Careful with Your Pre-Workout Powders
Subconscious Fat on Jack3d and pre-workout powders
Mr. Skeptical slams his gym bag on the table, pulling out a neon-colored tub of pre-workout powder.
“You ever tried Jack3d?” he asks, grinning.
I shake my head. “Nope. I stick to buttered coffee.”
He scoffs. “Oh, come on. This stuff was legendary. Before they banned it, one scoop of Jack3d had you feeling like you could bench press a truck.”
I cross my arms. “Yeah, and it also gave people heart attacks.”
Subconscious Fat at 30,000 Feet
Jack3d was one of the most infamous pre-workout supplements ever sold. Marketed as a game-changer for gym-goers, it contained 1,3-Dimethylamylamine (DMAA)—a stimulant structurally similar to amphetamines.
The idea was simple:
Increased energy 🚀
Laser-sharp focus 🎯
Insane endurance 💥
But then the reports started rolling in—high blood pressure, strokes, even deaths.
“People overdid it,” I say, pointing at the label. “One scoop turned into two, then three. Next thing you know, someone’s heart is beating like a drum solo.”
Mr. Skeptical rolls his eyes. “Oh, please. If you take too much of anything, it’s bad for you. Water can kill you if you drink too much.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You’re comparing DMAA to water?”
Subconscious Fat at 10,000 Feet
Jack3d was officially pulled from the market after military personnel died after using it, leading to investigations by the FDA.
“They banned it because people couldn’t handle it,” I say. “It wasn’t just military guys—there were athletes, regular gym rats, all having dangerous side effects.”
Mr. Skeptical shakes his head. “It wasn’t the supplement. It was the idiots who dry-scooped three servings and then sprinted to the squat rack.”
“Even one serving puts serious stress on the cardiovascular system.”
A 2012 study in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that DMAA significantly increased blood pressure and heart rate, making it risky for anyone with underlying heart conditions.
Mr. Skeptical groans. “So we’re just gonna ignore that it worked better than anything else? People still hunt down old tubs of this stuff. That says something.”
“It says that people love playing Russian roulette with their health.”
Subconscious Fat at Eye-Level
“So, what’s your solution?” Mr. Skeptical asks, stirring his pre-workout. “Just sip black-buttered coffee and hope for the best?”
“Yup. Buttered coffee gives you caffeine without the sketchy stimulants. Plus, the butter, ghee or beef tallow and coconut oil slow down the digestion of caffeine and gets one to adapt to burning fat for fuel.”
He laughs. “Oh great, more fat, just what we need. Will the extra fat help me hit a new bench PR?”
“Actually, it may because fat yields 9 grams of energy instead of 4 grams if you consume carbohydrates or protein. But most importantly, unlike Jack3d, it won’t kill you. That’s a good start.”
I show him a recent study that found caffeine alone provides most of the performance benefits that people seek from pre-workouts without the risks of banned stimulants. Trainers and coaches have even studied what yields the best performance depending on body weight. Please take a look at the image below.
Mr. Skeptical sighs. “Fine. Maybe I won’t hunt down an old tub of Jack3d. But I’m still using pre-workouts.”
I shrug. “At least get one that won’t send you to the ER. The chart below lists different ways to get caffeine before a workout.”
Practical Suggestions and Conclusions
Mr. Skeptical stares at his pre-workout. “So let me get this straight—Jack3d worked insanely well but was banned because it could kill you?”
“Correct.”
“And coffee is a safer alternative, but less intense?”
“Correct.”
He exhales. “I hate how reasonable you sound.”
I smile. “Yes, I always believe in going the natural route as much as possible for myself and my clients (typically men over 40). There is no need for needles with Ozmepic or exogenous testosterone either if the diet is right. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to enjoy my pre-workout—also known as buttered espresso.”
Be aware.
Other links related to this post:
Buttered Coffee!??!
Fasted Workouts
Oat Milk!PS Links on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Full disclosure: Chat GPT was used to research and enhance this post.