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I quit caffeine

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Re: I quit caffeine

#61

Post by shmel »

chomp wrote: post #53
daxfohl wrote: post #38

I'll be the contrarian. I was a pot per day drinker and quit for three months and felt no different, just missed the coffee. I quit the quit and I'm back to a pot per day, feeling much better.

It depends on the person, I can go on and off caffeine with no repercussions, but my wife goes through grueling withdrawals when she does it. A pot per day can be a lot, or a little depending on the bean and the roast, so I can't comment on that.

Caffeine metabolization speed varies wildly across the population due to genetic reasons. When you compound it with multiple cups per day, you will get a quite different experience.

Re: I quit caffeine

#62

Post by imilk »

fareesh wrote: post #27

When I moved to University in Canada I was introduced to "Wake Ups" caffeine pills. I am not a coffee drinker, but I liked to stay up late, and I had to go to class, so I decided to try these out, since at that age you feel like you are invulnerable. These symptoms seem pretty consistent with some that I felt in extreme cases. I stopped taking them after a few attempts. The positives of Caffeine were great though. I…

Any stimulant that brings you up is also going to make you crash down. And with repeated use, the highs get lower and the crashes come when you don't take it. There are ways to manage the comedown (such as tapering), but no ways to avoid it.

Re: I quit caffeine

#63

Post by linsomniac »

I quit about the same time the author did, I stopped back in July or Aug. I never really had jitters. I'd drink 1-2 10 cup carafes in a day along with my wife, I'd drink the bulk of it.

I decided to stop for two reasons: I sleep pretty crappy, and I was doing a bunch of other diet changes so I figured why not one more...

Everyone is different, but in my case switching to decaf was pretty easy. I had headaches a couple days, otherwise I honestly couldn't tell the difference. I didn't find mornings more of a struggle. But I also didn't find I slept better (confirmed by the fitbit sleep stats).

I read a few days ago that decaf coffee still has theobromine, which can also help focus.

Unlike the author, I like my coffee with cream most times, and the decaf I've switched to tastes just fine. I even found some instant decaf which I took on a camping trip shortly after stopping caffeine, which tastes pretty good. Mount Hagen, for reference.

Re: I quit caffeine

#64

Post by kraftman »

I'd be less worried about the damage that the coffee is doing and more worried about the damage waking up at 6am every day is doing. (assuming that if you arent stopping for the day until 9pm you aren't going to sleep at 10pm)

Re: I quit caffeine

#65

Post by btgeekboy »

I’ve tried quitting caffeine in the past, but the problem I run into is that I’m actually not a coffee drinker, but a Diet Coke drinker. I don’t enjoy the taste of plain water. So at a restaurant/drive thru/etc, my options are diet soda (with 0 calories) or something caffeine-free with hundreds of calories. When you’re trying to budget calories, that hurts a lot.

At least I’ve been able to reduce my overall consumption of caffeine a bit, but I haven’t been able to cut it out completely.

Re: I quit caffeine

#66

Post by cactus2093 »

techwizrd wrote: post #44
patwolf wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

+1 for Zojirushi. I do wish they made something shaped more like a traditional mug than a travel mug. I've tried various brands of insulated mugs, and at most they let me stretch out my cup of coffee to 45 minutes. With a Zojirushi I can make a cup last hours.

I used to think the concept of a mug warmer or a heated mug was quite silly. My wife and I received Ember mugs a few months ago, and they're a lot less silly than I thought--they just keep your cup warm to exactly the temperature you prefer. If anyone is still on the fence, I highly recommend some kind of mug warmer or heated mug. There is something quite freeing about not worrying if you're drinking your coffee/tea/…

Have to say I disagree about the Ember mug. It's a little bit like the warmer setting on a diner coffee pot, the coffee will stay warm a long time but won't necessarily stay fresh. And if you drink your coffee with milk the Ember mug starts to develop a film along the sides of the cup after about 30 minutes which is kind of unappetizing. You also have to keep it charged on the stand in between uses so you can't put the mug away in the cupboard (unless you have an outlet in your cupboard).

I stopped using it and now just use a Yeti tumbler. It keeps my coffee hot for at least 2-3 hours which is long enough for me, without any of the downsides of the heated cup.

Re: I quit caffeine

#67

Post by mkaic »

I grew up in a house where coffee wasn't allowed, so I've actually never had it before. I have avoided nearly all caffeine my whole life out of habit (one of those cases where a rule you grow up with sticks with you even if the original justification for it didn't).

Drinking a Coke is enough to make me bounce off the walls. I've often wondered what would happen to me if I tried coffee or an energy drink, but based on how strong the effects of sugar and small caffeine doses are on me, I'm far too scared to experiment. I do think coffee smells amazing, though--walking into a Starbucks is always delightful, even if I only ever buy hot chocolate there.

Re: I quit caffeine

#68

Post by cycomanic »

One of the best investments I've ever made was a good espresso machine and grinder (Rancilio Silvia and Rocky for those who know something). Espresso coffee tastes so much better than drip (I really hate French press so that's not even a comparison).

I find espresso also much more agreeable. While I feel jittery after several cups of drip I find I would need to drink a lot more (unrealistic amounts) espresso coffee for the same effect. It also helps that its not a type of coffee where one has a big pot of it sitting around and one can get constant refills.

Interestingly I don't get withdrawal symptoms (I often don't drink coffee when travelling as I rather not drink coffee than drink bad coffee). So I might not be too strongly affected by caffeine.

Re: I quit caffeine

#69

Post by code51 »

I think that there can be a significant difference between every batch of coffee. Both the origin and conditions of the specific land where coffee grows matters in my opinion. People often imagine this as a factor that only changes flavor. I suspect the soil and the ecosystem (e.g. nearby plants, rivers) can trigger such negative effects even for an individual who's not sensitive to caffeine and consuming in moderation.
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