Should You Add Intra-Workout to Your Stack?
Frequently Asked Questions
Pre-workouts are designed to prime your body before training—typically with stimulants, focus enhancers, and pump ingredients that kick in when your session starts. Intra-workout supplements work during training, providing sustained energy, amino acids, and hydration to maintain performance as you fatigue. Many serious lifters use both: a thermogenic pre-workout for energy and focus, then an intra-workout supplement to sustain intensity through longer sessions and support hydration.
Begin sipping your intra-workout about 15-20 minutes into your session and continue throughout your workout. This ensures nutrients are available when your body needs them most—typically once glycogen stores begin to deplete, and muscle breakdown accelerates. For sessions under 45 minutes, you might wait until halfway through. For marathon training days, start earlier and sip consistently to stay hydrated and maintain endurance.
Not quite—and it's definitely not an energy drink. Electrolytes are one component of many intra-workout formulas, but comprehensive intraworkout supplements like Formula XII include much more: fast-digesting carbohydrates, essential amino acids, creatine, and other performance compounds. A standalone electrolyte supplement handles hydration, while a complete intra-workout addresses energy, muscle preservation, and supporting muscle recovery simultaneously.
Absolutely. Long cardio sessions deplete glycogen and can break down muscle tissue, making intra-workout nutrition just as valuable for endurance work. The fast-acting carbs maintain energy, while EAAs help preserve muscle growth during extended aerobic training. This is especially important if you're combining cardio with lifting or training in a caloric deficit where muscle preservation is critical. The best intra-workout supplements work for both lifting and conditioning.
Most intra-workout powder products mix best with 16-24 ounces of water per serving to hydrate properly. This ensures proper hydration while allowing consistent sipping throughout your session. If you're training in hot conditions or sweating heavily, lean toward more water to stay hydrated. The key is having enough volume to drink throughout your entire workout rather than finishing it in the first 10 minutes.
You can, but many lifters simplify by using products that already include creatine. Creatine Monohydrate powder delivers the science-backed 5000mg dose and can be added to any intra-workout drink for those wanting standalone supplementation to enhance muscle growth. If your intra already contains creatine, adding more isn't necessary. For those using low caffeine pre-workouts, stacking with a comprehensive intra-workout creates a complete performance system without excessive stimulants.
