Any Issues with Coffee?

[Sparky]

Folks,

My one vice, even now as I'm 4 weeks out, is coffee. I drink a few cups a day black (Starbucks!!!!). I drink water, protein shakes, MRPs (Myoplex) and coffee. That is it.

Can coffee be an issue for final preparation? If so, how.

Thanks very very much!

Heck you might save me some money at Starbucks...

Spark

[ski]

I drink mega-coffee and the only thing I would worry about is cutting it out when you cut your water for the contest.

I have never had a problem and I sometimes even have a cup on the morning of my show with no ill effects.

It is a natural diuretic,and I`ve had a hell of a lot of worse vices .

[pudge]

im addicted to coffee... i drink coffee thru my whole contest prep..every morning, a big ass cup of black Bustelo with 2 splenda packs before morning cardio with other goodies there..

it wont do nothing to ur condition from my standpoint, but i dont know about starbucks...if i were u i'd stay away from starbucks and brew ur own coffee...u dont know what they put in there..

and like ski mentioned, its a natural diuretic...for me it helped keep the water off..

pudge

[american idol]

It turns out that coffee is in fact good for you. It's loaded with antioxidents. Don't give up the coffee, but stay away from starbucks. you can make your own gourmet coffee at home & know exactly what you're putting into it without spending $4 per cup.

[Ken Skip Hill]

Screw that. I live on Starbucks every morning. I just don't have all that extra crap to flavor it. I prefer the breakfast blend. I won't cut mine for anything and it has never impacted me in a negative way during a prep. I cut mine when I drop sodium a few days before the show.

skip

[jstrong20]

I seen a study awhile back in Muscular Development that stated coffee raises cortisol levels so I've avoided it since. It would be great if someone on here could dispute this so I could start pounding back the coffee again.

[SuperSport]

1 cup of coffee provides the antioxidant effect of 3 oranges....and coffee also improves insulin sensitivity. It is thought the magnesium content is responsible for this.

The ADA determined that people who drink 3 or more cups of coffee per day have a 50% less incidence of diabetes....

I would also like to point this out. I think another big reaon with the coffee-non diabetic link MAY be that coffee drinkers do not drink as much milk as others. Most people have coffee OR milk w/ breakfast.

There seems to be a correlation b/n drinking milk and developing diabetes.....

[Creator_11]

Here is a tid bit of info that made me make Tim Hortons coffee a main stay before workout and cardio....

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Caffeine has been shown to increase both short term intense exercise performance, 'stop-start' activities (football, rugby, etc), long distance running and help our performance in the gym, so we can train more effectively and ultimately increase size and strength. (EU SCF 2001; Kovacs et al 1998).

The mechanism of how caffeine initiates its ergogenic effect is, however, poorly understood. It is likely that it increases fat burning, thus sparing our carbohydrate stores, which in turn means that the point of lack of ready carbohydrate availability is delayed, so helps performance. This theory also acknowledges the fact that caffeine is slightly fat oxidising, therefore useful in keeping body fat off.

Caffeine may also stimulate neural signals between the brain and neuromuscular junction (how nerves cause muscles to contract) and increase production of metabolites in muscle helping contraction occur.

Caffeine was previously banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) pre-competition and blood levels should not have exceeded 12mcg/ml. This was in view of its ergogenic effects on performance as it was thought it gives an unfair advantage. However there was no restriction during training and no random drug testing for it. Since January 2004, though, any restriction on caffeine's use pre-event has been lifted, even pre-event, as its use is so widespread and socially acceptable, so caffeine-containing ergogenic aids can be consumed freely during this year's Olympic events. It should also be noted that the ergogenic benefits of caffeine occur well below the formerly restricted IOC levels (American College of Sports Medicine 1999).

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The whole article.

http://www.muscletalk.co.uk/article-caffeine-bodybuilding.asp

[Sparky]

Wow! Thanks everybody... I get straight black coffee at Starbucks for a 1.50 a cup. I just can't seem to brew it at home as well as they do (probably my coffee maker).

I've heard that it helps with fat burning during cardio. It definitely helps my energy level during workouts.

When I said it was my only vice, I meant it was my only nutritional vice. My wife can probably provide quite of list of other "issues" I have but nothing too annoying I hope.

Thanks for everything folks!

Spark

[Big Ed]

I drank about 2 large cups a day durring my entire prep.

E

[Ken Skip Hill]

I seen a study awhile back in Muscular Development that stated coffee raises cortisol levels so I've avoided it since. It would be great if someone on here could dispute this so I could start pounding back the coffee again.

In my opinion, this would be just another example of something that on paper would mean that coffee would be an obstacle for gains but in reality, it just isn't. I have had at least 2 large cups of coffee before every single workout for the past 2 years whether offseason or contest prepping. My gains have been just fine and within the last 2 months, have been remarkable. If the rise in cortisol were that pronounced, I wouldn't be making the gains that I am making.

That one goes in the same file as the fruit theory.... and the "take more gear theory.... and the "T3 will shut your thyroid down for good" theory...... etc..

Just my opinion.........

Skip

[ski]

I`m fixin` to brew me up another pot right now !!

[Creator_11]

I seen a study awhile back in Muscular Development that stated coffee raises cortisol levels so I've avoided it since. It would be great if someone on here could dispute this so I could start pounding back the coffee again.

Yes I saw this same study and about 4 months prior was an article stating that coffee may help in increasing stength temporarily before workouts.

I think if do some research on anything your going to find their is a study that will say go for it, and another study that says no way!.


And this help the mags out because they can keep re-publishing the same things.

[Creator_11]

I`m fixin` to brew me up another pot right now !!

2 cups for me please

[Shawn "Future" Bellon]

I'm having more too!