C4 Original

$29.99

5.6

Effectiveness

5.6/10

Ingredients

5.3/10

Price

6.0/10

Pros

Contains some proven ingredients
Decent Caffeine dose
Beginner friendly

Cons

Beta-alanine underdosed
Missing many key ingredients such as Citrulline Malate
Contains a proprietary blend
Low dosed formula

Want to know what is better than C4 Original pre-workout? Find out here

In this C4 pre-workout review, we will go over every detail of this popular pre-workout formula. We will find out if it works well if the ingredients are optimally dosed and everything you need to know before making an informed decision whether or not you want to try C4 Original pre-workout.

C4 is a pre-workout supplement from Cellucor designed to use before workouts to increase energy, performance, and focus. C4 pre-workout contains 7 ingredients in a 6-gram formula, part of the ingredients are placed in a proprietary blend. C4 pre-workout is quite low dosed and most of the ingredients are underdosed such as the beta-alanine, however, it contains a decent caffeine dosage. It’s a pretty weak formula but the positive is that it’s beginner-friendly.

I can get why—it’s tough to find a quality and effective pre-workout.

The market isn’t short on supply and C4 Original claims to be America’s #1 selling product, so it’s easy to understand how so many could be lured in. But is it all just a clever marketing campaign?—I’ve fallen foul of a few myself.

Listen up.

In this C4 review, I’m going to get right into the core of this pre-workout and give it to you straight. You can forget about any fluff—I’ll bring you the facts behind this supplement.

So, if you want to know whether it’s one for the trash or worthy of a place in your gym bag, make this C4 original review one thing you read.

C4 Pre Workout Review

Find out what’s better than C4 in our article: **top 20 pre-workout supplements on the market.**

Before we get started on this C4 review, I will give you a brief insight into the supplement itself.

C4 Original is one of the various dietary supplements offered up by the well-known Cellucor brand. They say it can help you improve your performance in the gym, whether you’re running or lifting weights.

Nothing that stands out, right?

As a pre workout supplement—like many others, it’s geared to give you that boost in the energy department so you can last longer during exercise and push yourself through to the end of any training session.

Cellucor also reckons it will combat tiredness and improve concentration. Overall, C4 Original aims to increase gains from your training sessions.

But who would really benefit from using it? Keep reading my C4 review—I’m about to reveal all.

Who Should Use C4 Pre Workout?

Ok, so let’s first look at who C4 pre-workout is intended for, and for this, I’m going to talk in general terms.

A pre-workout is for those who want to push themselves to their physical limits each time they hit the bench, the cardio room, or the trails. This, in turn, should make them stronger and improve their overall ability.

Bodybuilders—the muscle pump from lifting those weights is part of their aim.
Cardio bunnies—will need a quick burst of energy for those intense sessions.
Endurance athletes—those that need to make sure they can go the distance.
Bed heads—anyone needing an extra energy boost to get going in the morning.
Weight loss warriors—the energy boost can be beneficial for making it through tough workouts when restricting calorie intake.

Who Should Not Use C4 Pre Workout?

Now you know who C4 pre-workout is aimed at, but who would be wasting their time taking this supplement?

Newbies—if you are starting out into the fitness world, it’s probably best to side-step this supplement until you’ve got a solid routine under control.
Coffee junkie—C4 contains caffeine, so if the black stuff is your regular brew of choice, you probably won’t see the results expected.
Slack guy—you can’t take a pre-workout, sit back and wait for it to do all the work.
Not for kids—C4 original is out of bounds for anyone under 18

It also goes without saying that it’s always best to consult a healthcare professional if you’re taking any kind of medication.

How Does C4 Pre Workout Work?

C4 is designed to work in four key areas, hence the C4 pre-workout benefits.

Increases Energy Levels

Picture this:

You’re up early in the morning for your workout, but you’re feeling sluggish and tired. As a result, you don’t really have the energy or motivation to hit the gym.

Yet, once you get there, you drink your pre-workout.

Now, the surge of energy this provides makes sure you are on top form to power through the entire session.

Improves Concentration

Does this sound familiar?

It’s leg day, but you are just going through the motions. But, unfortunately, it’s clear that your mind is not on the task at hand—and your session is far from successful because of it.

C4 pre-workout should solve this by giving your mind a workout.

When you are totally focused, you can lift heavier, last longer, and succeed. So basically, you can perform better during your training when your mind is on the game.

Enhances Muscle Pumps

As any bodybuilder will know, even though it’s temporary, the tightness in your muscles looks and feels freak in awesome. But muscle pumps do a lot more than just look good, and C4 pre-workout can help you achieve them.

Here’s the key.

Pumped-up muscles can help with long-term muscle repair and growth too. It increases blood flow and encourages protein synthesis, helping build the major mass you’ve worked for.

Drives Endurance

Let’s face it, the longer you can sustain your efforts, the faster you will smash your goals.

And that’s where the C4 pre-workout comes in.

By boosting stamina, your perceived exhaustion limits are stretched. As a result, you possess the drive not only to finish your training but to exceed it—with ease.

C4 Ingredients

Serving size: 1 Scoop (6 g)	Amount Per Serving	%Daily Value
Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid)	250 mg	417%
Niacin (as Niacinamide)	30 mg	150%
Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate)	500 mcg	25%
Folic Acid	250 mcg	62%
Vitamin B12 (as Methylcobalamin)	35 mcg	583%
CarnoSyn® Beta-Alanine	1.6g	†
Creatine Nitrate (NO3-T™)	1g	†
Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate	1g	†
Explosive Energy Blend	425mg	†
N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine, Caffeine Anhydrous (150mg), Velvet Bean (Mucuna pruriens) seed extract (standardized for L-Dopa), Theacrine (as TeaCrine®)

So, let’s cut to the chase and examine the active C4 pre-workout ingredients.

Beta-Alanine

First, we have beta-alanine, which is great for improving your performance during training, as well as delay the onset of muscle fatigue.

When you feel the burn in your muscles, you know they are being worked. This is down to the buildup of lactic acid—beta-alanine fights this muscle fiend and encourages endurance.

Sounds good, right?

However, although this amino acid has proven its worth, studies have shown you need around 6 grams to get the job done. Which, when you compare the amount in C4, you’ll notice it falls somewhat short. ¹

Bottom line.

This isn’t exactly going to deliver the huge gains in the gym like C4 Original promises.

Creatine

Next up is creatine. At first glance, this is another solid ingredient to include in a pre-workout. It’s possibly one of the most researched supplements linked to increased exercise performance.

Creatine is very efficient at restoring levels of ATP—adenosine triphosphate—the prime source of energy for all your body’s processes. Working out drains supplies rapidly and, although your body regenerates stores, it can’t do it quick enough—you need extra intake.²

But, before I get carried away.

For starters, most studies are actually based on creatine monohydrate and not the nitrate form—which is in C4 pre-workout. Plus, there’s only 1 gram of creatine present. A study found that the positive effects of creatine during performance only hit the mark when the participants took 3 times that amount.³

My point being, it’s unlikely the dosage in this pre workout is enough for you to make a difference.

Arginine

Another pre-workout standard is the amino acid arginine. It’s a forerunner of nitric oxide and will get the blood pushing through the veins—plus all the vital nutrients along with it.

There’s one problem.

Despite the fact, this leads to an increase in muscle pumps and improves your stamina—what’s disappointing for C4 pre workout is that you need to be taking around 3–9 grams per day to see any advances on physical performance.⁴

In a nutshell.

You might feel a little pumped, but nothing to write home about.

Explosive Energy Blend

While perusing the ingredients list, you may have come across the ingeniously named “explosive energy blend.”

I mean, it sounds fantastic, right?

Here’s what you get:

Theacrine—natural energy booster that enhances focus and improves mood.⁵
N-acetyl-l-tyrosine—supports the mind during times of physical stress, like exercise.⁶
Mucuna pruriens—the antidepressant effect boosts mood and generates alertness.⁷
Caffeine anhydrous—solid performance enhancer, reduces fatigue, promotes alertness, and razor-sharp focus.⁸

But here’s the problem:

Within this blend, we have an indication of a moderate caffeine content, but that is as far as it goes. As for the remainder, we don’t know how much of each is actually contained within. Therefore, transparency is far from clear—meaning the efficacy of each one remains to be seen.

To sum it up.

We all know that an effective pre-workout supplement should include quality ingredients. That is, those who have a good track record and are backed by science.

Granted, the ingredients included are standard for a pre-workout. But I doubt the dosage levels are potent enough to make an impact—and to really improve your workouts.

I’d even go as far as to say that the pre-workout may only work as a placebo.

Want to know which pre workout supplements have better ingredients than C4? – Check out our article on the top 20 most powerful pre workout supplements on the market.

C4 Original vs. C4 Ultimate vs. C4 Ripped

You may have noticed Cellucor not only offers C4 Original as a pre-workout, but they have a collection—including C4 Ripped and C4 Ultimate.

In true C4 review style, I’m going to share with you the differences between them.

C4 Ripped

The C4 Pre Workout Ripped supplement aims at those who want to lose weight without cutting performance in the gym.

The main modification is an additional C4 Ripped Blend, which contains:

L-carnitine tartrate—can help with fat loss and improve workout performance.¹²
Green coffee bean extract—deters fat from storing up, increases metabolism, and burns fat.¹³
Capsimax cayenne extract—thermogenic fat burner and appetite controller.^{14 15}
Coleus Forskohlii extract—supports the metabolism.¹⁶

It also skips creatine, which is notorious for water retention—and weight gain.¹⁷

Another difference is that it contains a slightly lower concentration of the “explosive energy blend” than C4 Original—371 mg instead of 425 mg.

C4 Extreme

This pre-workout is designed to deliver advanced pumps, endurance, and concentration during your training session.

You get more niacin and folic acid in this pre-workout, as well as double the amount of beta-alanine.

The main difference is the inclusion of the C4 “extreme energy blend.” This contains 300 mg of caffeine—double the amount of that in the C4 Original.

This could give you the energy boost you need to ace your workout, as well as combat tiredness and alertness if you lack enough sleep.¹⁸

C4 Side Effects

You might be wondering.

Are there any C4 pre-workout side effects to talk about?

The answer is yes—although in most cases, you probably wouldn’t class them as serious.

These include:^{19 20 21}

Tingling sensation (paresthesia).
Headaches.
Stomach cramps.
Anxious/nervous feelings.
Numbness.
Rash.
Itchiness.
Flushing.
Diarrhea.
Nausea.
Irritability.
Dehydration.
Insomnia.

C4 Before After Results

So what can you expect from taking C4 Original?

To make this as impartial as possible, I thought I would take to the web and get some answers from those on the front line.

This is what users had to say about it:

“To be honest, I’m not particularly impressed. I’ve noticed that I’m not that sleepy, but that’s pretty much it. I don’t see or feel any major difference.”

“After about 20 minutes, besides feeling some tingling, it didn’t provide any pumps or extra energy. So overall, I’m pretty disappointed with the lack of results. The orange flavor tasted good, though.”

“Energy and focus were surprisingly good. Energy lasted throughout my workout (1.5 hours) and kicked in quickly (15 to 20 minutes). Pumps were not much improved, though.”

“Previously, I used to make my own pre-workout shake with banana and coffee. So when I first bought C4 original, I was really excited. But, unfortunately, it gave me much less pump than the much cheaper banana with coffee formula.”

Where to Buy C4?

If you are still interested in purchasing C4 pre-workout, it’s widely available online.

You’ll find it for purchase on the official Cellucor website, as well as other major online retailers. These include bodybuilding.com, eBay, Amazon, and even Walmart.

C4 Review Conclusion

The final judgment.

Do I recommend this product in our C4 pre workout review? Well, after our research, to be truthful—I wouldn’t take this supplement.

I just don’t think it delivers on its promises of increased energy, endurance, focus, and pumps.

Granted, some ingredients are backed by science, yet the dosages just don’t appear to be potent enough to do anything.

In fact, if I may be so bold, I’d say that C4 pre-workout might give you a slight caffeine hit. But, it will prove a lot more expensive than a regular cup of coffee.

C4 Pre Workout Review FAQ

“How to Take C4 Pre Workout?”

One serving is one scoop, which should be mixed with 6 fluid ounces of water. This should be taken 20 to 30 minutes before you want to work out.

“How Much Does C4 Pre Workout Cost?”

In the US, you can expect to pay in the region of $30 for a tub. However, the C4 pre-workout UK price sits around £20 to £35.

“Is C4 Pre Workout Safe?”

If you have read the C4 pre-workout review side effects section, you will know there are potential downsides to this supplement. However, generally, it is safe to take—providing you follow the directions.

College sports had C4 pre-workout banned because it once contained an ingredient on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list.

“Where Can You Buy C4 Pre Workout?”

C4 pre-workout is widely available online, including the official Cellucor website. In addition, major online retailers, such as Amazon, eBay, bodybuilding.com, and Walmart, also stock this supplement.

“Does C4 Pre Workout Really Work?”

To be totally honest, it’s very doubtful C4 pre-workout will make much of an impact on your performance. However, it does get rated for taste.

“Is There a Money Back Guarantee?”

Yes, the official Cellucor website offers a 30-day full money-back guarantee.

“How Long Do You Have to Take C4 Pre Workout Before Seeing Results?”

You should expect to feel the effects within 20 to 30 minutes of taking the supplement. As for performance results, this would primarily depend on your goals and how much effort you put in—including diet.

“Do They Ship Worldwide?”

The official Cellucor website only ships within the United States. However, they have multiple international partners in Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific, and North Asia, which should handle shipping within their designated areas.

“What’s the Best C4 Formula?”

The best C4 formula depends on your goals. In the C4 pre-workout review, C4 Original may be sought for moderate pumps and increased performance. The C4 Ripped is designed for weight loss. C4 Extreme is for advanced pumps and endurance.

“When to Take C4 Pre Workout?”

C4 Original is designed to be taken 20-30 minutes before your training session.

References

Share308

308 Shares