PSP Pre Workout Review + Discount

P.S.P. (Physique Stimulating Pre-Workout) is a stim-free pre-workout supplement from Metabolic Nutrition. At two scoops, P.S.P. includes 6 grams Citrulline Malate, 4 g Glycerol, 3 g Beta-Alanine, 1.5 g Agmatine Sulfate, and 2 g of Choline, PSP delivers great pumps and good focus with no caffeine. 

I’ve tried PSP twice, one time at two scoops and another at three scoops. I could easily recommend this for a beginner or anyone sensitive to caffeine, or someone who wants a product that delivers endurance and pumps later in the day.

Read on for additional details of my experience, the best prices for the P.S.P. stim-free pre-workout, and a breakdown of its ingredient label. 

Related: Best Non-Stim Pre Workout Supplements

Where to Buy

You can buy PSP Pre Workout from the following retailers:

• Muscle Factory SC
  • LV5 = $5 off

My Experience: 

I took P.S.P. twice, once at two scoops and once at three; both times, the pumps were swole and amplified endurance. 

Effects: 

The central aspect of this product was pumps, pumps, and pumps, followed by endurance and focus.

The Beta-alanine tingles came within 5 minutes, lasted for about 20 minutes, but (potentially) due to the large scoop size, they were not very intense at all. For the tingles or intensity, I’d give it a 4 or 5 out of 10. It would be a good product for those who don’t like the tingles but would still enjoy the benefits of beta-alanine.

The pumps at two scoops were genuinely incredible; muscles felt and looked bigger. At three scoops, the pumps were taken even higher. 

The focus was relatively good for just having Choline bitartrate, a little Citicholine, and Huperzine.

The only side effect is potential stomach issues with having such a large serving size (32 grams at two scoops and a whopping 48 grams at three scoops). For me, I felt no stomach issues.

Flavor: 

The flavor I tried was watermelon. It was a candy watermelon-type flavor, enjoyable and sweet, a slight grittiness, but no chemical or bitter taste. Out of 10, I’d give it an 8.5.

Other flavors available are Fruit Punch, Blue Raspberry, Green Apple, Lemonade. 

Scoop Size: 

One whole serving at 16 grams is just under a full scoop.

Ingredients

PSP Pre Workout is somewhat unique in that it uses a multi-scoop system. This is similar to ESP Extreme Pre Workout, which is also manufactured by Metabolic Nutrition.

Citrulline Malate 2:1 – 3000 mg per scoop

L-Citrulline Malate is one of the most common pre-workout ingredients. It has extensive evidence supporting its effects on increasing nitric oxide production, power output, pumps, blood flow, and endurance. 

At a ratio of 2:1, the 3000 mg is below the usual dose you’d typically see and only give you 2 grams of pure L-Citrulline. 

Two scoops (21 servings) would be 6 grams of 2:1 ratio with 4 grams of pure L-Citrulline. 

At three scoops (14 servings), would be 9 grams of 2:1 ratio with 6 grams of pure L-Citrulline. With at least two scoops, you’d get the 4 grams of pure L-Citrulline.

Glycerol Monostearate – 2,000 mg per scoop

Glycerol monostearate is the generic form of Glycerol powder found in other pre-workout products. Glycerol powder assists with hydration and allows the body to absorb more water than it usually would. The absorption of more water helps stave off dehydration and can have mild improvements in endurance.

But the real reason glycerol is often included in pre-workout supplements is that all of this extra water absorption can help your muscles swell up, giving you a “swole” look.

Two grams is a good amount for glycerol. It usually ranges from 2 to 3 grams per serving in good supplements.

One slight side-effect of glycerol is clumping inside the tub, as it’s hygroscopic and will pull water in, hence why it will give you a swole look. This is to be expected and, while a little annoying, doesn’t negatively impact the supplement’s efficacy.

At two scoops, it would be 4 grams of Glycerol and 6 grams at three scoops.

Creatine Monohydrate – 2,000 mg per scoop

While creatine will improve strength levels when supplemented daily, you generally want to see 5 grams per dose for creatine monohydrate. This falls short of that but may still promote muscle hydration during a training session. 

At two scoops, it would be 4 grams of Creatine and 6 grams at three scoops.

Beta-Alanine – 1,500 mg per scoop

Beta-alanine has been shown to support muscular endurance and can act as a lactic acid buffer. 

However, beta-alanine requires regular intake to be effective, akin to creatine. Daily supplementation of beta-alanine is recommended, with a loading period of three to five weeks needed to be effective.

3 to 4 grams is the recommended daily dosage for beta-alanine. PSP is on the lower end, though at two scoops, it would be 3 grams with 4.5 grams at three scoops.

Betaine Anhydrous – 1,000 mg per scoop

Betaine is included to help increase your power output. However, research is pretty inconsistent around this claim. Since the typical range for Betaine is between 1.5 g and upwards of 5 g, the 1 g is underdosed. However, it would be 2 grams at two scoops and 3 grams at three scoops.

Taurine – 1,000 mg per scoop

Taurine is a “miscellaneous” pre-workout ingredient with a range of potential, albeit limited, physical benefits. It can aid in blood flow, reduce cramping, and boost antioxidant defense systems (Examine). It’s a pretty insignificant ingredient in pre-workout compared to other ingredients but doesn’t hurt anything either.

One gram is a decent dosage of taurine to achieve any effects it has to offer. Usually, other products have 500 mg to 2 grams. And at two scoops, it is 2 grams of Taurine and 3 grams at three scoops.

Agmatine Sulfate – 750 mg per scoop

Agmatine Sulfate is included as a “pump” ingredient, but research is more limited on this ingredient vs. the classic L-Citrulline. 

The 750 mg found in PSP is within the range you’d typically see in a pre-workout supplement with Agmatine Sulfate, which occasionally ranges between 500mg and 1,500mg, but at scoops, it would be 1.5 grams and a whopping 2.25 grams at three scoops.

Choline Bitartrate – 1,000 mg per scoop

Choline is included as a focus ingredient. Compared with Alpha GPC, choline bitartrate may not be as effective as a nootropic (source). 

The 500 mg of choline bitartrate included is at the lower end, as doses usually range between 500 mg and upwards of 2,000 mg. At two scoops, it would be 2 grams of Choline and 3 grams at three scoops.

Citicholine – 50 mg per scoop 

Citicoline is the name for cytidine 5′-diphosphocholine (CDP-choline) when used as an exogenous sodium salt. Citicoline has emerged as a promising treatment for chronic cerebrovascular disorders or memory problems (as per this study). 

The dose ranges from 200-500 mg in similar products, putting the 50 mg in PSP woefully underdosed. Even at two or three scoops, it would only be 100 mg and 150 mg, respectively, still putting it under the standard dose.

Huperzine-A – 1 mg (10 mcg yield) per scoop

Like Citicholine, Huperzine A is cholinergic and acts as a cognitive enhancer. As an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, It helps lengthen the half-life of cholinergic sources (Examine).

It tends to be taken in doses of 50 mcg to 200 mcg, so the quantity found in PSP is badly underdosed. Like the Citicholine above, even at three scoops and 30 mcg of Huperzine, it would still be underdosed.

Cluster Dextrin – 250 mg per scoop

Cluster dextrin is commonly seen in intra-workout carbohydrate supplements. From Transparent Labs, the average dose of cluster dextrin tends to be 20-30 grams. But the benefit of cluster dextrin (and the reason it may be in this formula) is that “In contrast to low molecular weight carbohydrates like dextrose, Cluster Dextrin® is rapidly absorbed through the stomach into the small intestines.” Being that cluster dextrin is rapidly absorbed through the stomach into the small intestines, it should allow for the other ingredients in the formula to be shuttled as well.

Black Pepper Extract [Std. Pepperine] – 2.5 mg per scoop

Black pepper extract acts to increase the bioavailability of nutritional supplements. In other words, it helps your body absorb all the ingredients in the product. As the serving size increases, so does the need for a digestion aid like black pepper extract. Doses usually range from 5 mg to 15 mg, but the quantity in PSP is at half the usual amount. But at two scoops, it would be 5 mg.