Quitting Coffee Support Thread?

[PoetryLover]

I would love to quit drinking coffee! I quit once years ago, but got back into the habit, unfortunately.

Please post your steps to achieving your goal: cold turkey, cutting back gradually, replacing coffee with tea, etc.

I think I may cut back to one cup of coffee in the morning, instead of 2. Then I will replace the cup of coffee with caffeinated tea, which has significantly less caffeine.

What do you plan to have as a rejuvenation drink in the morning, other than coffee?

I'm thinking maybe hot water with lemon, followed by an herbal tea and/or maybe a green smoothie.

Please join me so we can support each other!

[ollyoxenfree]

Occasionally, I have quit all caffeine - coffee and tea, really, since I rarely drink carbonated drinks. I go cold turkey and endure the withdrawal symptoms. I get wicked headaches and even an achy, flu-like feeling. Depending on how heavy my caffeine habit was, I usually recover in 1 to 3 days. Drinking lots of fluids helps. Hot water with lemon is a good substitute. I'm not fond of a lot of herbal teas, so that option is a little more hit and miss. That's really individual though. If you are okay with dairy, then I like a mug of warmed milk with vanilla and bit of sugar as a comfort drink when I'm feeling chilled.

Good luck with quitting.

[mommathea]

I keep flirting with the idea of quitting coffee. I hate the idea that I'm addicted to something. My 2 addictions being coffee and the computer.
Every time I get about half way through a container of coffee I tell myself that this is my last and I won't buy more, but each time I do.

[PoetryLover]

I hate being addicted, as well. Also, drinking coffee keeps me from drinking enough water. I tend to nurse my morning coffees. I could just be drinking healthier things.

Plus, I'm nursing--and DS hasn't been napping well lately. I'm wondering if caffeine is the culprit.

[mommathea]

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Edited by mommathea - 5/11/11 at 1:08pm

[PoetryLover]

Originally Posted by mommathea

I have found that also, the more coffee I drink, the less water I drink, then I feel horrible from being dehydrated, and then I go for more coffee for the comfort of it

I feel like I need a good kick in the backside.

This is EXACTLY how I am and why I just want to quit coffee altogether.

[ollyoxenfree]

Originally Posted by PoetryLover

Plus, I'm nursing--and DS hasn't been napping well lately. I'm wondering if caffeine is the culprit.

That's a great motivator. If you're trying to change a behaviour, it's good to have an obvious reward.

Originally Posted by mommathea

I have found that also, the more coffee I drink, the less water I drink, then I feel horrible from being dehydrated, and then I go for more coffee for the comfort of it

Recognizing these kinds of vicious cycles is important for me when I'm trying to break a habit. The drink caffeine/dehydrate/drink more caffeine is one that I've dealt with before. Another caffeine-related one is fatigue. I'm tired so I drink some coffee to perk up, but if I drink too much it interferes with my sleep patterns, which are lousy to begin with.

I think I've reached a pretty good equilibrium with my coffee/tea intake (morning cup of coffee, and sometimes a cup of tea in the afternoon and/or evening), so I'm happy now. I wouldn't be surprised if I feel a need to quit entirely again at some point.

Another nice motivator is the realization that coffee and tea products both usually involve big food miles and carbon emissions, and often unfair trade practices.

[PoetryLover]

Originally Posted by ollyoxenfree

Another caffeine-related one is fatigue. I'm tired so I drink some coffee to perk up, but if I drink too much it interferes with my sleep patterns, which are lousy to begin with.

Another nice motivator is the realization that coffee and tea products both usually involve big food miles and carbon emissions, and often unfair trade practices.

I hadn't considered the effect coffee has on MY sleep patterns. Also, I am aware of unfair trade practices, but I hadn't considered these things as motivation to quit coffee. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[ollyoxenfree]

Once I realized how much I was using coffee because I was tired or bored, I found other ways to deal with fatigue or break the monotony. If I'm dehydrated I fatigue quickly, so chilled water is a good coffee substitute. A little exercise, like a quick walk, or even some deep breathing and stretching exercises, helps a lot. Even just changing scenery - instead of working at my desk, I might move to the kitchen table or outside if the weather is nice. Anything except that automatic reach for the coffee pot.

[koru]

When I quit (about 15 years ago!) I went cold turkey. I had a non-stop headache for about 3 days & that was it. It wasn't even that debilitating...just nagging. I switched to decaf for a while (water processed is chemical-free) but now I drink mostly herbal teas & Teeccino. I highly recommend Teeccino!

http://teeccino.com/

I don't really need a pick-me up in the morning but a mate might do that for you. I've never really noticed any energizing effects from drinking it but supposedly it does. Worth a try!

Good luck, mama! I never regret breaking my addiction to caffeine!

[julie80]

This was a hard one for me too. I can't remember the name of it but I tried using a non-caffeinated coffee flavor tea (comes looking just like coffee grounds and you brew it just like coffee in the pot) but for some reason I couldn't drink it. But it might have just been me so it could be something to consider.

And yes, I had a headache for about a week and felt horrible but honestly now that I quit I can say that I do feel better without it.

[PoetryLover]

Thanks for the support! I'm planning to quit coffee on Tuesday. (I have Quaker Meeting on Sunday AM and an early Monday appointment--and I have been so tired lately as is!) Tuesday I plan to have lemon water, followed by a caffeinated tea. I thought this would be best as there is significantly less caffeine in tea. Maybe having a small amount of caffeine will keep me from getting the dreaded headache. I'll wean myself that way. LOL

The teeccino looks very interesting. Thanks for the link!