Coffee is one of the most effective pre-workout drinks. I
usually have a cup of black coffee 30-40 minutes prior to my workout so that I can
benefit from an added energy boost and all the health benefits that come with
it.
WARNING: Remember that your coffee must be black with NO SUGAR.
Coffee can help you slash fat faster. Caffeine
increases your “fight or flight” hormones which trigger your body to break down
fat and use it for fuel.
Several studies have demonstrated
a link between caffeine intake before exercise and increased athletic
performance.
3. Improves focus
The increased energy pushes you through
tough workouts. Black coffee provides an increase in mental focus as well.
4. Decrease Muscle Pain
You can complete more reps at a higher resistance
during your weight training sessions, and run faster and longer during cardio
workouts.
5. Antioxidant
Coffee and tea are great sources of powerful
antioxidants. Did you know that even if you eat a healthy organic diet, the air
you breathe and the products you use on your skin everyday are pumping you full
of age accelerating toxins. These toxins not only make you feel and look older
but they actually make it harder to lose fat. But coffee and green tea along
with a healthy diet can help remove the
toxins so you can look younger and burn off the most stubborn fat.
BUT
A single spoon of sugar in your
coffee completely wipes put all health benefits and switches off your fat
burning. Sugar boosts blood sugar and insulin levels which causes the body to
store fat. Sugar increases inflammation in your body which cancels out
anti-aging health benefits. Inflammation also leads to both leptin and insulin
resistance which causes fat to be stored and is difficult to remove.
So skip the specialty coffees at
Starbucks and opt for a plain coffee
instead. If you need sweetener invest in stevia which is a natural sweetener.
New Approach
Nate Miyaki shares a very interesting approach to losing weight that I
wanted to share with you. Nate goes against everything you read in health
magazines or what you hear from health gurus. I love trying new ways of
seeing results. What I have found in the last few years since I really got into
fitness is that you have to constantly learn and try new things. Opinions
change constantly and contradict themselves and it is up to you to try out what
works for you and what you think gives you the best long lasting results.
Remember this is a lifestyle change not something you are going to just do for
a few weeks so it’s important for you to find something that you can see
yourself sticking to for life.
Nate explains that the higher your insulin sensitivity the
easier it is to lose fat. Coffee can help over the long term but in the short
term after about 2-6 hours after consumption coffee actually drives your
insulin sensitivity down. This is not a big deal unless you eat carbs when you
are in a low insulin sensitivity. If you do this will more than likely be
stored as fat.
How do you avoid
this?
Drink coffee in the morning when you are in a fasted state
to take full advantage of its fat burning power. Eat a low carb lunch. And then
eat your carbs at night to restock your energy reserves and prime yourself for
the next day’s rapid fat loss explosion.
