Let me set the scene: I’m in Miami at dinner with a table full of fitness trainers & I ask:
WHAT’S THE BEST PRE-WORKOUT TIP?
** crickets **
So they’re all around the table, thinking about their best pre-workout tip and then kid you not, four of them say:
“Drink coffee before you workout.”
Now this may not come as a HUGE-ASS surprise to many of you BUT I had to share because I always have my espresso shot/cappucino after my workout. Don’t ask me why? Because I don’t know why? And I totally don’t hate the idea of drinking it before so it got me thinking…
And since then I’ve made it a point to drink my cup of Joe pre-workout— & it’s game changing, duh.
According to the trainers I met with, you should also have a little bit of carb. Think: a little oatmeal with chia seeds or a 1/2 of a banana with a cup of coffee with cinnamon before working out. Opt for protein like eggs post-workout.
But going off on a tangent: I refuse to drink coffee without cinnamon ( love you, cinnamon ). I literally won’t drink it without the spice. Why? Because coffee raises blood sugars & cinnamon drops them so ultimately the blood sugar is balanced out. No cinnamon, no coffee.
Anyway, I did some of my own research on the whole coffee situc & here’s what I found:
❤ according to Health, “recent Japanese research studied the effects of coffee on circulation in people who were not regular coffee drinkers. Each participant drank a 5-ounce cup of either regular or decaffeinated coffee. Afterward, scientists gauged finger blood flow, a measure of how well the body’s smaller blood vessels work. Those who downed “regular” (caffeinated) coffee experienced a 30% increase in blood flow over a 75-minute period, compared to those who drank the “unleaded” (decaf) version. Better circulation, better workout—your muscles need oxygen!”
❤ it will make your workout feel easier, you’ll have more energy, & concentrating on the workout will be easier.
❤ You muscles actually gain strength from coffee. Don’t believe me? Read more about the benefits of coffee.
❤ This online site says: “when used before exercise, coffee will give you a good boost, and will work to accelerate the benefits of exercise; stimulating energy production and fat burning.
However, after exercise your body needs a recovery meal, not caffeine, which will inhibit the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin); the mechanism that increases protein synthesis in your muscle.
You do not build muscle while exercising. Muscle building occurs afterward, so if your goal is to gain muscle mass, you do not want mTOR to be inhibited by caffeine…
That being said, if your main goal is to lean down and maximize fat burning, having coffee after exercise might be exactly what you need, as it will keep you burning fat while breaking down fat stores for energy. The post exercise coffee will continue mimicking the effects of exercise on your body for as long as you continue fasting; that’s until your next meal. If you exercise in the evening, you may want to skip the pre-workout cup of coffee however, as it can seriously disrupt your sleep cycle by keeping you alert well into the night.”
If you’re looking for a coffee brand, I’m IN LOVE WITH THIS BRAND ( not sponsored, just realness ).
Each of the trainers suggested plain coffee so basically no artificial crap or creamer. But definitely CINNAMON is A ok, folks. So drizzle that shit all over your pre-workout coffee & enjoy.
And to all of you green tea drinkers: you’re a saint…but sorry, I still want my damn cup of AM coffee.
Ok so, any other questions you guys have personal trainer friends? Let me know below.
Happy Wednesday! Lauryn xx
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Great post girly! I wrote a post about pre-workout coffee a few weeks ago, and you touched on some new points for me! I think one of the best benefits is that it’s positive-habit forming. Who doesn’t want a yummy warm treat to look forward pre-workout right?
Will head over to your blog and check it out now! : )
Fab post! I don’t drink a lot of coffee (migraines) but I’m trying to slim down a bit before my holiday to Cuba in January. I’m definitely going to start drinking more now, migraines be damned!xx
Try drinking a BUNCH of water with the coffee too. It will help headaches A LOT!
Is this specifically coffee or is it caffeine in general? I hate the taste of coffee!!
I’d believe that, coffee makes me feel like a superhero! I’m drinking some right now 🙂
I hate the taste and smell of coffee too! I actually don’t drink caffeine at all but have heard it’s really good to drink before a workout. Do you have any advice for a caffeine free item that would have a similar effect?
This is great to know! I’ve been looking into pre-workout supplements but if coffee does the trick why spend extra money!
I didn’t know all this ! Thanks for sharing 🙂
http://www.alanaandkyra.com/
Super informative! I always have my egg whites & coffee pre-workout. I’ll do a switch a roo this morning and see how it goes! Thx
Hey hun! I am a PT through NASM 🙂 Anyways, I also suggest adding coconut oil into the coffee to suppress the acidity level. If you drink coffee on an empty stomach you are messing with your adrenal function but when you add a fat like coconut oil you give your digestion some aide as well as keep those adrenals calm! For my preworkout I have a rice cake with chocolate tahini paste its like a candy treat plus a coffee and WAZAM I am ready to roar! Great post xo C
Ahhh! I LOVE grass fed butter & coconut oil in my coffee too. I will do a Bullet Proof Coffee post soon. You are so right!! x
Omg! I’ve always done this too! The caffeine from energy drinks isn’t the same, coffee is the way to go!
http://www.bluelabelsboutique.com
I’m a cinnamon-in-my-coffee person too! Lovee it! And this is an interesting tip! I used to take pre-workout powder pre workout until I realized how absolutely awful that stuff is! Seriously, it was giving me migraines (probably bc of the artificial dyes) and I was having excessive heart beating during a workout I would literally have to stop my workout. So I said NEVER AGAIN. But that stuff had massive amounts of caffeine in it so I see why Caffeine pre workout is good! THe post workout tip is good too! Can’t wait to try it!
Cynthia
Sensibly Sharp
Gotta try this!
http://www.FashionSnag.com
I didn’t know about the banana/coffee combination. I tried it today in the afternoon pre-running and it worked fine!
Lauren- this post just totally cements you being the best. Love these little tips and articles! I was just looking for a new concealer- do you have a fave? Thanks for sharing girly!
I love that you just did this post because I had coffee yesterday before I worked out with my trainer which I never do and noticed a HUGE difference! xx
http://modernensemble.com
Comment
Oops sent that comment before I wrote it! I was wondering if you ever heat up the cold coffee that you recommended? Thanks!
I’m a trainer, and yet I’ve never done coffee before I workout because I don’t ever drink it. This has me curious though. Thanks for doing the research. Oh and most trainers I know always drink their coffee black.
This tip is seriously one of those “!!!!TOTALLY MAKES SENSE!!!!” and “Whyyyy didn’t I think of it earlier?!” tips. Thanks for sharing! PS – same here with “no cinnamon, no coffee”. I like to also mix a little bee pollen + coco-oil into my coffee, also, for an extra buzz (pun wasn’t intended but I dig it!).
Great post! I think this is a great habit to have and the coffee really helps rid of the sluggishness that comes with waking up:)
Stephanie
http://ishowedupinboots.com
Really? This is fascinating. I love coffee a little too much and it’s always a good idea to sneak it in to any part of the day 😛
Love this, totally doing this tonight before cardio barre BH!
PS. It would mean a lot to me if you could check out my YT channel, seriously LOVE your blog from day 1!
xoxo
Anna
I’m with you girl! I usually do a coconut milk latte with cinnamon (just regular brewed coffee, 1 tb full fat coconut milk from the can, and 1 tsp altogether in the blender). Perfect before barre.
I totally agree with this magical little tip!! If your stomach can tolerate a little coffee pre-workout, it’s a great way to kick-start your energy levels.
Thanks!
http://www.playingforeats.com | Carly
Nice post. Thanks for sharing your favorite coffee.
Cheers!
Coffee is definitely my favorite pre-workout. I also suggest to my clients to have a good balance of carbs AND protein pre and post workout!
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Right there with you girl!!
xx
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I thought cinnamon reduced blood sugars?
Yes you’re right! I wrote the sentence wrong. It’s fixed & thank you for pointing that out, Tamara! x
And this is why, our Coffee infused Pre-workout it’s no doubt the best.
we maximize the benefits of coffee and its simply delicious.
@momentumnutriusa
Hi Lauryn, do you practice hot yoga by any chance?…if yes, did you tried this tip, drinking coffee before a hot yoga class?… I’m a bit scared to try it… not sure if coffee and hot room would be a good fit…
any thought ?
thanks
Annie
Wow! I didn’t know that drinking coffee can have so many benefits. I don’t eat anything pre workout but now I am going to try coffee for sure.
Very interesting article, thanks!
What about using protein together with banana after workout ?
Whew, I thought I was the only one that put cinnamon in their coffee. Its really quite a good match! But the coffee before workout thing never crossed my mind, although it too makes good sense. Nice post!
Nice article about coffee 🙂
Love the article!
I am not a fan of caffeinated drinks before working out, though, since I can’t seem to shake off the jittery aftereffects. 🙁 I prefer all-natural preworkout supplements!
🙂
Nutritional supplements helps the body to be fit by providing dietary vitamins that some foods can’t give.
my personal favorite is Pre Jym. I have shared my thoughts on it here http://muscles.zone/pre-jym-complete-review/
Being healthy is always important. Taking nutritional supplements adds health benefits and increases body resistance against some viruses.
Thanks Lauryn! for sharing some of the good benefits of Coffee for fitness. I blog on Drip Coffee Maker and Coffee. Please visit my latest article
Why is Coffee Good For You? Here are 10 reasons
Really a cup of coffee in the morning may pack more than just an energy boost. For starters, one or two cups of coffee per day can increase your metabolic burn. Well, maybe not if you choose a venti mocha frappuccino topped in whipped cream and drizzled in chocolate syrup, but you know what I mean. In general, regular coffee has been proven to actually help you burn fat. Really.
Multiple-vitamin supplements provide all the basic micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) your body needs. These multiple-vitamins are generally safe because they contain only small amounts of the each nutrient.
The consumption of some dietary supplements may also help prevent cancer. A number of essential vitamins, including vitamins A, C and E, act as antioxidants in the body. They work to neutralize chemicals called free radicals that cause oxidative damage within your cells.
Nice post. I really do love coffee every morning. It’s like a morning ritual to me preparing my coffee. It helps me a lot with my workout as well because of the caffeine.
Great advice! I always drink coffee before working out and it helps me so much. Coffee is good for digestion and blood flow like you mentioned. Thanks for sharing!
Great post. I will try it to make in my home.
Thank you so much for sharing your idea.
Thanks for sharing such a beautiful article for us. A true coffee lover knows the value of one cup of coffee.
good idea to drink a coffee before a workout..by the way its cool if we drink before and after workout 😉
Awww!! The post is so impressive i just like the theme and the images that you have used and the information too. Keep sharing
thank u for the support!