Caffeine! Great or hate?

SurfyFriend
SurfyFriend Posts: 362 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hey all, as I make coffee as part of my casual job, I tend to have a soy latte a day.
No problems there. Sometimes I get tired in the afternoon when I workout, and perhaps if I cut out caffeine I would have more energy.
Does anyone have coffee before their workout? Do you perform better? Do you feel dehydrated or dizzy?
OR have you perhaps cut out coffee? Why?
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Replies

  • NoahandPresleysMom
    NoahandPresleysMom Posts: 763 Member
    I have an 8 oz red bull zero. Helps a TON. I had one yesterday and went running for 30 minutes!
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    :heart: Love. :heart:

    I'm not big on coffee, though. I get my fix from Diet Dew.
  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    i don't think theres anything wrong with drinking coffee. ditch the soy garbage tho.

    i take caffeine before I train. not usually in the form of coffee.
    caffeine lowers your perceived exertion. So basically you can do more work in the gym without feeling dead.
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    I don't drink coffee, tea, or pop. My caffeine comes from chocolate... :drinker:
  • kr1stadee
    kr1stadee Posts: 1,774 Member
    I love my coffee in the morning. Not sure if it's the caffeine fix, but I love the taste of my hazelnut creamer :)
  • paulywoo
    paulywoo Posts: 169 Member
    I'll drink decaf coffee but I don't do caffeine as it makes my heart race and makes me feel enxious :noway:
  • SurfyFriend
    SurfyFriend Posts: 362 Member
    That's great that you went running for 30 minutes! :)
    I worked out the hardest after having a doppio (double espresso) beforehand, I wanted to run forever, so to speak.
    I felt really, really lightheaded the next day though, I think due to dehydration, and lost my appetite which to me feels unnatural.
  • CkepiJinx
    CkepiJinx Posts: 613 Member
    That's great that you went running for 30 minutes! :)
    I worked out the hardest after having a doppio (double espresso) beforehand, I wanted to run forever, so to speak.
    I felt really, really lightheaded the next day though, I think due to dehydration, and lost my appetite which to me feels unnatural.

    Caffeine does have some appetite suppressing qualities, and just make sure if you exercise more than normal you hydrate more whether it's strait water or an electrolyte drink such as Gatorade .

    I love coffee!
  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    the lightheadedness was probably dehydration or inadequate nutrition.

    I do get kind of light headed and out of it if I take in too much caffeine. but thats an immediate effect of being overstimmed. doesn't really happen the next day.


    Hopefully it doesn't happen again.
  • Echo_Dan
    Echo_Dan Posts: 316 Member
    Less talk....more giving me caffeine.......NEEEEEED caffeine !!!!!

    :)

    I try to limit myself to one coffee a day (I have it with sugar) and have tea the rest of the day (which I have without sugar) I don't notice any difference other than when my caffeine levels are low. I should probably cut back on the caffeine tbh :)
  • cappri
    cappri Posts: 1,089 Member
    I love coffee, I refuse to give it up.
  • moguline
    moguline Posts: 14 Member
    I love caffeine, but caffeine doesn't love me back. I used to have a lot of coffee and black tea - we have a very fancy machine in work that makes Lattes, Cappuccinos etc etc, even caramel or Chocolate mint flavour!

    But then I found out that caffeine is the main trigger for my IBS and my life has been so much better since I've cut it out. I have the occasional coffee at a friend's house still, but only once a week as a maximum - otherwise the IBS strikes (and you don't want to know what that does :wink: )
  • embercakez
    embercakez Posts: 141
    I have to have my coffee!! People wouldn't like me much without it.
  • Cheval13
    Cheval13 Posts: 350 Member
    It's scientifically proven (despite the overuse of that term this statement is still valid) hat caffeine helps boost cardio and strength performance. Something about getting oxygen to the muscles faster. It's all really interesting, and I definitely feel better after an hour on the road if I've had some caffeine beforehand. :)
  • tashjs21
    tashjs21 Posts: 4,584 Member
    I have to have coffee. I use powdered creamer (or 2% milk) and stevia so it is very low cal.

    Sometimes I will drink a Total Zero redbull (my hubby is a Redbull salesman) if I really need a boost.

    I also drink green tea occasionally. I am sure to get in all of my water though or I feel sluggish and dehydrated. :drinker:
  • DMSMaven
    DMSMaven Posts: 6
    I love coffee, I refuse to give it up.

    Amen to that .... I normally have at least a pot or more per day .... Black - No sugar or sweetners
  • Erienneb
    Erienneb Posts: 592 Member
    I used to drink a ton of pop and coffee and get just insane amounts of caffeine. I stopped entirely and after two awful days I can honestly say I feel SO much better than I ever did before. I don't have midafternoon crashes, I sleep better at night, etc. Now when I let myself have an occasional cup of coffee or glass of pop I bounce off the walls. Crazy.
  • alyssa92982
    alyssa92982 Posts: 1,093 Member
    Working 3rd shift I drink quite a bit of coffee. But yes I always have a cup for sure a half hour before a workout and it does help. I don't crash during it either
  • christinaleffmann
    christinaleffmann Posts: 4
    I found that staying hydrated is as affective as coffee a lot of the time. I've been with and without coffee in the mornings and I seem to feel the same, so it could be different for you. I know that certain foods and drinks make me crash though, so I'd maybe watch what you're eating that makes you feel tired before you work out. Also remember the more coffee you have, the more often, the more your tolerance will go up and the more you'll have to have. That's your body fighting to block the toxin that is coffee. That said I know people love their coffee and it doesn't have hugely negative effects, but definitely stay away from energy drinks, there is so much bad crap for your body in those.
  • G__Force
    G__Force Posts: 280 Member
    I dont care for coffee but i do have a rockstar most days, 1 can and I drink it throughout the day. seems to do me fine.
  • maryeglspkr
    maryeglspkr Posts: 3
    I don't normally drink the 'fancier' coffee's but a good'ol cup of home brewed Joe has helped me get going! An alternative that I use is Korean Red Gingseng, it pep's me up and I am motivated to move about more.
    :-)
  • 6mimi
    6mimi Posts: 1,432 Member
    I gave up Pepsi and Coke a few years back because I was way over drinking it. I feel tons better quitting that. However, now I have maybe one cup a day of coffee and love it. In fact, my daughter is training to be a certified personal trainer and I was reading in one of her books that it really can give that needed energy on a workout and like an earlier poster said it can suppress appetite. I think it is a good thing in moderation.
  • donyellemoniquex3
    donyellemoniquex3 Posts: 2,384 Member
    M E G A
    M O N S T E R !
  • jesse1379
    jesse1379 Posts: 239 Member
    I can honestly say I am to the point where I cannot function on a day to day basis without some form of caffeine or I get a headache and very sluggish.

    Sometimes I skip the coffee and go straight for the stackers or 5 hour energy.

    But I love it!!
  • wrevhn
    wrevhn Posts: 864 Member
    i am, was, an "energy" addict. I'm always tired, have been since pre-teen years.

    i OD'd on caffeine, yellow jackets, had a mild heart attack. was givin adderall for my ADD and that gave me a boost, then I was introduced to meth, which I got addicted to for seven years. After having panic attacks to much, heart stress, and breaking up with the bad angry guy who introduced me to it, i got off. stopped smoking (ty current love, my hubs) gained a ton of weight, lost most.

    now I can not handle ANY CAFFINE.

    and there is a lesson in moderation right there. lol.

    i wish there was a non caffeine boost that i could handle. if anyone knows of one, i'd love to know!
  • kimi_bee
    kimi_bee Posts: 2
    I always either have a coffee or an energy drink before i work out. Like someone said earlier, it makes you percieve that you are exerting yourself less, and makes my workout better! :)
  • RunIntheMud
    RunIntheMud Posts: 2,645 Member
    2 coffees in the morning. If the kids have a baseball game or practice at night, I'll grab a redbull early in the afternoon to keep going.

    Before a race, I drink either an AMP or Monster lemonade (depending on what I can find). Non-carbonated, but lots of caffeine. I just can't bring myself to drink something hot before a race.
  • Diyah13
    Diyah13 Posts: 76 Member
    I hate coffee; however, I am a caffeine addict. PepsiMax is my beverage of choice, so I usually have a can or two a day--usually in the morning. I also make sure I get my water for the day.
  • ash8184
    ash8184 Posts: 701 Member
    I used to drink a ton of pop and coffee and get just insane amounts of caffeine. I stopped entirely and after two awful days I can honestly say I feel SO much better than I ever did before. I don't have midafternoon crashes, I sleep better at night, etc. Now when I let myself have an occasional cup of coffee or glass of pop I bounce off the walls. Crazy.

    Me too! Though I've moderated now and will have caffeine if it's before like 4pm - definitely helps me sleep at night not to have it in my system. Do what feels good to you and your body :)
  • Skinny_minny_mo
    Skinny_minny_mo Posts: 1,272 Member
    love it!

    actually i cant live without it :)

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