I need some help breaking a caffeine habit!

[sandraladeda]

I am incredibly addicted to coffee. Now and then, I wean myself off of it for awhile, as the addiction seems to get out of hand.

When I wake up, I crawl to the coffee maker and make a 6 cup pot. All for me! When I am weaning myself off, I brew the coffee one third decaf. After a few days of this, I brew the coffee one half decaf. After a few more days, I go to 2 thirds decaf. At this point, I can switch completely off coffee, and go to tea instead. For me, the weaning off of the caffiene takes care of the physical symmptoms - headache, nausea, fatigue. Switching to tea takes care of the emotional attachment to the taste of coffee. After a week or two of tea, I can drop tea as well. For some reason, it is not as addictive for me as coffee.

Because I love hot beverages, I switch to flavored herbal teas, like blueberry, mint, lemon, black current, etc. And good old hot chocolate!!
I agree with other posters - coffee without cafeine is pointless…

 

[porthos11]

afraid not…
we have nescafe decaf here in oz and its just great…

Decaf is an insult to us coffee-worshipers everywhere.

The kick is part of the experience.

Otherwise, it’s just fake. Sorry

Coffee rules. If you’re addicted to coffee, enjoy it for the rest of your life. I will never deprive myself the joy of coffee.

Mmmm… Coffee…

 

[westcoast]

You can make those cold coffee’s at home! Brew some decaf, put it in the fridge to chill it, then pour some of the decaf into some ice trays to make ice cubes (so when the ice melts, it doesn’t water down the cold cofffee). Pour the cold decaf over the decaf ice cubes, then add some splenda or whatever else you like in it… it’s great and CHEAP!

 

[pyropam]

Advice from an RN… The caffeine is not harmful by itself. Caffeine can do a body good. On the other hand… The junk you add to it can cause blood sugar problems and weight problems. Try giving up the junk and just stick to plain old coffee…

 

[socalsurfnici]

I would say start weaning yourself off the coffee. So if you drink 4 cups, then only drink 3…then 2…then 1. Another thing to do to avoid headaches and other withdrawls is to get yourself on decaf slowly (have a cup that’s half decaf and half regular) and then you can wean your way off decaf. Of course you would have to make coffee at home to make it the way you wanted it.

Tea is a great substitute for coffee and so is exercise. Both are healthy for you. Not to mention you just might get addicted to the endorphins you’re body let’s out when your exercising. Good Luck.

 

[aimee]

Give up coffee Never!

 

[paradoxy]

I gave up coffee once… for Good Friday… never again

I had to give up in early pregnancy, b/c it made me sick, and I was miserable and unable to do any serious intellectual work or really concentrate on anything for 4 months! And don’t tell me it takes this long to detox your body! I have low blood pressure and NEED it to function. I started drinking coffee at 14 years old when I needed to put about a 100 pages of history into my brain in 2 hours… I succeeded, and remember thinking: ‘Where have you been all my life?’

Decaf is worse than non-alcoholic beer, and I’ve tried both.

If you are moderate and use a cheap homemade variety, what’s the harm? Some people need medication to function… some need coffee

 

[Irish_Becca]

I happily admit I have a caffeine addiction. I love the stuff! Heheh…

Why not just cut back to half-caf that you brew at home? I buy the Folgers Gourmet and have a small pot every day. There are health benefits, you know!

But, if you really want to give up, I’ll pray for you.

 

[Katie1723]

To the OP, how about we meet at Starbucks so we can discuss your problem intelligently ?
Kathy

 

[Giannawannabe]

To the OP, how about we meet at Starbucks so we can discuss your problem intelligently ?
Kathy

LOL!!I was thinking something similar! I love my coffee in the mornings. I gave up the afternoon and evening cups, though!

 

[latinmasslover]

Hi all!

Just wondering if any of you have successfully given up caffeine. If so, any tips on doing it? I drink coffee EVERY SINGLE DAY. But it’s not just the regular coffee you can brew at home. I crave the specialty coffee, particularly ice blended white chocolate mochas from our nearby coffee house.

Like I said, I drink it everyday and I have led myself to believe that I NEED it to make it through the day. I know this isn’t true, as I gave up caffeine for lent this year. I endured some pretty bad headaches (as in an ongoing headache for a few weeks), but I did it.

But I’m back to drinking coffee daily again, and I want to give it up completely. For one, it is an expensive habit. And, it is not a healthy habit at all, either!

Please help!

I got most of my caffeine through soda (Diet Pepsi to be exact), which I drank like water. I really enjoy Diet Pepsi, and the caffeine that came with it. I gave it up by switching to caffeine pills (one pill equals 1 cup of coffee) and got off of it that way, because 1) I don’t like taking pills, and 2) it’s not on my mind the way pop is. I wouldn’t drink soda, and caffeine pills aren’t on the mind. I’d only take it when I started really feeling tired, and within 2 weeks I was totally off. Hope this helps.

 

[ekblad7]

To the OP, how about we meet at Starbucks so we can discuss your problem intelligently ?
Kathy

That is SO funny! I’m trying to not buy coffee out but I don’t think I can give up the home stuff any time soon. I wish I could inspire you somehow. I never had a cup of coffee until my fifth child was born. Then I just had to do it. I don’t consider myself an addict. When I’m first pregnant coffee makes me ill and I don’t get the headaches so I don’t think I’m overdoing it yet. I also enjoy chai and java chai. All made at home.