Caffeine pre-workout, a bad idea?

[Dave(DBD)]

There seems to be some negativety towards caffeine on these boards from what I've read lately. I find that a single caffeine pill (200mg) or a cup of coffee (100mg) pre-workout really seems to help with my focus and determination at the least. Yes, I realize there is a dehyration affect but I compensate by a little extra water pre, during and post workout. I also take creatine monohyrdate, 5g post workout. I've heard there is a bit of a conflict between the two but a single caffeine pill should be that bad? Can anyone confirm this or have any opinion on why caffeine pre workout would be a good or bad idea?

Thanks

[Shorts]

There are many articles about thus subject in fitness magazine. Some people will say it's bad because of the negative effect of dehydration. Other will say it's good for performance. Athletes usually like it before exercising because it's like a boost. I personally, think that it is not harmful as long as you don't take a huge amount where it will make you hyper. People as a subtitute will take ginseng.

[jf1]

coffee, along with bananas and skim-milk makes up my preworkout meal (1hr).
caffeine is a CNS stimulant, and helps to burn fat; works for me!

i dont do the creatine thing...

[Skigazzi]

Caffeine also increases cortisol release, but with proper post workout nutrition this is likely controlled.

Caffeine has its ups and downs, this is one of those things that no one will every come to a single belief on.

[GeneGnomeX]

The evidence that caffeine is a diuretic is actually not that strong, interestingly. Exercise should lead to an increased anti-diuretic hormone anyway. After exercise you won't be able to take up glucose very well since caffeine is trying to release it, so it will inhibit your recovery somewhat.

[eatingisfun]

All I know is when I drink coffee I have to piss like crazy so at least in me it's a pretty powerfull diuretic.

[Crizzle]

i have heard that coffee contains substances other than caffeine that are toxins, which would make straight caffeine a better choice. I have no research on this, just word of mouth.

Secondly, I read in a Men's Health mag about a year ago that caffeine decreases bloodflow to the heart signifficantly. I have the mag somewhere, so if anyone wants i can dig it up.

[CanuckTank]

Caffeine also counteracts the positive effect of creatine.

[cawchy]

Caffeine also counteracts the positive effect of creatine.

??? explain

[CanuckTank]

??? explain

Seeing that creatine hydrates the muscles with water and caffeine is a diuretic, they serve an opposite purpose.

If you take too much caffeine and dehydrate yourself, the won't be the water available for the creatine to do its job.

http://www.creatinejournal.com/creat...-and-caffeine/

They can be used if caffeine is used in moderation, but if you over do it, you have neutralized any real benefit from injesting the post-workout creatine.

when used properly, they can benefit one-another, but in most cases, too much caffeine is injested. I found this out for myself.

[Crizzle]

Seeing that creatine hydrates the muscles with water and caffeine is a diuretic, they serve an opposite purpose.

If you take too much caffeine and dehydrate yourself, the won't be the water available for the creatine to do its job.

http://www.creatinejournal.com/creat...-and-caffeine/

They can be used if caffeine is used in moderation, but if you over do it, you have neutralized any real benefit from injesting the post-workout creatine.

when used properly, they can benefit one-another, but in most cases, too much caffeine is injested. I found this out for myself.

this is debateable.

here is a post with a study, i would read it before you decide to tell people false info
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...ine#post457385

[beast69]

Seeing that creatine hydrates the muscles with water and caffeine is a diuretic, they serve an opposite purpose.

If you take too much caffeine and dehydrate yourself, the won't be the water available for the creatine to do its job.

http://www.creatinejournal.com/creat...-and-caffeine/

They can be used if caffeine is used in moderation, but if you over do it, you have neutralized any real benefit from injesting the post-workout creatine.

when used properly, they can benefit one-another, but in most cases, too much caffeine is injested. I found this out for myself.

there is much more to creatine than simply hydrating the muscles. The tru strength-inducing effects come from an increase in phospho-creatine stores in the muscle, allowing increased energy within the first 15-30 seconds (if i remember correctly...) of an exercise (eg...first few reps of a set). Caffeine has no effect on phosphe-creatine storage, but may reduce muscle hydration...besides, if water retention was creatine monohydrates only positive effect, why would people choose toi supplement with a creatine that causes little to no water retention (CEE, MCC, etc) ?

[stealth_swimmer]

There seems to be some negativety towards caffeine on these boards from what I've read lately. I find that a single caffeine pill (200mg) or a cup of coffee (100mg) pre-workout really seems to help with my focus and determination at the least. Yes, I realize there is a dehyration affect but I compensate by a little extra water pre, during and post workout. I also take creatine monohyrdate, 5g post workout. I've heard there is a bit of a conflict between the two but a single caffeine pill should be that bad? Can anyone confirm this or have any opinion on why caffeine pre workout would be a good or bad idea?

Thanks

Keep on taking it if it's helping you. As you said, you drink a little more water to compensate for it. As far as creatine goes, some people think it will "override" creatine, but it won't. As earlier stated, caffeine does not reduce phospho-creatine stores in the muscle.

[Trans_Isomer]

I don't like caffeine pre-workout due to a few reasons...

-it's a diuretic

-it inhibits calcium uptake/absorption

-its addictive

-its effects weaken over time

-withdrawal symptoms suck (headaches, nausea, etc.)

-And I believe I have read somewhere that it has some estrogenic properties and interferes with ATP synthesis, don't quote me on that though...

[CanuckTank]

this is debateable.

here is a post with a study, i would read it before you decide to tell people false info
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...ine#post457385

False would be your opinion.

It has proven to be counter-productive seeing caffeine is such a powerful diuretic and seeing one of the things creatine does is hydrate the muscle for faster and better repair, than it makes sense that they would both work against one another.

Maybe not during training, but certainly in the recovery.

[CanuckTank]

there is much more to creatine than simply hydrating the muscles. The tru strength-inducing effects come from an increase in phospho-creatine stores in the muscle, allowing increased energy within the first 15-30 seconds (if i remember correctly...) of an exercise (eg...first few reps of a set). Caffeine has no effect on phosphe-creatine storage, but may reduce muscle hydration...besides, if water retention was creatine monohydrates only positive effect, why would people choose toi supplement with a creatine that causes little to no water retention (CEE, MCC, etc) ?

We aren't talking about the posititve effects of creatine here.

I know what creatine does, I am just talking about how it relates to how the body uses the water available and how they compete for the body's water retention.

[Crizzle]

They can be used if caffeine is used in moderation, but if you over do it, you have neutralized any real benefit from injesting the post-workout creatine.

this is false

[JustiNtense]

I usually drink an energy drink 30 minutes before i workout. I saw someone drinking a redline during his workout, he was lifting 100lb DBs too! He could of died from that ****, and why would they name their energy drink redline??? To me the red line on the bottle reminds me of those hospital things, and on their bottle it shows the red line being straight, as in someone flat lining and dieng.

[Lector606]

lately i've been taking around 400mg caffeine pre workout. i have a huge tolerance, and it's getting to the point where i can barely feel it. i really need to cycle off for a while.

[truePOWer88]

caffeine may give you energy but if your metabolism is fast and you are trying to bulk I would just cut caffeine out all together.Also you will sleep better at night which also helps you grow by cutting caffeine

[hammiemam]

What about drinks like endorush or redline? They seem to give me a great amount of energy in my workouts. I realize they have a lot of other ingredients listed but caffeine is a big one. Are these counterproductive?

[acetylator]

There seems to be some negativety towards caffeine on these boards from what I've read lately. I find that a single caffeine pill (200mg) or a cup of coffee (100mg) pre-workout really seems to help with my focus and determination at the least. Yes, I realize there is a dehyration affect but I compensate by a little extra water pre, during and post workout. I also take creatine monohyrdate, 5g post workout. I've heard there is a bit of a conflict between the two but a single caffeine pill should be that bad? Can anyone confirm this or have any opinion on why caffeine pre workout would be a good or bad idea?

Thanks

uh, I take it. You're fine, i know animal pump and a few others all have caffeine.

WTF kinda coffee are you brewing thats 100mg? Starbucks is 300mg and regular drip is closer to 200mg from my understanding... You must be drinking, like, dirty water...

I used to take a no-doze before workouts when I was feeling sluggish. If your water intake is ample I don't see the cause for concern.

[CanuckTank]

this is false

Prove it....don't just say I am wrong, PROVE that I am wrong then.

[WordzWorf]

What else besides Caffeine can be taken for pre-workout energy??

Ginseng,Yerba Mate,L-Tyrosine??

[Soldier21921]

Caffeine also counteracts the positive effect of creatine.

??? explain

it says it on the back of the bottle

[Lector606]

tyrosine works great with caffeine for me, but i've never taken it alone. same deal with yohimbe/ephedrine.

[Lector606]

scratch that, i just remembered that i have taken tyrosine alone, and it worked fairly well. that was before i had an enormous tolerance to stims, though, so your mileage may vary

[dutrachr]

Secondly, I read in a Men's Health mag about a year ago that caffeine decreases bloodflow to the heart signifficantly. I have the mag somewhere, so if anyone wants i can dig it up.

I believe the jury is still out on it. Studies have shown that caffeine may have a negative effect on cardiovascular health, but no study has conclusive evidence.

Personally, I have used caffiene prior to working out. And as far as negative effects, I can't say there are any. However, I think it has a lot to do with the individuals tolerance and reaction to caffiene.

Until something substancial turns up, I am still going to use it.

[CanuckTank]

it says it on the back of the bottle

LOL, yea, forgot that one, back of my bottle says the same thing.

Cheers.

[cxm]

What else besides Caffeine can be taken for pre-workout energy??

Ginseng,Yerba Mate,L-Tyrosine??

Yerba Mate has good feedback, I think caffeine overall has more benefits in a pre-workout situation.

I would suggest a following combo for pre-workout, use tyrosine and alcar in bulk form with some crystal light and use a tablet form for caffeine.

L-Tyrosine 2-3g
ALCAR 1.5-2g
Caffeine 200mg