Should You Drink Coffee Before You Workout? I Think Yes!

Many of us simply cannot function without that first cup of coffee. We are also told regularly that in doing so, we are feeding a caffeine addiction that is bad for us and we should try to do without. However, it now seems that coffee actually does have its benefits … even for those who work out.

While it is true that you have to be careful with the amount of caffeine you consume, at the same time it is true that caffeine is not all bad. In fact, it gives us energy and it should not be denied. In fact, drinking a cup of coffee before your workout can give you increased strength and endurance.

“According to researchers in one British study, young men who drank a sugar-free beverage with caffeine an hour before working out were able to work out for a longer period of time and do more reps without getting exhausted than they did when they drank the same beverage without the caffeine.” – Cafe Mom

Coffee rocks, what can I say? Another one of my favorite beverages is Green Tea. My normal routine is one cup of Joe in the morning followed by a LOT of water and green tea throughout the day.

There are many other benefits as well. For instance, that cup of Joe isn’t just beneficial for those who spend an hour pumping iron in the gym. It is great way for those who are working out in order to lose weigh to give their workout a great boost.

“Perhaps the greatest benefit of having coffee before your workout are its fat burning properties. Coffee-when consumed before exercise-can cause fat cells to be used as an energy source as opposed to glycogen. Also, the high amounts of caffeine in black coffee will increase your metabolism, which makes you burn more calories throughout the day. Having coffee before exercise enhances that effect. Also, caffeine and other compounds found in coffee act as an appetite suppressant, making you consume less overall.” – Men’s Fitness

However, as stated previously, you do have to be careful with coffee. We know that it gives you increased endurance and strength, we know it helps you to burn fat quicker and we know that it simply wakes you up and makes you feel like a real person. However, not everything about coffee – and mainly caffeine – is good and if you time and dose it wrong you will actually lose those benefits.

“The body treats caffeine like any other drug, so while the initial effects of caffeine are large, they are reduced over time. A morning cup of joe is okay, but 5 or 6 lattes a day are not.” – Fitday

The official guidelines are to consume no more than two or three milligrams of caffeine for each kilogram of weight you carry. On average, this means consuming no more than two cups of coffee a day.

So, if you are one of those people that needs one on the morning, you are either going to have to go for your workout straight after that, or you will have only one more coffee to actually support your workout after that. Coffee is a fantastic product that can be really beneficial, but only if you use it properly.