Stretching Exercise Secrets: Coffee Makes You Stiff
7 SECRETS OF NUTRITION & FLEXIBILITY
#2 of 7: Coffee Makes You Stiff
When I was 19, I worked at Starbucks on Park Row in downtown Manhattan.
At first, I was really into the Carmel Macchiato, but after two months, I couldn’t drink the sweet stuff anymore. Made me sick.
The staff mostly drank Americanos (espresso and hot water), but after a couple weeks on those, I decided to skip the water and drink 12 oz. glasses of straight espresso—3 times per day!
My bean of choice was from Sumatra; full bodied, thick as mud, and not too bitter.
I was a coffee boy for nearly a year and half (the entire time ruthlessly addicted to caffeine) and here’s what happened:
- I gained 15 lbs.
- My skin went translucent
- My stools looked like petrified wood
- I couldn’t seem to sleep OR stay awake
- My love life was crap (read between the lines)
- Every joint in my body ached
What I’m trying to tell you is, I know coffee. I know why you love it and why you need to give it up, or a least cut WAY back.
Here’s a quick stretching tip: drink fresh juice instead of coffee, tea, or sodas and watch your flexibility improve within 36 hours. I’m serious.
Sound too simple?
Get this: caffeine sucks the water out of your system, fries your nerves, and makes you tense. Let me put it this way: dry, tense, over-stimulated bodies are, without fail, stiff and tight every time.
If you really need a pick-me-up, do a 3-5 minute headstand. It beats the hell our of Grande cup of Sumatran espresso any time.
6 Comments
at 4:58 pm - 8th December 2009 Permalink
HOW THE HELL DID YOU DRINK 12OZS OF STRAIGHT ESPRESSO 3 TIMES A DAY?
THATS ALMOST 300 mgs OF CAFFEINE PER DRINK. SO YOU HAD 900 mgs WITHIN ONE DAY?
at 5:42 pm - 8th December 2009 Permalink
Yes, it’s a lot. You’d be surprised what you can get used to:)
at 7:18 pm - 22nd March 2010 Permalink
is this true for decaf?
what about decaf green tea or white tea?
at 4:04 am - 27th March 2010 Permalink
I am from California and now in East Central Europe. Espresso is within arms reach 24/7. Yes, 12oz a day is simple to consume. Oh yes, having stiff joints is a condition that requires a lot of walking and stretching. The means to overcome is always lots of water in between espresso and dancing (salsa) nearly every night. Sleep only 7 hours max and run and swim every morning.
at 4:19 am - 27th March 2010 Permalink
@Connor – awesome! Jealous of the swimming…
at 4:20 am - 27th March 2010 Permalink
@Liz – decaf coffee is tricky because it’s often chemically processed and quite toxic. Water processed decaf is rare, but a decent alternative. Hope that helps! – LR
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