Last updated: June 25, 2025
I Started Using Pre-Workout in My 30s, I Wish I'd Done It Sooner.
by
Daniel Spencer
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Published on: Apr 29, 2025
In partnership with Wave. Editor’s Note: We only select and work with partners that meet our quality standards, so you can rest assured we only endorse products we believe in.
Building routine is a powerful thing, especially when it comes to physical fitness. For my younger self it was pretty easy -- I was a 3-sport athlete in high school, and played club baseball in college. In my twenties I was getting to the gym 3-4 times a week, and peppered in some basketball runs in between. I was one of the lucky people where staying in shape came pretty naturally to me.
But as I entered my thirties, I found myself slipping a bit. I made more excuses when I was feeling tired or exhausted with work. My friends splintered off, no more gym buddies to hold me accountable, and a sprained ankle or tweaked groin from basketball ended up taking longer and longer to heal.
Sometimes weeks would go by without me breaking a sweat. I moved in with my girlfriend, switched jobs a couple of times -- I felt myself having less free time to get back on the horse. My metabolism was slowing down, weekend beers sat with me for longer, and my body started changing in ways I really wasn't happy about.
As cliche as it is, I made a New Year's resolution that I was done with excuses.
I had a couple of friends who were still gym junkies, and I asked one of them for any advice they had. He told me to focus on low-impact cardio and weight training, and gave me an extremely helpful workout schedule to use as a base. A bit to my surprise, my friend also asked me if I had ever tried a pre-workout. I remembered Jack3d from high school, and I probably took a couple of other pre's during my college days but I never really felt like they were actually good for me. That's when he told me about Wave.
We like
Clinical dosages of the most essential supplements for strength & endurance
Real L-Citrulline (vs. Citrulline-Malate)
Acetyl-L-Carnitine, secret weapon for brain health and energy metabolism
"Holy Grail" Theanine to Caffeine ratio for enhanced focus, less distraction
We don't like
Higher price point
Only 20 servings (but that is standard for products with these dosages)
Finding Something Better
If you're even the least bit skeptical, I was too. I felt like pre-workouts were just glorified energy drinks that would leave me cracked out and crashing after my workout. Certainly not a part of a real adult's fitness routine -- but I think that's where Wave stands out.
The number one thing I have come to love about this pre-workout is the way it makes me feel in and after the gym. This might sound like hyperbole but I was truly shocked at how much more energy I had in the gym. I'm not talking about the eyes-stapled-open jittery energy. I'm truly locked in, not distracted and looking at my phone the whole time, or taking 10 minutes between sets. I'm present and I almost feel like I'm gaining energy throughout my workout. I didn't expect it at all. They use the "holy grail" ratio of Theanine to Caffeine, which has been proven in numerous studies to enhance focus and eliminate distractibility.
However, the best thing is what happens to your body taking a clinically dosed stack over 6-8 weeks. I'm a bit of a control freak so I had to do a DEEP dive on every single ingredient in this thing. They are not joking when they say these are the most proven supplements in sports science. There is compelling clinical data behind every single one. You can tell their ingredient list is very carefully chosen, and there is no extra BS in it like artificial sweeteners or unproven supplements which I love. Just 7 ingredients to help build strength and muscle, increase endurance and blood flow and improve your focus and brain health.
Something I didn't realize is how powerful KSM-66® Ashwagandha can be for guys our age. It is proven to help mitigate serum cortisol and boost testosterone. I know it's not the easiest thing to talk about, but losing testosterone is just a fact as we get older. Having something powerful and science-backed that doesn't involve anything crazy like injections or drugs is incredible. This has been a huge difference maker for me, and I'm not sure why other products don't include it.
I just took a body scan after 4 full months, and I'm pretty proud of the results!
Bottom Line
I think I faced a pretty common challenge for men in their 30s -- lower energy, less time to get to the gym, and less social avenues to stay fit. I've always been cautious of pre-workouts and did not feel like they would be real assets to my health. I was completely wrong, and I wish I had started sooner. If you feel like you could have more energy and focus in the gym, and want to look and feel better long term -- I really suggest you give these guys a try.
