When to take MCT oil pre-workout

If you’re fasting or following a low carbohydrate diet, then it is highly likely that your training sessions are often low intensity, brutally hard, and sometimes totally unproductive.

It is a simple fact that putting serious effort into training is difficult when you’re hungry.

Worse still, as you cut out carbohydrates and reduce caloric intake, your strength levels are inevitably going to decline. Weight moves weight, and you rely on energy reserves when working out.

There’s no way you will be putting the same intensity into hill sprints when you’re 6 weeks into a cut and you’re down an extra 200 calories per day.

Similarly, you will never be able bench the same numbers after a 16 hour fast as you would after a good meal.

The normal solution to training on low calories, keto or in a fasted state is to use a pre-workout, an energy drink, or a lot of caffeine.

But this is neither a healthy nor a sustainable option.

A better option for people doing keto, trying to train while fasting, or just those who want to make healthier choices with their supplementation, is MCT oil.

MCT oil as a pre-workout

MCT oil is a supplement, usually obtained from coconut oil, which delivers a huge dose of medium chain triglycerides, or MCTs. MCTs are dietary fats with very unique properties; these triglycerides are instantly converted into ketone bodies, which can then be used for energy.

There is some evidence that MCTs may improve energy levels by increasing metabolic efficiency.

Some studies have found that MCT oil consumption significantly increases the number of mitochondria in your cells and enhances the efficiency of those mitochondria. This potentially means drastically increased energy levels even after you’ve stopped taking MCT oil.

The clinical data also suggests that MCT oil pushes the body to promote the burning of stored fat for fuel, further enhancing metabolic efficiency and freeing up energy reserves.

Should I take MCT oil before working out?

MCT can be extremely useful when taken before working out. While bodybuilders have traditionally avoided fat pre-workout, MCT oil is not like most fats. Unlike most fats, MCT oil is rapidly converted to ketone bodies in the liver; ketone bodies which can then be used for instant body and brain fuel during training.

This makes MCT oil a unique pre-workout and a fantastic option for anyone looking to enhance their performance in the gym while staying away from stimulants.

What’s more, MCT oil does not produce a spike in insulin when used as a pre-workout (i.e. no consumed with protein or carbohydrates). It is therefore a great way to increase energy levels during a workout while effectively staying in a fasted state.

The fact that MCT oil doesn’t spike insulin, but is instead converted to ketone bodies makes it perfect as a keto-friendly pre-workout. This is especially true for people who are trying to follow a more natural keto diet. If you want to stick to natural foods as much as possible, then MCT is an ideal pre-workout supplement, and a much healthier (and more effective) alternative to caffeine.

Should I take MCT oil after working out?

MCT oil is actually best taken after working out, not before, as it improves recovery. For a long time, body builders thought fats should be avoided post-workout because it is high in fat. But MCT oil benefits those looking to build muscles by increasing the insulin spike created by a post-workout meal, and in turn improving muscle building.

When to take MCT oil for weight loss: Pre or post workout?

If your ultiate goal is weight loss, then when is the best time to take your MCT oil supplement?

Is it better to take MCT oil before a workout for weight loss, or after your workout?

The simple answer is, it really doesn’t matter when you take your MCT oil if your goal is weight loss. What matters is that you use MCT oil to help you get through days of low carohydrate intake (or even fasting) and intensive training. MCT oil helps you stay focused and energized without breaking a fast; what tie of day you choose to use it is entirely up to you.

When should I take MCT oil before working out?

When is the best time to take MCT oil as a pre-workout?

The best time to take MCT oil is about one hour before a workout. This is enough time for your body to digest and process the MCTs, turning them into ketone bodies, providing you with instant brain and muscle fuel to power your workout.

For people looking to gain mass, we recommend adding the best MCT oil to a pre-workout shake containing a fast-digesting protein, some fast-acting carbs, and some creatine about 60-90 minutes before working out.