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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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".

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.

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.

Horrible headache for 4 days.

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---)

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.

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

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 .

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.

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.

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.