Ask HN: Quit caffeine? Before and after anecdotes • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Quit caffeine? Before and after anecdotes

#121

Post by guilhas » Sun, Feb 20, 2022, 4:53 PM UTC

wartijn_ wrote: post #16

Two years ago I quit drinking caffeine for 2 or 3 months. At first I was tiered more often, but after a while (maybe 2 weeks? Can't remember exactly) that went away. After that I felt pretty much the same as with caffeine, not noticeably better or worse. Since I didn't feel better and I like coffee, I started drinking that again.

Feel like this comment, and similar, if were made about drinking alcohol we would not take them as lightly

For example I like beer and wine a lot but I can go many weeks without drinking them. Coffee I drink everyday, because I want to of course

Re: Ask HN: Quit caffeine? Before and after anecdotes

#122

Post by jagger1345 » Sun, Feb 20, 2022, 5:19 PM UTC

300mg is my sweet spot. At 400mg even if I have it all early in the AM it somehow still affects my sleep. 300mg and I can sleep fine.

Re: Ask HN: Quit caffeine? Before and after anecdotes

#123

Post by euroderf » Sun, Feb 20, 2022, 5:45 PM UTC

Two data points. Trying to quit caffeine in my 30s always led to splitting headaches; no headaches at all in my 50s and 60s. And, FWIW, drinking filter coffee in the morning on an empty stomach is always a disaster, but espresso (with steamed milk) on an empty stomach goes down just fine without tummy troubles.

Re: Ask HN: Quit caffeine? Before and after anecdotes

#124

Post by lamontcg » Sun, Feb 20, 2022, 7:01 PM UTC

bb123 wrote: post #17

I’d like to offer the opposite perspective to many of the responses here. I regularly have 2 coffees a day, and I’ve taken month long breaks from it in the past. I’ve never experienced any of the severe withdrawal symptoms people often describe, with the exception of feeling a little sluggish on the first day. I did, however, miss the routine of preparing and drinking a warm aromatic beverage in the morning. I find i…

I quit coffee for about a year before and I lacked focus at work and the ability to scratch away at things day after day to get bigger things done.

Re: Ask HN: Quit caffeine? Before and after anecdotes

#125

Post by pillefitz » Sun, Feb 20, 2022, 8:55 PM UTC

captainredbeard wrote: post #120

kaycebasques wrote: post #66

I am 3 weeks into a month of zero caffeine. It's actually a completely sober month: no alcohol, no weed, no caffeine, etc. I went cold turkey. The first 2-3 days I felt some mental fog and tightness in my head. I helped myself get through that by reminding myself that caffeine constricts bloodflow so what I was feeling was probably the sensation of more blood flowing through my head (which is probably a good thing).…

> caffeine constricts bloodflow It's the opposite: caffeine is a vasodilator so it INCREASES blood flow.

I believe that's not correct, cerebral blood flow is reduced 20-30%: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2748160/

Re: Ask HN: Quit caffeine? Before and after anecdotes

#126

Post by carom » Mon, Feb 21, 2022, 1:54 AM UTC

cwackerfuss wrote: post #95

carom wrote: post #71

I've cut out a lot of foods permanently. Most notable are caffeine and sugar (sucrose, fructose). It will take a few tries but you're better off without it. Regarding caffeine, I would drink a lot of soda each day, like 4+ Mexican cokes. The first month is terrible. You will have an initial withdrawal, then just be in a slump. I am the type of programmer to work on side projects after work and I couldn't. I decided t…

Four Mexican cokes sounds as much like kicking a caffeine habit as it does a pretty bad sugar habit. Good job sticking to it.

I continued sugar for a while after that but eventually cut it out.

Re: Ask HN: Quit caffeine? Before and after anecdotes

#127

Post by aliswe » Mon, Feb 21, 2022, 3:49 PM UTC

rustybelt wrote: post #77

jedberg wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you tried using herbal tea (no caffeine) to get your routine and see if it's the routine or the caffeine that helps?

Good decaf (Swedish water method) works best for me when trying to cut down on caffeine but maintain the hot aromatic beverage ritual.

You mean Swiss water method?

Re: Ask HN: Quit caffeine? Before and after anecdotes

#128

Post by orev » Tue, Feb 22, 2022, 10:18 PM UTC

carom wrote: post #71

I've cut out a lot of foods permanently. Most notable are caffeine and sugar (sucrose, fructose). It will take a few tries but you're better off without it. Regarding caffeine, I would drink a lot of soda each day, like 4+ Mexican cokes. The first month is terrible. You will have an initial withdrawal, then just be in a slump. I am the type of programmer to work on side projects after work and I couldn't. I decided t…

> Bright screens are kinda the last factor I can blame for that so I'm experimenting with eink and reflective lcd screens.

Consider that it may not be the screen causing a problem, but the content you’re looking at could be keeping your thoughts from reaching a tranquil state.