Caffeine or No Caffeine?

SHAME ON ALL OF YOU....COFFEE (I'm from the South, that's how we like our caffeine) IS LIQUID GARBAGE! I can't believe that a group of people who claim to be so health conscious would put that trash in their bodies. Bad people, bad!

Coffee's probably my worst nutritional habit. Drink it all day long at work, so I'm probably immune to the caffeine. Has been shown to increase performance, though, but not for habitual users like myself.

The minor performance boost that I would get by avoiding caffeine for a few weeks before a race and then having some for the race wouldn't be anywhere near worth it to me.

When I give up coffee for triathlon that's when I'll know I've gone completely around the bend.

As the bear said on the soda thread

"Everything in moderation, people. A diet soda or two a day is not going to kill you. Are there better things to drink? Of course. But there are a lot of worse things for you to spend your worrying time on."

So everything in moderation. Coffee, soda, beer, everything... Even exercise!

Edited by amiine 2005-04-22 1:29 PM

Without coffee I would probably fall asleep during a race

I began drinking coffe shortly after college and got up to 3 or 4 or more a day--all before noon.  But I simply decided I didn't really like that feeling that I "needed" a cup o' joe.  So earlier this year I just decided to stop.  Was hard for about 3 or 4 days.  But now, no problem.  I still have a cup now and then on the weekend, but that's it.  Maybe those caffienated gels will help me now!

Really, I don't think its among the worst habits in the world so I wouldn't worry too much about it--but I'm also glad I don't need it anymore.

waskelton - 2005-04-22 11:56 AM Bear.. It's only liquid garbage when you put that Chicory crap in it like ya'll down there in cajun country like to. Yuck.. makes me bowels unhappy ws

That chicory crap is used down New Orleans way. Out here in (real) Cajun Country it's 100% Community Dark Roast. I was weened on that stuff.

Chicory's more of a Creole thing than Cajun. We'll take credit for the rest.

Everything I know I learned from bumper stickers, so that's it! I'm swearing off garbage, liquid and solid. Never realized that stuff could kill.

I quite caffeine almost a year ago and don't miss it at all.  Feel better without it.

If you think it's not doing much to your body, go a week without it and watch your body scream!

When I was in college, it was not unusual for me to down 2-3 POTS of coffee a day and think nothing of it, not to mention all the Cokes and Pepsi's I'd down out on campus. Of course, I was 18-19 years old and in GREAT shape, so the body could take it.

I cut WAY down on my caffeine intake a few years back, and honestly haven't missed it. There are still a few days where I may need a cup of coffee or two to get me going (usually an hour or so AFTER my workout, if you can believe that. I get up at 4:45am to workout), and like I said before, I may have a can of soda in the afternoon, but for the most part, caffeine is a thing of the past for me.

Not trying to toot my own horn, mind you. Just curious how other people viewed it - whether it was a necessity or not. It's been interesting.

There have been studies done that show an initial dose of caffene equal to about 1 cup of coffee increases endurance.  I'll ask my coach for the reference, he told me about it.