Best Pre-Workout for Weight Loss (2024): You Still Need to Put in the Work, but These Help

Transparent Labs LEAN is specifically designed to enhance energy and fat burning. Its combination of stamina-boosting ingredients, fat-loss support, and focus-enhancing components may benefit those wanting to intensify their workouts and change their body composition. 

LEAN contains effective doses of citrulline malate (6 grams), beta-alanine (2 grams), and BetaPure betaine (1.5 grams) to enhance energy, muscle endurance, and strength during a workout. Each serving offers two hundred milligrams of PurCaf organic caffeine to reduce the sense of effort and increase repetitions to failure. 

What makes LEAN unique is its fat-burning complex, consisting of chromium picolinate, zinc, and acetyl-L-carnitine. Chromium picolinate is involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates and helps regulate blood sugar. Some research¹ suggests that chromium supplementation may help reduce body weight in obese individuals, but these effects are small. 

Zinc is required for thyroid hormone production and regulation. Zinc is needed for the conversion of thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3), which is essential for maintaining normal metabolism. Dysregulated thyroid hormones can lead to changes in metabolism and weight gain. 

Finally, L-carnitine serves as a crucial molecule for moving fatty acids across the mitochondrial membrane within cells. To put it simply, it facilitates the transport of fats into the mitochondria, where they undergo conversion into energy in the form of ATP, so you end up burning more fat. 

The one ingredient you won’t find here is creatine, though some people prefer a pre-workout without creatine.

GGR senior editor and certified personal trainer Nicole Davis tried this pre-workout and rated solubility a 4 out of 5 because the pre-workout powder didn’t completely dissolve. When combined, it results in a cloudy appearance with a few visible particles floating throughout.

LEAN comes in eight different flavors. The product contains only natural flavors and sweeteners. Nicole rated taste a solid 5 out of 5, saying it had a slightly bitter taste but wasn’t too sweet overall. 

RELATED: Best Weight Loss Supplements 

Most folks will understand that there are some days when getting to the gym can feel like such a drag. But that’s where pre-workout comes in, giving you a boost of motivation and a metaphorical kick in the pants. 

And if you need a kick in the pants for most of your workouts (like we do) we appreciate ones that offer an affordable price per serving. Nutricost Pre-X is an exceptional budget option with prices on Amazon ranging from about $1.09 to $0.62 per serving, which is why it earns a 4.5-star rating from our testers for price per serving. 

We liked our testing experience with Nutricost Pre-X pre-workout because it not only boosted GGR tester and senior director of content Kate Meier’s energy levels—with 300 milligrams of caffeine—it also gave her mental focus to stay on track during her workout. 

In the Pre-X formulation, you’ll find alpha-GPC², which is an ingredient that’s been shown to increase neurotransmitters for cognitive function and can potentially improve endurance performance and increase natural growth hormone secretion. 

When it comes to taste and solubility, Pre-X earns a 4.5 and 4-star rating, respectively. “I actually look forward to drinking the Blue Raspberry flavor, it’s very tasty,” says Kate, but notes you will find a bit of sediment at the bottom of your shaker cup. 

Legion Pulse is a gluten-free, vegetarian pre-workout supplement made with 100% natural ingredients. If you want to avoid artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners, this could be a good option. It’s designed to up your energy, maximize strength, and reduce fatigue. You can choose to order Legion Pulse with or without caffeine. 

Pulse contains a robust eight grams of citrulline malate, which assists in boosting nitric oxide production, facilitating improved blood flow, and enhancing nutrient supply to muscles. Citrulline malate may improve muscular endurance and strength during a workout. 

The supplement also features 3.6 grams of beta-alanine, 2.5 grams of betaine, and 300 milligrams of alpha-GPC. These ingredients collectively aim to reduce exercise-induced fatigue, promote muscle growth, and increase power during workouts, so you can push harder and burn more calories for weight loss.

Legion Pulse comes in 20 flavors with caffeine and eight without caffeine. The product is naturally flavored and naturally sweetened. Sweeteners include stevia and erythritol, a sugar alcohol that new studies³ suggest could be correlated with blood clotting. However, this needs to be further studied.

Nicole Davis, GGR senior editor and certified personal trainer, rated taste a 4 out of 5 in our Legion Pulse review. She found Pulse to be sweet with a bit of a bitter taste. She didn’t love the aftertaste and noticed that’s when the sweeteners really came through.

The product’s solubility was impressive, and we rated it a 5 out of 5. The mixed solution is opaque without any grittiness or floaties. 

Jacob Penner, USA Weightlifting L-2 coach and GGR expert panel member, has tried roughly 50 pre-workouts, and this is one of his favorites. “This blend has a 1:1 ratio of l-theanine (350 mg) to caffeine (350 mg), so you get a really balanced experience,” he says. “If you set aside all of the high-stim pre-workouts, this is probably one of my favorites because every time I use it, I feel energized but not over-stimulated.”

Kaged Pre-Kaged is formulated to provide you with improved energy, focus, endurance, and strength for better workouts and greater gains. It’s vegan, keto-friendly, gluten-free, and made without artificial flavors.

Pre-Kaged contains creatine HCL (1.5 grams) and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) to speed up muscle growth. When you gain more muscle, your body burns more calories throughout the day, even at rest, which could support weight loss. 

Creatine HCL could be more absorbable and result in greater body composition changes compared to creatine monohydrate⁴. BCAAs, which consist of leucine, lysine, and valine, are known for their role in the production of new muscle and reducing soreness post-workout.

RELATED: Creatine HCL vs Monohydrate

Other ingredients include L-citrulline (6.5 grams) for nitric oxide production and the best pumps, BetaPower betaine (2.5 grams) to enhance strength and muscle endurance, and Carnosyn beta-alanine (1.6 grams) to enhance mental clarity and recover faster. 

Pre-Kaged includes 274 milligrams of caffeine, which may be a bit much if you’re sensitive to the potential side effects of caffeine. Consider starting with a half scoop to avoid caffeine jitters and assess your tolerance.

GGR senior editor and certified personal trainer Nicole Davis tried the Krisp Apple flavor. “When you open the shaker you smell it first, before tasting, and it definitely smells and tastes like apples,” she says in our Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged review. Nicole liked that the flavor wasn’t too sweet and rated it a 5 out of 5. All flavors are sweetened with sucralose and stevia. 

Nicole rated solubility a 4 out of 5. The solution was a little thick and did not completely dissolve. The thickness may have contributed to the odd mouthfeel she experienced after each sip. 

Jacked Factory is full of nitric oxide boosters that will help give you that jacked look while lifting weights. The product includes two supplement facts labels: one for a single scoop serving, and one for a double scoop serving. If you are a pre-workout beginner, you may want to start with a single scoop so you can build up to higher doses of certain ingredients, like caffeine. 

Each two-scoop serving contains 6 grams of L-citrulline, which aligns with the clinically studied recommended dosage of 3-6 grams. L-citrulline is a nitric oxide booster that increases blood flow to the muscles, giving you a visible pump during your workout.

It also contains beta-alanine and betaine anhydrous⁵, which studies show may reduce fatigue, enhance strength, and extend exercise duration. Some consumers may notice a tingling sensation in their hands, arms, or neck after taking Nitrosurge. This is due to the beta-alanine and is entirely normal and harmless, typically subsiding within an hour.

With 360 milligrams of caffeine in a double scoop serving or 180 milligrams of caffeine in a single scoop, either serving will provide a sufficient surge of energy. Research⁶ shows that caffeine may help reduce appetite, which could help you consume fewer calories and lose weight. 

Furthermore, the included theobromine and L-theanine support mental focus, so you can avoid distractions for a more effective workout. Nutritional Neuroscience research⁷ suggests that L-theanine combined with caffeine is beneficial for improving performance during cognitively demanding tasks. 

Nitrosurge comes in 12 flavors, including cherry limeade and cotton candy. GGR product testing experts and avid weightlifters Jacob Penner and Kate Meier rate taste a 5 out of 5. “We tried Strawberry Margarita (which looks like it’s only available on Amazon). It is wildly delicious. Like, I’d drink this by the side of a pool over ice. Drink it all day,” Kate says in our Nitrosurge pre-workout review.

We rated solubility a 5 out of 5. Our testers put one scoop in a shaker cup with 500ml of water and it dissolved perfectly. 

Our testers tried a single scoop, which only gave them half the dosage of the active ingredients. They didn’t experience any tingle, itchiness, or hype because of the lower dosages. Jacob says, “This is what makes it really good for a beginner who isn’t ready to get the mad-hype feeling you get with other pres. I like that you still get 180mg of caffeine with this so you get the energy, but without all the other effects”

Onnit Alpha Brain is made with natural flavors, sweeteners, and colors. This pre-workout is formulated with key ingredients that support the mental focus and physical energy you need to make the most of every training session. 

Alpha Brain contains pre-workout staples such as beta-alanine, L-citrulline, and AlphaGPC for increased energy, endurance, strength, and focus. The L-citrulline dose of 2.4 grams is a little low considering the clinically studied recommended dosage is 3-6 grams. 

This product offers 200 milligrams of caffeine and 50 grams of Dynamine, ingredients that improve cognitive performance during mentally taxing tasks when combined. With caffeine, Dynamine may help improve working memory, cognitive control, and reaction time.

What’s more, each serving provides 225 milligrams of Nooghanda, a trademarked form of ashwagandha extract. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that supports improved memory, focus, and stress relief. Some 2021 research⁸ indicates it may also improve physical strength and power. 

Alpha Brain comes in two flavors, Tiger’s Blood and Yuzu Peach. Both are sweetened naturally with stevia and colored using vegetable juice. 

GGR head of content Kate Meier tried this product, along with several members of her weightlifting team. “We had multiple people on our team try this,” she says in our Onnit Alpha Brain pre-workout review, “and they all agreed: This brings great focus and clarity to your workout. It’s not overly stimulating; it’s more of just feeling very present and ready to do the work. No tingles from this one. Two of our testers said they still got a good pump from this pre-workout.”

Transparent Labs BULK BLACK pre-workout offers a more potent version of the Transparent Labs’ BULK pre-workout formula. BULK BLACK boasts elevated levels of caffeine anhydrous and Infinergy. It’s formulated to enhance strength, endurance, and blood flow to the muscles. BULK BLACK is free of artificial sweeteners, flavors, and food dyes. 

Key ingredients in this potent pre-workout include 8 grams of citrulline malate, 4 grams of beta-alanine, and 2.5 grams of BetaPure betaine anhydrous. Citrulline malate may help improve strength and aerobic performance, since it’s thought to absorb better than the commonly used L-citrulline. 

Beta-alanine, commonly underdosed in other pre-workouts, increases muscle carnosine levels, delaying muscle fatigue and improving endurance. Betaine is synergistic with citrulline and beta-alanine, supporting reduced fatigue so you can complete more reps. 

Moreover, this supplement incorporates nootropics to enhance mood and sharpen focus. For instance, L-tyrosine, an amino acid thought to assist in the synthesis of neurotransmitters, plays a role in attention, motivation, and mental focus. Alpha-GPC is known for its potential ability to improve cognitive function, improving memory, learning, and focus.

Anthony O’Reilly, certified personal trainer and GGR performance editor, tested the Peach Mango flavor and rated it a 5 out of 5. “It tastes so good that I actually want to sip it rather than just gulping it down like most pre-workout.”

The powder mixed really well. Anthony didn’t experience any unwanted clumps or floaties, so he rated solubility a 5 out of 5.

Anthony acknowledges this product comes with a higher price tag, but thinks it’s absolutely worth it. He rated this product’s effects a 5 out of 5 and says, “Energy was quick, long-lasting, and non-crashing.” He experienced some minimal face tingles and noticeable strength gains and mental focus. 

With 300 milligrams of caffeine plus additional stimulants, C4 Ultimate Shred are for the people who really want to be energized while walking into the weight room. Plus, it contains multiple ingredients that have been linked with a faster metabolism, which could help with weight loss.

We want to be clear: None of these ingredients are the magic key to shedding pounds. That said, they could have some benefits with regular use. For example, it contains 20 milligrams of cayenne extract. One of the main compounds in cayenne peppers and other spicy foods is capsaicin, which a 2017 meta-analysis⁹ says “has multiple benefits for metabolic health, especially for weight loss in obese individuals.” The 20 milligrams used in each serving of C4 Ultimate Shred is higher than the dosage used in many of the studies referenced in that meta-analysis, though some used far more.

Still, the formulation only received a 2 out of 5 from our certified nutrition coaches because it only contains 1 gram of l-citrulline (the recommended dose is around 6 grams) and less than half the recommended amount of betaine. It’s also not third-party tested, though we like that they show how much of each ingredient is in a serving.

While we haven’t tried this specific C4 product, we’ve taste-tested many of their other products and all have received a 4 or 5 out of 5 on taste. The Ultimate Shred is available in four flavors: Frozen Bombsicle, Cherry Limeade, Orange Creamsicle, and Pink Lemonade.

MyProtein THE Pre-Workout is formulated to elevate your next run to its fullest potential. It contains adequate doses of the most effective ingredients to give you prolonged energy and power. 

THE Pre-Workout provides 4 grams of L-citrulline to amplify blood flow to your muscles, improve strength, and intensify power. Each serving also provides 2 grams of beta-alanine, which enhances muscle buffering capacity, meaning you can run further without experiencing muscle fatigue. 

RELATED: Best Pre-Workout with Creatine

Furthermore, it offers  2.5 grams of betaine to boost power output, enabling you to push yourself harder during sprints. With 150 milligrams of caffeine, you’ll feel energized without the crazy jitters you may experience with other pre-workouts much higher in caffeine. BioPerine, a patented black pepper fruit extract, is a less common ingredient included in THE Pre-Workout for its potential to support enhanced nutrient absorption. 

Nicole Davis, GGR senior editor and certified personal trainer, really liked the taste of this product, rating it a 5 out of 5. Although this pre-workout is artificially sweetened with sucralose and ace-K, she didn’t find it overly sweet and liked that it has a slightly sour taste. 

Solubility wasn’t as impressive, and we rated it a 3 out of 5. The powder didn’t completely dissolve giving the drink a cloudy taste and there were visible floaties.

Nicole rated effectiveness a 4 out of 5 in our MyProtein pre-workout review. She felt energized and focused during her workout. She says the beta-alanine caused a bit of tingling, but that went away quickly.

Genius Pre is a caffeine-free pre-workout infused with nootropic ingredients and formulated to unlock your greatest physical potential. This product is enriched with cognitive-boosting components to keep you in peak mental form during your workout, without the stimulants.

Genius Pre is packed with substantial doses of citrulline malate (6 grams), CarnoSyn beta-alanine (2 grams), and betaine (2 grams). These components elevate nitric oxide production, enhance blood flow, and strengthen the mind-muscle connection for more effective workouts.

Beyond these performance-boosting ingredients, Genius Pre incorporates nootropics for enhanced cognitive function. L-tyrosine, for instance, may help enhance cognitive flexibility in task-switching performance. Additionally, alpha-GPC can help support focus and memory, ensuring you’re fully immersed in your training session.

Genius Pre offers four flavor options, all free of artificial flavors and sweeteners. Jacob Penner, USA Weightlifting L-2 coach and GGR expert panel member, absolutely loves the Blue Raspberry flavor, which he says tastes just like a blue ICEE. He rated taste a 5 out of 5 and says, “Taste-wise, this is one of the best pre-workouts I’ve ever had, and I’ve had 50+ pre-workouts.”

Regarding solubility, Jacob says in our Genius pre-workout review that it, “Blends very well; I did one scoop with about 16 oz of water; no noticeable issues with blending.” Ultimately, he rated solubility a winning 5 out of 5. 

Jacob compared the effects of this pre-workout to how you might feel after taking a mood stabilizer, euphoric, calm, and focused. He rated effects a 4 out of 5 and says, “I was relaxed, not stimulated; clear, and ready to take action.”