A lot of effort goes into a great workout, and you need a good source of energy in order to maintain focus, endurance, and muscle strength from start to finish. Support a healthy workout routine with the right performance supplements from The Vitamin Shoppe. Find great deals on top-rated sports drinks, powdered energy drinks, and other sports performance supplements to boost every activity, and get free shipping on online orders over $25.

Grind harder with pre-workout performance supplements

Fuel your exercise sessions before you even hit the gym with our extensive selection of pre-workout supplements. You’ll be able to power through your hardest-hitting workouts with the help of convenient powdered energy drinks, natural energy supplements, or pre-made energy drinks.

Determining which pre-workout supplement is best for you will depend on your personal fitness goals. A variety of key ingredients in many pre-workout products can help to improve your fitness performance by promoting higher energy levels and increasing muscle strength. When purchasing a pre-workout supplement, here are a few things to look for:

• Caffeine: Encourages elevated energy levels and alertness.
• Creatine: Supports energy production within the cells to boost power and endurance.
• Beta-alanine: An amino acid used to boost strength, minimize fatigue, and support energy production.
• BCAAs: Help reduce exercise-induced muscle fatigue and enhance workout recovery.
• Citrulline: An amino acid associated with improved blood flow for bigger pumps and healthy vascular function.

How to take a pre-workout supplement

Pre-workout products come in a variety of forms including powders and pre-mixed sports drinks. Powders can be added to water or your favorite beverage and come in a variety of delicious flavors like watermelon, orange, fruit punch, strawberry, and raspberry.

Tip: Most performance-enhancing ingredients in pre-workout supplements require 30-60 minutes to kick in, so time your intake to get the maximum effect during your workout.

Healing your body after winning the fitness battle

High-intensity activities put your whole body under heavy stress. It’s important to consume quality post-workout nutrition to help kick-start your recovery process, especially after intense workouts. Post-workout supplements are often used to encourage healthy weight management, stimulate gains in muscle mass, and enable sustained performance day after day. Many types of post-workout supplements contain some of the same key ingredients featured in pre-workout supplements, such as beta alanine, creatine, and BCAAs. Additional ingredients in recovery products that can help you get the most out of your workout include:

• Betaine anhydrous: Used to encourage the growth of lean muscle mass and promote a healthy metabolism.
• Glutamine: Aids in protein utilization and helps fuel and repair muscles.
• L-Carnitine L-Tartrate: Can help to reduce muscle soreness and tissue damage after exercise.
• Leucine: An essential amino acid that helps fight muscle breakdown and encourages muscle growth.
• Carbohydrates: Helps replenish glycogen levels.

Choosing the best recovery drink or supplement

The best recovery drink or supplement will largely depend on your lifestyle and preferences. Post-workout powders offer a convenient, on-the-go solution you can easily mix with water or your beverage of choice. Recovery supplements also come in a variety of other forms including tablets, capsules, liquids, and individual packets.

Find supplements that help you elevate your workouts and recover better than ever, right here at The Vitamin Shoppe. Browse our extensive online assortment, or visit your local The Vitamin Shoppe store to speak with one of our friendly Health Enthusiasts and learn even more about our performance supplements.