The Most Optimal Stack for Pre & Post Workout Nutrition - From AN.

Finding the right pre- and post-workout stack can be the difference between just showing up and actually making progress. The right combo not only fuels your training with energy and focus, but also supports recovery so you can come back stronger the next day. In this article, I’ll break down what I’ve been using lately and why it’s been such an effective routine for me.

What to take for Pre-Workout? 

Before you hit the weights, the goal is simple: prime your body for performance. You want energy, focus, better blood flow, and a delay of muscular fatigue. In my stack, I use two AN (Applied Nutrition) formulas together — one with stimulants and one stim-free — to hit those goals from multiple angles.

1. AN Essential Pre-Workout (Stimulant Formula)

Key ingredients & doses (typical per serving):

• Caffeine ~200 mg — a moderate dose to boost alertness, power output, and stimulate the central nervous system.
• L-Citrulline  — used to raise nitric oxide, dilate blood vessels, enhance nutrient delivery, and support muscle pumps.
• Beta-Alanine (~3.2 g) — helps buffer acidity (lactic acid) in working muscles, thereby delaying the “burn” sensation and prolonging high-rep work.
• Creatine Monohydrate — supports rapid ATP regeneration during short, intense efforts (e.g. heavy lifts).

2. AN Non-Stim (Pump Enhancer)

Key ingredients & doses:

• Citrulline ~3 g — to stimulate nitric oxide and pump even without stimulants.
• Ornithine ~2 g — helps detoxify ammonia and relieve metabolic stress, which can delay fatigue.
• Beta-Alanine ~1.6 g (or higher if doubled) — less intense than in a stimulant formula, but still useful for acid buffering.
• Betaine Anhydrous ~1.25 g — supports strength, power, and cellular hydration.
• Taurine ~1 g — for cell volumization, electrolyte balance, and smoothing out stimulant-induced jitters (though here it’s non-stim).
• Tyrosine, citicoline, & NeuroRush — to support mental clarity, focus, and responsiveness even without caffeine.

What to Expect from This Duo in the Gym

When you combine the two, here’s how your session might feel (and what to highlight in your writing):

Expected sensations & effects:

• A smooth but noticeable energy kick — not over-the-top, but an uplift in drive.
• Enhanced muscle “pump” / swelling / vascularity as blood flow is maximized from both citrulline and other vasodilators.
• A delay in muscular fatigue — because beta-alanine and ammonia clearing from ornithine work in concert.
• Better ability to push through later sets, especially high-rep or pump sets, because your muscles stay more buffered and better perfused.
  

Post-Workout Nutrition: Fueling Recovery, Growth & Repair

Your post-workout window is a critical time to supply your muscles with what they just used up: amino acids, creatine stores, and molecular signals for repair. In my stack, I rely on AN’s Peanut Butter Banana protein powder combined with AN’s Creatine + Peptide formula. Here’s why that combo works hard behind the scenes—and how it feels when it’s doing its job.

1. AN Peanut Butter Banana Protein (Hybrid / Whey + Milk Blend)

Key features & rationale:

• This is a hybrid protein blend—combining fast-digesting whey with slower milk proteins. That gives you both a quick spike in amino acids and a sustained release over time.
• Each serving delivers 23 g protein with minimal sugar and fat (1 g each) in many of the Chiquita-branded flavors.
• It includes 400 mg potassium (roughly matching what a medium banana provides), which helps with electrolyte balance and countering exercise-induced potassium loss.
• The flavor pairing (peanut butter + banana) is a smart choice because banana is a fast carb that helps with glycogen refill, and the peanut butter flavor adds palatability and healthy fat context (even if the powder itself is low fat).

Benefits in the recovery stack:

• Supplies amino acids to drive muscle protein synthesis (MPS) immediately after training.
• Helps blunt muscle protein breakdown in the acute postworkout period.
• Contributes to glycogen recovery (especially when paired with carbs) and restores electrolytes (potassium).
• Because it's relatively low in fat and sugar, it's easier to digest right after training.

2. AN Creatine + Peptide (Creatine Monohydrate + PeptiStrong)

Key ingredients & doses:

• 5 g creatine monohydrate per serving — the “gold standard” dose for saturating muscle creatine stores.
• 2.4 g PeptiStrong® (a peptide network derived from fava bean hydrolysate) — added to accelerate muscle repair, boost protein synthesis, reduce inflammation, and enhance recovery speed.

Mechanisms & benefits:

• Creatine replenishes the phosphocreatine stores in your muscles, so you’re better able to produce ATP in future high-intensity efforts.
• Over time, creatine supports strength gains, lean body mass increases, and improved performance in repeated bursts of effort.
• PeptiStrong acts as a signaling peptide: it appears to stimulate mTOR (a key muscle growth pathway), reduce muscle breakdown, lower inflammation, and shorten recovery timelines.
• The combination is synergistic: creatine ensures your energy systems are primed, and PeptiStrong improves the recovery environment (less soreness, more effective protein use).

Where to Grab it💰

All AN Products are available on their website - AN SUPPS

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