Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre Workout Review
In our Gold Standard Pre Workout Review, we take a close look at this pre workout supplement made by Optimum Nutrition
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre Workout is a popular supplement designed to get you firing at the gym and make sure that you get the very best out of your sessions.
Where to buy: www.amazon.com
Optimum Nutrition are widely regarded as one of the top supplement companies around – and they already have a range of popular products in the Gold Standard range, including Whey Protein.
But how does their pre workout offering compare to the other products on sale at the moment?
The purpose of this article is to give you a detailed breakdown of what this product is all about in our Gold Standard Pre Workout review.
We’re going to do this by taking a close look at the ingredients, reading real customer reviews, and finally seeing where it stands compared to some of the best pre workout supplements on the market right now.
Editor's note: The content on this website is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. Our articles and the products featured in them are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. Always speak with a certified medical professional before making any changes to your lifestyle, diet, exercise routine, and/or taking any supplements.
So, with the introductions out of the way, let’s start taking a closer look at the Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre Workout.
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Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre Workout – The Basics
Gold Standard Pre Workout is Optimum Nutrition’s top pre workout supplement designed to help get you into the zone in the gym.
Like most pre workouts, it works by giving you a dose of ingredients including things such as Caffeine, Vitamins, Creatine and Amino Acids.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre Workout (Photo: The Sport Review)
We should point out that for the purpose of this review, we tried out the UK version of the Gold Standard Pre Workout. The UK version is very similar to the US one, with just a few minor differences in the ingredients formula.
The Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre Workout is available to buy online from various retailers, including Amazon and the official site in the US. In the UK, it’s also available in shops such as Holland and Barrett.
The label of Gold Standard Pre Workout says that it’s been designed and formulated to help support you through periods of exercise.
Meanwhile, the US-facing official Optimum Nutrition website says that this pre workout is as “good as gold” and has been formulated to help you to reach the “pinnacle of your game”.
The official site also describes Optimum Nutrition, a heavyweight in the supplements world, as one of the most trusted brands in the sports nutrition space.
The supplement is available in a number of flavours, including:
• Green Apple
• Watermelon
• Fruit Punch
• Blueberry Lemonade
One tub of Gold Standard Pre Workout weighs 300g/330g and is the equivalent of 30 servings. It costs around $35 for one tub from Amazon in the US and around £30 for one tub from Holland and Barrett in the UK.
So, now that we’ve covered some of the basic facts you need to know about the Gold Standard Pre Workout, it’s time to take a close look at its ingredients formula.
The Ingredients
Let’s begin here by taking a look at the ingredients label of the Gold Standard Pre Workout.
Note that this is the US formula, shown on the official website and correct at the time of writing. The formula of the product in other countries may be different, and they may be updated and changed from time to time.
The Gold Standard Pre Workout ingredients formula (US version)
As you can see for yourself, this supplement contains a blend of different ingredient, ranging from vitamins to amino acids and Caffeine. Let’s look through some of the main ingredients in the formula.
• Creatine Monohydrate – Creatine is, of course, a popular post-workout supplement. But lots of the leading pre workout products also include it thanks to its many benefits.
• Caffeine – Caffeine needs no introduction really. It’s one of the most popular stimulants on the planet. Each serving (one scoop) contains 175mg of Caffeine in total. To put this amount into context, you’d expect to find around 100mg of Caffeine in a regular cup of coffee.
• Beta-Alanine – Beta-Alanine is a pretty common pre workout ingredient and each serving of Gold Standard Pre Workout contains 1.5g.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre Workout (Photo: The Sport Review)
• L-Citrulline – In case you didn’t know, L-Citrulline is an amino acid that’s found in watermelons. It’s one of the top pre workout ingredients out there, and each serving of Gold Standard Pre Workout contains 750mg (this is a lower dose than some other similar products).
• Vitamin D – Vitamin D is an important vitamin that our bodies make automatically when our skin is exposed to direct sunlight containing UVB rays. You can also get Vitamin D from some foods and from a supplement. Each serving contains 500IU of Vitamin D.
• Vitamins B6 and B12 – These are two important vitamins that we need to get from our diets. In case you didn’t know, both Vitamin B6 and B12 contribute to normal energy release and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.
• Pantothenic Acid – Also known as Vitamin B5, Pantothenic Acid contribute to normal energy release, the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, and normal mental performance.
The Taste and Flavours
As mentioned above, the Gold Standard Pre Workout comes in a variety of different flavours.
We tried out the Green Apple flavour. The powder is quite fine in texture.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre Workout (Photo: The Sport Review)
We mixed one scoop (provided) into a glass of water. The powder dissolved pretty well, although we did have to work a bit harder to get rid of some the clumps which hadn’t dissolved at first.
In terms of the taste and flavour, we were impressed overall. The liquid soon turned a greenish colour after having mixed in the powder, and the taste was sweet and fruity, with a strong apple flavour.
Like most of the pre workouts we’ve tried out, it did have a bit of a ‘synthetic’ aftertaste, but generally speaking, we were impressed with the flavour and taste of the Gold Standard Pre Workout.
Side Effects And Warnings
Make sure you carefully read the entire label of any supplement you’re thinking of taking, as the information may differ from what’s shown on this page.
We recommend that you speak to your doctor before thinking about taking any new supplement or making any major lifestyle changes.
It’s also worth doing some of your own research into the individual ingredients to make sure that you’re not allergic to any of them. You should also always carefully read the directions and the warnings on the label of any product you decide to purchase before using it.
The main thing of note in the Gold Standard Pre Workout formula is the Caffeine content. Each scoop provides 175mg of Caffeine, and as we said above, you’d expect to find around 100mg of Caffeine in a regular cup of coffee.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre Workout (Photo: The Sport Review)
If you’re sensitive to stimulants or are consuming Caffeine from other sources, it may be best to avoid this product.
There is a warning on the UK version’s label saying that you should not exceed the recommended dose.
The label also says that you should speak to your doctor before using this product if you’re taking any medications or are under a physician’s care for a medical condition.
It also says that this supplement is only intended to be consumed by healthy adults over the age of 18 and it’s not recommended for those who are sensitive to Caffeine or Beta-Alanine, are pregnant or breastfeeding.
The label also says that you should not take this supplement while consuming Caffeine from other sources, and it also says not to consume it with alcohol.
How To Take Gold Standard Pre Workout
Each tub of Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre Workout contains 30 servings, so it should last you around a month if you were to take it every day.
It’s currently available in a number of flavors, including Green Apple, Pineapple and Strawberry Lime.
The directions say that you should mix one scoop with a glass of water around 20-30 minutes before starting your training session.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre Workout (Photo: The Sport Review)
If you train in the evenings, this is probably not the right product for you, because it contains enough caffeine to potentially disrupt your sleep.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre Workout (Photo: The Sport Review)
Pros And Cons
Let’s now weigh up some of the pros and cons of the Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre Workout.
Pros:
• Contains Creatine, L-Citrulline and L-Carnitine
• Contains some important vitamins
• Nice flavour and taste
• Reputable brand
Cons:
• 175mg (per scoop) may be too much Caffeine for some people
• Not sure if it’s suitable for Vegans or Vegetarians
Anything Else To Consider?
There are a few things to remember when it comes to any kind of fitness supplement.
Firstly, as the label says on the UK product, supplements are not intended to replace a varied diet and a healthy overall lifestyle.
It’s always best to ensure that you’re sticking to a healthy and varied diet and living a healthy lifestyle overall before thinking about a supplement.
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre Workout (Photo: The Sport Review)
As we mentioned above, we always think that it’s a good idea to speak to your doctor before taking a new supplement, so you can receive some tailored advice from them.
Review Conclusion – Our Final Thoughts
So, that brings us to the end of our Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre Workout review.
We’ve explained all of the important things you need to know about this particular supplement, including the ingredients, the taste and the flavours.
All in all, we think that this is a pretty good pre workout supplement, with some good ingredients, and made by a reputable brand.
