Finding ways to naturally increase pump during workouts is what I like to think of as a short-term win.
Psychologically, it’s a great morale-booster because the pump makes you look bigger, which helps to increase motivation. Gaining muscle isn’t easy and may take some time, which is why it’s important to use any tool possible to keep you on the right track.
In terms of building muscle, achieving a pump is quite important for muscle growth and is vastly under-appreciated. A pump is achieved by flooding a muscle (usually the muscle you’re working) with blood. Excess blood is sent to the area because it requires more oxygen when under stress. Blood also carries many other important nutrients.
You can do a number of things to get a pump. Making sure you’re slightly hyperhydrated (more hydrated than normal) will help, and making sure you eat some carbohydrates before your workout may also help.
However, to get a freaky pump and really fill the muscles up, you may need to use supplements. Choosing the right one is critical, because many supplements claim to lead to a great pump but contain less-than-adequate doses or ingredients. Here are the top 4 in descending order: