Beyond Raw LIT Review (Pre-Workout From GNC) - Ingredients, Side Effects, Pros & Cons
For those of you who are having problems just starting your workout and really need a kick to get you going, Beyond Raw LIT Pre-Workout could be the answer.
This Pre-Workout contains simple ingredients which are designed to give you a noticeable boost in energy and mental focus giving you the energy to get to the gym and hit those fitness goals.
In this Beyond RAW Lit Pre-Workout Review, we will evaluate the effectiveness of this popular supplement.
Manufacturer
GNC are a well-known fitness brand who aim to provide quality products for a lower price. Of course, this means that you might not be getting top of the line high-quality supplements as you would with other supplement choices.
They offer a range of supplements and products designed for different purposes. From weight loss to protein and even beauty and skin care products, they create a whole range of products that are made to make you feel your best.
The company believe that living well is something worth celebrating. Created by David Shakarian in 1935, GNC continue to help others embrace the concept of good nutrition.
Overview
Beyond Raw LIT pre-workout has received some mixed reviews...
Generally, it promises to provide that kick you need to start your workout.
However, some customers have found that the initial kick isn’t enough to last throughout their training.
Personally, I find that the first ten minutes of a workout can be the most challenging.
Once I get started, the natural buzz keeps me going.
For this reason, if you feel a natural buzz from exercise, this pre-workout should be enough to get you going without feeling overstimulated.
Ingredients wise, it is quite a simple mix, featuring only 7 major ingredients. Compared to more sophisticated blends, like Pre JYM, this might not be very impressive to experienced supplement users.
Like all good mixes, they don’t use a "proprietary blend" but instead are transparent about the precise ingredients used, which is great if you are concerned about clean living and knowing exactly what you are putting into your body.
In terms of improving your workout, Beyond Raw LIT is designed to deliver energy quickly for that initial pump, and increase blood flow so nutrients and oxygen are absorbed by your body more effectively.
Key Features
- Quick pump
- Increased blood flow
- No proprietary blend
- 15 calories
- Simple formulation
- Transparent about ingredients
- Range of flavours
Nutritional Profile & Ingredients
As mentioned, Beyond Raw LIT features a relatively simple set of ingredients and GNC are transparent with their customers about what is included in their products.
Some of the notable ingredients are 250mg of caffeine, which is the same as drinking just over 2 cups of coffee. This is a moderate dosage compared to other supplements which can provide up to 300-400mg. Looking for a stronger caffeine hit? Here's Total War from RedCon1 which is more potent than a Starbuck's grande.
If you are used to a coffee buzz you might not notice a big energy boost with this dosage, whereas if you are sensitive to caffeine you might want to start with a smaller portion to start with.
It also contains 4g of carbohydrates which will help you maintain some energy throughout your workout after the initial buzz has worn off.
Here's the full list of ingredients from the label:
Aside from these main ingredients, Beyond Raw LIT also contains artificial flavours and sweeteners such as sucralose. A downside is that it doesn’t contain BCAAs, meaning if you are aiming for enhanced muscle growth, you might want to buy a BCAA supplement separately, like this one I reviewed and compiled for women, specifically.
In this review, we will look at the major ingredients and their benefits for your training sessions.
Benefits & Effectiveness
Beyond Raw LIT aids your performance during your workout, and gives you that extra kick you need to get going, by utilising a few essential ingredients.
Caffeine (250mg)
As we discussed in the previous section, this supplement contains a decent amount of caffeine for that initial boost of energy.
The dosage is lower than other pre-workouts, so you are less likely to experience negative side effects like jitters, stomach pain, and trouble sleeping. If you are sensitive to caffeine you can reduce the serving size.
Sodium (15mg) and Potassium (100mg)
These electrolytes are featured in many sports drinks and are a good edition to a pre-workout. Sodium and Potassium both help to maintain fluid and blood volume in the body. This means they will keep nutrients circulating throughout the body and rehydrate you faster.
Sodium has also been found to help muscles contract and relax aiding your body during exercise and preventing injury. Potassium maintains a healthy blood pressure and carries nutrients to the cells, providing muscles with energy more quickly.
Beta Alanine (3.2g)
Compared to other pre-workouts, Beyond Raw LIT has a lower dosage of beta alanine, as some other products include up to 6 grams for optimum levels. However, this is a pretty standard dosage and will help to boost your energy, improve physical performance and mental focus.
It also helps to reduce muscle fatigue later in your workout when that initial buzz has worn off.
L-Citrulline (3g)
L-Citrulline aids circulation meaning that nutrients and oxygen are delivered to the muscles faster. It also creates nitric oxide in the body, improves blood flow and reduces blood pressure.
Other pre-workouts, like Pre Kaged, include as much as 6 grams of L-Citrulline making this, again, a lower amount than other options on the market.
ElevATP (150mg)
This is an interesting addition to the mix which is designed to boost endurance.
You might need that extra energy from ElevATP once the initial boost of caffeine has worn off. It stimulates the production of ATP, a form of energy which fuels the body during exercise.
Micronized Creatine (1.5g)
Another source of energy comes from micronized creatine. Micronized Creatine are very small particles of creatine made to be blended in supplements. It works by helping your body to retain water and stay hydrated, and providing muscles with the ability to produce more energy during exercise.
Flavor, Mixability & Consistency
Beyond Raw LIT has received some mixed reviews on flavor. It comes in a range of flavor choices including Gummy Worm, Bubble Gum and Blue Raspberry. Most customers would agree that the supplement creates a sweet drink as aided by the artificial and natural sweeteners.
However, some customers have found it to be too sour. This might depend on your taste or the flavor you chose. A stand out favorite has been the Gummy Worm which received mostly positive reviews.
In terms of consistency, this powder does mix very well with plain water. You can add as little as 8 ounces and the powder combines to make a smooth drink without grit or powder left over at the bottom, which has been found to happen with other products.
Side Effects
With reduced amounts of ingredients in this mixture compared to other high-quality pre-workouts, you might feel like you are not getting your monies worth.
However, there are benefits to reducing the potency of a pre-workout per serving:
With less caffeine than other products, Beyond Raw LIT is less likely to give you the jitteriness, headaches and stomach pains associated with caffeine, especially if you are sensitive to caffeine. Remember to start with a smaller serving if you know that you have adverse reactions to caffeine.
Another side effect that some customers have experienced is the tingly feeling caused by beta alanine when your muscles start to saturate the ingredient. This can be particularly irritating during your workout if you have sensitive skin. However, most people found that it wore off quickly given the small dosage.
Price and Where to Buy
You can purchase Beyond Raw LIT in both 30 serving containers and 60 serving containers depending on whether you see yourself using it for the long term or not.
On Amazon, you can purchase a 30 serving container for around $40 USD which works out to $1.32 USD per serving. Alternatively, you can purchase the 60 serving container for around $65 USD which comes out to $1.11 per serving. They are also selling Blue Raspberry, Bubble Gum and Gummy Worm flavours.
If you want to buy directly from the GNC website, you will get the 60 serving container for $69.99 USD, which is $1.17 USD per serving, or the 30 serving container for $39.99 USD which works out to $1.33 USD per serving. This is slightly more expensive than Amazon but GNC do offer a wider range of flavours, including Fruit Punch, Blue Raspberry, Gummy Worm, Icy Fireworks, Iced Tea Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, Cotton Candy, Orange Mango and Bubble Gum.
As far as the best pre-workouts go, this is a relatively pricey option. Other options like C4 have the same benefits but are a lot cheaper. However, there are also more expensive high-quality supplements which you can compare to Beyond Raw LIT below...
Beyond Raw LIT Alternatives
For those who aren’t looking to spend as much or want to compare Beyond Raw LIT to other options at similar prices, in this Lit Pre Workout review we have comprised a list of some of its biggest competitors you should consider.
Cellucor C4
Coming in at a cheaper $1 USD per serving, C4 is one of Beyond Raw LIT’s biggest competitors.
It features many of the same benefits, including improved performance and concentration, but might not offer the same initial kick as Beyond Raw LIT as it only contains 150mg of caffeine.
If you are sensitive to caffeine then this might be the better, and cheaper, option to start with.
Pre JYM
Pre JYM is an even pricier option at $1.60 per serving. However, it has several benefits that warrant the price tag. This sophisticated powder contains 13 ingredients, and twice as much of the essential ingredients as Beyond Raw LIT, as we reviewed here.
It also contains more caffeine with 300 grams which is the same as drinking 3 cups of coffee per serving. Again, if you are sensitive to caffeine, this might not be the best option.
Pre Kaged
Another more expensive option is Pre Kaged at $1.90 per serving. Although this is another expensive option, it does have the benefit of containing more natural ingredients as well as BCAAs which are missing from Beyond Raw LIT. Learn more about Pre Kaged right here.
Pros & Cons of LIT Pre-Workout
Pros:
Cons:
Should You Get GNC Beyond Raw?
Given the quantity of ingredients, Beyond Raw LIT doesn’t do much to warrant the higher price tag. It provides a solid boost to start your workout but this can wear off after an hour or so leaving you with a caffeine crash.
Instead of getting half measures, I would recommend spending a little more on a high-quality product like Pre JYM where you know you will be getting what you paid. Check out our Pre JYM review or see what you think of Beyond Raw LIT for yourself.
Last Updated on January 14, 2021
