What effect does coffee have?

[Lumberg]

Based on all information you know, from research to posts on here to personal and anecdotal information, after you average out the good, tha bad, and the ugly, what is is sum total result of coffee's effects on meeting your goals, when consumed every day in moderation (say 3 cups or less)?

 

[georgie24]

I DRINK ALOT OF COFFEE............

 

[MS]

Caffeine in the form of coffee or NYC is the mainstay of the last 6 weeks of my precontest cutting diets. But I always, always, always take coffee/NYC on an empty stomach.

 

[anthrax]

Caffeine in the form of coffee or NYC is the mainstay of the last 6 weeks of my precontest cutting diets. But I always, always, always take coffee/NYC on an empty stomach.

How long to you wait (after drinking coffee) before eating ?

 

[Lumberg]

That's great but I am talking about 1) coffee and 2) all the time

 

[MuscleDm]

I think coffee is great. It has a few antioxidants, plus the caffeine taken before a workout can help to mobilize more free fatty acids for energy. Great stuff.....can't beat something that tastes that good and is calorie free.

Ryan

 

[Lumberg]

calorie free.....LOL

I was at the cafeteria getting some starbucks with the new girl and I mentioned that Starbucks "light Note" blend actualy has more caffeine than their house blend. She was like, oh, I thought it just had less calories.

Dingbat.

 

[drveejay11]

Coffee can have both good and bad qualities associated with it... yes it is great for that added boost, but over time it can take a toll on your adrenal gland...

 

[Lumberg]

I'm thinking it can be a good tool to raise metabolism when not in the gym but not for workouts.

It can become a crutch if you use it to motivate and give you energy for w/o.

I am personally going to try to curtail my consumption of caffeine in general because it stresses me out and makes me too serious and not fun loving.

Best to save it for emergencies when I might really need it.

 

[Enock]

I am personally going to try to curtail my consumption of caffeine in general because it stresses me out and makes me too serious and not fun loving.

Shit really that sux. Caffiene makes me happy as hell. Thats the effect amphetimines usually have on people.

 

[eliteswimmer]

well, to add to the downside of caffeine:

Caffeine supresses the uptake of glucose into the cells up to 30-40%. It also makes the receptors to insulin work worse.

caffeine with a high GI meal makes u temporary to a diabetic typ 2

it is good to boost your workout, but the sugar ingested post workout won't get into the cells as supposed to.

for me it works well as a stimulat taken in infrequetnly. caffeine alone and in an ECA stack sucks cotton balls while dieting. I lost a shitload of muscles while on that stuff. didn't work for me.

just my 2cent
es

 

[trex74]

i drink tea in the a.m. with breakfast then have coffee after.
gives me sour gut on an empty stomach.
never more than two a day, i really enjoy it and notice a real lift in energy and focus.

 

[ArmaniAK47]

I drink energy drinks..(I prefer them to coffee..)
The buzz is nicer and more even feeling to me..

They have had a positive effect on my overall goals.

 

[wootoom]

I agree I love sugarfree red bull. Good buzz and tastes good. Coffee makes me tired after

 

[ArmaniAK47]

I agree I love sugarfree red bull. Good buzz and tastes good. Coffee makes me tired after

You should try monster lo carb and rockstar zero carb, woot. ^ ^

 

[Rich2279]

I DRINK ALOT OF COFFEE............

ditto

 

[greentree]

My running coach freaks out if I drink coffee before a race because of dehydration... that's all I know. I sneak it anyway because I'm addicted, and she wouldn't want to deal with me if I didn't have it.

 

[kx250rider]

I dring 3 or 4 cups in the early morning, with breakfast (very high protein; low carb). I work at my desk from about 6:30 AM to 9, which is when I have coffee & eat breakfast. Then about 9:30, I work out, and I think the coffee gets me up for it. I eat the same every day, whether or not it's a workout or skip day.

Charles

 

[Lumberg]

Holy thread bump, Batman. Wow, I've been on here for over seven years? Impossible.

 

[InGreatShape]

Consumption of too much coffee has many different types of effects, it can alter your mood or behavior. I for one drink coffee but not during workouts.

 

[kalbs]

i drink 3 cups of coffee for breakfast and 3 cups again at 4pm

 

[shibs]

coffee tastes like poop

 

[RottenWillow]

There's a lot of conflicting research results on coffee, or more specifically caffeine. One result that appears to be pretty consistent though is that caffeine creates a transient (temporary) insulin resistance.

This means that for some amount of time after you drink caffeine your body's ability to shuttle glucose into your muscles will be reduced. This effect may be amplified if you drink your caffeine with cream and sugar or with a carb/sugar containing meal. If your muscles run out of glucose you won't be able to get a good workout.

Caffeine is cleared by your liver and everyone is different. If your liver is a bit compromised it could take yours 12 hours or more to detoxify the same amount that someone else could clear in half that time. Also, some people tend to naturally have a bit more insulin resistance (or problem getting glucose into their muscles).

Everyone is different, so just experiment and be honest with yourself regarding your results. If you find that you end up weak and shaky after 15 minutes of hard lifting if you've recently consumed strong coffee, don't do that anymore!

 

[Lumberg]

I heard that exercise actually overcomes the insulin resistance. Sitting at a desk, yes we're going to have insulin resistance. The changes in the muscles from lifting overcome the resistance effect.

 

[lweaver]

Coffee is great for me before a workout, and if I drink enough the energy is sustained.

However energy drinks are a little more convenient, I can just keep some in the car and not have to stop for a brew...

And for the side topic of energy drinks...diet vegasfuels also taste amazing, esp. since Im sick of monster, rockstar and redbulls. If you arent afraid to take in some simple carbs pre-workout, I find that the Monster Mixxed (w/ juice) give me an extra boost. Right now Im drinking sugarfree howling monkey haha.

 

[RottenWillow]

I heard that exercise actually overcomes the insulin resistance.

Anecdotal?

I've never read any research that tested anything like that, Lummy. IME, the insulin resistance does indeed appear to be strictly temporary anyway.

I was given a glucose meter 4 years ago when I first got sick and have used it over the years to check the effects of table sugar, stevia, caffeine, various carb glycemic indices, and found what seems to be about a 4-5 hour window where my 12oz of strong coffee kept my glucose level raised if I drank it with even a bit of cream and sugar and some breakfast. I think it was coming out that hole that I'd get the shakes not long into my workout b/c I'd not gotten enough glucose into my muscles.

If anyone's interested, it's sometimes reported by stevia users that their glucose actually goes down after drinking coffee sweetened only with it. I tested that and found the same damn result. Amazing. Consumed on an empty stomach, mine drops an average of 10 mg/dl after 12oz of coffee with 2 tablespoons of half-and-half and 2 teaspoons of stevia.

 

[wumble21]

I find that a black coffee 30 mins before workout works 10x better than any pre workout drink on the market, not really convenient when hitting gym straight after work though!!

 

[big25buck]

coffee is good to go cuts appetite and gives me energy

 

[Lumberg]

I find that it can jack me up or make me tired, depending on the situation. It definitely stimulates appetite in the long run for me (don't eat, then crash, then want candy).

 

[jonathanallen]

drink not too much coffee so don't know how to do that

 

[firewally1966]

I have just recently started to drink coffee..but now I have to drink it all morning long...does anyone mix their protein with it..??..I get chocolate protein mix and combine them...

 

[lightweightbaby]

I'm thinking it can be a good tool to raise metabolism when not in the gym but not for workouts.

It can become a crutch if you use it to motivate and give you energy for w/o.

I am personally going to try to curtail my consumption of caffeine in general because it stresses me out and makes me too serious and not fun loving.

Best to save it for emergencies when I might really need it.

lol it does that to me too.

 

[lightweightbaby]

I agree with many it might suppress appetite but it will wear off and you will eat anyway. What's the point not eating much you will just burn muscle as fuel. In regards for a workout well eventually you will get used to it so it on't don anything.


If you have it fine but go periods where you don't have it for a couple weeks or so.

 

[leecoper]

I take coffee 3 times in a day.The coffee should decrease the weight of our body and a make a healthy body.