Have you kicked coffee/caffeine? How did YOU do it?

REman
REman Posts: 48 Member
edited September 26 in Food and Nutrition
I've read a few different strategies online (and in these forums). The only one that seems to make sense is a weekly gradual decrease in your coffee.

I think I'm going to try it. Starting tomorrow, I'm only going to drink 2 cups in the morning. Next week, I'll drop it down to 1 cup and drink a cup of decaf on top of that. After that, I'll hopefully be able to drop it all together.

However, I'm not so sure I trust myself. Has anyone tried this particular approach? Did it work for you? Did you suffer withdrawal symptoms?

Any other suggestions on how to kick caffeine?

edit: spelling
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Replies

  • Taylor521
    Taylor521 Posts: 48 Member
    Why would you do such a thing?
  • logicalloss
    logicalloss Posts: 14 Member
    I did it with Milk. I went from whole to 2%, then 1% then finally skim. With Mountain Dew I switched to flavored water, then eventually water. You might try switching to a "better bad choice" and then baby step it to something more healthy/
  • REman
    REman Posts: 48 Member
    I'm no longer interested in the crashes, dehydration, and anxiety.
  • alliecore
    alliecore Posts: 446 Member
    A couple months ago I would get a raging headache by late afternoon if I skipped my coffee. Now I can totally skip a day and not even feel it. I don't think coffee is "evil", so I still drink it at times, but it's not something I NEED anymore. I gradually decreased. It doesn't take long to adapt. :)
  • AnneMK5
    AnneMK5 Posts: 110
    Kicking the coffee habit has been an ever on-going battle for me because I LOVE LOVE LOVE coffee. Not just for the caffeine but for the taste, mmmmmmmm. And I don't necessarily WANT to stop drinking coffee but my innards no longer like half n half (I can't do non-dairy creamers either) so I've had to switch to soy and it just isn't the same. So... I'm seriously thinking of trying AGAIN to stop drinking coffee. I'd love some suggestions as well.
  • cobracars
    cobracars Posts: 949 Member
    I wasn't a coffee drinker but I got my caffeine from Coke and Pepsi.
    As many as 6-8 cans a day, or on 'drive-thru' days maybe 3 large cokes.

    I decided one day I didn't want to keep pumping that junk into my body but I figured I still wanted a treat.
    So I ditched all the drive-thru stuff in favor of water, and I got rid of all the cans at home.
    For a treat I bought the REAL Coke in the 12 oz. glass bottle imported from Mexico. Made with pure sugar instead of High Fructose Corn Syrup. The USA is the only country that doesn't use real sugar in Coke.
    It cost $.99 per bottle, but I got down to 1 per day, and it tastes lighter than the syrup stuff and no funny aftertaste.
    I haven't had a single one yet this week as I'm only in week 2 of MFP and I want to succeed at this.

    No big caffeine reduction plan, I just stopped. And the only withdrawl symptom I'm having so far is the euphoria from seeing weight loss progress!
  • elliecolorado
    elliecolorado Posts: 1,040
    I was drinking 2 or 3 energy drinks a day and I quit cold turkey. I just couldn't justify the number of calories in each one, that was almost my whole days worth of calories just in energy drinks and the fact that caffeine dehydrates you it just wasn't worth it. I had a headache for a couple of days, but just drank tons of water and it wasn't so bad.
  • JEK717
    JEK717 Posts: 1,497
    I did it with soda..it was hard. I actually did not really realize i was going threw a withdrawl...till a few weeks after. I was cranky and a jerk. I had headaches ALL the time. We were going over some of the stuff about withdrawl in my diet and fitness class and i was like "oooh so that is why i felt like that".

    So yeah it is hard but def worth it! Go for it:happy:
  • mellybellybear1722
    mellybellybear1722 Posts: 1 Member
    I was completely addicted to soda ( my caffeine substance of choice) before I started on MFP and my lifestyle change. I had horrible caffeine withdrawals for the first few days, but it ended after that. I knew that if I allowed myself one here and one there, especially towards the beginning it was only going to make it harder for me to stop drinking soda in the long term which was my essential goal! I have not had a soda in almost four months and although I crave it ( very rarely, but it happens), I feel a thousand times better not drinking it and I honestly feel that not having the caffeine and sugar that comes with soda makes me feel more energetic, and much less tired. I have never felt better in my life! I wish you the best of luck in your goal to kick caffeine! You can do it, even though it will seem impossible at first! Although my personal opinion is that if you cannot give it up cold turkey that your method is a very good approach to kicking it in the long run. :):) Again, best of luck to you!!
  • fancythis
    fancythis Posts: 20
    I've been good at limiting myself to one large Timmie's a day (Canucks..are you with me??), and that's where I draw the line. I don't think it's a terrible thing to have 1, as long as that's where the line is drawn. Moderation is the key to anything I think. If I'm really craving one later in the day, I'll have decaf. I think it's just having one that I like, not so much the caffeine.
  • Teazybabee
    Teazybabee Posts: 24
    I did it by tricking myself. I had to switch caffeine free sodas which helped to take the edge off and tricked my body to a point. I was then able to cut the monkey off my back. It was fairly painless.
  • jackalope28
    jackalope28 Posts: 38 Member
    I switched over to caffeinated tea (Earl Grey is a good start), and now when I drink coffee it's overwhelmingly strong. Now I can skip a day or three of coffee/tea and before that was totally unthinkable.

    I missed it for the first few days but after two weeks away, I was fully adjusted and coffee tasted strange.

    I still have some every now and then because I miss the habit of coffee - but not the taste (which I thought I would never, ever, ever say).

    GL!
  • REman
    REman Posts: 48 Member
    I did it with soda..it was hard. I actually did not really realize i was going threw a withdrawl...till a few weeks after. I was cranky and a jerk. I had headaches ALL the time. We were going over some of the stuff about withdrawl in my diet and fitness class and i was like "oooh so that is why i felt like that".

    So yeah it is hard but def worth it! Go for it:happy:

    You did it cold turkey?
  • JHoersten2
    JHoersten2 Posts: 44 Member
    Stop bringing it to your lips. Simple.


    Willpower.
  • kendf60
    kendf60 Posts: 234 Member
    I did it cold turkey a few years ago. Some advil for headaches for a couple of weeks but it never got too bad for me. A glass of fresh juice in the morning can give you a little kick start.
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    Caffeine is something I haven't been able to beat. I used to get my caffeine from Mt Dew and I gave that up, but I moved from that to coffee with the occasional sugar free energy drink mixed in.

    I've tried to give it up, but I end up sooo sick that I have to cave and go back to it.
  • JEK717
    JEK717 Posts: 1,497
    I did it with soda..it was hard. I actually did not really realize i was going threw a withdrawl...till a few weeks after. I was cranky and a jerk. I had headaches ALL the time. We were going over some of the stuff about withdrawl in my diet and fitness class and i was like "oooh so that is why i felt like that".

    So yeah it is hard but def worth it! Go for it:happy:

    You did it cold turkey?

    Fur sure. It is actually easier then one thinks. As long as your mind and heart are into stopping. It only took me a few days to not crave it...though i still was cranky for a week or so. It is so nice not being dependent on it...but i refuse to stop eating chocolate...nope nope NEVER!
  • LaylaClapton
    LaylaClapton Posts: 29
    I quit caffeine because I HAD to. I tapered off, and if you get withdrawal headaches (and you might not) take some ibuprofen. It will pass. Increase your water too.

    Be very sure to check labels, caffeine is in lots of things you might not suspect (some root beers, Excederin, codeine sometimes.)

    You can do this, and I hope you'll be deservedly proud of yourself for kicking a bad habit!
  • REman
    REman Posts: 48 Member
    I switched over to caffeinated tea (Earl Grey is a good start), and now when I drink coffee it's overwhelmingly strong. Now I can skip a day or three of coffee/tea and before that was totally unthinkable.

    I missed it for the first few days but after two weeks away, I was fully adjusted and coffee tasted strange.

    I still have some every now and then because I miss the habit of coffee - but not the taste (which I thought I would never, ever, ever say).

    GL!

    Very helpful, thank you.
  • k2d4p
    k2d4p Posts: 441 Member
    No, never, not going to happen, I would go insane, I would never even consider it, not an option, crazy suggestion, the thought makes me shudder. MUST.............HAVE...............COFFEE............:explode:

    Just the thought of even considering not having my daily coffee. :noway:
  • REman
    REman Posts: 48 Member
    I quit caffeine because I HAD to. I tapered off, and if you get withdrawal headaches (and you might not) take some ibuprofen. It will pass. Increase your water too.

    Be very sure to check labels, caffeine is in lots of things you might not suspect (some root beers, Excederin, codeine sometimes.)

    You can do this, and I hope you'll be deservedly proud of yourself for kicking a bad habit!

    This may be the time to do it since I'm already taking ibuprofen for a muscle injury. Thanks!
  • Claudia007
    Claudia007 Posts: 878 Member
    So I realized I had become addicted to my skinny vanilla lattes and decided that I would give it up for Lent. I'm not going to lie, it was HARD! I never got headaches (thankfully) but everyday I was tempted to stop and buy. On the weekends, my husband would make coffee and asked me if I wanted some. AHH!!! Anyway, it got to the point where I just stopped thinking about it and craving it. I don't know when it happened exactly, but it did. It's not going to be easy, but you can do it!!!!
  • DreaMartinez
    DreaMartinez Posts: 38
    I'm not a coffee drinker, but was a big diet mountain dew drinker. I went cold turkey and after about a week I started feeling FANTASTIC.
  • abellante_0205
    abellante_0205 Posts: 368 Member
    I had to get the will power to do it, i cut down my pepsi gradually, until one day I was like okay, let me try to go a day without pepsi, and I was able to, it was tough not going back because its always at my house bc some members of my family still drink it, but once i got the mindset for it, it was easy!!!!
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
    I quit caffeine cold turkey for about a year and a half (granted, I wasn't a junkie before). Then I started having health and energy problems and started drinking Coke again. After I joined MFP I realized I couldn't take the sugar anymore and I drink black or green tea.

    Tea is a good way to step out of the caffeine habit. It has less caffeine and zero calories! Eventually you won't need it anymore.
  • Tera2KiloByte
    Tera2KiloByte Posts: 18 Member
    I used to be addicted to soda (D.Coke was my drug). Then I quit cold turkey, which was one of the worse things I ever did. I was up to about 6 cans a day as a high, like on the weekends. I felt so sick for days, I was even thinking about leaving work on one of the days. I was doing good not drinking soda for a while, I switched to flavored water like crystal light, but then I went on vacation where all we drank was soda, so now I need to ween myself off again. My path of kicking soda was fruit punch crystal light, then mainly water.
  • leomentlines
    leomentlines Posts: 440 Member
    I work at a coffee shop yet was still able to ditch my coffee addiction. I used to drink iced lattes EVERY DAY at work, and have instead replaced them with decaf iced tea that I brew for myself.

    To cut the coffee addiction, go GRADUALLY.
    I'd suggest something like this:
    week 1: drink coffee that is 3/4 regular 1/4 decaf
    week 2: coffee that is 1/2 regular 1/2 decaf
    week 3: coffee that is 3/4 decaf 1/4 regular
    week 4: full on decaf coffee. I also suggest trying some good decaf teas, maybe chai or chamomile

    You could go cold turkey of course, but I think a more gradual process from 2-4 weeks will help you kick the habit for good :)

    Good luck!
  • xraychick77
    xraychick77 Posts: 1,775 Member
    yup..caffeine that is. not coffee.
    i did it cold turkey. wasnt too hard for me..but i'm one of THOSE people who can just do something with no problem..as long as i set my mind to it.

    i do decaf coffee...i dont drink anything but water, coffee and beer here and there.
  • elg1982
    elg1982 Posts: 167 Member
    I drastically cut caffeine this month to help me hydrate for a race. However, I was only drinking a cup of coffee in the morning and a large diet cola at lunch. I did notice a difference. After 2 or 3 days I felt much more energized and rested when I woke up in the morning. I also fell asleep faster.

    Week 1: Switch to tea in the morning and seltzer at lunch
    Week 2: same
    Week 3: Switch to green tea in the morning and seltzer at lunch

    Green tea does have some caffeine and I had 2 or 3 diet Snapples this month but it's a lot less than I used to have.
  • realrayne10
    realrayne10 Posts: 388 Member
    Was never a coffee person, but I had a bad fountain coke habit. I quit cold turkey 03/01/2010 and have not had any soda since. The first week or so, I had 2 tylenol right when I woke up in the morning to prevent the withdrawal headache and that was it. I was able to lose 50lbs in 9 months just by getting rid of the soda and replacing it with water!
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