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Tips for Cutting Out Caffeine

Posted by calais50 • 6/18/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic

I drink 4-5 cups of coffee per day. I have recently been trying to cut down on coffee as I have a heart arrythmia that is worsened by caffeine. I have recently cut it down to half, but because of that, I am now always so sleepy and tired I can barely move. I only feel awake for about an hour a day. Also I've been incredibly bitchy, with a capital B, which is not like me. I imagine some other people can quit with no problem, but not me. Anyone have any ideas? Someone suggested I try some of the 5 hour energy eilxirs, but I imagine they would cause problems as well.

User Comments

6/18/08

ThriftShopRomantic

This is going to sound goofy, maybe, but I've done well by having a good really cold glass of water later in the morning and in the afternoon. The hydration and the cold seems to help a bit.

I used to drink quite a bit of coffee and now really only have 1 cup in the morning.

I wish you much luck in getting your caffeine intake to something you feel more comfortable with!

[reply]
1. 6/18/08
  
  calais50
  
  Excellent idea, Romantic! Last night the idea of drinking more water occured to me as a possible solution, but I wasn't sure if it would help. I haven't been drinking as much water as I should. Maybe some of my lethargy is caused by dehydration.
6/18/08

RTBjr73

Congrats on your pregnancy!!!!!!

just kidding

[reply]
1. 6/18/08
  
  calais50
  
  Wow, that's news to me. Divine conception, how exciting!
2. 6/18/08
  
  RTBjr73
  
  just name it Jesus Jr.
3. 6/18/08
  
  calais50
  
  lol
6/18/08

richrf

Hi there Robin,

The problem is this. Your body has gotten so use to the zing from caffeine, its normal processes have shut down as a way of balancing out the artificial inducements from caffeine. So it will take a while for you to build up your own natural functions again.

As a way of temporizing the switch, I can recommend this:

1) Drink green tea as a substitute.

2) If you know yoga, do some stretches, with yoga breathing between each stretch.

3) Moderately exercise every morning. Maybe a short walk. This will get the blood flowing and you will be building up your own natural energy.

4) Qigong is great, but I doubt you have access to this. But yoga pranayama breathing is the same.

5) Move your arms and body during the day in circles and stretches. This will get the blood flowing, energy moving, and help build up your internal energy again.

6) Quietly observe your breath for a minute or so, regularly during the day for about ten breaths.

Basically, you need to get off the "substance" that you have been addicted to and get back to normal function. It will take a few weeks, but you will be far healthier once you are through the process.

[reply]
1. 6/18/08
  
  calais50
  
  Thanks, Rich. When I saw your avatar on the page, I knew you would have some good tips for me since you're so into health. I will definitely take them to heart. The exercise is a really good tip. Since cutting down on caffeine, I haven't been exercising like I should b/c of lack of motivation, but when I do manage to exercise, I feel better and have more energy for a while.
2. 6/18/08
  
  richrf
  
  Hi Robin,
  
  Just do very moderate exercise. You don't want to do exercise that will deplete you of energy until you start rebuilding your internal capabilities. A nice morning walk is all you need - and swing your arms around while walking to help move the blood. If you know yoga breathing, then so some of that also.
  
  BTW, you look FABULOUS also. Take care,
  Rich
3. 6/18/08
  
  calais50
  
  Awww, thanks Rich.
6/18/08

richrf

BTW, drinking water is great, but NEVER cold water. It introduces cold into the body and the body has to use up energy to reheat it. It also kills the digestive process, inhibiting you from properly assimilating your food energy.

Good luck!

Rich

[reply]
1. 6/18/08
  
  robertstevenson
  
  I didn't know that about cold water. Good advice. I will skip the ice.
  
  BTW: I like a squeeze of lemon or lime sometimes.
2. 6/18/08
  
  ThriftShopRomantic
  
  I just can't drink warmer water. In my poor confused brain, it's like cold water is a nice refreshing beverage, and room temperature water is some entirely different thing.
3. 6/18/08
  
  robertstevenson
  
  I know what you mean. . . maybe I'll take out one cube a day until I reach room temp.
4. 6/18/08
  
  richrf
  
  Hi there Robert,
  
  Yes, I learned this about cold drinks by studying other cultures, particularly China. They never drink cold beverages. In Europe, as in most of the world, as you probably know, they drink their beverages at room temperature, e.g. beer. It is MUCH healthier. The cold drinks in the U.S. is a leading cause of obesity since they impede the proper assimilation of food. Instead of using body energy to assimilate foods, the body is forced to divert energy to warm up the cold drinks.
  
  I drink hot water with lemon all the time. It is very refreshing and cleansing.
  
  Cya,
  Rich
5. 6/18/08
  
  calais50
  
  I drink refrigerated drinks but never any ice, which is probably just as bad.
6. 6/18/08
  
  richrf
  
  Yep, try drinking room temperature or hot. After a while, you will get accustomed to it, and will no longer like cold drinks. You body will feel all chilled when drinking chilled drinks. The room temperature or hot will feel much better.
  
  Rich
6/18/08

robertstevenson

Hey, Robin.
I cut down from about 15 cups of coffee and 8 diet pepsies a day to about 3 cups and no soda. And I have more energy than I used to. The trick for me was to start doing what I've always been told was good for me. Drink lots of water and exercise more. I drink at least 8 10 oz glasses of water and do 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every day.

[reply]
1. 6/18/08
  
  calais50
  
  Robert,
  Amazing...you were super hard core! If you can do it, surely I can. Good tips.
2. 6/18/08
  
  wigwam2theorem
  
  Wow, I thought I was too caffeinated (2 cups of coffee, anywhere between 4-8 cans of Diet Pepsi.) I'll definitely have to try all the tips here.
6/18/08

RTBjr73

I'm with richrf on this one, especially the daily exercise, even if it's a brisk walk.

I could not BELIEVE the weight my wife dropped after pregnancy just walking a little bit each day right after birth.

Plus I found that if she drinks a whole cup of coffee, it has the opposite affect on her.

[reply]
1. 6/18/08
  
  calais50
  
  Tommy,
  I'm a big believer in walking. I lost 15 lbs quickly a couple of years ago by walking. I usually walk/run 5 miles a day, but b/c of caffeine withdrawal, I haven't been doing a lot lately. I just started dating a guy who runs 50k races. We're going kayaking today and running tomorrow, so I think he will be a good influence on me.
2. 6/18/08
  
  RTBjr73
  
  Well, then with all that is going on in your life, I think that you are battling a small issue here...you won't have time to drink coffee!!!
  
  LOL
3. 6/18/08
  
  richrf
  
  Please - DON'T OVERDO IT! You'll exhaust yourself and it will get worse. You won't have any energy to do other things. Take it easy for the first few weeks. Those 50K races, eventually will come back to haunt. They are terrible for long term health, because the body goes in deficit to quickly and it creates a tremendous strain. Sometimes, less is more and more is less. O.K?
  
  Cya,
  Rich
4. 6/18/08
  
  calais50
  
  I definitely won't be doing any 50k races, that's for sure. 5 mi is enough for me.
6/18/08

robertstevenson

I quit smoking and drinking when my kids were born 12 years ago.

Coffee and soda were harder to quit for me. The physical addiction wasn't as tough for me as the pschological addiction. When I had an MRI last November, the doc wanted to put contrast in my blood, but my kidney level (I forgot the medical term)was too high to risk injecting the contrast. When I told them in an off-handed remark that it was probably due to all the coffee and soda and no water, they agreed. That shocked me. I quit cold turkey - really bad withdrawals. For two weeks I had no caffeine and lots of water. I was retested and my blook work returned to normal. I love Arizona Green Tea now. I think they put some secret ingredient in it that makes me keep coming back for more.

[reply]
1. 6/18/08
  
  richrf
  
  Hey Robert,
  
  I also use to enjoy Arizona Green. Very refreshing. Lately, I have really cut down on the sugars, so even Arizona, alas, is too sweet for me nowadays. My guess is that eventually, I'll just be drinking water. I am very close to that now.
  
  Cya,
  Rich
6/18/08

kopiching

Water. Now that's great stuff. But I do believe it tastes better with a dash of whisky and some ice cubes in it.

[reply]
6/18/08

Enlight

I quit drinking all caffeine products back in 2003. The way to do it is to get away from coffee and start drinking green tea. Then cut down to one cup a day, not in the morning, though. Once you quit, take some Ibprofen for the first couple of days. Also it is best to trick your mind, change your daily habits for awhile.

After one year going without, it will be all down hill.

[reply]
1. 6/18/08
  
  calais50
  
  Why green tea, enlight?
2. 6/19/08
  
  Enlight
  
  Much less caffeine than coffee, it's best to have breakfast first. Once you quit you have to say NO and find a replacement.
6/18/08

LGramlich

FYI, the 5 hour energy eilxirs have at least as much caffiene as a cup of coffee (& in some cases, much more.) In addition to the great tips already mentioned, I'd encourage you to make sure you get enough sleep at night. Sleeping is almost as vital to human health as breathing, yet it's always the first thing sacrificed.

[reply]
1. 6/18/08
  
  calais50
  
  That's something I don't get enough of lately either.
6/18/08

DVS

Usually..if something is likely to kill me..I simply don't do it.

Apart from smoking..I still do that..but if it bothered me then I'd stop...probably help resolve my nicotine addiction by injesting nicotine through a patch and then find myself addicted to the patches..then i'd use the gum to get myself off of the patches for a while..and then..er..er..

Just quit..and ride out the storm.

[reply]
6/18/08

lisamcglaun

If you can suffer through the week or so it takes to detox from caffiene you will feel so much better afterward. Exercise will give you energy. Stay away from those quick energy fixes sold in stores...bad, bad, bad. You might as well drink the coffee.

[reply]
6/18/08

satijournal

I take a nap every day around noon. I get such an energy boost from it, I can get twice as much done afterwards. So napping actually gives me more time.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[reply]
6/18/08

DVS

Lovely. And that helps with fighting Caffeine addiction HOW exactly?

[reply]
6/19/08

calais50

Thanks for the tips, everyone. Yesterday, I started drinking lots of water, exercising, getting more sleep, and replacing coffee with green tea. I should be back to normal soon, I hope.

[reply]
6/19/08

lotusb

Switch to heroine

[reply]
1. 6/19/08
  
  lotusb
  
  Actually the best way is to downsize to tea and then downsize to vitimine water with energy...baby steps. I did it.
6/19/08

ChicaX

I recently quit caffeine too, and am in the slow process of quitting smoking. I decided I had enough toxins in my body between the soda and cigs, so I wanted to stop both. I tell you what I had a whole bunch of aspirin to deal with the headaches I got when not having any caffeine, but after two days, I felt awesome, and the fatigue wore off. In fact I think I found myself more awake. Oh I also drink more water then I should have.. Good luck on your goals.

[reply]
1. 6/19/08
  
  calais50
  
  Thanks, Chica, and good luck with quitting smoking.
2. 6/19/08
  
  gus27
  
  i wish i could quit smoking , iam starting to hate this habit
  oneday
3. 6/19/08
  
  braincatcher
  
  I heard that quitting smoking should be gradual. My father one day all of a sudden stop drinking alcohol and smoking, after a month he had a mild heart attack, was bypassed, now he's fine and he's back to drinking (red wine.)
6/19/08

gus27

i live in brazil i drink a coffee far away stronger than yours and never had problems to sleep . isnt the coffe sexy?

[reply]
6/19/08

braincatcher

When you're sleepy, what you need is a rest/nap/sleep, not coffee. I've been previously addicted to coffee, with 4-5 mugs (larger than cup) of coffee a day. I can even sleep right after drinking coffee at night. Now I have reduced it to just 2, and I'm happy about it. Besides, it gives me more anti-oxidants (than green tea and grape juice).

[reply]
6/19/08

markstoneman

I actually don't wanna cut down on caffein. Stuff does me good.

[reply]