I found this interesting study of the impact of caffeine on restoration of glycogen stores. Interesting!

http://m.usatriathlon.org/about-multisport/multisport-zone/fuel-station/articles/post-workout-caffeine-consumption-recovery-tips-100510.aspx

I am a strong supporter of using caffeine as a tool for better and more effective workouts. Using caffeine to aid in the recovery process is counter to what I thought I knew about caffeine after working out.

Dang fiddle, I typed a long response to this and the website crashed and lost it. Lets see if I can remember everything.

Very interesting. I see alot of runners at races downing coffee pre race. But never post race. I suspect if they knew of this study they certainly would be drinking it by the camelbak full.

I do have a couple of concerns. First is this experiment was done on highly trained triathletes. I dare say their physiology is different than most people here on the forum....especially their sugar burning capabilities. The increased blood glucose and insulin would worry me....being insulin resistant.

Second, the amount of caffeine was extreme, and I wonder what affect that much caffeine would have over someone who is more caffeine sensitive....and on a regular basis (as opposed to the one time trial they did in that study). I am not terribly sensitive to caffeine but my wife is extremely sensitive. One cup of coffee in the afternoon will keep her up all night. I suspect if she took the amount of caffeine they discussed in the trial, and on a regular basis, she'd suffer from chronic lack of sleep which would likely lead to fatigue and possible increased hunger (doesn't fatigue make alot of us hungry?). I wonder if the fatigue and extra eating would negate any gains from the glycogen storage advantage. I have no idea, just thinking out loud and suggesting that maybe that study isn't completely definitive.

Do you see crossfitters drinking coffee post workout?

On another note, I had an interesting conversation with a guy the other day, who insisted runners could not run without carbs ....that we needed to intake and burn so many calories an hour. He also does crossfit and I asked him which burned more calories....an hour of running or an hour of crossfit. He said crossfit....to which I said "aren't most crossfitters eating paleo or something similar?"

I thought I made a pretty good point.

Thanks for the response BTB. Always thoughtful and honest. I am not sure I buy into this study myself. It sounds too good to be true and consuming that much caffeine (500-600 mg) post workout on a regular basis seems like a problem.