To Caffeine or Not To Caffeine, When Training?

AndyCr15 · 23 Jan 2020 at 16:22

I stopped drinking caffeine about 3 years ago. It wasn't really for any reason. I think I heard about how you don't so much get a boost from caffeine, you just get lifted out of a dip. If you remove caffeine you never go into the dip in the first place.

Recently I heard in a YouTube video that caffeine helps with weight loss as it helps mobilise fat to be burnt and I'm wondering if I should go back on to the caffeine version of coffee. If nothing else, on the days I'm training, lifting, running or cycling.

What do you think? What actually are the downsides? Is it overall a benefit?

AndyCr15 · 23 Jan 2020 at 20:09

Thanks guys.

LiE said:
My preference for caffeine is a large dose around 10.30am.

Do you just drink coffee, or get it from a supplement. Do you only do it on days you train?

AndyCr15 · 23 Jan 2020 at 20:43

Hmm, interesting. I heard beetroot also helps your body break down fat for exercise. Having a quick google now, I can't find anything confirming that, although it is talked about being great for when exercising.

In one article it does mention Matcha green tea, which is what I remember @mrk mentioning previously. I've just subscribed to some Matcha tablets on Amazon.

I'm already taking vitamins, MSM, Spirulina & Chlorella and sometimes Omega 3. Add in Matcha and I'll be rattling soon...

AndyCr15 · 24 Jan 2020 at 07:52

Creatine is for building muscle, right? Not great if you're trying to lose weight?

(Tbf, I don't mind putting muscle mass on, but I guess I'm more trying to maintain muscle and lose body fat)

AndyCr15 · 25 Jan 2020 at 10:14

CaptainRAVE said:
On its own for fat loss, doubt it would do anything.

If you mean you drank caffeinated coffee and then sat on the couch, no, I doubt it would do much either. But with exercise, apparently it will help burn more fat than without.

AndyCr15 · 25 Jan 2020 at 11:40

Yeah, of course. I also didn't realise there was so little caffeine in instant coffee. It looks to be around 60mg. I think I'll go with a large cup to start the day and then a 200mg tablet when training/cycling/running. Any coffee after, I don't know, 4pm and I'll switch to decaf I guess.

AndyCr15 · 25 Jan 2020 at 19:16

mrthingyx said:
I think what most people are saying here is "don't take caffeine for weight loss because the difference made over a month is the same as a moderate trip to the toilet."

I might be getting mixed up using my out here at the moment, but I think most are staying it's good. No? I count 3 people liking caffeine and pre workout.

Even if it's just 100 calories, that's good, given I could walk for 20 minutes to burn that much. I get that from a few coffees before training, surely that's worth doing?

AndyCr15 · 25 Jan 2020 at 21:22

mrthingyx said:
If that is why you are taking it, then I would agree it is a good thing...

That, and any small benefit from the lipoysis, increased metabolism and suppression of hunger

AndyCr15 · 26 Jan 2020 at 08:07

From your comment before editing and your comment above, you seem to think I think it's some kind of magical drug. Of course you can gain weight with a caffeine addiction, that doesn't mean caffeine doesn't help weight loss and your case is not evidence that it doesn't. (**EDIT** Also worth noting, if the addiction was met with lots of coffee with milk in, there's a lot of calories in milk...) You need to be doing other things right though. Just Google 'does caffeine help weight loss' and there seem to be lots of articles stating it does and why. I don't think I've found one (and no, I've not looked all that hard) that says it doesn't. Even in this thread most people are saying it's helpful in one way or another, although you state most are saying otherwise?

It's a bit like someone saying walking 30 minutes every day helps weight loss and you saying, 'well I walked an hour every day and gained loads of weight'... yes, maybe you ate McDonald's three times a day! Maybe you had a chocolate addiction! The walking was still better than not walking!

AndyCr15 · 26 Jan 2020 at 08:37

Yes, you keep ignoring facts

AndyCr15 · 26 Jan 2020 at 09:01

Yup, which I'm fine with. On a bicycle, you'll pay hundreds to lose 500g from your bike. A tiny increase, but it's an increase (or decrease I guess).

**EDIT** I guess this is the problem though. Everyone is looking for some magical pill that makes them lose weight. I lost 6 stone in 6 months and the amount of people that came up to me all excited "How did you do that?!". When I explain it's through lots of hard work the look on their face changes. At the same time, it's lot's of small changes, probably less than a 1% effect in themselves. Switching out Semi Skimmed milk for Alpro Light in coffees and breakfast for example. That only saves me maybe 100-200 calories a day, but do a few of these things and you've knocked a reasonable chunk of calories off.