As a personal trainer, I always tell my clients to get their diet and exercise locked in before considering pre-workouts. Once you have multiple intense workouts a week, these supplements can work wonders for your progress.
Unfortunately, there are so many products that promise a lot but then deliver a mediocre formula with little scientific proof.
Lit AF pre-workout is one product that I heard many people at the gym talk about, so our team at Total Shape got together with a nutritionist and nine clients to research and test it over four weeks.
Here’s what we found for this Beyond Raw Lit AF pre-workout review.
What Is Lit AF?
Lit AF is a pre-workout supplement that promises to boost athletic performance, especially for intense weight training. GNC is the company behind this product, and I have used and recommended some of their other pre-workout supplements.
The product claims to improve your ability to build up lean mass through a more effective workout routine without all the sugar that you get from energy drinks.
It contains a combination of amino acids and a caffeine blend that comes in powder form that you mix with cold water.
More on the ingredients shortly.
It was first introduced in 2017, and since then, the formula has adjusted slightly to increase creatine content for boosting energy and muscle mass. It also now has a little less caffeine per dose, which should help you avoid getting jittery.
For Men & Women
Benefits And Highlights
For our testing phase, we went through a regular training week without any pre-workout supplement to get a baseline of training data.
Then we went through three weeks of the same training routine but with Lit AF.
Here’s what we found.
Strength Boosting
The first thing we examined from our Lit AF pre-workout supplement results as if there was a marked increase in weight loads or reps.
We found that overall strength improved in the entire test group.
We were all either able to add a few more pounds on the barbells or do an extra rep per set. And that will add up over the months.
Muscle Pumps
This pre-workout also claims to deliver a huge muscle pump.
While we did find some improvement from the L-citrulline in this pre-workout supplement, I think the 3 grams isn’t enough [1].
Other pre-workout supplements that I recommend contain two or three times as much per dose.
Supplement Form
Most popular pre-workout supplements come in powder form, and the Lit pre-workout has taken the same approach.
What we looked at here is how easy it is to mix and what the flavor is like.
The powder mixed reasonably fast, and it seemed fine out of a shaker.
However, the pre-workout flavors left a bit to wish for. They were very artificial tasting due to chemical flavors and sweeteners.
Key Ingredients
Next, we had our nutritionist look at the ingredients to see if the formula and dosage were supported by reliable scientific studies.
- Beta-Alanine: It’s common in pre-workouts, and studies have shown a positive impact on training strength, which we did observe in testing [2].
- Caffeine Anhydrous: This stimulant has also been linked to improved athletic performance, and it can also help you to stay more focused and motivated for your sets [3].
- Creatine Powder: This is another great ingredient that is directly tied to training performance levels, but the dosage is a bit low compared to other products we’ve tested [4].
- L-Citrulline: This amino acid can help with increased blood flow for better pumps, but again, the dosage is a bit low as you’d need about twice the amount to get a serious pump [5].
“Your kidneys change L-citrulline into another amino acid called L-arginine and a chemical called nitric oxide. These compounds are important to your heart and blood vessel health.”
- Melinda Ratini, DO, MS, WebMD.com
- Added L-citrulline to boost nitric oxide levels and blood flow
- Contains creatine monohydrate to help preserve lean muscle mass
- The powder mixes easily in a shaker and doesn’t remain clumpy
- We noticed some artificial flavors on the label
- Part of the formula is hidden behind proprietary blends making stacking difficult
For Men & Women
Does It Have Downsides?
Beyond Raw Lit pre-workout has a few downsides that I need to mention.
First of all, while most of the ingredients have good scientific backing, not all of them are included in a strong enough dose.
The company also hides some of the ingredients behind a proprietary blend that makes stacking with other products very difficult.
And then there’s the flavor. It just tastes a bit artificial, and some of the options are very sweet.
How Does It Compare To Other Products?
One of the advantages we have is that we have test results from dozens of other pre-workouts.
We can use those to compare the Lit pre-workout and see how well it works to improve athletic performance.
First of all, for a combination of pumps and strength, Gorilla Mode is the one pre-workout that our bodybuilding clients keep going back to.
It has a much stronger dose of L-citrulline and other ingredients to get you fully pumped up.
Another product that has worked well for our clients is 4 Gauge. If you’re not sensitive to stimulants, then you’ll enjoy the focus and energy boost you get from a strong dose of caffeine.
And then there’s Transparent Labs Pre-Series. It’s available both with and without caffeine, which is ideal if you regularly train in the morning and evening. It’s also one of the best pre-workout supplements for getting your blood vessels fully dilated for maximum vascularity.
Who Should Take Lit AF?
Athletes looking for a modest boost in energy and strength could consider taking the Lit pre-workout.
It works well enough as a pre-workout to give you a boost, and some people don’t need to get massive pumps.
It’s also suitable for people who don’t want massive amounts of stimulants, although we have found products that have no caffeine but still deliver better results.
Who Shouldn't Take Lit AF?
Anyone with underlying health conditions shouldn’t use Lit AF or any other pre-workouts without consulting a doctor.
This is especially the case if you have any heart conditions as stimulants like caffeine can affect your blood pressure and heart rate [6].
But many types of athletes shouldn’t take this pre-workout. It just doesn’t deliver a strong enough effect for strength and pumps to allow you to get the most out of every training session.
And since it’s not the cheapest option, you’ll find better value for money as well.
Where Can You Buy It?
You can buy it directly on the Lit pre-workout website and Amazon. When it comes to a pre-workout or any other supplement, I always recommend buying from official and trusted online stores.
There are too many counterfeit products on dodgy online stores that, at best, won’t give you any results at all.
But considering that you’ll be drinking this product, you can’t take chances that you might take something that could make you sick.
From a buying experience, we ordered three separate times, and delivery took about four days; that’s about average for supplement companies.
Other User Reviews
We also had a look at the verified purchase reviews on the official Lit pre-workout website to see what others were saying.
“Was one of my favorite pre I had tried. Good amount of caffeine and kept me focused. Taste wasn’t the best but it was still pretty good”
- Rye M, Company’s Website
“Taste was decent. Low dosage on many ingredients and use of proprietary blends - wish I had known more before I purchased. Gave me the jitters and slight crash. Not one of the better preworkouts by any means.”
- Jwyn, Company’s Website
FAQs
Can You Take The Lit Pre-Workout Every Day?
Yes, you can take the Lit pre-workout every day. The natural ingredients shouldn’t mess with your stomach, and they are classed as generally safe to take long-term. Just avoid taking it later in the day to avoid disrupted sleep.
Does Lit AF Contain Stimulants?
Yes, Lit AF pre-workout contains stimulants. There are 200 mg of caffeine, which is about the same amount as two cups of coffee.
Should You Buy Lit AF?
Overall, our test results for Lit AF were decent enough, with a reasonable improvement in strength and endurance.
It lacked quite a bit for pumps, and considering that it’s not a cheap product, we decided not to advise clients and readers to buy this pre-workout.
Instead, we still recommend that you try out Gorilla Mode. It has a much stronger formula of scientifically proven ingredients. For anyone going through a bulking phase, this is going to make a noticeable difference in how fast you progress.
Order your first supply today and see how much better your next workout is.
We Recommend This Instead
Gorilla Mode
- Contains nitric oxide for insane pumps
- Many positive comments about good endurance and energy boost
- High dose of caffeine may help with mental focus and fat burning
- Tastes good
- Get 10% off using code: TOTALSHAPE
- Does not list calorie count
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