A Post-Workout Jolt

Conventional wisdom says that water is the best post-workout drink, but it's no secret that I don't love it. My drink of choice after getting sweaty? Coffee. During my entire year as Shape magazine's Weight-Loss Diary columnist, I'd drive directly from the gym to the nearest Dunkin Donuts for a big coffee -- hot in the winter, iced on warmer days. I developed a warm and fuzzy relationship with the server at the drive-thru.

I started to wonder if it was some kind of Pavlovian response. You know, whenever I saw the inside of that gym my mind would say, "Coffee time!" But now I've ruled that out -- I no longer work out at the same gym, but I still crave a cup o' joe after my workout. That's why a recent study caught me eye; the authors contend that ingesting caffeine after a workout helps your muscles refuel.

In case you haven't noticed, I'm always looking to science to justify my bad habits.

Of course, coffee's not all bad. Caffeine does help keep you mentally sharp and it's been found to have other benefits as well. I have to wonder, though, if I'm not un-doing all my good calorie-burning cardio by drinking my coffee extra light.

Comments

[Sagan]

That's really neat! My drink of choice is milk after a workout. But pretty much all other times of the day its tea (mmm caffeine:)).

[Alyssa]

I think that, if having a cuppa after your workout, even with the cream and sugar or what have you, makes you feel good, go for it! It's not like you're going out and scarfing down an entire banana cream pie, lol!

[Melissa Kirdzik]

A recent study shows relaxing effects from the smell of coffee...hmmm