My Ascent Pre-Workout Review
My Ascent Pre-Workout Review First Look
Having just returned from a rugby tour I can tell you now that at my age three days constantly drinking from morning ’til night with pints of chilli sauce, spoonfuls of cinnamon and a lack of sleep does nothing for my energy levels.
Even three days later I can barely function properly, so much so (or should that be so little) I forgot to pack my trousers to work today and spent the day wandering around in cycle shorts.
What I do need before heading to an insight evening at the local army barracks is probably a kick up my ass.
However, over the past couple of days I have not been able to crack on with anything physical or mentally taxing which is highly frustrated, seeing as when you are older you tend to have a few more important tasks to do and having a total of five or days off the boil completely just doesn’t wash.
It is with dismay that instead of being in bed or lounging around with heartburn that I didn’t just hit the pre workout.
In the past, some of these products have worked as fine hangover cures while also being able to energise me enough to hit some tin down at the gym.
So why didn’t I do this? Why didn’t I take a pre workout and sort myself out?
I didn’t have any on me to be frank.
I wish I had because they can really offer night/day performance when you need to get some extra physical energy and mental clarity
This aptly names PRE-WORKOUT from Ascent is bold and confident, there’s no mistaking in what this could be, so if it fails to be effective I will not be happy.
What can a pre workout really do?
The use of a pre workout supplement is traditionally to provide a more explosive and focused workout when you hit the gym.
This is achieved by providing high levels of stimulants to fight fatigue as well as increase the blood flow to the muscles and organs.
They can also include other ingredients that are known to help increase cognitive function so you can effectively zero in on your goal and help smash it.
However, they are no commonly used by students looking to concentrate while stay up late as well as gamer’s and even machine operatives or long distance drivers.
The main key benefits are:
- Increase energy – Smash your workout with more intensity
- Motivation – Get straight out of bed for an early morning gym session
- Improved focus – Zero in on your weights program or even revise harder
- Alert – Stay alert and improve concentration
However, not all pre workout supplements are equal, and some are downright terrible or contain potentially dangerous ingredients in dangerous doses, or concealed doses.
We analyse each one with an in depth review.
Ingredients: The Science
Potassium
An electrolyte that helps your nerves function and muscles contract.
https://medlineplus.gov/potassium.html
Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral with many uses and functions, not withstanding protein synthesis as well as muscle and nerve function.
Along with Potassium and Calcium Magnesium also contributes to healthy heart function and muscle contraction – great for exercise!
If you are suffering from a Magnesium deficiency it can affect hormone levels such as testosterone but also be the root of fatigue, weakness and cramp.
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
Vitamin D
D3 is a great Testosterone boosting vitamin that must be taken advantage of to trigger further production of Testosterone in your body.
However, there are two types of Vitamin D. There’s calciferol (vitamin D2) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) – we are only interested in cholecalciferol which is D3; this is the type our skin synthesizes from the sun and becomes a hormone which results in the increases in our testosterone.
Research by the US Library of Medicine has shown that testosterone productions are increased with Vitamin D3 supplementation.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3712348/
There’s a plenty of articles I have written covering the benefits of D3 you can read about, here, here and here.
It is also worth noting that D3 is more effective at increasing hormone and vitamin levels than D2.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3349454/
Calcium
Results show that training results in increased testosterone levels in athletes and that the increase is greater if accompanied by calcium supplementation.
However, calcium supplements are also known to increase artery plaque which in the long term can cause cardiovascular problems.
Read more about that, here.
However, with supplements such as this, there is little chance they will be used constantly and consistently day after day.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19099204
Protein
Protein is an important building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood. Along with fat and carbohydrates, protein is a “macronutrient,” meaning that the body needs relatively large amounts of it.
http://www.webmd.com/men/features/benefits-protein
Caffeine
This can assist with endurance, tested athletes saw an edge from caffeine in scientific studies. In some trials, the stimulant boosted athletes’ speed.
In others, it helped them last longer before they spent all their energy.
Caffeine also raises the metabolism which means you burn more calories.
Some studies show that it can curb soreness after exercise, too. This means you could get back to your training sooner and training means more calories burnt.
This is present in all 3 of our Top Fat Burners.
Caffeine Anhydrous is the purest form so always look for that.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16076
Iron
Iron is an important mineral to include in a healthy balanced diet.
It has many important functions in the body, but its most important role is in preventing anemia.
http://www.webmd.boots.com/healthy-eating/guide/iron-rich-foods
How To Take My Ascent Pre Workout
We are instructed to take one scoop per day.
This would provide us with a mere 4452mg .
That doesn’t compare very well to many of the best pre workout supplements which will offer over 15,000mg.
Price
$34.99
Pros
There’s not actually a decent number of ingredients included in this pre workout.
I fear that with such a low number of ingredients plus the fairly low dose that this will not have the required effects.
However, that is not to say that the included ingredients are not entirely hopeless because there are some familiar names here.
So, let’s run through them and their benefits.
Caffeine is a biggie. Lots of pre workout supplements contain Caffeine for its widely praised stimulant effects that can help energise and focus.
Vitamin D has many benefits including increased testosterone production, fights against weak bones and also increases mood.
Iron prevents anaemia. Anaemia is a condition whereby there’s not enough red blood cells or haemoglobin which is what transports oxygen.
A lack of oxygen is going to have dire consequences on your physical performance.
However, it is odd that Iron is included on the ingredients panel yet it states there is none included.
Protein is also included which is not that popular in pre workout supplements. However, that is not to be said it is not welcome to help your muscle recover from exercise.
Potassium helps your nerves operate and your muscles contract properly, so very useful to have.
I have found in the past when playing rugby that I have suffered from cramps and the physiotherapist explained that i should take on more potassium.
Calcium supplementation does have its benefits.
It does appear to increase testosterone levels and it can help with bone development and strength, however, there is a darker side to supplementing Calcium.
Magnesium is one of those ingredients that just helps with a number of bodily functions.
It does help with reducing fatigue, increasing energy, improving muscle and nerve function while helping prevent weakness and cramp.
Cons
It has to be said that this is a low overall dose that will have a limited effect on your performance.
Especially when you consider other pre workout supplements will offer over three times as much as this.
Then this includes a very well regarded and useful ingredient such as Iron on the panel yet states there is 0mg in the supplement. That doesn’t make sense. That’s like stating on a car sales brochure that your new Chevy Cruze does not reach 200mph.
It is also noted that the Vitamin D included is D2 which is not the preferred D3. D2 is not as effective as D3 according to studies.
Long term Calcium supplementation can cause artery plaque which can then cause cardiovascular disease.
To be extra picky, the amount of Caffeine at just 125mg is not the strongest we have seen before.
What improvements could be made?
This pre workout from Ascent has a number of proven and well regarded ingredients included.
However…
It is lacking the doses and in one case a dose at all!
Plus, it is lacking many other ingredients that would also be really beneficial and really provide the energy and power to get your though that workout or even give you the extra focus you need.
Therefore, in essence, in terms of a pre workout supplement to increase physical performance it would have been beneficial if it included the ingredients below for more impact:
- Beet
- Coconut Water
- Carnitine
- B vitamins
- Creatine
- Citrulline
- Theanine
- Rhodiola
My Ascent Pre-Workout Review Conclusion
This pre workout supplement from Ascent does offer some good benefits with several proven ingredients.
However, it is the lack of other proven ingredients and a small dose that highlights the errors with this product.
It simply omits too many good and beneficial ingredients and then also includes the less preferred version of vitamin D plus Calcium which can cause artery plaque over time and be life threatening.
Rather confusingly while it states that there is iron included, it then contradicts itself to state that there’s 0mg of Iron!
Any final word for this review?
While this is not a terrible product, there’s a hell of a lot left to develop if it is going to be very effective and beneficial to the user.
There is another product that will get you fired up and cause hell in your chosen sport.
