patrick.net

So I do elliptical every day - 35 minutes total, 2 warm up, two cool down, and then 31 minutes of high intensity interval training - 16 high intensity intervals interspersed with 15 low intensity intervals. I use a fitbit to track my heart rate. Usually burn between 400-500 calories, and my max heart rate is for a few younger age groups - its a good way to die.

Anyway I have become a big fan of Starbucks instant coffee. Comes in a small cylindrical tin and makes a surprisingly good cup of coffee. I mothballed my Moccamaster coffee machine as I stopped routinely drinking coffee. Used to drink an entire pot a day. Got a bean grinder and fixated on Costco/Starbucks beans. Now, I’ll have a cup of instant when the mood strikes me, or if I require it to be alert for business purposes.

I had two large cups of the instant coffee today and then later hit the elliptical. My average elliptical high intensity interval pace was a lot higher than without caffeine. Plus I got a huge post workout endorphin high afterwards, much moreso than usual.

Caffeine and cardio - there must be studies showing a benefit.

Obligatory:

A recurring elliptical pattern: I do 40 minutes of elliptical every day now. 1-2 minutes of warmup and 1-2 minutes of cool down. But between that, 1 minute high intensity, one minute low intensity, one minute high intensity, etc. So a total of 18-19 high intensity intervals interspersed with 18-19 low intensity rest intervals. The first 5-6 of high intensity intervals, my HR gets jacked to around 165-168 bpm, but for the remainder of the high intensity intervals, it settles down 110-115, even though the resistance and elevation settings are the same. I am looking for a physiological explanation for this. Does anyone have any ideas?

I should be playing tennis instead.

Uh what were you saying? Sorry, I got distracted.

Al_Sharpton_for_President says

The first 5-6 of high intensity intervals, my HR gets jacked to around 165-168 bpm, but for the remainder of the high intensity intervals, it settles down 110-115, even though the resistance and elevation settings are the same. I am looking for a physiological explanation for this. Does anyone have any ideas?

@Al_Sharpton_for_President

I've noticed similar things myself, and I remember from biochem that hemoglobin has multiple possible states and moves between them based on blood acidity iirc.

So it could be that when you start working out, your hemoglobin is in some state that doesn't bind oxygen as well, requiring a greater heart rate. But then later after you've been working out, you've altered your hemoglobin so that it binds oxygen better and your heart doesn't need to pump as much.

Or something like that. Basically, you've "warmed up".

Al_Sharpton_for_President says

Caffeine and cardio - there must be studies showing a benefit.

I had a co-worker who was a semi-pro biker (sometimes won prize money). He swore that he had consistently better times if he was amped up on caffeine.

All I can think about in this thread is fleshlights. I have to keep going back to the beginning to realize its nominally about jogging shoes.

The girl at the top reminds me of one of my neices. She's half white and half spanish. Very attractive.

Patrick says

I had a co-worker who was a semi-pro biker (sometimes won prize money). He swore that he had consistently better times if he was amped up on caffeine.

Yeah.... Caffine ;) That's what did it.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doping_at_the_Tour_de_France

That's just the big race. They all do drugs. Bikers are weirdos. As weird as it sounds I don't trust them as humans. The people I know that bike frequently are all proven liars.

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Oh lord. Where do you find these? I want to bookmark that site.