I am a HS track coach and the staff and I really try and promote the zone diet to our athletes. We have had great success with it thus far and I feel our athletes have bought in as well (9 indoor all americans and 5 national champions). However, I have run into a bit of a problem. More than once I have heard mention of a "chocolate milk" diet in which the athlete would drink chocolate milk as a recovery drink. I may not understand the zone as well as some but this seems kind of wrong. I would think the sugar of the chocolate milk would increase the insuline responce and limit the amount of cellular repair. Also, would this lead to AA and bad eicostiniod production? Any input on how to explain why this is bad for them would be great. Also, if I'm wrong here please don't hesitate to tell prove me otherwise.
Thanks!

Tom, there was a discussion a year or so back on the "recovery" drink or meal. Apparently, the theory was that this recovery drink/meal would be timed in an appropriate manner so as to give a rise to insulin at the time that the muscle tissues needed it, to enhance growth and/or repair.

I don't know much more than that about it, but I remember this discussion from the Athletic threads.

I know that the practice of the high sugar recovery meal is not going to keep anyone in the Zone, and it is difficult to stay in the Zone if one is not going to consistently practice it. So, I would take it from the angle of performance. These kids are not interested in inflammation, AA, eicosanoids. They are interested in performance. If they are performing well in the Zone, they won't want to take themselves out of the Zone by having a high sugar recovery meal.