My GAT Psychon Pre Workout Review
My GAT Psychon Pre Workout Review First Look:
I have tried and tested many GAT (German American Technologies) supplements in the past, and it seems they have always been laden with lots of ingredients.
At first glance, this may seem like a great thing, but if we look closely many are not really required or necessary and overall it dilutes the doses, particularly of the ingredients we really want and need for the supplement to be effective.
So, upon first look, this is where my doubts lay.
Will this be full of unnecessary ingredients that have no place in a pre workout supplement?
Well, this is what we need to find out. Because, on the whole it is an attractive looking product that looks professional and premium with graphics and imagery that sells itself as a pre workout.
I have trialed many pre workout supplements and can tell you now that many are really not great.
The main issues that I come across are:
- Doses of effective ingredients that are too low to be of any benefit
- Unproven ingredients
- Proprietary blends
- Potential harmful ingredients
- It just doesn’t work
With this in mind, and with my experience of using many pre workout supplements before I hit the gym or play rugby, I am keen to find out exactly what is beneficial so we can extract the best from ourselves and perform to a higher standard.
And, feeling as tired as I do right now, I want something that can motivate me and energize me so I can hit the gym with all I have got.
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
BCAA
BCAAs (typically a combination of L-Leucine, L-IsoLeucine and L-Valine) play a critical role in muscle development because they are metabolized in the muscle rather than the liver.
Because BCAAs are metabolized in the muscle, they can be used for building new proteins or for energy.
However, Supplementation is not necessary if you eat eggs and meat regularly. However, if you are a vegetarian or vegan, supplementation will be vital.
BCAA’s are often included in whey protein supplements, too.
https://examine.com/supplements/branched-chain-amino-acids/
Beta-alanine
Supplementation of this non essential amino acid aids the production of carnosine.
That’s a compound that plays a role in muscle endurance in high-intensity exercise.
That said, studies have not exactly been positive nor entirely conclusive.
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1222-beta-alanine.aspx?activeingredientid=1222&activeingredientname=beta-alanine
Caffeine
It stimulates the central nervous system (CNS), heart, muscles, and the centers that control blood pressure to give you an extra boost and hit that PB.
Caffeine Anhydrous is the purest form of caffeine so always look out for it.
This is found in 4 Gauge which is the best pre-workout.
It is also found in Instant Knockout which is the best fat burner available at present.
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-979-caffeine.aspx?activeingredientid=979
Sodium (Salt)
An essential mineral; its consumption is critical to our health.
However, Americans plus a lot of Western countries do consume double the recommended daily intake of sodium, so you have to be careful about how much you intake, especially if you are not perspiring or passing urine much.
Excess sodium may not raise blood pressure, but it is associated with other health issues, such as kidney damage and an increased risk of cognitive decline.
https://examine.com/nutrition/awful-nutrition-myths/
Vitamin B6
Using it in its most natural form, pyridoxine, B6 is an essential nutrient to raising the body’s metabolism and aiding the fat burning process.
It also contributes to the reduction of fatigue and if you are not getting enough B6 you can suffer from cognitive decline as well as depression.
B6 also contributes to normal and healthy hormone levels.
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB6-HealthProfessional/
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/
Zinc
There is no storage ability by your body to hold Zinc, as such, we must ingest Zinc on a daily basis.
A reduction or deficiency of Zinc can lower testosterone levels to very low amounts impairing many male characteristics. However, testosterone is also required by women too.
Read about testosterone and women, here.
A lack of Zinc will also have an effect on growth and protein synthesis.
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/
Citrulline
This is used as a sports performance and cardiovascular health supplement. L-Citrulline supplementation results in reduced fatigue and improved endurance for both aerobic and anaerobic prolonged exercise.
An increase in growth hormone has been noted with exercise, but not at rest.
L-citrulline boosts nitric oxide production in the body.
Nitric oxide helps your arteries relax and work better, which improves blood flow throughout your body.
Supplementing can help lower blood pressure in people with pre-hypertension.
This is often found in the best pre workouts.
To supplement L-citrulline to enhance sports performance, take 6,000 – 8,000 mg of citrulline malate about an hour before exercise.
https://examine.com/supplements/citrulline/
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/l-citrulline-uses-and-risks#1
You can read more about Citrulline and its benefits for exercise, here.
Creatine
This is a well regarded supplement overall!
Supplementation increases creatine storage and promotes a faster regeneration of adenosine triphosphate between high intensity exercises.
These improved outcomes will increase performance and promote greater training adaptations.
There’s nothing that has been proven to be more effective than just plain old creatine monohydrate, regardless of what it says on the packet. So do not be fooled.
It is also useful for increasing testosterone levels as you can read here, and do not be put of by this is you are a woman, because women also require testosterone for important bodily function.
http://jissn.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1550-2783-9-33
http://www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/creatine.html
Black Pepper / Piper Nigrum (BioPerine) / Black Pepper Extract
The extract of piperine, called BioPerine® in the patented form, has been clinically tested in the United States.
BioPerine® significantly enhances the bioavailability of various supplement nutrients through increased absorption.
This means that it helps your body get the most out of the nutrients you take with it.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9619120
Choline BiTartrate
Choline is mostly used for either its cognitive boosting properties or as a liver health agent, able to reduce fatty liver buildup.
It may also be a stimulant although this is based on anecdote.
To improve brain function (cognitive) you will require a dose of 250-500mg per day for any benefits. So this is very dose dependent.
It is worth checking this out on the ingredient panel when looking for a supplement otherwise it will be a waste of time and money.
Choline has not been proven to improve or increase aerobic capacity, fatigue or training capacity.
https://examine.com/supplements/choline/
Ornithine
There is currently one study using ornithine paired with arginine that noted improvements in lean mass and power output in weightlifters, but this is an old study that has not been replicated and its practical relevance is uncertain.
Which begs the question; why has further testing not taken place if it seems like a positive supplement?
Finally, the increases in growth hormone seen with ornithine are similar to those seen with arginine. So an increase in growth hormone is great.
However..!
Technically they exist.
Yet, as they are very short lived and the body seems to compensate the overall increases in whole-day growth hormone are not significant.
Since the main properties of growth hormone being concerned with (increased lean mass gain and fat loss) are more related to day-long exposure rather than short-bursts, it is unlikely that ornithine has a role here.
So, overall, not really that effective if at all nor going to offer much benefit.
https://examine.com/supplements/ornithine/
Dose:
One scoop is a monstrous 27.8g.
That is big.
And it does compare very well to many of the best pre workout supplements which will offer over 15g.
Pros:
This loaded with ingredients and it is a big serving. There’s also no proprietary blend to conceal the ingredients.
It also includes the regular 5g of BCAA’s to help with energy and muscular recovery plus growth.
B6 can help increase energy production reducing fatigue and also help towards burning fat levels.
Zinc is great for growth and protein synthesis, not withstanding its ability to help improve testosterone levels.
Magnesium is another vital mineral that prevents fatigue but also helps heart function and muscle contractions.
Caffeine is a stimulant that can increase energy, alertness and focus. This is good to see and is common in pre workout supplement.
Sodium is vital for physical function, however, western diets are laden with salt so you have to be careful how much you consume.
If you perspire a lot during exercise, you will need to replace lost salts. If you do not, it can be unhealthy to have too much.
Citrulline is able to increase sport performance by increasing nitric oxide production, dilating arteries and blood vessels as well as lowering blood pressure not withstanding increasing levels of growth hormone.
This is entirely dose sensitive,and a dose of 6g – 8g is required. Thankfully this is fulfilled. Many supplements do not hit these requirements.
Creatine is great for not only increasing muscular strength if taken regularly but also increasing testosterone levels when taken daily, so it would be wise to include it with your daily stack.
Choline when dosed correctly can help reduce fatty liver build up but also improves brain function.
Bipoerine doesn’t have any direct benefit but does help your body get the most from the other ingredients.
Price:
$39.99
Cons:
There’s a few included ingredients present that are not going to set the world alight.
That is because either they have no proven ability to increase physical or mental performance or their effects are not deemed practical enough to have any benefit.
The other reason is that the included doses are not correct to provide any value.
So with these points in mind, let’s see what is in the pre workout supplement that should have been left out.
Ornithine has very little evidence or studies surrounding its supposed benefits which cast shadows of doubt in the first place.
Its otherwise benefits of increased growth hormone are just not substantial enough and growth hormone is better used over a period of time, rather than in short hits.
Beta-Alanine ths tends to make its presence felt, quite literally by the tingling sensation in your arms and face/head/neck.
However, are there any real benefits from this apart from it making you feel like there is a benefit?
Well, the studies surrounding Beta-alanine do not appear to be entirely conclusive, so it is probably more beneficial as a a bit of a ‘wake up’ to jolt you.
This could have been a more complete supplement if there had been the inclusion of:
- Beet
- Carnitine
- Coconut water
- Rhodiola
- Theanine
My EVLUTION NUTRITION BCAA ENERGY Review Conclusion:
This is quite a good pre workout supplement which contains a number of proven ingredients in adequate doses, believe it or not, this rarely happens!
There’s a good dose of Caffeine as well ti increase focus and alertness.
The only real downfall is that there are a couple of ingredients that do not have substantial evidence to prove they are effective or offer any benefit.
It also misses out on a few other ingredients that would have really made a positive impact.
However, overall this is not bad at all and will provide a good hit for your gym session.
Is there anything else to add…?
Well, yes, there is a better product than this that will get you fired up and cause hell in your chosen sport, so it is worth taking a look at 4GAUGE.
