of energy and fat-burning components, Transparent Labs LEAN is tough to beat. Sure, you get 180mg of caffeine, 6,000mg of citrulline malate, and 2,000mg of beta-alanine for improved energy, endurance and power, but you also get decent doses of ingredients more commonly found in fat burners, including 1,000mg of acetyl l-carnitine HCI.
In addition to its interesting makeup targeting stubborn fat, LEAN is also available in a wide array of flavors, from staples like Blue Raspberry and Sour Grape, to more unique offerings such as Sour Peach and Strawberry Lemonade. Our tester found LEAN to be, “Slightly bitter, but not too sweet,” meaning the palette seems to match the flavor list without relying heavily on a sugar high for that jolt of responsiveness. Plus, LEAN is free of any artificial sweeteners, colors, and preservatives, making for a cleaner composition overall.
Transparent Labs LEAN Pre-Workout at the BarBend garage.
We did experience one downside as we were testing LEAN. When mixing this pre-workout, you really need to ensure you’re getting a proper shake. We were left with a reasonable amount of undissolved powder and the occasional “floatie” more often than not. It may not be the quickest pre-workout to prepare before a training session, but extra movement is extra caloric burn, no matter how you go about it.
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.
Read our full Transparent Labs LEAN Review.
Best Budget Pre-Workout for Weight Loss: Jacked Factory Nitro Surge
Jacked Factory NITRO SURGE
Jacked Factory NITRO SURGE
Jacked Factory’s pre-workout is affordable, comes in 13 flavors, and contains fully-dosed ingredients that may help with muscle growth, like the 1.6g of beta-alanine.
Shop Amazon
Specs
Pros
Cons
Nitro Surge makes for a solid pre-workout option during fat loss regimens thanks to its lack of sugars and carbohydrates. This can help you avoid any unforeseen caloric intake as you try to operate in a deficit for the sake of improved weight loss. (7)
Additionally, we appreciate how beginner-friendly this cost-effective pre-workout is. The price per serving falls just at $1.00, and the ingredients are listed for one-scoop and two-scoop dosages for added clarity. Granted, the simplified list of fewer ingredients may be more barren than worthwhile for experienced pre-workout users, but we appreciate the introductory makeup as it allows athletes the chance to ease into the supplement without any jolting, potentially unpleasant sensations.
There are also a slew of flavors to choose from when it comes to Nitro Surge, so there’s no shortage of opportunities to find the perfect taste for your palette. Our favorite is the Strawberry Margarita offering — our tester stated they wouldn’t hesitate to, “Drink it all day by the side of a pool over ice,” — but feel free to browse for a concoction that sounds enticing to your needs. We’d also recommend checking multiple retailers like Amazon, as we’ve found that different flavors can be available on different sites.
Finally, Nitro Surge can be great for athletes wanting to support their weight loss journey with added energy thanks to its quick-dissolving nature. We had no issues mixing one scoop with 500mL of water before training, allowing us to quickly transition into our calorie-burning regimens. Focus is kept on the sweat and progress — not shaking continuously before even hitting the weight room or treadmill.
Read our full Jacked Factory Nitro Surge Review.
Strongest Pre-Workout for Weight Loss: Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
Pre-Kaged® Elite provides nine patented ingredients with 35 milligrams of vitamin B6 and 1,000 micrograms of vitamin B12 in a single 36-gram scoop. Each serving is 25 calories and includes caffeine, taurine, l-citrulline, beta-alanine, l-tyrosine, and two types of creatine.
Shop Kaged
Specs
Pros
Cons
Looking for a potent pre-workout to power up your weight loss goals? Consider Pre-Kaged Elite. We’re big fans of the exceptional attention to dosages showcased in this Kaged pre-workout, including an impressive 10,000mg of l-citrulline, which can help improve blood flow to your muscles. (4) This 10,000mg serving is well above the average dosage, hence its title of “Strongest Weight Loss Pre-Workout.” All that power and proper dosing can help you achieve those desired levels of focus, endurance and energy as you take part in your calorie-torching gym sessions.
The uptick in caffeine per serving is also a good indicator of this pre-workout’s potential effect on weight loss regimens. Studies have indicated that increased caffeine consumption can potentially promote weight, BMI and body fat reduction. (13) While this component may have you rushing for a tub of your own, be sure to take your caffeine tolerance into consideration. 388mg can be more than enough stimulation, and athletes more sensitive to the ingredient may be left with more unpleasant experiences than desired.
A tub of Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite Pre-Workout
Speaking of caffeine, we also appreciate how balanced the energy results are with Pre-Kaged Elite. Our tester noted, “I feel like I have a constant amount of energy — not hyper, no spikes, no lows. Not tingly at all.”
It’s important to note that each scoop of Pre-Kaged Elite comes in at rough 35g of powder, which equates to a similar scoop-size of many popular protein powders. If you prefer to have your weight loss pre-workout be a less hefty mixture, it may be wise to look elsewhere. This gargantuan scoop also gives merit to the heightened cost per serving — at $2.40, it’s one of the most expensive we’ve tested for this round-up.
Read our full Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite Review.
Best Pre-Workout for Weight Loss for Men: Transparent Labs BULK Black
Transparent Labs BULK Black
Transparent Labs BULK Black
Shop Transparent Labs
Specs
Pros
Cons
Okay, so classifying a weight-loss pre-workout solely for male or female athletes is sort of unnecessary — the supplements can be a worthwhile addition to any regimen regardless of your identification. With that said, though, studies have indicated that male athletes can metabolize caffeine at a higher rate than women, which means they can consume the ingredient at higher doses with less adverse effects. (3) BULK Black’s 305mg of caffeine per scoop, then, can be prime for athletes wanting that jolt of energy equivalent to over three standard cups of coffee.
We also enjoyed the 1,000mg of l-tyrosine, which helped improve focus and concentration when honing in our workouts. “All I could think about was lifting heavy circles,” our tester noted. Studies have shown that l-tyrosine reduces the effects of stress and allows for greater mental focus and endurance, so having a worthwhile dose can be great when trying to push yourself for a higher caloric burn. (9)
Our tester also stated that despite the heavier presence of caffeine and other performance-based ingredients, BULK Black didn’t leave them with any dreaded crash or tiredness post-workout. This can be great for athletes that typically train in the evening hours, as there’s less fear of compromising your sleep schedule for the sake of better performance in the gym.
Lastly, while we experienced minimal side effects with BULK Black, we understand that this is subjective to each individual athlete. For example, we didn’t experience any uncomfortable tingles in relation to the 4,000mg dose of beta-alanine, but recognize that this is a hefty dose nonetheless.
If you’re not a fan of the skin-crawling sensations associated with beta-alanine, you may want to forgo this option from Transparent Labs. If you’re willing to deal with the experience, though, try thinking of that tingling sensation as your fat running away from your physique — it could be a solid mind game to help you reap the best results possible.
Read our full Transparent Labs BULK Black Review.
Best Stim-Free Pre-Workout for Weight Loss: Swolverine PRE Pre-Workout
Swolverine PRE Pre-Workout
Swolverine PRE Pre-Workout
...
Click here to view the article.
The post The 8 Best Pre-Workouts for Weight Loss of 2023 appeared first on BarBend.
There are plenty of perks that come with adding a top-tier pre-workout to your supplement regimen. Increased energy, boosted focus, and better endurance throughout your workouts are just a few that immediately come to mind. But have you ever thought about this popular powder’s influence on your weight loss journey? While a healthy diet and consistent exercise still reign supreme when it comes to dropping a few pounds or pants sizes, the best pre-workouts for weight loss can help you slim down to that desired physique, as well.
Naturally, however, these fat-burning benefits require a closer look at the actual structure of the supplement, and finding the ideal combination of ingredients, value and (of course) taste can be tricky. Despite the extra legwork, we still think pre-workouts are a worthwhile supplement for weight loss journeys, and we’ve had the pleasure of getting hands-on with a number of high-quality powders over our years in training. If your fitness goals are looking for an added spark to help your weigh-ins take a turn for the better, we’ve got you covered.
The Eight Best Pre-Workout Supplements for Weight Loss of 2023
- Best Pre-Workout for Weight Loss Overall: Transparent Labs LEAN
- Best Budget Pre-Workout for Weight Loss: Jacked Factory Nitro Surge
- Strongest Pre-Workout for Weight Loss: Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
- Best Pre-Workout for Weight Loss for Men: Transparent Labs BULK Black
- Best Stim-Free Pre-Workout for Weight Loss: Swolverine PRE Pre-Workout
- Best Pre-Workout for Weight Loss for Women: KOS Bolt from the Blue
- Best Tasting Pre-Workout for Weight Loss: Jacked Factory Nitro Surge
- Best Natural Pre-Workout for Weight Loss: Swolverine PRE Pre-Workout
Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine.
How We Tested
The team here at BarBend is comprised of competitive athletes, certified personal trainers, detail-oriented fitness enthusiasts, and more. In our years of training and monitoring our nutrition, we’ve touched plenty of pre-workout formulations, including many of the weight-loss-specific options featured in this round-up. For this article, we leaned on those experiences as well as additional background research to confirm our stances. We also consulted with other user reviews to curate well-rounded reasonings as to why these picks earned their monikers as top-performing weight loss pre-workouts.
Best Pre-Workout for Weight Loss Overall: Transparent Labs LEAN
10% Off
Transparent Labs LEAN
Transparent Labs LEAN
Third-party tested and clearly dosed, Transparent Labs LEAN has a huge variety of ingredients for endurance, power, alertness, and focus. Use code BARBEND10 for 10% off.
Shop Transparent Labs
Specs
- Caffeine: 180mg
- Key Ingredients: 8,000mg of citrulline malate, 4,000mg of beta-alanine, and 300mg of alpha GPC
- Flavors: Watermelon, Sour Grape, Green Apple, Orange, Blue Raspberry, Strawberry Lemonade, Tropical Punch, Lemon Lime, Sour Peach
- Price Per Serving: $1.66
Pros
- Contains acetyl l-carnitine HCI, which may help transport fatty acids out of the mitochondria for better energy return and fat-burning qualities. (12)
- Plenty of flavors to choose from catering to a wide range of tastes.
- LEAN is free of any artificial sweeteners, colors, and preservatives.
Cons
- A lower caffeine dosage of 180mg per scoop may be too weak of a stimulation for some athletes
- Can be left with undissolved “floaties” if you don’t mix LEAN well enough.
- No stimulant-free option available.
If you’re looking for a one-two punch of energy and fat-burning components, Transparent Labs LEAN is tough to beat. Sure, you get 180mg of caffeine, 6,000mg of citrulline malate, and 2,000mg of beta-alanine for improved energy, endurance and power, but you also get decent doses of ingredients more commonly found in fat burners, including 1,000mg of acetyl l-carnitine HCI.
In addition to its interesting makeup targeting stubborn fat, LEAN is also available in a wide array of flavors, from staples like Blue Raspberry and Sour Grape, to more unique offerings such as Sour Peach and Strawberry Lemonade. Our tester found LEAN to be, “Slightly bitter, but not too sweet,” meaning the palette seems to match the flavor list without relying heavily on a sugar high for that jolt of responsiveness. Plus, LEAN is free of any artificial sweeteners, colors, and preservatives, making for a cleaner composition overall.
We did experience one downside as we were testing LEAN. When mixing this pre-workout, you really need to ensure you’re getting a proper shake. We were left with a reasonable amount of undissolved powder and the occasional “floatie” more often than not. It may not be the quickest pre-workout to prepare before a training session, but extra movement is extra caloric burn, no matter how you go about it.
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.
Read our full Transparent Labs LEAN Review.
Best Budget Pre-Workout for Weight Loss: Jacked Factory Nitro Surge
Jacked Factory NITRO SURGE
Jacked Factory NITRO SURGE
Jacked Factory’s pre-workout is affordable, comes in 13 flavors, and contains fully-dosed ingredients that may help with muscle growth, like the 1.6g of beta-alanine.
Shop Amazon
Specs
- Caffeine: 360mg
- Key Ingredients: 6,000mg of l-citrulline, 3.2g of beta alanine, 360mg of caffiene
- Flavors: Arctic While, Black Cherry, Blue Raspberry, Blueberry Lemonade, Cherry Limeage, Cotton Candy, Fruit Punch, Grape, Green Apple, Natural Peach Mango, Pineapple, Rocket Pop, Sour Peach Rings, Strawberry Margarita, Swoleberry, Watermelon
- Price Per Serving: $1.00
Pros
- Contains no sugars or carbohydrates, great for keeping your intake as clean as possible for the sake of weight loss.
- $1.00 per serving is one of the best bargains you can find.
- Dissolves easily for quick supplementation before training.
Cons
- Those wanting creatine in their pre-workout should look elsewhere.
- Available flavors can vary depending on your retail source.
- Ingredients list is simple, which may deter more experienced athletes wanting more from their pre-workout.
Nitro Surge makes for a solid pre-workout option during fat loss regimens thanks to its lack of sugars and carbohydrates. This can help you avoid any unforeseen caloric intake as you try to operate in a deficit for the sake of improved weight loss. (7)
Additionally, we appreciate how beginner-friendly this cost-effective pre-workout is. The price per serving falls just at $1.00, and the ingredients are listed for one-scoop and two-scoop dosages for added clarity. Granted, the simplified list of fewer ingredients may be more barren than worthwhile for experienced pre-workout users, but we appreciate the introductory makeup as it allows athletes the chance to ease into the supplement without any jolting, potentially unpleasant sensations.
There are also a slew of flavors to choose from when it comes to Nitro Surge, so there’s no shortage of opportunities to find the perfect taste for your palette. Our favorite is the Strawberry Margarita offering — our tester stated they wouldn’t hesitate to, “Drink it all day by the side of a pool over ice,” — but feel free to browse for a concoction that sounds enticing to your needs. We’d also recommend checking multiple retailers like Amazon, as we’ve found that different flavors can be available on different sites.
Finally, Nitro Surge can be great for athletes wanting to support their weight loss journey with added energy thanks to its quick-dissolving nature. We had no issues mixing one scoop with 500mL of water before training, allowing us to quickly transition into our calorie-burning regimens. Focus is kept on the sweat and progress — not shaking continuously before even hitting the weight room or treadmill.
Read our full Jacked Factory Nitro Surge Review.
Strongest Pre-Workout for Weight Loss: Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite
Pre-Kaged® Elite provides nine patented ingredients with 35 milligrams of vitamin B6 and 1,000 micrograms of vitamin B12 in a single 36-gram scoop. Each serving is 25 calories and includes caffeine, taurine, l-citrulline, beta-alanine, l-tyrosine, and two types of creatine.
Shop Kaged
Specs
- Caffeine: 388mg
- Key Ingredients: 10,000mg of l-citrulline, 2,500mg of l-tyrosine, 3,000mg of creatine monohydrate
- Flavors: Glacier Grape, Caribbean Sunrise, Orange Mango, Strawberry Lemonade, Fruit Punch
- Price Per Serving: $2.40
Pros
- 388mg of caffeine per serving can provide an excellent jolt of added energy pre-training.
- Dosages of key ingredients are either at or above research-backed levels, making for a qualitatively potent blend.
- Mixture includes 3g of creatine monohydrate and 2g of creatine nitrate for an easy way to consume two supplements at once for added convenience.
Cons
- This is one of the more expensive pre-workouts per serving.
- Athletes more sensitive to caffeine may find the 388mg dosage overwhelming.
- Those with pickier tastes may not enjoy the limited flavor offerings.
Looking for a potent pre-workout to power up your weight loss goals? Consider Pre-Kaged Elite. We’re big fans of the exceptional attention to dosages showcased in this Kaged pre-workout, including an impressive 10,000mg of l-citrulline, which can help improve blood flow to your muscles. (4) This 10,000mg serving is well above the average dosage, hence its title of “Strongest Weight Loss Pre-Workout.” All that power and proper dosing can help you achieve those desired levels of focus, endurance and energy as you take part in your calorie-torching gym sessions.
The uptick in caffeine per serving is also a good indicator of this pre-workout’s potential effect on weight loss regimens. Studies have indicated that increased caffeine consumption can potentially promote weight, BMI and body fat reduction. (13) While this component may have you rushing for a tub of your own, be sure to take your caffeine tolerance into consideration. 388mg can be more than enough stimulation, and athletes more sensitive to the ingredient may be left with more unpleasant experiences than desired.
Speaking of caffeine, we also appreciate how balanced the energy results are with Pre-Kaged Elite. Our tester noted, “I feel like I have a constant amount of energy — not hyper, no spikes, no lows. Not tingly at all.”
It’s important to note that each scoop of Pre-Kaged Elite comes in at rough 35g of powder, which equates to a similar scoop-size of many popular protein powders. If you prefer to have your weight loss pre-workout be a less hefty mixture, it may be wise to look elsewhere. This gargantuan scoop also gives merit to the heightened cost per serving — at $2.40, it’s one of the most expensive we’ve tested for this round-up.
Read our full Kaged Pre-Kaged Elite Review.
Best Pre-Workout for Weight Loss for Men: Transparent Labs BULK Black
Transparent Labs BULK Black
Transparent Labs BULK Black
- Caffeine: 305mg
- Key Ingredients: 8,000mg of citrulline malate, 4,000mg of beta-alanine, 2,500mg of betaine, 1,300mg of taurine, and 300mg of alpha GPC
- Flavors: Cherry Kiwi, Blue Raspberry, Peach Mango, Sour Gummy, Black Cherry
- Price Per Serving: $1.83
Shop Transparent Labs
Specs
- Caffeine: 305mg
- Key Ingredients: 8,000mg of citrulline malate, 4,000mg of beta-alanine, 2,500mg of betaine, 1,300mg of taurine, and 300mg of alpha GPC
- Flavors: Cherry Kiwi, Blue Raspberry, Peach Mango, Sour Gummy, Black Cherry
- Price Per Serving: $1.83
Pros
- 1,000mg of l-tyrosine can help improve your focus and concentration.
- 305mg of caffeine is more suited for male athletes given the gender’s ability to better metabolize the ingredient. (3)
- Excellent taste that you’ll want to enjoy rather than down quickly before a workout, according to our tester.
Cons
- 4,000mg of beta-alanine may leave some athletes with uncomfortable skin tingles.
- While flavorful, the available options are more unique and limited.
- Not as all-encompassing as other pre-workout formulas.
Okay, so classifying a weight-loss pre-workout solely for male or female athletes is sort of unnecessary — the supplements can be a worthwhile addition to any regimen regardless of your identification. With that said, though, studies have indicated that male athletes can metabolize caffeine at a higher rate than women, which means they can consume the ingredient at higher doses with less adverse effects. (3) BULK Black’s 305mg of caffeine per scoop, then, can be prime for athletes wanting that jolt of energy equivalent to over three standard cups of coffee.
We also enjoyed the 1,000mg of l-tyrosine, which helped improve focus and concentration when honing in our workouts. “All I could think about was lifting heavy circles,” our tester noted. Studies have shown that l-tyrosine reduces the effects of stress and allows for greater mental focus and endurance, so having a worthwhile dose can be great when trying to push yourself for a higher caloric burn. (9)
Our tester also stated that despite the heavier presence of caffeine and other performance-based ingredients, BULK Black didn’t leave them with any dreaded crash or tiredness post-workout. This can be great for athletes that typically train in the evening hours, as there’s less fear of compromising your sleep schedule for the sake of better performance in the gym.
Lastly, while we experienced minimal side effects with BULK Black, we understand that this is subjective to each individual athlete. For example, we didn’t experience any uncomfortable tingles in relation to the 4,000mg dose of beta-alanine, but recognize that this is a hefty dose nonetheless.
If you’re not a fan of the skin-crawling sensations associated with beta-alanine, you may want to forgo this option from Transparent Labs. If you’re willing to deal with the experience, though, try thinking of that tingling sensation as your fat running away from your physique — it could be a solid mind game to help you reap the best results possible.
Read our full Transparent Labs BULK Black Review.
Best Stim-Free Pre-Workout for Weight Loss: Swolverine PRE Pre-Workout
Swolverine PRE Pre-Workout
Swolverine PRE Pre-Workout
...
Click here to view the article.
