Best Low Carb Pre Workouts for Keto and Fasting Diets

I am currently on a strict keto diet and I am looking for the best low carb pre workouts. Many of the popular brands use maltodextrin or other sugars as fillers which can kick you out of ketosis. I am in the US and I need something that is zero carb and zero sugar but still gives me a good boost for my heavy lifting.

I am looking for a formula that uses keto friendly sweeteners like stevia or erythritol. I am also interested in pre workouts that include exogenous ketones or MCT oil for extra energy. I want to maintain my performance in the gym while my body is adapting to burning fat for fuel.

What do you all use if you are on a low carb or keto diet? I have seen some products like Keto Pre from brands like Sparta Nutrition. I would appreciate any recommendations for a supplement that won't ruin my macros. I am determined to make this diet work without losing my strength!

I hear you, Kevin. The amount of hidden maltodextrin in some of these powders is a nightmare for ketosis. I've had good luck with some of the UK brands that use stevia or erythritol exclusively. You really have to keep an eye out for anything ending in '-ose' or '-extrin' on the label.

If you're fasting, you gotta be even more careful. Anything with calories—even BCAAs—can technically spike insulin and break that fast. I usually just stick to black coffee and a pinch of sea salt if I'm training in a fasted window. Simple and effective.

I agree with TXguy99 on the fasting part, but if you're just doing Keto and want a pump, look for a 'Non-Stim' pump product. A lot of those are just Citrulline and Glycerol. Just make sure the Glycerol isn't the powder version that uses a carb carrier.

I've been using a Canadian brand called Believe Supplements. They have a transparent label and use sucralose, which is fine for my keto macros. I haven't noticed any drop in ketone levels when testing with my blood meter after a session.

I'm wary of sucralose, honestly. It can mess with some people's gut microbiome which is already sensitive on Keto. I prefer the brands that use monk fruit. It's a bit more expensive here in the North, but worth it for the lack of bloating.

The black coffee idea is solid, but I miss the focus I get from L-Tyrosine and Alpha-GPC. Has anyone found a nootropic-heavy pre-workout that is keto-friendly?

Check out Gorilla Mode Nitric. It's stim-free and the carb count is negligible. It's more about the blood flow and focus. It’s a bit of a mission to get it shipped to Toronto sometimes, but it's the best I've tried for a low-carb pump.

Totally agree on the Nitric. Also, don't sleep on exogenous ketones as a pre-workout. They taste like rocket fuel, but if you're already in ketosis, they give you a nice secondary energy source without the insulin spike.

Exogenous ketones are posh! Quite pricey for a daily driver. I find a bit of MCT oil in my pre-workout coffee does the same thing for a fraction of the cost.

MCT oil is great until you're halfway through a squat set and your stomach decides to stage a protest. I'd tread lightly with that if you're not used to it, lol.

Haha, the 'MCT Disaster' is a rite of passage for keto lifters. But seriously, for fasting, just stick to electrolytes. High doses of sodium, potassium, and magnesium. You'd be surprised how much of that 'weak' feeling is just dehydration.

Exactly. I use a brand called LMNT. Zero carbs, very salty, keeps the head clear. If I need a kick, I just take a caffeine pill on the side. Cheap as chips and zero risk of breaking a fast.

Caffeine pills are a good shout. I guess I'm just addicted to the ritual of shaking up a colourful drink before I hit the gym. Maybe I'll try unflavoured EAAs with some sugar-free cordial?

Careful with EAAs if you're fasting, Kevin. Leucine triggers an mTor response which technically breaks the 'autophagy' aspect of a fast, even if it doesn't kick you out of ketosis.

LondonLad is right. If the goal is fat loss, EAAs are fine. If the goal is deep fasting benefits, stay away from aminos until your post-workout meal.

I’ve been using NutraBio’s Pre. It has no proprietary blends and very low carbs. It’s one of the few big brands I trust to not hide fillers in there.

NutraBio is solid. I also like Kaged Muscle's fermented Citrulline. It feels a bit cleaner. Do you guys find that keto makes your caffeine tolerance lower? I feel like 200mg hits me like 400mg used to.

100%. When your blood sugar is stable and low, stimulants definitely feel more potent. I had to cut my dosage in half when I first went into ketosis or I'd get the shakes during my warm-up.

That's likely because your adrenals aren't fighting through a sugar crash anymore. It's a nice perk of the diet, really. Save money on supplements by needing less!