Ever wonder why the 2pm slump hits even on “good” sleep? We pull apart the caffeine loop—from the adenosine blockade that masks true fatigue to the half-life math that keeps stray milligrams humming along when you’re trying to drift off. Larry and Daniel get honest about intake, tolerance, a hospital scare that prompted a rethink, and the simple shifts that return your edge without taxing your nervous system.

We break down smart protocols: how to time caffeine 30 to 90 minutes before training so the peak lands when you need it, why evening lifters should consider non-stim pre-workouts if they care about recovery, and how vasoconstriction can blunt the pump you’re chasing. You’ll hear practical tactics for reducing reliance—decaf that actually tastes good, half-caff as a bridge, and short deloads that lower resting heart rate, calm reactivity, and resensitise receptors so smaller doses work again. We also touch digestion, hunger blunting during a deficit, and the pitfalls of masking low fibre or hydration with another flat white.

For students and deep workers, we connect caffeine timing to memory consolidation and REM quality, showing how a casual afternoon coffee can quietly tax recall the next day. If jitters are your sticking point, we explain when a modest dose of L-theanine can help, and where it crosses into papering over a problem. Across the board, the theme stays clear: use caffeine as a tool, not a crutch. Know your cut-off, track your total from hidden sources like tea, chocolate, energy drinks, and pre-workouts, and match the dose to the job.

If this chat helps you rethink your ritual, share it with a mate who lives by the long black, hit follow for more practical health and training breakdowns, and leave a quick review to tell us your cut-off time.

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Larry IG https://www.instagram.com/larry_doyle_coaching
Daniel IG https://www.instagram.com/danieldalycoaching
Website https://www.larrydoylecoaching.ie
Coaching with us https://www.larrydoylecoaching.ie/1-1-premium/
Email : [email protected]