I Want to Give Up Coffee. No, I Don't! Yes, I Do.

[carenkh]

Arrrgghhh... I LOVE coffee. There is something about it... I could totally relate to mlc82 in this Teecino thread. In doing some writing, I know that part of me believes that drinking coffee means I'm an *adult*. I wasn't allowed to have it as a child, so to me, it's something grownups do.

I want to (but don't want to!) give up coffee. I have, of course, read Steve's article about that. I've gone through phases of giving it up, but I always go back. Just recently, I didn't have coffee for about 3 weeks, then I got a craving... I've been in 12-step recovery, so I know how to say "just for today, I won't have any" to get through cravings without succumbing, but I succumbed. I didn't beat myself up for that - it's a choice I made. I want to quit because it affects my *mood* so much! First, I'm high and happy, then I'm very cranky and short-tempered, and not as available for my kids. I noticed this last time, that later in the afternoon after I had the coffee, I was feeling kind of depressed and overwhelmed with everything. When I have coffee, I usually have one large cup (12 oz. or so) in the late morning, and that's it for the day. My last coffee relapse lasted for two days, I had one cup each day. I haven't had any today - but it's really hard not to.

I've tried not keeping coffee in the house, but I end up walking to a convenience store just up the street. (surprisingly good coffee! It's one of the things they're known for.) The whole time I'm walking, I'm thinking, "Why am I doing this? I don't *really* want it! But wait, yes I do!"

I've come to understand, through reading A New Earth, that I'm feeding my pain-body when I drink coffee. I haven't gone back and re-read those sections of the book, maybe I'll do that on break, and that will help. I also have an inner rebellious teen, whose response to anything is "You can't make me!!" I have a feeling she's behind some of this, too.

I'm hoping by writing on here, I won't give in and have some. I was really hoping this last time, I was past wanting it... I didn't want it at *all* in the three weeks I was able to stay away. I want to do this mindfully, and figure out what need is being filled with coffee use, and find another way to meet that need.

I wonder if the desire is related to my menstrual cycle? Fine for three weeks, then craving...

Thanks for reading, and any tips if you've given it up.

Oh - I tried Teecino, several flavors. It tastes *nasty* to me, no matter what I added to it! There's nothing like coffee but coffee, and that's what I'm wanting/not wanting.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

I am the same way with soda (well, except for thinking it's grown up). I am looking forward to responses too. I've really noticed a correlation between drinking soda and my moods. I don't know if it is the caffiene, the sugar, the combination or something else. I just know that I am a lot more "even" when I go without.

Good luck and I'll be with you in this!

[wolfgang]

I drink coffee and then also think I should stop. I read stuff about it being bad and give it up for a bit. Then I also read stuff that says it helps something too. Here's a link of the bad stuff, since most the time I think coffee causes harm more then health. Or the health benefits could be gotten in other ways or the health benefits have not been completely studied.

The hidden dangers of caffeine: How coffee causes exhaustion, fatigue and addiction

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by carenkh

Arrrgghhh... I LOVE coffee. There is something about it... I could totally relate to mlc82 in this Teecino thread. In doing some writing, I know that part of me believes that drinking coffee means I'm an *adult*. I wasn't allowed to have it as a child, so to me, it's something grownups do.

I want to (but don't want to!) give up coffee. I have, of course, read Steve's article about that. I've gone through phases of giving it up, but I always go back. Just recently, I didn't have coffee for about 3 weeks, then I got a craving... I've been in 12-step recovery, so I know how to say "just for today, I won't have any" to get through cravings without succumbing, but I succumbed. I didn't beat myself up for that - it's a choice I made. I want to quit because it affects my *mood* so much! First, I'm high and happy, then I'm very cranky and short-tempered, and not as available for my kids. I noticed this last time, that later in the afternoon after I had the coffee, I was feeling kind of depressed and overwhelmed with everything. When I have coffee, I usually have one large cup (12 oz. or so) in the late morning, and that's it for the day. My last coffee relapse lasted for two days, I had one cup each day. I haven't had any today - but it's really hard not to.

I've tried not keeping coffee in the house, but I end up walking to a convenience store just up the street. (surprisingly good coffee! It's one of the things they're known for.) The whole time I'm walking, I'm thinking, "Why am I doing this? I don't *really* want it! But wait, yes I do!"

I've come to understand, through reading A New Earth, that I'm feeding my pain-body when I drink coffee. I haven't gone back and re-read those sections of the book, maybe I'll do that on break, and that will help. I also have an inner rebellious teen, whose response to anything is "You can't make me!!" I have a feeling she's behind some of this, too.

I'm hoping by writing on here, I won't give in and have some. I was really hoping this last time, I was past wanting it... I didn't want it at *all* in the three weeks I was able to stay away. I want to do this mindfully, and figure out what need is being filled with coffee use, and find another way to meet that need.

I wonder if the desire is related to my menstrual cycle? Fine for three weeks, then craving...

Thanks for reading, and any tips if you've given it up.

Oh - I tried Teecino, several flavors. It tastes *nasty* to me, no matter what I added to it! There's nothing like coffee but coffee, and that's what I'm wanting/not wanting.

I've heard that, if you can keep it to one cup a day it's actually good for you. It may even help prevent Parkinson's.

[Vantage72]

Originally Posted by carenkh

I've come to understand, through reading A New Earth, that I'm feeding my pain-body when I drink coffee.

Eckhart Tolle drinks coffee almost everyday. He said so in Oprah.com's webcast.

I have beaan trying to give up coffee but I enjoy it too much. Now I drink one double espresso every day. That equals 90mg-100mg caffeine.

As long as I drink it everyday, I feel no boost.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Vantage72

As long as I drink it everyday, I feel no boost.

Even if you drink 10x that amount you get no boost if you drink it everyday. Your body adjusts its baseline to 'expect' the amount of caffeine that you regularly give it.

[sheffy4]

Originally Posted by carenkh

Arrrgghhh... I LOVE coffee. There is something about it...

I feel the same way! I go through phases as well, and the last couple of months I've been drinking coffee almost every day, sometimes more than once a day.

My boyfriend recently emailed me an article that said it's better to drink coffee in small amounts through out the day, rather than one big cup in the morning. Apparently it helps prevent the crash that comes from coffee, and keeps you consistently alert through out the day.
I haven't tried this yet, but it seems to have some merit.

I agree with you that coffee has a certain meaning that makes it more appealing. You like it because it makes you feel adult. I am drawn to it because it makes me feel like an intellectual. I almost always crave coffee when I am studying because it creates that romanticized-intellectual-European-coffeehouse feel. I think that's why it's so hard to give up, because it's not just the caffeine or the taste that I like, it's the perceived culture that goes with it. I'm currently trying to figure out how I can satisfy that "culture" part of me without the coffee. Or if maybe I can separate the two, so that I don't need the coffee to get the same feeling.

[wolfgang]

Originally Posted by sheffy4

I feel the same way! I go through phases as well, and the last couple of months I've been drinking coffee almost every day, sometimes more than once a day.

My boyfriend recently emailed me an article that said it's better to drink coffee in small amounts through out the day, rather than one big cup in the morning. Apparently it helps prevent the crash that comes from coffee, and keeps you consistently alert through out the day.
I haven't tried this yet, but it seems to have some merit.

I agree with you that coffee has a certain meaning that makes it more appealing. You like it because it makes you feel adult. I am drawn to it because it makes me feel like an intellectual. I almost always crave coffee when I am studying because it creates that romanticized-intellectual-European-coffeehouse feel. I think that's why it's so hard to give up, because it's not just the caffeine or the taste that I like, it's the perceived culture that goes with it. I'm currently trying to figure out how I can satisfy that "culture" part of me without the coffee. Or if maybe I can separate the two, so that I don't need the coffee to get the same feeling.

decafe?

the main thing coffee does is stimulate our adrenal glands as if we are in fight or flight stress mode. if you drink smaller amounts all day, there is no crash because you are keeping the adrenal glands pumping adrenaline into you body. I just saying. Heck, I had a Starbucks this morning that lasted until lunch time and kept me going. Then I wonder if the reason I have coffee to keep me going is because of the coffee.

Often, I stop when I feel like I have a cold. and don't start up again for almost a month even after the cold went away. but then one day I have to produce and I didn't sleep enough or something so I grab some coffee and I start up again, putting myself into adrenal stress mode to conteract the sleep depravation, which I think then gets me stuck in that sleep depravation mode- that is I don't sleep as well after having coffee during the day, especially if I had some coffee after noon.

[borntosucceed]

MMhhhh I love the smell of coffee and I loved to drink coffee. There is something to freshly roasted coffee beans the just smell so nice.

I used to drink around 2 cups of coffee a day, which is really not too much. It gave me an instant energy boost in the afternoon as I used to get very tired after lunch.

I then needed to give it up as we had fertility issues and the naturapath recommended to quit coffee or anything that contains caffeine altogether (Amongst many other changes to our diat). Around this time my wife and I discovered a wellness drink based on a Traditional Asian Medicine recipe called Goyin.

We started drinking Goyin (in small doses) in the morning and evening and I believe it helped me quiting coffee. Since I started with Goyin I don't have any cravings for the coffee fix anymore and my energy levels are up.

Mind you I still enjoy the smell of coffee but when in a coffee shop we now always choose to drink Chai tea.

[carenkh]

Originally Posted by Vantage72

Eckhart Tolle drinks coffee almost everyday. He said so in Oprah.com's webcast.

This isn't about whether Eckhart drinks coffee or not - it might not feed *his* pain body. It does mine.

I've read plenty of studies about the benefits of coffee. I'm willing to forego those benefits to give up coffee. (and I'm guessing if I'm healthy in other ways I'll have those same benefits from another source)

I did re-read the section in A New Earth that talked about addictions, and how to mindfully choose - I guess if I keep doing that, eventually I won't want it anymore?

[carenkh]

Originally Posted by borntosucceed

We started drinking Goyin (in small doses) in the morning and evening and I believe it helped me quiting coffee.

Thanks! I'm a bit skeptical of supplements - and multi-level marketing! - but it looks like it might be worth checking out.

GoYin site

[borntosucceed]

Yes it is MLM, and I totally understand you. I was the same a couple of years back. I have learned that if you like the product and use it, it can provide a great opportunity to make some additional income. And if it really works well for you you might even get rich.

Anyway, you if you can alway check out our website http://www.mygoyin.com/borntosucceed if you like to order some. BTW for IBOs there is a 30 day money back guarantee if they are not happy with the product.

[mlc82]

Glad you liked my teecino review

I can't help you with cutting coffee out, as I'd rather die than do that, but one thing you might want to try is taking your 12oz cup in the morning, and turning it into two smaller 6oz cups, one in the morning and another in the early afternoon. The "up and down" feeling you're describing is likely from having one big caffeine boost in the morning, then having withdrawal symptoms hitting you in the late afternoon or evening from that blast of caffeine wearing off all at once.

I drink ALOT of caffeine a day, mainly from coffee (no soda or anything for me, but I love "Ultimate Orange" as a preworkout drink!) probably enough to give most people on this board a heart attack, but I don't ever ingest a whole lot all at once,usually about 100mg, a single cup of coffee, at a time, or 200mg pre-workout for a real kick- more than 200mg at once doesn't feel pleasant to me, and I'm a 205-210lb guy who's been sneaking the stuff since I was 12

If you're keeping your overall intake as low as a 12oz cup of coffee a day, which is probably about 150-200mg of caffeine all day, don't beat yourself up so badly over it, that might be the main reason it's making you feel like crap

[AttractIt]

This post just gave me the will to go and make me a cup of coffee

[JimOfferman]

I don't understand what can be so hard about giving up coffee...

I find it very easy to give up...

right after that first cup in the morning!

I actually only ever drink coffee at work or at social gatherings - same goes for beer. I'm just fine with that

[carenkh]

Originally Posted by mlc82

one thing you might want to try is taking your 12oz cup in the morning, and turning it into two smaller 6oz cups, one in the morning and another in the early afternoon. The "up and down" feeling you're describing is likely from having one big caffeine boost in the morning, then having withdrawal symptoms hitting you in the late afternoon or evening from that blast of caffeine wearing off all at once.

Thanks for the suggestion. That would work for the up/down thing, but over time... I just get crankier. Like that would make the day-to-day swing work out, but after several days... I'm just kinda mean! And short-tempered. I don't feel as present. Even though it's a relatively small amount of caffeine, it affects me a lot over time.

I got a lot from reading the part about addictions in A New Earth... being very mindful with whatever you're choosing. I think if I give myself the freedom to *choose* coffee, that will help that inner teen not feel so controlled.

I gave up restricting my kids' food choices about a year ago, and I'm amazed how much *less* junk they eat now. They know they can have what they want when they want, so they don't need to have food to rebel. I guess I need to acknowledge that I do have that same freedom.

[mlc82]

Originally Posted by carenkh

Thanks for the suggestion. That would work for the up/down thing, but over time... I just get crankier. Like that would make the day-to-day swing work out, but after several days... I'm just kinda mean! And short-tempered. I don't feel as present. Even though it's a relatively small amount of caffeine, it affects me a lot over time.

I got a lot from reading the part about addictions in A New Earth... being very mindful with whatever you're choosing. I think if I give myself the freedom to *choose* coffee, that will help that inner teen not feel so controlled.

I gave up restricting my kids' food choices about a year ago, and I'm amazed how much *less* junk they eat now. They know they can have what they want when they want, so they don't need to have food to rebel. I guess I need to acknowledge that I do have that same freedom.

I'd really recommend either drinking it habitually (a couple of cups through the day), drinking it "socially" like Jim was talking about above ONLY (a cup or so once in awhile when out with friends, maybe even nasty decaf), or cutting it out entirely- the on again, off again dance you're doing has to be wreaking havoc on you with constant states of "fix" and "withdrawal"... I'd feel truly sorry for anyone stuck being around me if I did that, and likely wouldn't have a girlfriend anymore

I still think you're getting yourself too worked up over the whole thing, just enjoy it if you want to or drop it if not- making yourself feel so guilty about drinking coffee is probably what's making you so cranky in the first place

Hey, at least it isn't cigarettes, or meth, or heroin, etc...

[SaberToothDream]

i've heard good things about coffee recently. i heard if you drink coffee and then drink a lot of water after it's good for the bladder. i also heard drinking coffee can help keep the brain young and ward off Alzheimer’s. I even read something that said a two cups a day reduces your chances of getting Cirrhosis of the Liver. I haven't read up too much on it so maybe there's evidence that proves otherwise.

[sheffy4]

Originally Posted by SaberToothDream

i've heard good things about coffee recently. i heard if you drink coffee and then drink a lot of water after it's good for the bladder. i also heard drinking coffee can help keep the brain young and ward off Alzheimer’s. I even read something that said a two cups a day reduces your chances of getting Cirrhosis of the Liver. I haven't read up too much on it so maybe there's evidence that proves otherwise.

Coffee is similar to red wine in this way. There always seems to be some new study celebrating its health benefits, then the next week there's another study saying that it can cause cancer or something else horrible. In the end, I feel I can't really trust the "research"

[Schlenkerb]

Originally Posted by sheffy4

Coffee is similar to red wine in this way. There always seems to be some new study celebrating its health benefits, then the next week there's another study saying that it can cause cancer or something else horrible. In the end, I feel I can't really trust the "research"

I think in the end we all should just drink water! I've never heard of studies saying drinking water is bad for you.

[Vantage72]

Originally Posted by Schlenkerb

I think in the end we all should just drink water! I've never heard of studies saying drinking water is bad for you.

Let me educate you Well not bad, but it's possible to drink too much according to some research.

Some quotes:

It's been recommended for decades that people drink 8 glasses of water a day to improve the way they look, and improve their health.

But today, some are calling it all a myth.

Researchers say it doesn't improve your skin tone, suppress your appetite, or help with headaches.

In fact, a new study in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology suggests too much water might actually hurt you - hindering your kidney's ability to excrete toxins.

University of Pennsylvania Dr. Stanley Goldfarb says, “Good practices, avoiding certain foods, not smoking, getting your exercise, those are the things that benefit your health, and water drinking really doesn't.”

The bottom line, they say if your not thirsty - no need to drink.

Today's THV - KTHV Little Rock News Article

Increased water intake was only really justified in extreme cases, such as for athletes, people living in hot, dry climates and those suffering from particular illnesses.

Study pours cold water on drinking eight glasses a day - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

“There is an urban myth that drinking a lot of water is healthy, and it leads to people toting around plastic water bottles all day drinking water,” Dr Goldfarb was quoted by Reuters as saying.

Extra water is no help, it only stretches your bladder: study- Hindustan Times

Balderdash, says a new review of the scientific literature by kidney gurus Dan Negoianu and Stanley Goldfarb from the University of Pennsylvania. They found that for the average, healthy individual, there is no evidence that increased water intake benefits organ functioning, appetite, headaches, skin tone, or substance clearance from the kidneys—and the origin of 8×8 is a mystery. The human body didn’t evolve a chronic thirst—it evolved a great capacity for maintaining proper water balance in the face of variable intake.

These findings support an earlier study by Heinz Valtin from Dartmouth, which found no support for 8×8, and debunked a few other myths. He found that dark urine does not mean dehydration, caffeinated beverages “count” as fluid intake, thirst doesn’t mean “it’s too late,” water doesn’t prevent (or help) constipation, cancer, or heart disease.

It’s Time to Declare Independence from the Eight-Glasses-of-Water Urban Legend | Discoblog | Discover Magazine[/quote]

[openeyes]

Originally Posted by carenkh

. In doing some writing, I know that part of me believes that drinking coffee means I'm an *adult*. I wasn't allowed to have it as a child, so to me, it's something grownups do.

Interesting. For me coffee was something I largely had from about age 6-12 (when I switched to just water), as my dad would regularly make me a giant mug with milk and sugar when he was having some. Now on the occasions I drink some it reminds me of that. My "adult drink" is loose leaf green or white tea, as I never had any until recently. It provides small amounts of caffeine throughout the day and no sugar is involved.

The main time I've felt jittery or bothered after ingesting caffeine is when sugar was part of the equation, so if you do end up drinking coffee again, perhaps see how it feels when you drink it black (provided you don't already, I don't remember). You could also try making a coffee however you like it, with sugar, cream, or whatever else, but use high quality decaf and see how it affects you/if it satisfies you.

Another option would be to make coffee ingestion something you do on certain special occasions. Recently I've elected to have some coffee with sugar and cream when I go to Quaker/Friends meetings on Sundays. I just relax after the meeting and sip my little tiny cup (about 3 ounces of coffee). The rest of the week I enjoy lots of tea, some with caffeine, some not.

[mlc82]

Originally Posted by sheffy4

Coffee is similar to red wine in this way. There always seems to be some new study celebrating its health benefits, then the next week there's another study saying that it can cause cancer or something else horrible. In the end, I feel I can't really trust the "research"

I figure I'm going to die of something someday anyway, so might as well enjoy my favorite vice as I could just as easily drop coffee, then walk outside and be run over by a bus.