Fighting the addiction to caffeine
Discussion
Nothing special but im fighting my addicition to caffeine. Would wake up and have to drink diet coke straight away, bottle beside the bed at all times, would drink 4l of the stuff per day to stop me getting horrific head aches. Add on top of this coffee and energy drinks some days it just wasnt good.
On day 2 of going cold turkey and just drinking water, still laying in bed without the energy to get up, splitting head ache and keep falling asleep.
Im 21, been drinking diet coke every day since I was 15 so my body is very dependant on caffeine. Decided it had become too much when I was starting to buy 8l of coke and it would last 2 days maximum.
On day 2 of going cold turkey and just drinking water, still laying in bed without the energy to get up, splitting head ache and keep falling asleep.
Im 21, been drinking diet coke every day since I was 15 so my body is very dependant on caffeine. Decided it had become too much when I was starting to buy 8l of coke and it would last 2 days maximum.
Many years ago, my brother and I would drink coffee non-stop until the point where I had the shakes.
I cut it down, but I had enough of waking up feeling terrible, and the only thing that would put it right being coffee.
I had a thought that perhaps it was the coffee making me feel rubbish in a morning in the first place, so decided to give it up.
Must admit I never knew what such a powerful drug caffeine is until then. I was the same as you OP, headaches and lack of concentration and also bad hangovers even if I only had 2 pints the night before.
It was horrible. I stayed off it a few weeks and it got much better. I have coffee again now, but only a couple of cups during the day and non after about 5pm.
I have struck a balance now that works for me, but you have my sympathy OP.
I cut it down, but I had enough of waking up feeling terrible, and the only thing that would put it right being coffee.
I had a thought that perhaps it was the coffee making me feel rubbish in a morning in the first place, so decided to give it up.
Must admit I never knew what such a powerful drug caffeine is until then. I was the same as you OP, headaches and lack of concentration and also bad hangovers even if I only had 2 pints the night before.
It was horrible. I stayed off it a few weeks and it got much better. I have coffee again now, but only a couple of cups during the day and non after about 5pm.
I have struck a balance now that works for me, but you have my sympathy OP.
I've done the same in the past (though back on 1 cup of coffee a day now). I was drinking 6-7 cups a day so slowly dropped it down, one week it was max 6 cups a day, next 5 etc. etc. Stopping the last cup is hard work but you do realise just how badly caffeine effects you.
This wiki page is really interesting - if the spiders efforts are anything to go by it shows how badly we perform on caffeine!
This wiki page is really interesting - if the spiders efforts are anything to go by it shows how badly we perform on caffeine!
I've done similar in the past; I'm 38 and went cold turkey 5 months ago - like the OP drinking around 3-4 (sometimes more) litres of Cherry Coke a day. I've been doing that for as long as I can remember, early/mid 20s.
Last year I decided to drop some weight and gave up fizzy drinks as part of that. I don't generally drink tea or coffee anyway, so just switched to water. Thankfully I didn't suffer with any cravings, but did feel extremely tired/worn down for a couple of weeks.
Several months down the line I tried some Cherry Coke again and I didn't particularly like the taste any more. Hang in there
Last year I decided to drop some weight and gave up fizzy drinks as part of that. I don't generally drink tea or coffee anyway, so just switched to water. Thankfully I didn't suffer with any cravings, but did feel extremely tired/worn down for a couple of weeks.
Several months down the line I tried some Cherry Coke again and I didn't particularly like the taste any more. Hang in there
I did the same a few years back, realised I was knocking back far too much caffeine and cut right back. Mine wasn't so much in things like Diet Coke but I was drinking far too much coffee and tea. It's surprising how much caffeine there is in tea! I'd often have 8-10 cups a day of one or the other.
Now I have a (decent) coffee in the morning which I take in to work in a thermos-type mug and I have a cup of tea around half three then that's it. The first thing I chug in the morning is a pint of water with a Berocca in it though, I find that sets me up far better for the day than anything else and I'll have a bottle of water with lunch. In the evenings I'll stick with water, just had a pint with ice!
I stopped smoking just over 5 years ago and cut out booze completely about 6 months after that and have felt much better for it overall. A recent blood test showed all my levels are where they're meant to be with the exception of vitamin D3 - mainly because I don't eat any fish or fortified dairy. I take a vit D3 supplement daily and feel really good.
Cut out the booze as well if you're a drinker, you'll be amazed at how sluggish it made you the following day!
Now I have a (decent) coffee in the morning which I take in to work in a thermos-type mug and I have a cup of tea around half three then that's it. The first thing I chug in the morning is a pint of water with a Berocca in it though, I find that sets me up far better for the day than anything else and I'll have a bottle of water with lunch. In the evenings I'll stick with water, just had a pint with ice!
I stopped smoking just over 5 years ago and cut out booze completely about 6 months after that and have felt much better for it overall. A recent blood test showed all my levels are where they're meant to be with the exception of vitamin D3 - mainly because I don't eat any fish or fortified dairy. I take a vit D3 supplement daily and feel really good.
Cut out the booze as well if you're a drinker, you'll be amazed at how sluggish it made you the following day!
el stovey said:
Why's everyone's trying to cut back on caffeine, caffeine is great for you. It makes you feel great it prepares you for action, it reduces the risk of a great many diseases and conditions.
The only drawback is it affects sleep patterns as it has a half life of about three hours.
I was waking up having to have caffeine, I couldnt function without it. Didnt make me feel great, just returned me to "normal".The only drawback is it affects sleep patterns as it has a half life of about three hours.
Slow said:
el stovey said:
Why's everyone's trying to cut back on caffeine, caffeine is great for you. It makes you feel great it prepares you for action, it reduces the risk of a great many diseases and conditions.
The only drawback is it affects sleep patterns as it has a half life of about three hours.
I was waking up having to have caffeine, I couldnt function without it. Didnt make me feel great, just returned me to "normal".The only drawback is it affects sleep patterns as it has a half life of about three hours.
el stovey said:
Slow said:
el stovey said:
Why's everyone's trying to cut back on caffeine, caffeine is great for you. It makes you feel great it prepares you for action, it reduces the risk of a great many diseases and conditions.
The only drawback is it affects sleep patterns as it has a half life of about three hours.
I was waking up having to have caffeine, I couldnt function without it. Didnt make me feel great, just returned me to "normal".The only drawback is it affects sleep patterns as it has a half life of about three hours.
Slow said:
el stovey said:
Slow said:
el stovey said:
Why's everyone's trying to cut back on caffeine, caffeine is great for you. It makes you feel great it prepares you for action, it reduces the risk of a great many diseases and conditions.
The only drawback is it affects sleep patterns as it has a half life of about three hours.
I was waking up having to have caffeine, I couldnt function without it. Didnt make me feel great, just returned me to "normal".The only drawback is it affects sleep patterns as it has a half life of about three hours.
el stovey said:
Slow said:
el stovey said:
Slow said:
el stovey said:
Why's everyone's trying to cut back on caffeine, caffeine is great for you. It makes you feel great it prepares you for action, it reduces the risk of a great many diseases and conditions.
The only drawback is it affects sleep patterns as it has a half life of about three hours.
I was waking up having to have caffeine, I couldnt function without it. Didnt make me feel great, just returned me to "normal".The only drawback is it affects sleep patterns as it has a half life of about three hours.
Quitting caffeine was the best thing I ever did, health-wise.
Totally levelled me out - no peaks and troughs in energy, mentally I am better and I'm no longer peeing like a racehorse every day.
Wean yourself off it, rather than going cold turkey, if you're struggling - but be disciplined with the weaning.
Totally levelled me out - no peaks and troughs in energy, mentally I am better and I'm no longer peeing like a racehorse every day.
Wean yourself off it, rather than going cold turkey, if you're struggling - but be disciplined with the weaning.
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