How much coffee do you drink?
Discussion
DoubleSix said:
The smell of instant coffee on someones breath actually makes me gag. Vile, utterly disgusting stuff, Mrs is banned from drinking it or I wont go near her...
Prior to living in California for three years I'd generally drink instant. Now I have to admit to being a bit of a coffee snob and will only drink ground coffee. When I am fooled into drinking instant (e.g., hotels, restaurants that put it into a French press - curse them!!!), I literally have to spit it back into the cup!I gave up caffeine a little over 3 years ago and now I won't be going back.
I was drinking ~3 strong (bean grinding / milk frothing coffee machine) coffees a day at work along with 1 or 2 energy drinks at lunchtime.
Once my daughter was born I couldn't regulate my sleep properly drinking coffee in the day then waking randomly several times overnight. I wouldn't be able to focus / concentrate in the morning no matter how much coffee I drank so I went cold turkey in the hope that I would be able to achieve better quality sleep and salvage some of my mind.
The withdrawal was really, really bad - pounding headaches several times a day at times when my brain was conditioned to expect a caffeine hit. This lasted a full week before letting up.
Sleep was completely different, I couldn't much keep my eyes open after 9:30pm and for a while my brain wanted 10 hours a night (now I get about 7.5 which is fine)
My concentration was back though - I had a clarity I hadn't had before in my adult life. I was wide awake in the mornings and I could read without my eyes rolling back in my head involuntarily as I lost focus.
My memory is VASTLY better. it's like I've found something that I'd lost. for a few months after giving up caffeine I would have these odd daydreams where I would remember things from my youth in such astounding vivid detail. That bit was awesome. Now day-to-day I am much better at taking in detail.
The other odd side effect was that my enthusiasm for certain activities dropped off - I used to be really into drag racing for example but now I'm a bit take-it-or-leave-it and I don't obsess over some other things in the same way as I used to but I have acquired new interests and hobbies too.
as an aside, a couple of times over the last few years I've had to lose weight for various reasons. In 2005 I lost about 60lbs over 6 months at the time I thought I was able to maintain the diet because I had coffee as a prop. Right now I'm dieting again. Initially I was worried that without caffeine I wouldn't manage but so far so good and I've already lost over 2 stone.
I would recommend anyone to trial giving up caffeine to see if it suits them. In general I am a much happier person without it, stable moods, less anxiety, better rested, more rational etc etc.
I was drinking ~3 strong (bean grinding / milk frothing coffee machine) coffees a day at work along with 1 or 2 energy drinks at lunchtime.
Once my daughter was born I couldn't regulate my sleep properly drinking coffee in the day then waking randomly several times overnight. I wouldn't be able to focus / concentrate in the morning no matter how much coffee I drank so I went cold turkey in the hope that I would be able to achieve better quality sleep and salvage some of my mind.
The withdrawal was really, really bad - pounding headaches several times a day at times when my brain was conditioned to expect a caffeine hit. This lasted a full week before letting up.
Sleep was completely different, I couldn't much keep my eyes open after 9:30pm and for a while my brain wanted 10 hours a night (now I get about 7.5 which is fine)
My concentration was back though - I had a clarity I hadn't had before in my adult life. I was wide awake in the mornings and I could read without my eyes rolling back in my head involuntarily as I lost focus.
My memory is VASTLY better. it's like I've found something that I'd lost. for a few months after giving up caffeine I would have these odd daydreams where I would remember things from my youth in such astounding vivid detail. That bit was awesome. Now day-to-day I am much better at taking in detail.
The other odd side effect was that my enthusiasm for certain activities dropped off - I used to be really into drag racing for example but now I'm a bit take-it-or-leave-it and I don't obsess over some other things in the same way as I used to but I have acquired new interests and hobbies too.
as an aside, a couple of times over the last few years I've had to lose weight for various reasons. In 2005 I lost about 60lbs over 6 months at the time I thought I was able to maintain the diet because I had coffee as a prop. Right now I'm dieting again. Initially I was worried that without caffeine I wouldn't manage but so far so good and I've already lost over 2 stone.
I would recommend anyone to trial giving up caffeine to see if it suits them. In general I am a much happier person without it, stable moods, less anxiety, better rested, more rational etc etc.
I relate to the frustration of long coffee queues with folk in front of you buying some nonsensically complex 'coffee' drink!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozpkzjl-oCU
I get through about 1 coffee an hour, especially at work.
Usually instant, and pretty strong - 2 tea spoons.
Im highly dependant, without it my mood is not great
Oh and if somebody makes me a coffee, it usually means I'm overdue, and they want to calm me back down!
And on particular bad days, i alternate between coffee and Kx every half hour.
= 
Usually instant, and pretty strong - 2 tea spoons.
Im highly dependant, without it my mood is not great
Oh and if somebody makes me a coffee, it usually means I'm overdue, and they want to calm me back down!
And on particular bad days, i alternate between coffee and Kx every half hour.
= R1 Indy said:
I get through about 1 coffee an hour, especially at work.
Usually instant, and pretty strong - 2 tea spoons.
Im highly dependant, without it my mood is not great
Oh and if somebody makes me a coffee, it usually means I'm overdue, and they want to calm me back down!
And on particular bad days, i alternate between coffee and Kx every half hour.
=
"Get me a coffee and no-one gets hurt"Usually instant, and pretty strong - 2 tea spoons.
Im highly dependant, without it my mood is not great
Oh and if somebody makes me a coffee, it usually means I'm overdue, and they want to calm me back down!
And on particular bad days, i alternate between coffee and Kx every half hour.
= 
I'm in the first week of being caffeine free, I suffered a few headaches and nausea but these went after 2 days.The main effect i'm feeling is tiredness, with not being at work this week I find settling down with a book makes me feel like having a nap.
I realised i'd need to find an alternative and after a false start when switching to green tea (it contains caffeine) i'm now drinking Barleycup.I find this an adequate substitution to instant but nowhere near a good fresh ground cup.
I plan on going caffeine free for a month more as an experiment than anything, i'll let you know my findings.
I realised i'd need to find an alternative and after a false start when switching to green tea (it contains caffeine) i'm now drinking Barleycup.I find this an adequate substitution to instant but nowhere near a good fresh ground cup.
I plan on going caffeine free for a month more as an experiment than anything, i'll let you know my findings.
Opara said:
I'm in the first week of being caffeine free, I suffered a few headaches and nausea but these went after 2 days.The main effect i'm feeling is tiredness, with not being at work this week I find settling down with a book makes me feel like having a nap.
I realised i'd need to find an alternative and after a false start when switching to green tea (it contains caffeine) i'm now drinking Barleycup.I find this an adequate substitution to instant but nowhere near a good fresh ground cup.
I plan on going caffeine free for a month more as an experiment than anything, i'll let you know my findings.
What caused you to decide to cut caffeine out?I realised i'd need to find an alternative and after a false start when switching to green tea (it contains caffeine) i'm now drinking Barleycup.I find this an adequate substitution to instant but nowhere near a good fresh ground cup.
I plan on going caffeine free for a month more as an experiment than anything, i'll let you know my findings.
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