How Caffeine Could Prevent You From Losing Belly Fat
ABSTRACT
Struggling with stubborn belly fat, no matter how much you diet or exercise? Your morning coffee might be contributing to cortisol and weight gain without you even realizing it. Learn how caffeine and belly fat are linked through the body's stress response. Discover simple ways to reduce cortisol naturally and start losing stubborn midsection fat.
Keywords
Caffeine and belly fat
Cortisol and weight gain
Coffee and belly fat connection
How Caffeine Causes Belly Fat
Stress and belly fat
How to reduce cortisol naturally
Quitting coffee weight loss
Coffee and cortisol levels
Caffeine stress response
Caffeine belly fat bloating
Coffee Weight Loss / Photo: Chevanon Photography
Do you have fat around your mid-section that seems to be stuck? Have you tried working out and dieting, but nothing seems to work? Believe it or not, your morning cup of coffee may be to blame.
I was once a coffee addict, too. I LOVE THE TASTE OF COFFEE. It started in high school, while hanging out with friends at Denny’s Restaurant, and then continued while I pulled all-nighters in college. Fast forward many years, the daily consumption became a wired habit and, perhaps, a physical dependency at times. Recognizing how caffeine leads to high states of stress and anxiety and understanding the caffeine and belly fat connection ultimately led to my diminished consumption.
This is how it works: When the body experiences stress, either in the form of taking in caffeine from coffee, tea, or energy drinks (or from that boss that drives you crazy), cortisol is released in the body, as well as norepinephrine and epinephrine. The body goes into the “fight or flight” response, which means blood rushes away from your stomach and to your arms, legs, and even your brain so you can be alert and "run away from the predator.”
Digestion slows down, the reproductive system slows down, and the elimination system slows down because you don’t need to digest, reproduce, or go to the bathroom when running for your life. If a person drinks a lot of coffee or is under a lot of stress, there is a constant level of cortisol circulating in the body.
Cortisol can cause weight gain, particularly in the abdominal area, for several reasons. First, digestion is slowed down. Second, the body increases insulin levels in case we need that extra energy to run from a “predator.” Over time, the body becomes resistant to this constant increase in insulin, which could lead to weight gain and Type 2 Diabetes.
Eventually, the adrenal glands get tired, which are the glands that release hormones like cortisol in response to stress (they are only about the size of a walnut). Over time, the body can’t bring the cortisol levels back down to normal, which can lead to an increase in belly fat. This is why, if you have an excess layer around your middle, you may need to check your caffeine habit.
Since reducing my coffee consumption, I wake up with energy, not feeling groggy, and I’m not carrying excess water weight. I also feel less anxiety throughout the day. If you’ve had a coffee habit for a while and drink several cups a day, you may want to wean yourself off slowly. Try to cut out one or two cups, or switch to a half-caffeinated, half-decaf option. You may still experience slight headaches, but know that it's your body detoxing itself, and the headaches will pass.
I once had a personal training client who went from drinking four venti cups of Starbucks coffee with four packets of sugar and three creamers a day to two small cups of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee (less burnt and bitter-tasting) with one packet of sugar and one creamer. During that first month, she shed 8 lbs. Granted, you will lose weight by removing the sugar and cream alone, but less caffeine certainly accounted for a part of that loss. Now that’s progress!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: MICHAEL MOODY, PERSONAL TRAINER
As an author, a personal trainer in Denver, and podcast host, Michael Moody has helped personal training clients achieve new fitness heights and incredible weight loss transformations since 2005. He also produces the wellness podcast "The Elements of Being" and has been featured on NBC, WGN Radio, and PBS.
Michael offers personal training to Denver residents who want to meet at the 2460 W 26th Ave studio….or in their homes throughout LoHi (80206), LoDo (80202), RiNo (80216), Washington Park (80209), Cherry Creek (80206, 80209, 80243, 80246, 80231), and Highlands (80202, 80211, 80212). Michael also offers experiences with a personal trainer in Jefferson Park (80211) and Sloan's Lake (80204, 80212).
