Believe supplement is a Quebec company that has been evolving in the field of supplementation for many years and which stands out for the quality & transparency of its products.
In fact, unlike many supplement companies, Believe offers their customers the possibility of analyzing each product purchased thanks to a quality assurance system found on their website. Each product is tested by an external 'third party' to ensure the highest purity, quality & transparency regarding their ingredient formula.
Recently, the company Believe supplement has marketed a new product in the range of “pre-workout”: the Pre-Fuel .
Many positive & elongating comments have come to my ears about this product since its release, and I won't lie to you… It really piqued my curiosity!
So, I decided to try the latter to see for myself the benefits that Pre-Fuel could offer to my workouts.
After using it for the past 4 weeks, I can now give you my honest & transparent review of this product.
So put on your goggles & tie your toque because the “ Pre-Fuel review ”…It's on!
Pre-Fuel: a pre-workout, but still…
Most pre-workout formulas are often criticized for not being comprehensive enough. Often too many stimulants and too few ingredients for performance...or the other way around.
Pre-fuel , on the other hand, offers an “all-in-one” formula that is well balanced in terms of its ingredients, thus offering the consumer a good level of focus, energy & muscle pump.
Concentrated mixture
- 200mg caffeine
- 150mg Alpha GPC (L-Alpha-Glycerophosphocholine)
In addition to the stimulating & alert effect that caffeine offers, Alpha GPC could give a small additional “boost” to our level of concentration thanks to its benefits on cognitive function (Marcus, 2017).
In addition, this same study demonstrated an increase in power & velocity during repeated jumps when Alpha-GPC was administered compared to a placebo.
Energy formula & muscle "pump"
- 6g of L-Citrulline Malate
- 2g Beta Alanine
- 1g Leucine
L-Citruline Malate & Beta Alanine are two other well-researched ingredients in the field of supplementation.
At first, L-Citruline Malate would have vasodilating properties. We are talking here about a dilation of the blood vessels which can thus lead to a better "blood flow", a greater muscular pump & a greater supply of nutrients transmitted to the muscles during the effort. In this regard, the evidence is strong supporting the anabolic capacity & muscle synthesis enabled by this substance. Indeed, the study by Kang et al. (2022) demonstrated superior effects on increasing lower limb muscle mass & muscle strength for the intervention group compared to the placebo group.
Secondly, Beta Alanine is interesting for its properties in muscular endurance and its ability to "buffer" the H+ ions of lactic acid. Muscle fatigue can therefore be delayed since the body is able to use lactic acid as a secondary source of energy for longer without increasing the H+ ions to excessively high levels (Sas-Nowosielski & al. , 2021).
Ps It is the accumulation of H+ ions that give this effect of fatigue & muscle "burn" inevitably forcing the body to reduce the intensity of its effort 😉
Added vitamins & minerals
- Himalayan pink salt
- Magnesium Malate
- Vitamin B2, B9 & C
The advantage of adding certain vitamins & minerals to "pre-workout" is to promote optimal nerve conduction (from the nervous system to the contraction of each muscle fiber) as well as a good level of hydration of the muscle cell . These factors are not insignificant for performance and can make a big difference in our progress in training.
His advantages
Well-balanced formula :
- Few pre-workout formulas offer interesting dosages in each of its ingredient categories (Energy, concentration, muscle pump, hydration, endurance, etc.). The major problem of any good " gym rat " is to find themselves having to take a measure and a half (or even two measures!) to be able to obtain an adequate dosage of L-Citruline-Malate or Beta Alanine, for example. On the other hand, the quantity of stimulant can then rise very quickly… Which is not always very desirable.
- Pre-Fuel offers the right dosage to allow you to get the maximum benefits for each ingredient and this in a single & unique scoop.
Good value for money :
- 25 portions for $39.99, that makes us a return of $1.60/portion ! Considering that the average price of a “pre-workout” measure is generally found between $2.20 and $2.60, Pre-Fuel is a product worth taking a few dollars out of your pocket.
Exemplary taste & varied flavors :
- At this level, Believe knows how to stand out with the flavors of its products. Those offered for Pre-Fuel are no exception. These are original, varied and the taste is refreshing, tasty & authentic. We find so far the flavors:
- Lime & Cherry
- Raspberry lemonade
- White slushie frozen drink
- fruit punch
- Tropical Orange (which they say…Tastes exactly like Sunny Delight!)
Its disadvantages
Pre-fuel remains a “ pre-workout ”…
And who says " pre-workout ", also says presence of stimulants.
Possessing 200mg of caffeine per scoop, which is the equivalent of an average coffee, taking this product for your late night workout can definitely adversely affect your sleep quality & recovery.
On this point, being an adult & vaccinated, whether or not to take the latter remains at your discretion.
In the same vein, the proposed formula includes " Apha GPC ", an ingredient quite powerful in increasing concentration and alert levels. Some individuals will be more sensitive than others, but it's a safe bet that you might not feel the urge to go to sleep in the first hours after your workout haha...
The team's opinion
To be honest, I love this product!
I won't say it's a "must" for his workouts, but if you're looking for a great little product that can add a "+" to your workout experience, the value- price is definitely worth it!
The muscle pump was excellent…
For each exercise, I could feel the right muscle being recruited, contracted well & worked effectively…
Concentration was better and distractions were less present…
I would even go so far as to say that my “ leg days ” were fun!!
Ahahah…Well maybe not to this point after all.
Jokes aside, this is without a doubt a product that we would recommend to everyone who wants to give their workouts a little extra kick.
In addition, the flavors offered are to develop a real addiction (Raspberry lemonade… Excuse me, but it is something!)
The final word
Pleasure is an important aspect to consider, especially in training, when you want to remain constant & regular in your training routine.
However, by offering a better muscular feeling, a better “focus” & better energy levels, this product can sincerely make a difference on the training satisfaction that we can derive from it.
On days when motivation fluctuates up and down, Pre-fuel will certainly be able to offer you what you need for a "paying" & satisfying workout 😉
To a next blog!
The Health Purchasing team
References
Kang, Y., Dillon, KN, Martinez, MA, Maharaj, A., Fischer, SM, & Figueroa, A. (2022). Combined L-Citrulline Supplementation and Slow Velocity Low-Intensity Resistance Training Improves Leg Endothelial Function, Lean Mass, and Strength in Hypertensive Postmenopausal Women. Nutrients, 15(1), 74. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15010074
Marcus, L., Soileau, J., Judge, LW, & Bellar, D. (2017). Evaluation of the effects of two doses of alpha glycerylphosphorylcholine on physical and psychomotor performance. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-017-0196-5
Parnetti L, Amenta F, Gallai V. Choline alphoscerate in cognitive decline and in acute cerebrovascular disease: an analysis of published clinical data. Mech Aging Dev. 2001;122:2041–55.
Sas-Nowosielski, K., Wyciślik, J., & Kaczka, P. (2021). Beta-Alanine Supplementation and Sport Climbing Performance. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(10), 5370. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105370
Zeigenfuss T, Landis J, Hofheins J. Acute supplementation with alphaglycerylphosphorylcholine augments growth hormone response to, and peak force production during, resistance exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2008;5(Supp 1):15