While coffee can't make you go to the gym, it can make your trip more productive! Read on for how.
Welcome to 2016. Like most Americans you are probably at the start of your New Year's Resolution(s) and working towards breaking (or making) certain habits.
Studies have shown the majority of New Year's Resolutions are to lose weight. Some of the easiest ways to lose weight are to change eating habits and exercise. While we'll be sharing healthy recipes later on this month we wanted to start January with one of the hardest activities to motivate yourself to do; exercise.
Research has shown that consuming around 12 oz of coffee before a workout will help you have a more productive workout. Specifically coffee can help you with these 5 benefits.
- Raised Endurance: Drinking 12 oz of coffee along with your typical carbohydrates will result in a 66% increase of muscle glycogen. Glycogen acts as a back up generator to your muscles and helps fuel them during and after times of extensive activity. This aids in recovery and performance.
- Muscle preservation: Speaking of muscles, as you probably know your muscles experience atrophy as you age. Luckily, caffeine slows down these affects and can help you avoid athletic-related injuries (though it cannot help with your clumsiness).
- Burn More Fat: Caffeine also helps burn fat through stimulating energy productions functions of your body. Who couldn't use a little extra help burning off those Christmas cookies?
- Control Fat Intake: While there's no replacing a delicious slice of cake or box of fries a study from the Journal of Applied Physiology showed that consuming coffee before a workout will help control your appetitive afterwards. In the study, subjects who had coffee before their workout ate 72 less calories after their workout then those who took the placebo. So having another cup is a lot better than another slice.
- Improved Circulation: A recent study looked at the effects of coffee on circulation in people who were not regular coffee drinkers. Each subject drank a 5-ounce cup of either regular or decaf coffee. Those who downed “regular” (caffeinated) coffee experienced a 30% increase in blood flow over a 75-minute period, compared to those who drank decaf. Note: improved circulation = improved performance.
As always consult a doctor or your trainer to make sure coffee consumption before a workout is right for you!
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