Greetings from the chaos-laden corridors of Calgary airport, as I emerge from the wilderness ready to be tamed by the forces of civilization once again.

After an epic weekend in the wilds, shacked up in a teepee with the Special Forces Experience crew, I’m back and jittery, like a caffeine-deprived chipmunk on a bender. More on that coming up....

Yes, Canada does indeed march to a different drummer from the fever dream of jagged peaks and forested whispers known as the Canadian Rockies to Cheezies, the maple leaf, moose riding local riff on CheeToes. I found the Cheeses dangerously addictive as I dared not bring any back, fearing they’d evaporate before I hit the border.

Speaking of additive things, back to my caffeine tales here as I decided to plunge headfirst into a caffeine fast.

Five days without the dark nectar of life.

A madness, you say?

Perhaps.

But as a disciple of all things black—death metal, black coffee, dark t-shirts, and the inky abyss of a dark stout beer—it was a challenge I accepted with manic glee.

You might wonder,
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“Why the hell would anyone do this? Has Dr. Mike lost his mind?”
​
Maybe.

But first, let me assure you, I’m no anti-coffee crusader.

Coffee isn’t the devil unless you’re swigging it by the potful, not the cup. If you want to plunge into the depths of coffee’s risks, check out this article where I went balls-deep into the subject:

>> Coffee Is Not Bad <<

My main aim for this caffeine hiatus was to tune into my body’s natural rhythms, especially since I was about to forsake screens and modernity for three whole days.

As a data fiend, I’m into all kinds of crazy self-monitoring—HRV every morning, sleep tracking with Oura, and dabbling with everything from OmegaWave to MOXY. I even have a full metabolic cart at home for mad scientist experiments. But daily, it’s mostly HRV via Ithlete and Oura.

So, why no caffeine?

Here’s a crash course:

Caffeine is an adenosine antagonist. When you gulp your morning joe or snort your favorite pre-workout of a rusty DB (don’t actually do that), caffeine hits your bloodstream in about 30-60 minutes.

It then zips to your brain, latching onto adenosine receptors. Now you’re a spazzed out squirrel on rocket fuel.

“But Dr. Nerd, what’s adenosine?” Glad you asked.

Adenosine builds up in your brain as you burn energy throughout the day, making you feel sleepy as it accumulates. In the morning, you’re low on adenosine; by evening, you’re swimming in it.

Enter caffeine, the blocker of sleepiness, letting you cruise through your day without the drowsy drag. Think of caffeine as the cock-blocker of adenosine.

This is fabulous if you need to stay awake but lousy if you’re aiming to sleep.

I noticed my caffeine consumption creeping up, insidiously ambushing my system. So, once a year, I go cold turkey—a week without the devil’s brew. No tea, no coffee, no energy drinks, no pre-workouts. Zero fun. Sounds ghastly, doesn’t it?

Each time I do this, I’m reminded of the basics: more sleep, more movement, less cramming work into a single day. It’s too easy to reach for that afternoon coffee to push through.

So, this time, I started my decaf journey on a Thursday afternoon as it was perfect timing for an outdoor escapade and a couple of Kambo ceremonies during this weekend too—thanks, Jess.

If you haven’t weaned off caffeine in ages, give it a go.

Gradually taper your intake, and then abstain for a few days.

See what revelations about your recovery and training emerge.

I promise, you’ll learn something valuable to bring back to your caffeinated routine, which I dove back into this AM.

Hit me up with your experiences.

Your decaf-drenched guide,

Dr. Mike

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Mike T Nelson CISSN, CSCS, MSME, PhD
Associate Professor, Carrick Institute
Owner, Extreme Human Performance, LLC
Editorial Board Member, STRONG Fitness Mag

Mike T Nelson is a PhD and not a physician or registered dietitian. The contents of this email should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem - nor is it intended to replace the advice of a physician. Always consult your physician or qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health.

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