Even the most enthusiastic gym-goers have days where their energy levels are low and they just can’t get excited about working out. On days like that, a pre-workout supplement can be just the pick-me-up you need to get the job done.
Like many other supplement decisions, choosing the right pre-workout is important. Picking the wrong product could leave you feeling jittery or nauseous, which is why we review products like Pro Supps Mr. Hyde to help you make an informed decision.
As you might have guessed, Mr. Hyde is the counterpart to another aptly named pre-workout supplement from Pro Supps called Dr. Jekyll.
What Is The Benefit Of Taking A Pre-Workout?
There are many essential components to building a balanced diet that will support your fitness goals, including fats, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. While pre-workout supplements don’t fall into any of those categories, their active ingredients can have a big impact on both the short-term and long-term outcomes you get from your current training program.
Most novice weightlifters think that pre-workout pills or powders are just stimulants, filing them under the same category as coffee or carbonated energy drinks. While it is true that these products share a handful of ingredients and may generate some of the same results as pre-workout supplements, there are certain benefits that you can only get from taking a pre-workout.
Using pre-workouts in the right way has been scientifically proven to help you increase strength and muscle size, accelerate fat loss, reduce fatigue and improve your focus.
Here is a more comprehensive list of the benefits of taking the right pre-workout supplement:
- Increased strength, more endurance during cardio or long workouts
- Improved focus and increased energy levels
- A fuller, more vascular pump
- Decreased muscle breakdown during training
- Faster, more efficient protein synthesis and nutrient delivery
- Increased metabolic rate (greater fat burning)
- Creation of an optimal hormonal environment
In a less tangible way, pre-workout supplements help you get “in the zone.” It’s difficult to explain, but perhaps you’ve had one of those days where you walk in the gym and just know that this isn’t going to be an ordinary workout.
You feel energized, motivated, and ready to throw some weight around. You might warm up at a weight that would typically be a working set. Later, you find yourself digging deep for 3-4 extra reps that you don’t usually have in you. For most athletes, these days are few and far between, but a pre-workout can help you get closer to having that same feeling day after day.
Having a grounded approach to pre-workout supplementation can help you maximize the results you get from your time in the gym. Pre-workouts are good for breaking through a plateau or even just getting back to that excited feeling you had early in your fitness journey. No, your body doesn’t need a pre-workout in the same way that it needs protein or carbohydrates, but if you’re serious about training, you can’t afford to ignore this part of a complete nutrition program.
What Ingredients Are in Mr. Hyde Pre-workout?
Pro Supps breaks down the ingredients of Mr. Hyde into three main groups, called matrices. They include a strength matrix, a caffeine matrix, and an intensity matrix. Together, they combine to give you that high energy, maximum output type of performance we talked about earlier.
Strength Matrix
The largest part of the strength matrix is Beta Alanine, an amino acid that helps improve endurance by reducing the oxidative properties of stress that lead to fatigue. This is the ingredient that helps you eek out those extra reps during your last set.
Other components of the strength matrix include more familiar components like Creatine as well as Citrulline Aspartate, which helps to increase blood flow, raise energy levels, and dampen the effects of fatigue. All of these ingredients combine to help keep you going harder, stronger, and longer.
Caffeine Matrix
As you might have guessed, the caffeine matrix is comprised mostly of various forms of caffeine. Arguably the most popular workout supplement in the world, caffeine helps release fatty acids into the bloodstream, driving short-term energy gains and increasing metabolism during your workout.
The effects of caffeine take time to manifest, so most experts recommend consuming around 200mg approximately 30 minutes before your workout. At over 400mg of caffeine equivalents, Mr. Hyde has plenty of kick to keep you going. This group of ingredients will have a big impact on our dosing and consumption recommendations.
Intensity Matrix
The ingredients of Mr. Hyde pre-workout are rounded out by an intensity matrix that is mostly Choline and Hordenine, which both contribute to neurological function (improved focus) and increased cell metabolism (fat burning). When combined with the remainder of the intensity matrix, these two chemicals generate big gains by helping you get “into the zone.”
How And When Should I Take It?
The manufacturer recommends mixing one scoop of Mr. Hyde with 8 ounces of cold water and consuming between 15 and 30 minutes prior to your workout. If this is your first time taking a pre-workout for CrossFit, try starting with ½ – 1 scoop to see how the supplement affects you before adjusting your dosage as needed.
It is normal to feel nauseous or jittery during the first few doses, but you should begin to feel a steady, helpful spark of energy within the first week. Also, because this product contains a considerable amount of energy-boosting ingredients, you should refrain from consuming other stimulants like coffee or tea. Too much of a good thing can turn into a bad thing, so keep driving right by that Starbucks on your way to the gym.
Remember, the effects of this product include increased energy levels, so make sure that you factor in how close you are to hitting the hay before taking Mr. Hyde. In general, pre-workouts should not be taken within four hours of your intended bedtime, otherwise you could be in for a late night.
Additionally, you should cycle on and off of any pre-workout supplement. Over time, your body can develop a tolerance to some of the ingredients (creatine and caffeine, specifically), so you need to ween yourself off of the product for a few weeks to make sure you’re getting the full effect of the supplement when it is an active part of your nutrition plan.
To do this, take Mr. Hyde consistently for 6-8 weeks and then abstain from the product for the next 2-3 weeks. When you come back, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the renewed vigor with which you can approach your workouts.
Is there any reason I shouldn’t take Mr. Hyde?
The manufacturer’s warning includes most of the typical exclusions for workout supplements. Here are some of the people who shouldn’t be taking Mr. Hyde:
- Individuals under the age of 18
- Women who are pregnant or nursing
- Individuals who are severely overweight
Additionally, Pro Supps recommends that those who have a family history of heart disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, psychiatric conditions, or seizure disorder consult their physician before taking this product.
If you have food allergies related to milk, eggs, soy, wheat, or shellfish, you may want to look elsewhere. This product is manufactured in a facility that also handles products with those ingredients, so there is an outside chance that it could cause an allergic reaction.
Finally, if you try Mr. Hyde and experience any of the following symptoms, you should immediately stop taking Mr. Hyde (or any other pre-workout supplements) and consult your physician:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Severe headache
- Shortness of breath
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I take my Mr. Hyde with food?
Most pre-workout supplements are designed to be taken on an empty stomach. If you know that you have a pre-existing sensitivity to caffeine, you can eat a small snack before consuming Mr. Hyde to minimize the negative effects.
Can I combine Mr. Hyde with other pre-workout products?
You will usually see a similar combination of ingredients across multiple pre-workout options. Even though these ingredients work well together, it is never a good idea to take multiple concentrated stimulants at the same time. As we said before, too much of a good thing can turn into a bad thing. If you have ever had too much coffee and suffered from a fluttering heart, shaky hands and a pounding headache, you know what we’re talking about.
To reiterate a previous point, you should also never combine a pre-workout with another stimulant like coffee or energy drinks. This can have a similar outcome to combining multiple pre-workouts.
If I am trying to to lose fat should I still take a pre-workout?
Although some of the ingredients in Mr. Hyde have been found to increase metabolism and stimulate the body’s natural fat-burning processes, pre-workouts should never be used as the primary supplement in a weight loss program. If you are trying to lose weight, there are better products to help you reach your goal before taking a pre-workout. For those who are already dosing, consider the enhanced fat-burning properties icing on the cake.
Should I still take my pre-workout product on rest days?
The purpose of taking a pre-workout is to increase your energy, improve your focus, and help you perform better during your workout. Therefore, there really isn’t much of a reason to consume Mr. Hyde on non-training days unless you work in a physically demanding field where these effects might also help you be more productive at the office.
As an added benefit, abstaining from pre-workouts on your rest days will give you a break from the considerable amounts of caffeine in these products. This will help slow down your body’s natural development of a tolerance and keep you feeling the positive effects of Mr. Hyde further into your dosing cycle.
What should I do if I prefer to train at night?
If you’re taking it properly while training in the evenings, the caffeine in Mr. Hyde will almost certainly keep you from falling asleep at your normal time. As we mentioned before, there is typically a four hour window where you will be influenced by the energy boosting effects of a pre-workout. So, if you’re taking it at 6:00 pm and you don’t plan to go to bed until 10:00 pm or later, you might be okay.
Otherwise, you should look for an alternative pre-workout that is caffeine free. We recommend Hit Supplement Peak Performance, which will give you all of the anabolic benefits of a normal pre-workout without delaying your bedtime.
How does a pre-workout fit into my current nutritional plan?
In general, your pre- and post-workout nutrition should remain the same. As we mentioned before, it is better to take Mr. Hyde or similar pre-workout products on an empty stomach, but you can continue to dose creatine monohydrate or BCAAs as you normally would otherwise. Similarly, consuming a protein shake or a protein-heavy meal after your workout is recommended to fuel tired muscles and stimulate your recovery.
