I can’t make it to the gym in the morning without drinking at least one cup of coffee…although it usually ends up being two or three. But even if I train in the afternoons, I still drive through Starbucks before hitting the elliptical or lifting weights. Like me for my pre-workout boost, former competitive cyclist Robert Motl, PhD, drinks a cup ‘o Joe to fuel up and get a little more energy to push harder during cycling distance training and competitions.
This former pro athlete, currently a professor at the University of Illinois kinesiology and community health, found in his study that the relationship between caffeine and physical activity is more than just an energy boost. It actually enhanced his cycling ability by reducing the pain. “We’ve shown that caffeine reduces pain reliably, consistently during cycling, across different intensities, across different people, different characteristics. But does that reduction in pain translate into an improvement in sport performance?”, says Motl.
But for now, RELIEF is what you can get from this study . Particularly those who write off working out all together or don’t exercise with as much intensity as you’d like to due to the pain you experience during your workout.
How much caffeine do you need to drink to feel the effects? Try drinking two to three cups of coffee or caffeinated drink per day to see if helps you stick to your workout plan and not allow pain to derail you from your goals.
Sources: International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, April 2009.
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