The Verdict is Out! Pre-workout Supplements (While Breastfeeding)

Over the past 3 weeks my Instagram account has increased by over 500 followers.  I’ll write about how that happened in a later post.

Anywho, an overwhelming majority of my new followers want to know the same thing…

Do/Did I use any supplements in conjunction with my fitness/workout plan?!

I hadn’t been at all, but I decided to do a bit of research on some of these popular supplements (creatine, glutamine, etc.) to see if they might enhance my workouts/results, since people seemed to think I was already using them.

Here’s what I experienced after I decided to try a preworkout drink.

Preworkout Supplements While Breastfeeding

Like almost all of the supplements I’ve ever taken, I went straight to Vitacost to see what they had available in terms of creatine, glutamine, protein, and a preworkout supplement.

I love Vitacost, because they mostly carry brands that I would get from my local natural foods stores or co-ops, but sometimes as much as 70% off.

I came across a new line of fitness supplements (Aro) by Vitacost, and decided to go with that.

So, this post is by no means my take on ALL preworkout supplements as much as it is specifically about the Vitacost brand.

Aro by Vitacost: Pre Workout Drink (Pink Lemonade)

My first reaction was DELICIOUS!

I took it about 30 minutes before doing my squat challenge workout for the day.

I pumped some breastmilk prior to just in case I felt weird about nursing Awesome with it in my system.  The package says that nursing/pregnant women should consult a physician before taking it, because one scoop (and it’s teeny tiny) is equivalent to about 2 cups of coffee.

I’m not a coffee drinker at all.  

Even my green tea that I drink regularly is caffeine-free, so naturally I had some concerns, but if you know anything about The Squat Challenge, you know it’s no joke, and some days I could use a little boost to get me through.

So, I gave it a try.

Here are the pros:

• Again.  It was delicious, and tasted just like pink lemonade.
• If I hadn’t experienced the cons (listed below), I could totally see how this supplement could give anyone the boost they needed to finish long and hard workouts. (I haven’t taken it since the first time.  It has become my husband’s, and he LOVES it!)
• After stopping my workout (more about why I didn’t finish below), I wasn’t sore at all.  I actually felt like I could keep going.
• I was definitely pumped up and energized.

& The cons:

• My lips got super dry after a few minutes of consuming the drink.
• I felt really jittery (remember, I’m not a regular caffeine consumer though).
• I had an overall “crackhead” feeling.  My mind was racing, and I was really forgetful.  I would be counting out my reps, and totally forget what number I was on ( I’m sure I did more than necessary a few times).
• I ended my workout prematurely, because I just felt too jittery and off
• After about an hour of consumption I felt really hot inside
• After 2 hours of consumption I started to feel REALLY cold
• And the worst of all 😦 I had to bottle feed Awesome for the first time EVER since he’s been born. (This broke my heart, and is the main reason I decided that this supplement isn’t for me).

Overall, I give it a B+, because it actually did work, it’s just too much for my system.

If you’re looking for a good supplement to give you enough energy to get through a workout, that’s fairly natural, and you’re not pregnant or breastfeeding, I would go for it.

If you’re pregnant/breastfeeding, but consume caffeine regularly, I say run it by your healthcare provider, or your good ole intuition to decide if everything else in it is okay for your little one(s).  If you feel good about it I say why not?!

So, the verdict is out (on Vitacost’s preworkout drink), but meanwhile I still haven’t found anything to really give me that extra boost to get me through my workouts.

What are your suggestions, or advice on supplements that would be good for a non-caffeine-drinking breastfeeding mom?  

Please share in the comments below.

Also, don’t be stingy.  Share this post with your Facebook and Twitter friends.  

September 3, 2015September 3, 2015 by Sunshine Cummings Categories: MYLF (Mom You'd Like to F%$*)Tags: fitness, Postpartum, postpartum fitness, Postpartum weight loss 1 Comment