What if I drink caffeine but exercise?

[acudoc]

Sometimes I need a little boost before I work out. On those days that I don't get that extra little boost, my workouts are so half a$$ed and I don't do well. Are the benefits of extra calories burned better than the ill effects of the caffeine on my blood sugar and ketosis? Is there REALLY an effect on ketosis? When I don't drink caffeine I don't get headaches. I feel fine. I feel a little irritable - but I can't tell if that's from no caffeine or the fact that I actually have some things to be irritable about. Thoughts?

[chinadoll]

Re: What if I drifnk caffeine but exercise?

There are many people who have been successful on Atkins without giving up caffeine. I have been one of them in the past, although now I am seeing it make a difference. I agree with you---I feel really crummy without my jolt in the morning. I have successfully gone to half caf but that is as far as I have been able to go long term. Not everyone follows every rule they should. If having an extra sweetener or caffeine is the difference between staying more or less on track vs. deciding to pitch the program, then I say do what you need to do. Just know that your results may be slower or you may experience more cravings. You have to weigh out what works for you as an individual.

[stacy3477]

Re: What if I drifnk caffeine but exercise?

And to be fair, Dr A. doesn't say no caffeine; he's says avoid it because it is a common staller. But so are nuts and fruits and other things up the rungs. The great thing about this WOE is that you get to experiment within the guidelines and find out what works for you. I kept caffeine for the first several weeks, but found that I just really stopped needing it.

I personally think chinadoll has it right when she says:

If having an extra sweetener or caffeine is the difference between staying more or less on track vs. deciding to pitch the program, then I say do what you need to do.

...but that's just me.

[liv]

Re: What if I drifnk caffeine but exercise?

What you "neeeeed" is sometimes exactly what you do not need. We seem to sometimes crave what we actually have issues with. So I encourage you to explore it a bit. I have realized that coffee stimulates my appetite- I only learned that after cutting it out. it was such an eye opener. I think knowing is going to be a very important tool for me to be able to maintain my weight. I would never have learned this without playing around with it.

Also calories burned is not an issue with what we are doing on Atkins. Atkins believed that carbs (and maybe also coffee) stimulate our insulin and make us store everything we eat as fat very fast and then send us signals to tell us we need to eat even more. So we can eat plenty but still feel hungry. When we cut down carbs we stop the body from behaving like this and we can finally get a handle on actually controlling our weight. But it is important to follow the rules. And especially in induction.

And (though this is a bit harsh, I thought I would say in anyways) but you are playing a bit with fire when you start to make arguments like I can eat this cake if I run 10 km tomorrow.

Good luck though. You will find what is right for you. Just give yourself a chance to experiment.

[Slapshot]

Re: What if I drifnk caffeine but exercise?

he's says avoid it because it is a common staller.

I don't have my book here, so I'm going purely by memory. Perhaps someone with the book or with more knowledge can confirm/correct this: The book's somewhat contradictory on this. I think in one spot he said to avoid caffeinated drinks, but then he said (in another spot) to "avoid excessive caffeine" (not avoid it altogether), because it has been shown to cause low blood sugar, not necessarily because it stalls weightloss.

His use of the term "excessive" is confusing, especially if he also said to avoid caffeine altogether.

[stacy3477]

Re: What if I drifnk caffeine but exercise?

You're right Slap - he doesn't say staller. I happen to have an electronic copy of DANDR (I got it for 99cents on ebay if anyone is interested), so I did a search for anywhere caffeine is found. The important part is the "Rules of Induction" say "Avoid coffee, tea and soft drinks that contain caffeine. Excessive caffeine has been shown to cause low blood sugar, which can make you crave sugar."

He also says one of the goals of Induction is to "Break addictions to foods such as sugar, wheat or corn derivatives, alcohol, caffeine, grain or any other food. For people addicted to sugary, high-carb or high-glycemic foods just as for alcoholics-moderation simply does not work." So, IMO we should determine if we are addicted to these and then decide whether or not to take Dr Atkin's advice. I know breaking my sugar addiction is the best thing, health-wise, I've ever done. I personally would not consider myself a caffeine addict, so I see nothing wrong with having a diet coke now and again.

Thanks for the correction!

[Slapshot]

Re: What if I drink caffeine but exercise?

No sweat Stacy. I appreciate you doing the follow up. I still can't jive "excessive caffeine" with "avoid." If he had said "limit caffeine" or "limit excessive caffeine," I'd better understand...

[liv]

Re: What if I drink caffeine but exercise?

In Chapter 18 of DANDR where Atkins gives advice to those who have not quite gotten it yet he writes (on pg230): Drink only decaffeinated coffee and tea and use only acceptable sweeteners. I think that is pretty clear.

[y_ghazaly]

Re: What if I drink caffeine but exercise?

personally i only drink one cup of coffee in the morning everyday & that's it, but 2b honest i never thought it was a staller.......aspartame sure is , but not one cup of coffee & again the best thing about Atkins is that there r so many choices & alternatives that make it really easy to follow .....so definitely u should try & experiment until u see what suits u & what doesn't and i really have 2 admit ,REGULAR EXERCISE makes a **** of a difference!! It really does, coffee or not!!

[Slapshot]

Re: What if I drink caffeine but exercise?

Drink only decaffeinated coffee and tea and use only acceptable sweeteners

So, caffeinated sucralose-sweetened soda is OK, then ?

(I get your point. The word "excessive" just gives me pause when juxtaposed with the unequivocal command like you cite above).

[neutronnorman]

Re: What if I drink caffeine but exercise?

I dunno'.

I drink two cups, 6 oz, black with no sweetener 10 minutes before I pump iron. I usually lift at about 7:00 a.m. Since starting Atkins, I've been loosing about 2-3 lb per week with no stall. Absolutely none. So I can't give an opinion. I do not know your training frequency, duration and most importantly, intensity.

[acudoc]

Re: What if I drink caffeine but exercise?

Thanks for all the advice/thoughts. I went ahead and had some caffeine yesterday - just a cup - and I had a great work out and this morning I lost 1.6 pounds whereas I had been stalled for over a week. I think the important thing is to do what works for you personally. a little caffeine seems to go a long way for me.

I have been drinking coffee for 20 years on and off. If I don't have it I don't get headaches or any withdrawal symptoms - the irritability is still questionable.

I drink caffeine and I love it!

[RitaCeleste]

Re: What if I drink caffeine but exercise?

I found no difference in weightloss with caffeine. But I can't have much fake sugars or sugar alcohals without getting all messed up. Other people can eat sugar alcohal, I get to keep coffee. Oh, well can't have everything! lol