4 Ways Coffee Can Boost Your Gym Session

Call yourself a coffee connoisseur? Well, did you know downing a cup of your fave hot bev before getting a sweat on could benefit your workout? Yep, you read right. Your beloved coffee is so much more than just fuel for a manic Monday morning. Drinking a cup of the good stuff before heading to the gym is known to boost performance, improve focus and, we heard on the grapevine that it could also aid fat loss! Intrigued? Well, here’s four reasons why drinking coffee ahead of your session could do you wonders.

It can boost performance and energy

Now, if you know your coffee, you’ll know that one of the key ingredients is caffeine and it’s caffeine that encourages you to train harder and for longer. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and is known to promote alertness, making you feel more awake and focused. Sipping on a good ole’ Americano prior to your session will give you a much-needed burst of energy, which, in turn, will improve performance.

It can help burn fat

Yep, not only can coffee help on those days where you’re at a solid ZERO on the motivation scale but it can also accelerate fat loss, making it a go-to drink to consume before your fat-shedding HIIT sesh. Drinking coffee before your workout can cause your body to use fat cells as an energy source instead of glycogen. Rumour has it that coffee also increases your metabolism, causing additional fat burn. But (and it’s a BIG but), don’t down creamy cappuccinos and syrup-laden lattes with the intention of dropping a few pounds. Coffee itself will help burn fat, not other variants such as your fave high-street Frappuccino. Stick to black coffees such as Americanos and espressos for best results.

It can improve focus

You can thank your good friend caffeine for the focus that coffee provides. Grab a coffee before you head out the door to the gym and, like a pre-workout, you can guarantee enhanced concentration and a determination to lift heavier or run for longer.

It can decrease DOMS

Ah, those dreaded DOMs. Delayed onset muscle soreness is no joke. You may think you’ve breezed through your Monday morning leg sesh but, come Wednesday, you’ll be struggling to make a flight of stairs without flinching. Studies suggest that consuming a moderate dose of caffeine, say, two cups of coffee, before working out can reduce post-workout muscle aches by almost 50%! Not bad, huh?