Coffee before exercise?

ByronJP
ByronJP Posts: 67
in Health and Weight Loss
Is this a good or bad thing? some people seem to think it gives you that extra push through exercise and i have also heard of people sayin it will burn you out and or make you feel dehydrated during exercise. I personally always have coffee before exercising, as of recent anyway because i exercise in the morning and love coffee.

Thoughts?
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Replies

  • dinosnopro
    dinosnopro Posts: 2,177 Member
    Try it and see.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    It's a personal preference issue - neither "good" nor "bad", per se. The dehydrating effect of caffeine is actually very minimal, so that's a non-factor. If the caffeine gives you a little boost and helps you get through your workout, go for it. If somebody is caffeine-sensitive and it makes them jittery, then it's probably not as beneficial for them.
  • lizsmith1976
    lizsmith1976 Posts: 497 Member
    If it will help you do a workout rather than skipping it, then drink the coffee :)

    I've been known to drink coffee, a mountain dew, and a red bull before a race.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    I DO THIS!!! IT WORKS!
  • Shelbert79
    Shelbert79 Posts: 510 Member
    I think I may try it today. I usually work out at 4am, then have my coffee.
  • cstexas2012
    cstexas2012 Posts: 53 Member
    I drank diet coke for a while, but I didn't like that I felt way less capable of doing my workout without it on days when I forgot it or whatever, so I weaned myself off of it. I don't think it's particularly detrimental in any other way though.
  • MelStren
    MelStren Posts: 457 Member
    I don't even open my eyes before I've had my diet coke...... and I usually have a cup of coffee and a can of diet coke every morning.
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    You always have a coffee before exercising, so how does it work for you? That's your answer. :smile:
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    If it makes you feel dehydrated while working out, then drink water while working out. Problem solved.
  • GiddyupTim
    GiddyupTim Posts: 2,819 Member
    Caffeine is an absolutely proven, performance-enhancing drug. It helps with endurance.
  • kellyr730
    kellyr730 Posts: 44 Member
    One of my favorite, most high energy aerobics instructors at the gym brings her diet coke bottle and drinks it during the class instead of a water bottle lol :) She's known for having the most intense, energetic classes so I guess the caffeine does help :) I don't get as good of a workout from anyone else's classes.
  • samantha1242
    samantha1242 Posts: 816 Member
    I find it makes me a bit jittery while working out if I drink it right before.
  • Duck_Puddle
    Duck_Puddle Posts: 3,237 Member
    I need coffee before I do anything-exercise or otherwise. I have at least 2 cups before my morning run-sometimes 3.
  • meghannrenee
    meghannrenee Posts: 202 Member
    Sometimes I drink coffee before exercising, sometimes I don't.

    Before long runs (12+ miles) or before a race - yes.

    Weekday mornings - no. I'm up at 5 am and literally roll out of bed, get dressed and get moving.

    Before Saturday 10 am turbokick class - yes. But not until after my run.

    I find it gives me a boost when I need it. I've never had any issues with dehydration because of it.
  • stacy_rihel
    stacy_rihel Posts: 47
    I also drink coffee before i exercise. One thing to note though: what are you putting in your coffee and what does your exercise consist of? If you are putting sugar (carbs) in it and then run on the treadmill (cardio), you are really burning off the energy from the carbs first and not from fat. If you are strength training, the carbs will actually help you to last through a complete workout before you feel out of energy. Well, these are my thoughts anyway. Good luck and Happy new year :)
  • elisa123gal
    elisa123gal Posts: 4,333 Member
    from what i've heard studies support that a cup of coffee before a workout enhances performance. I've heard Bob from the Biggest Loser comment on this..as well as the Doctor's talk show. I drink coffee..mostly because i enjoy the heck out of it..and it controls my appetite in a major way.
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member
    as stated its a proven performance enhancer and you should probably be sipping water to prevent dehydtration during exercise anyway.

    So if its what you perfer then thats great, bring a water bottle, no problems
  • terem00
    terem00 Posts: 176 Member
    I workout on an empty stomach but I do drink 10-12oz of black coffee before a workout and I have tonnes of energy.
    I've never felt dehydrated but I do get heartburn, so I have to drink it 2 hours before my workout. If I eat before I workout I get nauseas and weak but I have found coffee does the trick for me.
  • BackTatJIM
    BackTatJIM Posts: 1,140 Member
    I prefer a pre workout supplement over coffee, Mainly due to the taste. A little caffeine really gets me going since I wake up around 5 am to get to the gym. I just drink a ton of water while there.
  • Sweatinglikeapigtolooklikeafox
    Sweatinglikeapigtolooklikeafox Posts: 189 Member
    I dont function without a cup of coffee when I wake up.
    So I make sure I have one before I go to the gym otherwise I would I never make it. My boyfriend jokes I have a caffine addiction
  • MarJay12
    MarJay12 Posts: 13
    I am pro coffee.
  • ByronJP
    ByronJP Posts: 67
    awesome thanks for all the replies. I am a person who will drink coffee all day long and sleep fine at night still. as for working out i always have my water with me and i think it has been helping me push through some things since i have just started exercising again it gives me that boost to proceed through a wave of lazy or sore muscles.
  • Eve1972
    Eve1972 Posts: 297 Member
    I always have a coffee before I work out, seems to give me that extra "oumf"
  • Sixel
    Sixel Posts: 57 Member
    I read somewhere that caffeine before exercise would deplete glycogene levels more quickly. Not sure whether it is true or whether it is a good or a bad thing.
  • sjohnny
    sjohnny Posts: 56,142 Member
    I have a cup of coffee about an hour or hour and a half before my long runs on Sunday mornings. It helps get things moving....... Then I can go run 10 miles without as much need of having to find a place to stop. I don't take any water. I hydrate before I run and have water waiting for me when I get home. I don't find that the coffee dehydrates me too badly.
  • __RANDY__
    __RANDY__ Posts: 1,036 Member
    Coffee makes me poop and since I warm up every day with font squats I don't think it would be a good idea for me.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Coffee makes me poop and since I warm up every day with font squats I don't think it would be a good idea for me.

    So you prefer to do your front squats while still needing to poop?

    You may want to rethink your drink
  • aliparry
    aliparry Posts: 14 Member
    Yep, always have coffee :)
  • eddamyts
    eddamyts Posts: 26 Member
    Welcome newbie! Me too! I've been at it for a week and have found MFP a very useful and informative tool.

    Based on everyone's responses it's clear that everyone is different and coffee either works or doesn't work. In addition to my morning coffee I also drink a glass of milk, just to get a little something into my system before I exercise, so I don't starve.

    Make today the best day yet!
  • PhoenixIsis
    PhoenixIsis Posts: 31
    Is this a good or bad thing? some people seem to think it gives you that extra push through exercise and i have also heard of people sayin it will burn you out and or make you feel dehydrated during exercise. I personally always have coffee before exercising, as of recent anyway because i exercise in the morning and love coffee.

    Thoughts?

    Same here. I enjoy exercising in the mornings, if I don't there is a good chance I might forget later or just too tired at the end of the day and I need my coffee to get going for the morning. I just make sure to have my water always handy during and after the work out.

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