Exercise! - Caffeine before exercise?

Today I woke up with my muscles so sore from yesterday's workout (see my "Blast Away 10 Pounds" review (http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66645) in the fitness video section, which I lumped with an extra 20 minutes of cardio.) and I was already thinking in the "I'm gonna make today my off-day of the week."

However, half an hour after my cup of joe (Peet's "Fair Trade Blend" - delish and socially-conscious too), I decided that I'd rather save that non-exercise day for the weekend. Muscles still sore I started my 25-minute cardio workout (from Denise's "Power Zone"). 5-minutes in, not only do I not feel sore anymore, I have more stamina than I ever did.

Instead of thinking "when is this over" and slog through the remainder of the workout like I usually do, I'm thinking "wow, i'm liking this" and jumped higher, stretched farther, and reached more than I ever did before.

Not sure if those are exercise endorphins or the caffeine working the magic... but I'm liking it! And I don't feel the soreness returning :)

Anyone else have this experience with caffeine & exercise? (EDIT: Of course, if you are drinking coffee or taking caffeine before exercise, have a nice glass of ice-cold water on hand during the exercise... since it's a diuretic, which combined with sweat-inducing exercise, means one can get dehydrated a lot!)

99.9% of the time I have coffee before I workout, it does give me a boost and I've read about it too...

Here are some good articles:

http://facilities.princeton.edu/dining/_Nutrition/athletes_kitchen_8_05.htm
http://www.theomnivore.com/caffeine_and_endurance.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8127-1731318,00.html

Aqua, I also love a good cup of java - It's still part of my total morning ritual ;) I have experienced a similar "motivation" after imbibing my fav brew.

Ilene, many thanks for posting those articles. I'd decided that my current transformation into fitness was going to be a lifelong, lifestyle change. I am always eager to review any studies/articles regarding nutrition/fitness. Since Labor Day (Sept 2005), giving up sugar, salt and junk was a big adjustment for my body and I have clearly had positive results from those changes. I'm still not willing to relinquish my daily rites to the "Goddess Caffeina"
:lol:

Additonally, another problem I had with overconsuming caffeine drinks were the cravings for other foods that this buzz would produce: coke with chips, coffee and anything sweet, loaded with fats, especially partially hydrogenated oils - blechhh!.

Water consumption has become an easy habit to acquire so I'm not worried about dehydration. It's all about balance for me. I consume about 10-12 ounces of coffee daily and no longer add sugar. Probably still big amount of daily caffeine by some standards, yet it feels right for me.

Thanks for raising this question.
Jean

I have a can of sugar free Red Bull (ok you can save the Red Bull health warnings!!) before I go kickboxing - it gives me a bit more encouragement! I have a two hour class once a week and it just about gets me through that without dying! I'm giving it up for the one hour class though, my fitness seems to have improved that I can get by a one hour class during a working week without feeling too bad!

I've also heard stuff like caffine before exercise helps burn more calories etc etc, but heard some bad things about it too, like caffine + sugar restricts the release of fat for fuel. I always take things like that with a pinch of salt 'cos usually when you read something's good, they like to tell you it's bad the next week! ;)

haha... no redbull health warnings from me (more likely, redbull taste warnings--namely, I don't like how they taste and would take a cup of java anytime!)

"Goddess Caffeina" LOL ~ yes, I pay my near-daily tributes to her as well. I'd sooner sacrifice anyone who try to convince me otherwise ;)

Anyhoo, just finished my cup of joe for the day and now I can't wait to be buzzed about doing my kickboxing workout again :) Burning that butter!

Oh I just love my Peet's coffee! Are you in the Bay Area? I had to move away but miss it. Good thing they have it here in Chicago.