Caffeine, I Miss You
tristen_leigh
Posts: 214 Member
So, I gave up my several cups of coffee a day habit two months ago... but I'm having a hard time kicking caffeine all together. Not sure if it's just a mental thing but I still "need" my tea in the morning and sometimes another tea later in the day.
I know that caffeine isn't "bad" but I'd love to hear some suggestions for alternatives. I'm about to start training for long distance running again and I would love a non-coffee/Redbull/stimulate energy boost if such a thing exists.
I know that caffeine isn't "bad" but I'd love to hear some suggestions for alternatives. I'm about to start training for long distance running again and I would love a non-coffee/Redbull/stimulate energy boost if such a thing exists.
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Herbal coffee substitutes exist. I used to drink teeccino... it kinda tasted like coffee but I can't really remember. I don't think it's supposed to have any sort of stimulating effect though, but just gives you something nice and warm to drink when you would usually have a cuppa.
I'm back to drinking real coffee now.0 -
Why give up something you know isn't bad?
Drink decaf?0 -
Looking for the same thing also for energy and I am just used to the habit of having something warm to sip on. I've quit coffee about 10 times now and I always end up going back to it. I am trying to stick to decaf now but ideally would like to not drink coffee at all, haven't found a good enough replacement yet.0
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But why?0
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But coffee is nice exactly because it gives you an energy boost. So why replace it with something else that gives you an energy boost - what would be the difference?0
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I drink approx. 14 cups a day.
Not going to give up coffee evaaaa!
why?
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I switched to 1/2 caff in the morning and decaf later in the day.0
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Personally for me, I don't think caffeine agrees with me. I've seen health improvements after quitting and feel like I can think clearer. I know this doesn't apply to everyone, and I am very envious of those who don't have any negative side effects with caffeine. I have a weird relationship with coffee, love the taste, love the energy it gives me, but soon after it makes me feel like crap.But why?
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Why give up something you know isn't bad?
Drink decaf?
I've had a couple cups on occasion since giving it up - I'm definitely not anti-coffee. I feel like it didn't do anything for me anymore unless I had some kind of triple espresso. And I still had a crash mid-morning and mid-afternoon. My energy is much more steady now.
Also, the first time I had a cup of coffee after not drinking it for a month, it was the the clouds opened up and angels sang. I felt what people who don't drink it all day everyday probably feel. I'd rather have that caffeine boost on occasion and feel all it's glory than feel like I needed it to get through the day.0 -
tristen_leigh wrote: »So, I gave up my several cups of coffee a day habit two months ago... but I'm having a hard time kicking caffeine all together. Not sure if it's just a mental thing but I still "need" my tea in the morning and sometimes another tea later in the day.
I know that caffeine isn't "bad" but I'd love to hear some suggestions for alternatives. I'm about to start training for long distance running again and I would love a non-coffee/Redbull/stimulate energy boost if such a thing exists.
I always blast music I haven't heard in forever or my favorite songs while I am running without caffeine. Sometimes I keep running just because I don't want to stop listening to the song...then another great song comes on!0 -
I've never had a single reaction to coffee
It's just a warm pleasant drink to me
I am clearly missing something major0 -
I too would be interested in why.
Seems like people just love to torment themselves unnecessarily. Maybe they like it and think it's fun. I don't know.
Read your explanation now, OP. OK.
I'm like rabbitjb. Coffee and tea are just hot drinks, no effect.0 -
tristen_leigh wrote: »Why give up something you know isn't bad?
Drink decaf?
I've had a couple cups on occasion since giving it up - I'm definitely not anti-coffee. I feel like it didn't do anything for me anymore unless I had some kind of triple espresso. And I still had a crash mid-morning and mid-afternoon. My energy is much more steady now.
Also, the first time I had a cup of coffee after not drinking it for a month, it was the the clouds opened up and angels sang. I felt what people who don't drink it all day everyday probably feel. I'd rather have that caffeine boost on occasion and feel all it's glory than feel like I needed it to get through the day.
If you aren;t quitting for health reasons, then why don't you just reset your caffeine tolerance every once in a while. Now that you haven't drank it in a while you can probably get energy boost from just drinking half caff.
I went from drinking a lot of caffeine all day long to 0. And I haven't drank caffeine in so long right now that decaf gives me a small energy boost.0 -
LastingChanges wrote: »
Personally for me, I don't think caffeine agrees with me. I've seen health improvements after quitting and feel like I can think clearer. I know this doesn't apply to everyone, and I am very envious of those who don't have any negative side effects with caffeine. I have a weird relationship with coffee, love the taste, love the energy it gives me, but soon after it makes me feel like crap.But why?
I don't drink coffee because it makes me feel ill but can still do caffeine. Have you ever tried caffeine tablets. I only suggest this as it might tell you whether the coffee makes you feel crap or the caffeine itself. Caffeine is one of the most widely studied stimulents and is generally recognised as being very safe. You'd probably be switching to something that is much less widely studied and understood.
I drink tea. Does tea make you feel crap also or just coffee?
For the warming effect you could try herbal teas. There's a huge variety out there and there are plenty that claim to boost energy. Worth a shot if you're really dead set on giving up caffeine.
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I've never had a single reaction to coffee
It's just a warm pleasant drink to me
I am clearly missing something major
I never had a reaction to it either until this past year. I started experiencing a racing heart. When I cut back on caffeine the accelerated heart rate left. I recently had an EKG and a heart echo done and they came back clean. I have to assume caffeine was my problem.0 -
You could drink herbal tea that's naturally decaf. I sometimes drink peppermint tea...it's sort of like tricking my body into thinking I'm drinking caffeine.
But I love coffee..so much. I still usually drink a cup a day.0 -
LastingChanges wrote: »
Personally for me, I don't think caffeine agrees with me. I've seen health improvements after quitting and feel like I can think clearer. I know this doesn't apply to everyone, and I am very envious of those who don't have any negative side effects with caffeine. I have a weird relationship with coffee, love the taste, love the energy it gives me, but soon after it makes me feel like crap.But why?
I don't drink coffee because it makes me feel ill but can still do caffeine. Have you ever tried caffeine tablets. I only suggest this as it might tell you whether the coffee makes you feel crap or the caffeine itself. Caffeine is one of the most widely studied stimulents and is generally recognised as being very safe. You'd probably be switching to something that is much less widely studied and understood.
I drink tea. Does tea make you feel crap also or just coffee?
For the warming effect you could try herbal teas. There's a huge variety out there and there are plenty that claim to boost energy. Worth a shot if you're really dead set on giving up caffeine.
I've been thinking of trying caffeine tablets to see how I react to them. Just wasn't sure if that is a safe alternative. Tea gives me similar side effects but on a lesser level. I've tried herbal teas but my taste buds realize they are being tricked.
It sucks I would do anything to be able to drink coffee again lol. I really love the taste of coffee, I can't even drink it with sugar or milk because I feel like it ruins the taste. The interesting thing is I feel like I can tolerate espresso better than regular coffee.
I used to be fine with coffee before but what happens to me now is that it feels great at first and I have the energy boost, but then a little later I start to feel foggy, hungry, tired, and my energy is all over the place for the rest of the day. Even if I eat it doesn't help, I just need to wait it out for the feeling to go away.
I wonder if there is such a thing as caffeine/coffee allergy?0 -
I have ADD so coffee , even though it is a stimulant, has a "calm-down" effect for me.I have a cup at work when I am feeling a bit unfocused. I also drink coffee right before I go to bed to help me sleep.0
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Why are you giving it up?0
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2 months! i did not last 2 days when i decided to give up my coffee habit because of my overuse of sugar..needless to say on day three i learned to start liking a mug in the AM with sweetener in it, felt sooooo much happier afterwards..nothing wrong with coffee, it too has its benefits so don't see the point of giving it up if you like it...cutting down, yes, i do feel and sleep a lot better since i gave up my pot or more a day...
besides the one mug of coffee, i now drink matcha tea once a day, it gives you that caffeine energy boost throughout the day instead of all at once so theres no need for more caffeine afterwards..can be pricey but, worth a try if you like tea.0 -
Give up coffee?
Just try to pry it out of my hands.
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I've cut back. It was giving me headaches. As always, when the pain exceeded the pain of change, I was ready to change.0
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Cranquistador wrote: »Give up coffee?
Just try to pry it out of my hands.
This. sorry I can't offer any ideas hon0 -
I think every one handles caffeine differently.
I'm a 5'2 124lb female and I am absolutely fine on around 6 cups of coffee a day! My boyfriend, 180lb of pure muscle and 6'3 gets the 'shakes' after one cup.
Personally, I love coffee - but if it's an issue for you, switch to decaf
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Decaf must be outlawed. It's the work of satan.0
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Cranquistador wrote: »Give up coffee?
Just try to pry it out of my hands.
Heck yeah! I'd give up coffee for basically nothing. No can do.0 -
Decaf coffee is NOT caffeine free! While it is lower in caffeine, if you drink several cups of decaf a day, you are getting the same caffeine as up to 2 cups of regular coffee.
I suggest drinking a quality coffee from a boutique coffee shop, ask for a double ristretto shot, you get all the good flavour of coffee without insane caffeine highs and lows. The more water you pass through coffee the more caffeinated in becomes, so drinking filter coffee is going to give you more caffeine than a standard espresso shot.
My brother is a coffee roaster and I run a cafe0 -
talismanicmagic wrote: »Decaf coffee is NOT caffeine free! While it is lower in caffeine, if you drink several cups of decaf a day, you are getting the same caffeine as up to 2 cups of regular coffee.
I suggest drinking a quality coffee from a boutique coffee shop, ask for a double ristretto shot, you get all the good flavour of coffee without insane caffeine highs and lows. The more water you pass through coffee the more caffeinated in becomes, so drinking filter coffee is going to give you more caffeine than a standard espresso shot.
My brother is a coffee roaster and I run a cafe
The caffeine difference between espresso drinks and coffee is miniscule, at least in starbucks drinks (I usually drink americanos). But you are right there is something different about espressos if I drink an americano my side effects are not as intense as with regular coffee.
I am also aware that decaf has a little bit of caffeine which is why I am drinking it. I still get a small energy boost now that I haven't had regular caffeine in a while.0
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