If youâre feeling lazy or unmotivated to exercise, it might be a simple fact of evolution. Humans have evolved to find ways to conserve energy, making it difficult to sustain exercise for the long term. At the end of the day, itâs natural to opt for a session on the sofa over the gym.
But physical inactivity kills. Repeated research has shown that a sedentary lifestyle skyrockets the risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attack, and type-2 diabetes.
Drink Coffee Before You Exercise to Stimulate Your Workout
Now look, I donât need to tell you how important exercise is. And if your New Yearâs resolution is to get more active and improve your fitness level and health, I know how hard it can be. But do you know the secret to surviving the struggle? And donât worry; Iâm not going to give you some self-help spiel, because that wonât do a thing for you when youâre 10 minutes in to your walk or 20 minutes through a workout.
Hereâs the secret: All you might need to keep on track this yearâand well into the futureâis a good olâ fashioned cup of Joe. And Iâll tell you something else: it works like a charm for me.
Thatâs right, Iâm totally serious. Drinking a cup of coffee or consuming some other form of caffeine about 20-30 minutes before exercise can help you power through without even thinking about it.
Coffee and Fitness: Reduce Perception of Effort During Exercise
One of the biggest barriers to exercise is the perception of effort. And if humans are âinherently lazy,â itâs no wonder why the idea of physical exertion is almost an instant turn off. But when you drink coffee or take caffeine, the perception of exertion and effort can be drastically reduced, making it much easier to embrace activity.
A recent paper in the scientific journal Sports Medicine suggested that caffeine could be the key to helping people stick to their healthy resolutions for the long term. The author essentially points out that stimulants, like caffeine, reduce the perception of effort and allow people to exercise for longer; it creates the feeling that they are exerting less effort.
Now I know that it might sound like Iâm telling you to get high (on caffeine) to ease the pain, but consider this: do you think drinking a cup of coffee every day to help you increase activity is a bad thing? I certainly donâtâthe benefits of exercise strongly outweigh the risks of a sedentary lifestyle.
Caffeine is a great natural stimulant that offers a number of metabolic benefits. In order assess your tolerance, start small by drinking a small or medium coffee about 20-30 minutes prior to exercise. A tall cup of âStarbucksâ coffee (12 fluid ounces) will offer around 260 mg of caffeine, which should be enough to get you through your workout.
If you have an existing heart condition, itâs important to talk to your doctorânot just about caffeine intake, but about exercise. Learn what your current limits are and stay within them. As you stick to your plan and experience results, youâll see your capabilities grow!
Source for Todayâs Article:
âCoffee to keep New Year fitness resolutions,â ScienceDaily web site, January 13, 2016; http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160113133334.htm.