IO Genix PreWork NOSTIM

What is IO Genix PreWork NOSTIM?

IO Genix PreWork NOSTIM is a complete caffeine-free pre-workout powder, dosed at 16 g per serving. “NOSTIM” means exactly what it says: no central nervous system stimulant in the formula, no caffeine, no synephrine, no yohimbine.

What sets it apart from most stimulant-free products is that it doesn't stop at the pump. The formula packs in 4 g of beta-alanine, 3 g of creatine monohydrate, 3 g of AAKG, taurine, tyrosine, four vitamins and 375 mg of magnesium. That's a 16 g serving, two to three times the weight of a conventional pre-workout, and you can see it in the shaker.

The flavours listed are Raspberry Lemonade and Watermelon. The number of servings per tub is not published by the manufacturer in the information available to us. The rest of the Spanish range is in our IO Genix section.

What does a 16 g serving contain?

The per 100 g values are calculated from the manufacturer's declaration for a 16 g serving. The “protein” line corresponds to the free amino acids in the formula, counted here by the manufacturer.

4 g of beta-alanine is at the top end of the market and it deserves an explanation that changes how you use the product. Beta-alanine does not act when you take it: it gradually raises muscle carnosine stores, which takes several weeks of daily intake. A pre-workout taken three times a week never gets you to that level. If that is the effect you are after, you need to top up on non-training days with beta-alanine on its own. The immediate effect, on the other hand, is guaranteed: tingling in the face and forearms within about fifteen minutes. It is harmless and it fades as you get used to it.

The same remark applies to the 3 g of creatine monohydrate. It is a decent dose — the useful range runs from 3 to 5 g — but creatine works by saturating the muscle, which means taking it daily, rest days included. Taken only before training, it never fills the tank completely. That is not a flaw in the product, it is a limitation of the format.

The 375 mg of magnesium covers 100% of the reference value, and magnesium contributes to normal muscle function, to the normal functioning of the nervous system and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. It is the only active in the formula that carries a claim of any use here. One caution though: 375 mg in one go is a high amount for a single serving, and magnesium has a well-known laxative effect above 300 mg. If you are already taking magnesium elsewhere, count it in.

The 3 g of AAKG provides arginine bound to ketoglutarate. The effective arginine content is not published, and neither arginine, nor beta-alanine, nor taurine, nor tyrosine holds an authorised claim in Europe. Creatine does hold one, from 3 g per day, but it assumes daily intake, which this product alone does not allow. Vitamins B1, B3, B6 and C, at 100% of their reference value, contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

Ingredients list

Beta-alanine, AAKG (arginine alpha-ketoglutarate), creatine monohydrate, L-taurine, L-tyrosine, magnesium (bisglycinate), natural flavourings, acidity regulator (citric acid), vitamins B1, B3 and B6, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), BioPerine® (black pepper extract standardised to 95% piperine), sweetener (sucralose), anti-caking agent (silicon dioxide). May contain traces of GLUTEN, MILK, EGG, SOYA and NUTS. Made in a facility that handles these allergens.

How do you take PreWork NOSTIM?

Serving: 16 g. Liquid: 200 to 250 ml of cold water. Timing: 30 minutes before training. Frequency: one serving on each training day. Duration: no break period needed, as the absence of stimulants rules out any build-up of tolerance.

Start with a half serving of 8 g for three to five sessions. The manufacturer recommends it and it is right to: 4 g of beta-alanine in one go, in someone who has never taken any, produces tingling pronounced enough to be alarming. And 375 mg of magnesium in one go, on a stomach that isn't used to it, can cut a leg session short for all the wrong reasons.

The liquid volume given, 200 to 250 ml, makes for a fairly concentrated drink. Nothing stops you going up to 400 ml if you prefer, and it is easier on the stomach that way. Do avoid taking it straight after a high-fibre meal, which slows absorption of the whole thing.

The real appeal of the product is about timing. With no caffeine, it works just as well at 20:00 as at 8:00, with no consequences for falling asleep. That is why we regularly recommend it to people who only have an evening slot to train and who have ended up giving up on conventional pre-workouts.

Who is PreWork NOSTIM for, and who is it not for?

It suits anyone who trains late, anyone sensitive to caffeine, anyone who wants a break from stimulants without losing the pre-session ritual, and anyone who would rather have a single product than three tubs to measure out separately.

It is not for you if you are looking for energy or alertness: with no stimulant there is no kick, and disappointed feedback almost always comes from that. Nor is it for you if you already take creatine daily — you would be doubling up for nothing — or if you already take 300 mg of magnesium elsewhere.

The product is made in a facility that handles gluten, milk, egg, soya and nuts: with a severe allergy, that point alone rules it out. Like any product in this category, it is for adults only, not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, and calls for advice from a healthcare professional if you are on medication or have a known condition. If you are subject to anti-doping testing, check the batch status with your federation.

What you should not expect from it: the 4 g of beta-alanine will only deliver its full effect if you take it every day, training or not, for several weeks. The same goes for the creatine. Used only on training days, this product works mainly as a preparation and comfort drink — which is still useful, but it is not what the sum of the stated doses promises.

PreWork NOSTIM or a caffeinated pre-workout?

The difference is clear-cut and comes down to what time you train.

A caffeinated pre-workout acts on alertness, focus and perceived effort. It is the better choice for a heavy session, a morning workout, or a day when motivation is missing. Its downside is well known: caffeine stays active for five to six hours, and a session at 19:00 is paid for at night. It also forces you to cycle, since tolerance sets in within a few weeks.

NOSTIM does not do that job. It supplies substrates — beta-alanine, creatine, arginine, magnesium — rather than a nervous signal. It is the better choice for evening sessions, for periods when you want to cut back on caffeine, and for someone who trains every day and cannot cycle a stimulant. It also has an advantage that is rarely pointed out: no break is needed, so you can use it all year round without losing the effect.

There is a third route if you already take your creatine separately: creatine-free pre-workouts avoid the overlap. And if it is arginine alone that interests you, our L-arginine section offers it at a serious dose.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I get tingling after taking it?

That's the beta-alanine, and at 4 g per serving the sensation is pronounced. It affects the face, the scalp and the forearms, appears within ten to fifteen minutes and lasts about half an hour. It is harmless, well documented, and it fades as the body gets used to it. Starting on a half serving is enough to tame it.

Can you take it in the evening?

Yes, that is the whole point of it. No stimulant goes into the formula, so it has no bearing on falling asleep. It is the only type of pre-workout we recommend for a session at 20:00 or 21:00.

Should you take extra creatine?

If you want the full benefit of creatine, yes. It works by saturating the muscle, which means taking it daily, rest days included. The 3 g in here is only enough if you train every day. Otherwise, top up with 3 g on non-training days.

Is 375 mg of magnesium too much for a single serving?

It is a high amount for a single intake. Magnesium has a well-known laxative effect above 300 mg taken at once, and not everyone reacts the same way. That is one more reason to start with a half serving, and not to stack it with another magnesium supplement on the same day.

How long before training should you take it?

Thirty minutes. That is longer than for a product aimed purely at the pump, because the whole thing needs time to be absorbed. Taking it five minutes before you start amounts to training while you digest.

Do you need to take breaks from it?

No, and that is a genuine advantage. The cycles imposed on conventional pre-workouts exist to restore caffeine sensitivity. With no stimulant, that problem doesn't arise: you can use it continuously for as long as you keep training.

Does the product contain sugar?

Very little: 3.1 g of carbohydrate per serving, for 52 kcal in total. The sweetness comes from sucralose. It is a negligible load, even during a calorie deficit, and it does not interfere with fasted training.

Where can you buy IO Genix PreWork NOSTIM?

The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is the product we put in the hands of people who train after work and who describe broken nights since they went back on a pre-workout: the problem rarely comes from the training itself. The rest of the pre-workout section can be browsed in our sports nutrition range.