Does drinking coffee effect muscle gains?

It’s probably one of the more common questions the average Joe and advanced bodybuilder has on their mind. Is coffee going to benefit or kill your gains?  You don’t want to get in the gym and work tirelessly only to see positive results rendered moot because you need to have your cup of joe in the morning. But really, is having a coffee before a workout all that bad?
.

Fat Loss

In the early stages of continued consumption, coffee can help with fat loss. Not only could you have added endurance, but burnt fat as well. The caffeine released from coffee kicks off a process called lipolysis, which is the release of free fatty acids from body fat. What’s that mean? Well, the free fatty acids travel the bloodstream and ultimately can be used as a fuel source without eating into your stored carbs and proteins. This, plus a hard workout leads to free fatty acid oxidation which ultimately means fat burning. But be careful not to ingest too much caffeine or you’ll negate the process.

Caffeine

Well for one, the caffeine in coffee can be pretty damn beneficial to you when you get into the gym. In numerous tests, caffeine has been shown to have a positive effect on endurance. Those tests were conducted on cyclists, but you get the point. The notion of drinking coffee as apart of your pre-workout routine could end up reaping benefits. You’ll still have the energy to push through your workout even when you feel like you’re going to collapse. The problem is getting dependent on it. The thing about coffee is that it may not provide enough of the caffeine you need. You may have to pick up some caffeine pills to get the boost you desire.

Adrenaline

It’s the number one hormone every athlete looks to for high performance. Adrenaline can give you that extra boost in the gym, have you pushing through sets with ease. Well caffeine is a great source for an adrenaline boost. If your work ethic seems to be lagging, having some caffeine can definitely be the boost you need.

Too Much Is No Good

As stated before, an overabundance of caffeine could prove to be detrimental to your health. If you’re going to be consuming coffee on a regular basis then it’s best to do so in moderation. The addictive effects of coffee are well documented. If your body gets used to ingesting coffee on a regular basis then once you stop, there’s a high possibility of feeling a withdrawal effect.  Be sure you’re monitoring your intake!  Also, if you’re drinking more than 4 cups per day, there are some major side effects to be aware of such as; dehydration (due to increased urination), rapid heart beat, anxiety, trembling and sleeplessness.  Stay under the 4 cups and you should be okay, although coffee effects everyone differently, so know your limits.

So is coffee great for your training?

Well more than coffee itself, it seems as though caffeine is what will have you reaping rewards in the gym. There are obvious benefits and some drawbacks which makes this a bit of an inconclusive issue.  Of course if you’re consuming sugary coffee beverages from Starbucks then you’re less likely to see the positives of coffee. Even so, coffee may be a product that is hit or miss depending on who you are. After all, no one person is made of the same stuff.

Just look at Kali Muscle – he invented his own super caffeinated pre-workout, Hyphy Mud – a combination of instant coffee and diet Coke (or any caffeinated soda beverage).  Kali discovered the drink during his time spent in prison and it’s now become so popular that it’s become it’s own canned beverage now called “HM2.”  Sound disgusting?  Maybe – but like we said, no one person is the same. Maybe you can try it out before your next workout.

So what are you thoughts on drinking coffee and training? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.