Have you ever quit caffeine? How did it affect you?

All_Exits_Lead_Within

If you've quit caffeine before, share your negative/positive experiences. I'm wondering if there's a point to quitting.

Alatariel75

I haven't quit, quit but I went from 14+ shots of espresso a day to one coffee in the morning and that's it.

It hurt. Headaches, and omg was I a raging *kitten* at times. I did get a bit hungrier, don't know whether that was because I was missing the appetite suppression or missing the energy and therefore trying to carb-load lol.

I took painkillers for the first week, drank a bunch of water and it got better.

MrsDan1667

I quit after Christmas. I sleep better/deeper and have more energy not being on caffeine.

fatvegan88

It hurt a lot and I'm not fully weened off coffee at all but I don't need it like I used to.

I had bad headaches, and sometimes they still happen but I was a 3+ cup a day person.

Sometimes I drink a tea if I really need something.

AnvilHead

The world isn't ready for me without caffeine. And I don't see any advantage (or even logical reason) for quitting it.

malibu927

Eh. I don't smoke or drink, so I'll stick to this vice.

Plus I have to be at work before 6 most days, so Diet Dr Pepper is the only thing that gets me to be coherent that early.

Packerjohn

MrsDan1667 wrote: »

I quit after Christmas. I sleep better/deeper and have more energy not being on caffeine.

After giving it up for Lent numerous times, about 5 years ago did it pretty much for good. Maybe have 3 Diet Pepsi a month as source of caffeine.

I also sleep better and have more energy.

WickAndArtoo

First week sucked, bad migraines and exhaustion. After that I felt completely fine and normal. I notice no difference in my health etc after a couple months without it, so I added it back in (because I love the taste) but now I only drink it when I want it, not everyday... usually on weekends and weekday if I am in the mood. I was glad I quit because it gave me the chance to realize I could, and that I truly didn't "need it" but I liked it. I hate being a slave to any addiction, so it made me feel good to know I can live without it. These days I drink it sparingly enough that I don't notice a difference when I go without it (i.e. I don't feel sick if I don't have a coffee) and I like that. Good luck I hope that whatever you choose to do makes you feel good!

goldthistime

I've quit it a few times but always gone back to it. I quit by slowly reducing my input rather than cold turkey, and didn't have headaches or other adverse effects.

Machka9

Back in my very early 20s I was drinking about 15 cups of coffee a day (plus coke and chocolate). I was getting migraines so I decided to quit cold turkey for 3 weeks.

I did ... and I was miserable.

But when I went back on caffeine again after 3 weeks, I've never gotten up to 15 cups of coffee again. I think the most I've drunk in a day since then has been about 6 cups, and that's rare. So I think those 3 weeks off did help break a "bad habit".

Titanuim

I gave up caffeine a few months ago. I was doing research into improving my flexibility so I could get into the splits and the research suggested giving up caffeine would help as caffeine keeps the central nervous system tight and the CNS needs to be relaxed for certain moves like the splits.

The first three weeks were dire. I had no energy and felt like I had lost the will to live. Then normal programming recommenced with my energy levels and I saw an improvement to flexibility which made the withdrawal hell worth it.

Life is fine without caffeine in it.

skymningen

I haven't completely quit caffeine but I have gone down a lot. And I wait caffeine in the morning. My friends call me crazy for it, but if I have coffee, I try to have only one coffee a day and have it in the afternoon when I actually feel tired enough to need it.

To be honest: I felt no difference. None. I just reduced coffee. The only difference is that coffee now actually does have an effect again and is not just a nice hot drink to have.

livingleanlivingclean

Caffeine does nothing for me. Quitting caffeine does nothing for me.... No headaches, no anything (negative or positive), that I can perceive anyway!

(I drink 3-6 doubles a day, because I like the taste. I drink a cup before bed and have no issues sleeping)

Momepro

Several times. The last two or three yimes I avoided the withdrawal headaches by using Nodoze and tapering off slowly. I cold turkyed all drinks, and took a couple nodoze a day for about 3 days. Then I took 1 a day for3 or 4 days. Then 1/2 for a couple days. Then 1/2 every couple days untill I firgot to take them, and so obviously didn't beed it anymore. Still takes tbe same amount of time to deal with, but so much less migraines.

Basilin

I am sensitive to caffeine. If I drink more than 3 cups of coffee (not sure how much in mg caffeine) my heart rate skyrockets. I have to be careful or I could send myself to the ER.

Yet, I still drink one or two cups of coffee a day. I have tried quitting several times, but it is a mood lifter and it appears I perform better on mental activities, so I end up coming back to it.

Surprisingly, I sleep less when I don't have caffeine, and the sleep quality is much better. I have more even energy levels overall.

fiddletime

Horrible headache for 4 days.

sijomial

I'm an extremely low responder to caffeine. Doesn't stop me sleeping (even at the wrong time!), doesn't give me headaches when I come off it.

In the lead up to an extreme cycling event I sometimes avoid caffeine entirely so that I can get a very muted response on the event from large doses of caffeine to combat feeling of fatigue.

I'm wondering if there's a point to quitting.

What are you hoping to gain from avoiding it?

normabeezy

I quit caffeine years ago by weening myself off slowly over a couple weeks by making my coffee 1/2 regular and half decaf per cup and each day I would decrease the regular and increase the decaf until after a week or so you would have all decaf. I did have some headaches so I just took a Motrin and after a few days no more headache. I think slow weening helped with headaches.I think back then I gave it up for low carb dieting but other than that I didn't really see any health advantages to not drinking it. Caffeine does give you energy and it helps my appetite so I eventually started drinking regular coffee again. I like plain old strong coffee w/ cream & sugar, not coffee drinks. I drink Starbucks and Peet's or anything bold dark roasted. It's just a part of my routine for years, I gather my thoughts, plan my day while drinking and driving (coffee, that is---)

maxichoc

I gave up caffeine 30 years ago and still remember the pain of the headaches that I had for the first week or so. For all those who say they can't function without it especially in the morning, I thought the same, but mornings are so much better now that I don't need it. After a while you don't get those ups and downs of moods throughout the day just because you haven't had your injection of caffeine. It's been hot water for me ever since and the bonus is that it's great for your skin.

Gallowmere1984

I regularly cycle off of it to allow my tolerance to fall. I'll go from 1200+mg/day, every day, to practically nothing 3 days per week, and ~450mg/day on training days.

The only notable side effect is a modest decrease in energy throughout the day, but it's nothing catastrophic.

sgt1372

I can take it or leave it.

Went years drinking coffee daily where they provided it free at work. Then went years w/o drinking any coffee at all. As it stands now, I only drink coffee 2-3x's a week. Don't feel better or worse with or w/o it.

Just drink it when I feel like it out of habit. Not because I need it. Could quit it cold turkey tomorrow if I had to.

MysticGoalie

Drink coffee when desired, for the taste. Sometimes with piece of chocolat eating seperately.. *yum yum*

All_Exits_Lead_Within

What are you hoping to gain from avoiding it?

I'm not sure if that's what I want to do. I only drink a cup a day so I'm not addicted or anything I just didn't know if there were any health benefits. I've heard a cup of coffee an hour before cardio helps you burn more fat, but I don't know if that's true. I've also heard people get better quality sleep after quitting but perhaps that's just people who used to drink a lot.

tigerblood6

I feel so good after quit coffee!!

I was a student and a worker back then . I need a lot of caffein to make myself awake at night. After I finished my study I decided not ever to taste any coffee or soda drinks. And my body feel great!! I dont have any anxiety or mood problem or headache anymore . My eyesight improoved in the morning . Also I sleep well at night and my body feel marvellous. Its been 3 years now and I still havent taste the coffee yet which is good .

lemurcat12

If it's just a cup I doubt there are any health benefits to quitting. I think caffeine is supposed to be good for you in moderate amounts. I love coffee way too much so always end up drinking much more than I should (not because of addiction, just that it's a drink I enjoy and almost no calories), so quit regularly (usually for Lent as one of my things and at other times) to make sure it's not affecting my sleep and that I don't get hooked. Quitting, if done cold turkey, can be unpleasant for a couple of days -- headache, sleepiness -- but really quite mild, IME, and I wouldn't expect any symptoms if you are only having a cup.

After I quit I usually drink it in more moderate amounts for a while and then tend to increase. I've also just switched part of my consumption to water (I drink lots of water anyway) or herbal teas, and found that works well too. But at the levels you are consuming I wouldn't worry about it.

BruinsGal_91

I gave up completely once a while ago and life wasn't worth living for me or for anyone around me.

I decided that wasn't going to work in the long term, so now I just have one 16oz cup in the morning at work and that will do me for the day. I don't do those fancy-schmancy coffees. Just regular coffee, no sugar, and a splash of half-and-half.

At weekends I'll have a couple of mugs of coffee during the day, but try not to drink it in the afternoon. I also changed to caffeine free Coke.

And there's no way I could give up my pre-run espresso on race days.

RedSierra

All_Exits_Lead_Within wrote: »

If you've quit caffeine before, share your negative/positive experiences. I'm wondering if there's a point to quitting.

I love coffee. I began drinking it when I was 10 years old and now I'm an old lady. I drank as much as I wanted and it never affected me until about a month ago. Then I ended up in the emergency room twice in 2 weeks with scary high blood pressure of 200/100 (mine is normally about 120/80). I shook all over both times for 24 hours. Apparently I've become sensitive to caffeine plus I drank too much of it.

I quit cold turkey. I know you're supposed to taper off caffeine to avoid headaches, but I didn't care. I didn't want any more in my body.

I had a 3 day headache, the worst on day 2. The headache was bad, but not as bad as a migraine. After day 3 I felt normal. I miss coffee, but I'm not going to the ER for it.

Lounmoun

About 18 years ago I decided I didn't like how caffeine made me feel. I wasn't heavily consuming caffeine laden drinks and foods but had headaches, insomnia and frequent urination and thought caffeine could be making things worse. I didn't have a negative experience with altering my level of consumption. I mainly just stopped drinking pop with caffeine. I was never a coffee drinker. I felt better than I did so I kept limiting caffeine.
I can't say I don't consume any caffeine at all now because there is some in chocolate and tea which I still consume but that amount doesn't bother me.

You might cut back gradually on the amount you are taking in. My dh switched to tea instead of coffee when he decided to reduce his caffeine intake.

stanmann571

I've gone cold turkey more than a few times... usually when I start feeling like my daily dosages are creeping up and I want to reset my intake.

Takes 3-5 days, and I'm miserable as is everyone around me. I normally try to then take 1-2 weeks decaffeinated before resuming on a lower dose.

OH yeah, Caffeine helps me be less weird, which is a good thing... not so much with the energy or sleep(unless I'm fully decaffeinating for several days, although it could just be that the sleep passes time during DT)

ireallylikemuffins

I gave up soda and coffee and replaced them with sparkling water and tea a few months ago (May, I think?).

Cons: At first, it suuuuuucked. I felt tired for the first 2-3 weeks and would go to bed an hour earlier than I had been before. I had bags under my eyes for a while, and would occasionally get headaches. There was also a period of adjustment of getting used to the flavor of sparkling water (the lack of sugar) and tea.
Pros: But, since quitting I've noticed my skin is clearer and I eat less than when I was drinking diet or regular soda; losing weight has also been a lot easier. The big plus is that I get better sleep now and I have less anxiety episodes. But all my results may also just be a part of losing weight and exercising, so...who knows?

I've had coffee once since quitting and I was wired the entire day; it was a really weird feeling. I've also had soda on occasion, but it's usually a sprite or ginger-ale. Dark soda like Coke and Dr. Pepper taste horrible to me now, which is kind of funny because I used to drink Diet Coke all the time.

Mr_Knight

Three-four days of headaches, then all was good. After the transition, yeah, more energy, more clarity, less dependence.

And the great part is...on those rare occasions when you do need an extra pop...a double espresso is basically like taking 3 hits of crystal meth, except legally available everywhere...