I’ve talked quite a bit about workout nutrition on the blog in the past month or so, but today, let’s talk about supplements.

Supplements, are just that – nutrition that can supplement your workout routine. Whenever clients ask me which supplements they should be taking, my answer is “none, or some.” They aren’t absolutely required to get you any results, but, they could help those results be a little bigger, faster, as well as help your recovery.

Today, we’ll cover all peri-workout fueling with discussing pre-workout, during-workout, and post-workout. And a heads up – specifically, I’ll be referencing DailyBurn as I’m doing a DailyBurn Supplement Review for their peri-workout nutrition line.

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Pre-Workout

What does a pre-workout supplement do?

Typically, a pre-workout supplement is intended to increase energy via caffeine, reduce fatigue via beta alanine, hydrate, and prevent muscle breakdown with BCAA’s to name a few.

DailyBurn’s Pre-workout has all of the ingredients above, along with 200mg. creatine monohydrate for additional performance enhancement. It also provides energy via quick carbs via cane syrup.

During-Workout

I actually like to drink most of my pre-workout before my workout, and the last bit during workout, in order to get the effects of the BCAA’s during my lifting workouts. However, directions for DailyBurn PRE say to drink right before your workout.

I’ve spent the last couple weeks drinking the supplement before my lifting workouts, and found that it not only tasted good, but also gave me quick energy throughout my workouts. I definitely felt the effects of the pre-workout, but it wasn’t so much that I felt jittery, which I love.

You can get more information on DailyBurn’s PRE here.

Post-Workout: Carbs

Your post-workout nutrition is pretty important, as it’s at this time when your muscles are most open to replenishment. Carbs are crucial post-workout, and will absolutely NOT ruin your results. In fact, not consuming carbs post-workout could hinder results.

[Tweet “Carbs are crucial post-workout, and will better your results rather than ruin them; via @TrainerPaige”]

What does a post-workout supplement do?

A post-workout supplement will replenish glycogen stores that were lost during your workout, as well as provide hydration. This promotes recovery, reduces muscle soreness, and supports immune system health. A good post-workout supplement will also provide additional ingredients like glutamine, which supports gut-health, and allows your nutrition to be better absorbed in the body.

DailyBurn POST contains a fantastic line up of post-workout powerhouse nutrients:

• glutamine, which supports amino acid production
• Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)
• KSM-66, which is an herb for stress and restoration
• Vitamin C to fight free radicals that could have been increased during exercise
• Tart Cherries, which support cardiovascular health
• Waxy Maize, which is a complex carbohydrate that replenishes glucose lost during training

In full disclosure, I don’t typically use a post-workout supplement in addition to protein powder (which we’ll discuss in a second,) but I did drink this immediately after my training sessions for the past two weeks.

You can check out DailyBurn POST here.

Post-Workout: Protein

I’ve talked about post-workout protein quite a bit on the blog, but here’s a re-cap of why post-workout protein consumption is important:

What does a post-workout protein supplement do?

It provides the broken-down muscle tissue from your workout with protein to help stimulate the repair and rebuild process. Additionally, it can be hard to get enough protein during the day if you’re trying to build muscle, and consuming a high protein powder will help you reach your protein goal.

DailyBurn’s protein powder is a vegan protein powder called FUEL-6, as it contains 6 key protein ingredients to help repair damaged muscle tissue:

• pea protein isolate
• Sprouted whole grain rice protein
• Quinoa protein
• Hemp protein
• Sacha Inchi protein – if you’re like me and are saying “sacha whaaa” right now, this is a superfood with a high profile of essential fatty acids. Bonus!
• Artichoke protein

Pretty cool line up, right?

I love discovering new plant-based protein powders because I like to alternate my use of whey with vegan protein powder every now and then, so that my body doesn’t develop an allergy to whey protein because of the amount ingested. I found DailyBurn FUEL-6 to be great tasting (while, of course, still tasting vegan-y :)) and I just love the mix of ingredients it contains. It’s also soy-and gluten-free, if that’s a concern of yours.

You can find more information on DailyBurn FUEL-6 here.

Best of All Bonus: all of the ingredients, including the sweetener and colors are completely natural in all of DailyBurn’s supplements! Additionally, they’re high quality ingredients made from botanical resources. DailyBurn doesn’t seem to cut corners to cheapen their product! And I love that. You can also find DailyBurn on Twitter and Facebook.

Do you take any workout supplements? If so, which ones do you take?

DailyBurn.com is a leading online health and fitness brand, delivering first-class video workout programs and personalized nutrition plans to ensure that members reach their fitness goals. DailyBurn brings fitness and nutrition to members, anytime, anywhere, by streaming HD-quality workouts in a variety of disciplines from dance and high-intensity cardio to yoga, kettlebells and strength training. Unlimited access to DailyBurn’s plans is only $12.95 a month. For more information, visit DailyBurn

This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of DailyBurn.