Does Cialis or Viagra give you the pump in the gym? Victor Martinez and the GI crew break it down.
For quite some time there has been a popular “broscience” technique that a minority of people practice in the gym. The use of erectile dysfunction medication, such as Cialis or Viagra, to help guarantee the pump while working out. Is this a legitimate method to help boost performance in the gym? And how many people actually do it? Victor Martinez can count himself among the ranks. In our latest episode of the Generation Iron Podcast, Victor Martinez shares his experience using Cialis as a form of pre-workout to obtain the pump during training sessions.
Fitness enthusiasts, pro athletes, and bodybuilders all focus on one thing – maximizing every aspect of their life for better performance and a better physique. This requires perfecting your diet, your supplementation, and your workouts during training sessions. In this sense, the body is a car, and every component from the engine to the exhaust needs to be taken care of, even enhanced, to have the best vehicle.
For the most extreme, or perhaps most elite, this means that every possible option for optimization must be considered. This can sometimes lead to thinking outside of the box. Beyond the marketed supplements, diets, and workout plans. What is the secret? What is the science behind it all that can be applied in new ways to improve performance and physique? It’s in that sense that a small number of individuals seem to have turned to erectile dysfunction medication such as Cialis and Viagra.
The notion is simple. Since these medications help boost blood flow (usually to the male genitalia), perhaps it can be used to help boost blood flow during workouts. Much like an erect johnson, the coveted pump is a workout term to describe when a muscle swells with an excessive amount of blood. The person’s muscles obtain a very full and tight feeling.
Victor Martinez has experimented with using erectile dysfunction medication to help boost his workouts. Specifically, the bodybuilder used Cialis during his period of “supplementation” in the gym. Let’s jump into his results.
Is Cialis good for training in the gym?
The “rumor” about using Viagra or Cialis during a workout for the pump has circulated for as long as the internet has been popular. Perhaps even earlier than that in local circles and gyms. But do these drugs really help as a pre-workout? And do they really increase the odds of the pump?
Victor Martinez has used Cialis for this very reason – and he can confirm that the drug does help increase the pump during a workout. Typically, these drugs help increase blood flow. So when you are then aroused, that blood flow is diverted to your private area. However, if you take Cialis before a workout, where you will most likely not be arosed, this extra blood flow will be diverted to your muscles while you train.
Generation Iron Persia‘s Ehsan Farahi chimes in at this point. He thinks that despite the fact that Cialis or Viagra might help in the gym – there is no real reason to take such medication for that purpose. He points out that there are so many fitness and nutrition supplements already available that accomplishes the same goal. So why turn to medication specifically designed for a different ailment?
Victor Martinez ultimately agrees. He thinks that young teens and young adults in their 20s should not resort to using Cialis or Viagra for workouts. When you are taking medications that affect blood flow and blood pressure – these substances should not be taken lightly.
Ultimately, Martinez is not a doctor. And his past use of Cialis was a temporary thing seemingly trigged by curiosity more than anything else. Which is why in the end – he thinks the trend or fad of using Cialis or Viagra in the gym is a bad idea.
Victor Martinez does also take some time to remove the taboo from erectile dysfunction drugs. They are often seen as emasculating – but they have benefits beyond boosting sexual intercourse. This is particularly true for older individuals. Martinez comments that Cialis can help men over 50 with their overall blood flow and in some cases can help with prostate problems.
Does sexual intercourse actually affects an athlete’s performance?
The topic of Cialis and Viagra triggers a somewhat related fitness topic. Can sex shortly before competition negatively impact an athlete’s performance? The trend has been persistent in sports for quite some time. It’s not uncommon to hear of a coach that demands the team abstain from sex leading up to important games. But does it actually make a difference?
In Victor Martinez’s opinion, this is mostly a myth. More of a psychological good luck tradition than anything of actual merit. How sex can affect athletic performance really comes down to the individual. Everyone responds to stimuli differently. So if an individual feels that sex before a big game or competition poorly affects their performance – it’s their personal decision to abstain or not.
For Martinez personally, he does think that having sex right before a workout might be a bad idea. It can drain your motivation and energy going into the training session. This is most likely also true right before a bodybuilding competition. Since the final days involve dehydrating your body – the last thing you’d want to do is drain your energy with some sexual intercourse.
Wrap Up
Victor Martinez and the GI team also discuss a few other topics in this week’s podcast episode. This includes the top five over-the-counter supplements for bodybuilders. And also the top five overrated supplements that athletes should stop taking. You can watch their full comments in the latest episode of the Generation Iron Podcast above. Make sure to check back every Tuesday for new episodes only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network or wherever podcasts are downloaded.
