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Stopping Pre Workout? (Do THIS To Stop Withdrawal Symptoms)

Whether if it’s to feel more energized and focused, or to burn more fat, many people are supplementing with pre workout these days.

But what happens when you stop taking pre workout?

Let’s take a look at some helpful answers around stopping pre workout.

Can You Get Withdrawal Symptoms When You Stop Taking Pre Workout?

Unfortunately so.

If you’re going from taking 300mg of caffeine each day to zilch, you may encounter caffeine withdrawals, such as:

  • Fatigue
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Headaches

But this depends on your own individual biology – some people are much more prone to withdrawal symptoms than others.

On the other hand, there are many awesome caffeine-free pre workouts out there that won’t give you withdrawals.

How To Stop Taking Pre Workout

So you’ve decided to bite the bullet and stop taking pre workout.

But is there a correct way to stop taking it?

Well, it all boils down to your preference.

If you’re happy going cold turkey and quitting it on the spot, then that’s fine as long as you can handle the withdrawal symptoms.

Whereas others may want to reduce the dose slowly before stopping to avoid the withdrawal symptoms.

There’s no right or wrong answer here.

Should You Stop Taking Pre Workout?

You should stop taking pre workout if either:

  • You can no longer afford it
  • It’s no longer effective

Let’s cover these in a bit more detail.

You Can No Longer Afford It

While pre workout has many uses, it’s at the bottom of the food chain when it comes to diet and supplements.

Assuming your goal is to build muscle, your priorities should be:

  1. High-quality food
  2. Whey protein
  3. Creatine
  4. Pre workout

If you can only afford 3, then you should quit pre workout.

It’s No Longer Effective

Thanks to the high amount of caffeine, you can quickly build a tolerance to pre workout over time.

Unfortunately, this means you need to take more and more for it to feel effective.

This is your body’s way of telling you that you need a break from it, to reset your tolerance.

And so, stopping pre workout for a few weeks is a great way to reset your tolerance.

(This is known as a pre workout cycle.)

Do You Lose Gains When You Stop Taking Pre Workout?

In short, no.

Pre workout helps you put on muscle by increasing the intensity of your workouts.

So when you stop taking pre workout, your muscle doesn’t just vanish.

As long as you consistently hit the gym and eat sufficient protein, you can maintain your gains for as long as you desire!

Do You Lose Strength When You Stop Taking Pre Workout?

Pre workout helps you gain strength by increasing energy (thanks to creatine) and by reducing the lactic acid burn that we all know and love (thanks to beta alanine).

So when you quit pre workout, it’s true that you may not have as much energy as you used to.

For some, this may result in losing strength if you can no longer lift the same weight as you could.

But others may feel even more hungry and determined to match their previous lifts.

Remember – resistance training is just as much a mental game as it is physical. So if you’re mentally prepared to lift as much as before, then there’s no reason why you can’t!

Can You Stop Taking Pre Workout Anytime?

Yes, you can stop taking pre workout anytime.

If you’ve been taking it for 4 days and you’re suffering from annoying side effects like nausea or bloating, then feel free to stop there and then.

Similarly, if you’ve been taking it every day for a few months and have suddenly ran out, then there’s no issue stopping then.

When Should You Stop Taking Pre Workout?

Going back to what we’ve just covered, if your pre workout is losing effectiveness, then it’s a good sign that you need to take a break.

In terms of timelines, this will be different for everyone though as we’re all biologically unique and tolerate pre workout differently.

So it’s always best to be in tune with your body.

If you’ve been taking it for 2 months and it’s no longer working?

Well, that’s your body telling you it’s a good time to stop.

Whereas if you’ve been taking it for 6 months and you still feel as pumped as your first time?

Then carry on.

At What Age Should You Stop Taking Pre Workout?

One of the main active ingredients in pre workout is caffeine, and many people consume caffeine (in the form of tea and coffee) up until they die!

But with that said, you should always consult a doctor before taking supplements over the age of 65.

(Just to be on the safe side!)

What Should You Do If You Can’t Stop Taking Pre Workout?

Due to the insane amount of caffeine, pre workout can often be addictive.

So for some people, it can be a challenge to stop taking it.

Well, if that sounds like you, here’s what I’d suggest to help wean you off it.

Eliminate Other Caffeine Sources

It’s true – the more caffeine you take, the more likely you are to become addicted to it.

This means it’s super important to eliminate other forms of caffeine (like coffee) so that your daily intake is lower.

As a result, you should have less cravings for pre workout.

Take A Caffeine-Free Pre Workout

Nowadays, there are many epic pre workouts that contain no caffeine!

By replacing your current pre workout with one of these, you’ll get a similar boost of energy but without the addictive feeling.

Should You Stop Taking Pre Workout Before Surgery?

Many pre workouts include ingredients like citrulline malate and arginine, which dilate your blood vessels due to an increase in nitric oxide production.

In other words, they make you more veiny.

So depending on which body part the surgery is taking place on, you could argue it’s risky to take pre workout before surgery.

Personally, I’d stop taking pre workout before surgery as it’s not worth the risk in my opinion.

But if you’re desperate to for whatever reason, you should always consult your doctor first.

How Long Should You Stop Taking Pre Workout For?

This comes down to your personal situation.

If you stopped taking pre workout due to financial reasons, then you should stop taking it until you can afford it again.

Whereas if you stopped taking it to cycle it, then you should wait until your caffeine tolerance has reset.

As we’re all biologically unique, it’s hard to put a fixed time on this so you should probably wait a couple of months to be on the safe side.

Conclusion

In summary:

  • You should stop taking pre workout once you start building a tolerance to it, or when you start experiencing side effects.
  • When you stop using pre workout, you may experience withdrawal symptoms.

That’s all for stopping pre workout, but can pre workout make you angry? Or does pre workout wake you up?

Hope this helped!