The Benefits of Natural Clinically Dosed Pre-Workouts: Why SURGE and GRIND are the Best Pre-Workouts Supplements for Performance

Pre-workout supplements have become a cornerstone for athletes and fitness enthusiasts looking to maximize their performance, focus, and endurance. Among the vast options in the market, it can be tough to find a product that aligns with both health-conscious consumers and high-performing athletes. This is where SURGE and GRIND, our unique pre-workout formulas, stand out from the crowd.
Our all-in premium pre-workout formulas are carefully crafted with respectively 15 and 14 clinically dosed ingredients to enhance your workout performance, endurance, and focus, and they both also, unlike almost all other pre-workouts on the market, features only approved substances in the EU.

If you have tried other pre-workout formulas in the past, you are probably well-aware that many companies use sketchy or completely useless ingredients that lack solid scientific backing. These formulas often rely on harsh stimulants that provide a temporary rush, making you feel great the first few times you use them. But after a week or two, the perceived benefits fade and the unwanted side effects start to take over. With SURGE and GRIND, every ingredient is chosen based on scientific papers, ensuring both immediate and lasting performance improvements without the unpleasant side effects. 

Let’s dive into the key ingredients that make these pre-workout supplements your best choice for maximizing performance: 

1. L-Citrulline (10 grams): Unlike other companies using citrulline malate, we only use pure L-citrulline at high doses, which is more efficient for boosting nitric oxide production, leading to better blood flow and oxygen delivery to muscles. This supports enhanced endurance, strength, and reduced muscle fatigue.

2. Creatine Monohydrate Micronized (3 grams): A well-researched compound that supports ATP production, creatine enhances strength, power, and lean muscle mass. Our 200 micronized mesh form improves absorption and reduces bloating, making it a go-to for anyone serious about gains.

3. Betaine (3.65 g): Shown to improve strength and power output, betaine also supports cellular hydration, helping muscles remain volumized during intense exercise.

4. L-Taurine (2 g): This amino acid helps maintain hydration and electrolyte balance, particularly during prolonged exercise. It can also aid in muscle recovery and reduce oxidative stress.

5. L-Tyrosine (2 g): A well-known nootropic compound that sharpens mental focus and combats fatigue, particularly in high-stress workout environments.

6. Acetyl L-Carnitine (1 g): Acetyl L-Carnitine is a highly bioavailable form of L-carnitine that plays a critical role in cellular energy production. It facilitates the transport of fatty acids into the mitochondria, where they are converted into usable energy, making it especially valuable for endurance, focus, and overall training performance. Unlike other forms of carnitine, ALCAR readily crosses the blood–brain barrier, where it supports mental clarity, alertness, and neurotransmitter function through enhanced acetylcholine synthesis. The 1 gram dose in GRIND helps improve both mental drive and muscular endurance, ensuring your body and mind stay sharp and energized throughout your workout.

7. Betaine Nitrate (350 mg nitrates): We chose to use betaine nitrate as one of the most effective nitric oxide (NO) boosters available. Nitrates are powerful vasodilators that increase NO levels in the body through a pathway independent of the arginine-citrulline route, which means they bypass common metabolic bottlenecks and deliver reliable results. Once ingested, nitrates are converted into nitrites and then into nitric oxide, enhancing blood flow, oxygen delivery, and muscle pumps. This mechanism has been shown in multiple studies to significantly improve exercise performance and endurance.

8. Malic Acid (800 mg): Works synergistically with creatine to boost endurance by improving the energy cycle in cells, allowing for sustained performance.

9. CDP choline (500 mg): The most expensive form of choline, proved to be crossing the blood-brain barrier. A cognitive enhancer that boosts the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that supports mental focus, coordination, and muscle contractions.

10. Muira Puama 4:1 Extract (500 mg): An adaptogen known to enhance stamina and libido, reduce stress, and improve physical performance, through the increase of dopamine in the brain.

11. Caffeine Anhydrous (300 mg): A fast-acting stimulant that boosts energy, focus, and metabolism without the jittery side effects seen in other forms of caffeine (available only in SURGE).

12. Rhodiola Rosea - 3% Salidroside (500 mg): Rhodiola Rosea is a powerful adaptogenic herb known for its ability to enhance both mental and physical resilience under stress. Standardized to 3% salidroside (the most active and neuroprotective compound in rhodiola), this extract helps regulate cortisol levels, reduce fatigue, and sustain performance during intense training or long days. It works by improving oxygen utilization, mitochondrial efficiency, and neurotransmitter balance, resulting in greater endurance, focus, and motivation.

13. L-Norvaline (200 mg): Helps prolong the effects of nitric oxide by inhibiting its breakdown, leading to longer-lasting pumps and improved vascularity.

14. Theobromine (100 mg): A milder stimulant that complements caffeine, providing sustained energy and focus without causing a crash (available only in SURGE).

15. L-Theanine (100 mg): L-Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in tea leaves, best known for promoting a calm, focused mental state without causing drowsiness. In SURGE, it is included specifically for its powerful synergistic effect with caffeine and theobromine. While caffeine and theobromine elevate energy, alertness, and performance, they can also increase jitteriness in sensitive individuals. L-theanine smooths out that stimulation by increasing alpha-brain wave activity and supporting balanced neurotransmitters, resulting in clean, controlled energy, enhanced focus, and zero crash. The combination of caffeine, theobromine, and L-theanine creates a state of heightened alertness with improved mental clarity, the ideal cognitive environment for intense training.

16. Pink Himalayan salt (500 mg): a natural source of essential electrolytes like sodium, which play a crucial role in maintaining proper hydration and muscle function. In our pre-workouts formulas, it helps regulate fluid balance, improving muscle pumps and endurance during intense exercise. Sodium also aids in nutrient absorption, ensuring that the other active ingredients are utilized efficiently, supporting optimal performance throughout your workout (available only in Enhanced).

17. Bamboo Extract (500 mg) & Black Pepper Extract (5 mg): Bamboo extract supplies silica, supporting joint health and recovery (and ensuring your tub doesn't clump after being opened), while black pepper extract enhances the bioavailability of the other ingredients, making sure you get the most out of every dose.

What to Avoid in Pre-Workouts

When choosing a pre-workout, it’s crucial to read the label and avoid certain ingredients that may do more harm than good. According to several studies, ingredients such as artificial sweeteners, unnecessary fillers, and excessive stimulants that are common in many pre-workouts, are the causes of several problems. In detail:

• Artificial sweeteners and colourings can cause digestive issues and have been linked to negative long-term effects on metabolism.
  
  
• Excessive stimulants can cause jitters, anxiety, and lead to a crash after your workout. With 2 grams of L-Tyrosine, 300 mg of caffeine anhydrous and 100 mg of theobromine in SURGE, we’ve dosed them at an optimal level to ensure an energy boost and nervous system activation without overstimulation.
  
  
• Proprietary blends often hide the actual doses of ingredients and fillers, leaving consumers in the dark about what they’re truly taking. Both SURGE and GRIND list every ingredient and its exact amount, so you know you’re getting effective doses backed by science, without the unwanted artificial junk.

Why We Didn’t Include Beta-Alanine neither in SURGE or GRIND

Beta-alanine has been a common ingredient in many pre-workouts, primarily included for its alleged ability to buffer lactic acid and delay muscle fatigue during high-intensity exercise. However, after carefully reviewing the latest scientific evidence, we made the decision not to include beta-alanine in our formulas for several reasons:

1. Lack of proven benefits in recent studies

While beta-alanine has been touted as a performance enhancer, the evidence supporting its efficacy is not as clear-cut as once believed. In fact, a study published by Bellinger and Minahan (2016) and a meta-analysis by Hobson et al. (2012) showed that high doses of beta-alanine did not improve performance in endurance, high-intensity sprint activities and weight-lifting, but actually caused side-effects.

2. Concerns regarding heart health

Beyond the performance debate, there are emerging concerns about the long-term effects of beta-alanine on heart health. Some studies suggest that excessive intake of beta-alanine can lead to the depletion of taurine, an amino acid essential for heart function. Taurine plays a key role in regulating blood pressure, and a deficiency could increase the risk of cardiovascular issues. Deficiency of taurine can cause also diabetes, liver issues, muscle depletion, and eye damage and disease.

Furthermore a study on the effects of high beta-alanine levels in rat cells found that beta-alanine increased free radicals, decreased oxygen intake, and triggered mitochondrial death. This reduced cell energy production and caused oxidative stress, which can lead to heart failure.

3. Ineffective at any dose possible in a pre-workout

The aforementioned meta-analysis by Hobson et al. (2012) concluded that "The median effect of β-alanine supplementation is a 2.85% (-0.37 to 10.49%) improvement in the outcome of an exercise measure, when a median total of 179 g of β-alanine is supplemented." That means that even when taken daily for a prolonged time at 179 g (which is a dose impossible to include in a pre-workout), the median performance increase was 2.85%, which is statistically insignificant and comparable to placebo.

Given these potential risks, we decided that the inclusion of beta-alanine in Limitless would compromise our commitment to efficacy, safety and long-term health. We aim to provide products that not only enhances performance but also supports overall well-being.

What to Expect from SURGE and GRIND

As any other of our products, when we put them on the market, we only aim for the best. Hence why SURGE and GRIND are not just another pre-workout formula; they are both meticulously crafted formula designed for athletes who want real, long-lasting results. With respectively 14 and 12 scientifically backed ingredients these 100% natural pre-workouts provide superior endurance, focus, and muscle performance without the common crash and unwanted side effects of typical pre-workout formulas. Whether you're training for strength, endurance, or overall fitness, both SURGE and GRIND ensure that every workout counts, helping you reach your goals safely and effectively.

References:

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Kreider, R. B., et al. (2017). "International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine." Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 14(1), 1-18.

Armstrong, L. E., et al. (2017). "Effects of betaine supplementation on power performance and fatigue." Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31(3), 765-776.

Imagawa, S., et al. (2009). "The effect of taurine supplementation on muscle damage markers and performance after eccentric exercise." Amino Acids, 37(4), 681-687.

Neri, D. F., et al. (1995). "Effects of tyrosine on cognitive performance and mood during acute exposure to hypoxia." Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 66(4), 313-319.

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Stough, C., et al. (2001). "The chronic effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy human subjects." Psychopharmacology, 156(4), 481-484.

Hayashi, T., et al. (2005). "L-norvaline: A selective inhibitor of arginase activity and a potential therapeutic agent for vascular diseases." Circulation Research, 97(7), 758-760.

Grassi, D., et al. (2005). "Short-term administration of dark chocolate is followed by a significant increase in insulin sensitivity and a decrease in blood pressure in healthy persons." The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 81(3), 611-614.

Srinivasan, K. (2007). "Black pepper and its pungent principle-piperine: A review of diverse physiological effects." Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 47(8), 735-748.

Bellinger, P. M., & Minahan, C. L. (2012). "The effect of beta-alanine supplementation on cycling time trials of different length." European Journal of Applied Physiology, 112(8), 3227-3236.

Hobson, R. M., et al. (2012) "Effects of β-alanine supplementation on exercise performance: a meta-analysis." Amino Acids. Jul;43(1):25-37.

Shetewy, A., et al. (2016) "Mitochondrial defects associated with β-alanine toxicity: relevance to hyper-beta-alaninemia." Mol Cell Biochem. 2016 May;416(1-2):11-22.