Do you ever just feel overwhelmingly cranky?Uncontrollably sour?
Nuts?
I do.
Today.
The little, mostly ignored, voice of reason is whispering in the back of my head, "There's no reason to assault the Starbucks worker for talking on her cell phone. She has a life too and you'll get your decaf coffee eventually. Plus, they'll call the police and it will be unpleasant for everybody."
And ahhhh... so quickly we've ventured to the central part of my crankiness.
The decaffeinated coffee part.
The NO CAFFEINE part.
For reasons I wont bore you with, I'm off caffeine.
And Diet Coke.
Probably forever.
It's not going well.
The headaches.
The dizziness.
The uncontrollable urge to reach across the counter, yank the cell phone from that teenage Starbucks worker's hand, chunk it across the lobby and yell, "You can talk to Lamont after work, it's not important if he loves you or not. NOW TAKE MY ORDER!"
The decaffeinated milk of human kindness has momentarily dried up here at Mabel's House. Heaven help Poor Matt.
PS. Know what helps a bad mood? Waking up and finding that Apartment Therapy not only actually read my house submission, but they posted pictures too! Now I feel a smidge jerky about my irritable behavior. I will be in a better mood now, I will be in a better mood now, I will...
52 comments:
Been there, tried that.
I've come to the conclusion that, unless it's medically necessary, caffeine in moderation works better for all parties involved in my life than going cold turkey and giving it up completely.
Hope the Starbucks folks survived! LOL
I have a Pepsi-a-day keeps the Dr. away habit. Impossible to kick. I have weened myself to every other day. But the withdrawal headaches in the beginning were brutal.
Good luck.
Also, I'm curious what kind of camera you use? I would like a new one that takes decent photos now that I'm blogging.
Been there too!! If you can get through the first part, it's totally worth it. I suppose that's true of quitting anything. I slept so much better, my skin looked better, my heart didn't do a weird racing thing sometimes for no reason, etc. You notice I'm using the past tense because I've fallen off the wagon. I've got to get back on the wagon - or at least mostly on it. I wish there was a caffeine patch to help!
Just curious - what prompted this sudden abandonment of caffeine?
I have been caffeine free for almost 6 years now. The first two weeks were bad, but so worth it. I have so much more energy than I ever did before. I wouldn't take that habit back for anything.
Good luck!
I hear and feel for you! Try Green Tea if your able, in moderation of course. I've found it seems to give a perk me up without the caffeine.
And, yes, the headaches will go away, after a few naps on the couch.
You can do it!
I tried giving up caffeine once and my husband gave me a coke..so i really wish you the best.. i hear it's really great for you.. but i'm addicted so there is no hope for me..Good luck!
When a doctor tells me "quit caffeine or die" then I will quit. Maybe.
Caffeine or no caffeine... She needed to get off that phone and I'd have screamed at her too... TOTALLY!!
Di
The Blue Ridge Gal
I've been on a no caffeine kick for almost a year. Sometimes I still find myself ordering Diet Coke at restaurants without thinking, but for the most part, I've switched to ginger ale and Diet Rite (which most co-workers mistake for a beer can and give me dirty looks). Good luck! I wish you well. My headaches started going away after about two weeks, but I still take the occasional Exedrine for really bad migraines.
Not only in Apartment Therapy but I saw you here!
http://racheldenbow.blogspot.com/2009/11/hi-this-is-mandi-from-heres-lookin-at.html
Waaay cool!
Good luck on your withdrawal symptoms!
Liz -
I agree with Dawn's comment. But I would DEFINITELY remove Diet Coke or for that matter ALL diet drinks/eats...artificial sweetners are not good for us!
Also congrats on the Apartment Therapy gig!!
get a little caffeine and dance the jig
Good for you Liz! You've got a lot more will power than me... I couldn't give up my coffee and tea!!
Well done for getting your home on Apartment Therapy! It looks fantastic.
Saskia x
I've finally pretty much given up caffeine after years of intense addiction and intense headaches. It is TOTALLY worth it, once you finally actually kick the addiction. That said, the withdrawal headaches are AWFUL. I recommend weaning yourself slowly, from fully-caffeinated drinks to decaf and tea to every-other-day. I found it also helped to drink water like my life depended on it. It is possible though, keep hope alive! And oooh congratulations on Apartment Therapy. I just love that site.
For medical reasons I can't have it either. It was a rough two weeks of caffeine withdrawal and headaches! But you will get through it! What helped me was Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi or Coke. Eventually you start not liking the fizz and stop drinking it all together. Herbal tea was my savior and my MIL introduced me to a wonderful tea shop online whiched helped a lot!
Good luck Liz. I’ll say a little prayer for you!
LOVE the feature of your home in Apartment Therapy! Congrats!
As for the caffeine--I am sorry...I have tried to kick my caffeine addiction several times--I quit for both pregnancies and should have stayed caffeine free...I just cannot seem to quit. Good luck to you!
As always, I love your blog!
Oh my, good luck with that!! I've gone to half-caf during the preggo phase, and it is NOT as helpful. I miss my full-caf days!
For health reasons I can't have caffeine, chocolate, any red sauce, alcohol, white bread, anything with aspertaine in it, and minimal sugar. I thought I was going to die, but I actually feel so much better and my health is improving. This too shall pass.
I hear ya. The process of decaffeinating is hard. I had to go through that myself after discovering caffeine was the source of my intense migraines. But I echo others who've give it up - it's definitely worth it in the end. Good luck!
I was off caffeine for a really long time. Then one day my boss said, 'Would you like a coffee? My treat.'
It was downhill from there.
Props if you can do it. My addiction is 'under control.' and by that I mean I only need it once a day but will DIE without it.
Maybe it's not exactly under control.
Good luck!
Good luck, Liz!
I've tried three times to give up coffee AND Diet Coke, most recently 3 weeks ago, when I was told I have GERD, and I shouldn't have coffee, soda, chocolate, tomato sauce or citrus fruits. I thought those were the main food groups?
But anyway,I've definitely cut back, BUT I still just NEED a small cup of coffee every day. I just stick to the low-acid Folger's, and don't feel guilty about adding cream.
Good luck with your no-caffeine adventures, and definitely congrats on AT!
No one ever believed me when the horrible headaches I had when I cut out caffeine. I was a two pot a day addict until I realized that a good sleep was better.
I come from a lifelong list of alcohol addicts. The blinks I received when I said I was cutting caffeine out of my life was worse than any past drunks saying they were giving up drinking.
I gave up caffeine when I was pregnant, well mostly, I drank decaf and tea, which still has some in it. But once I was done breast feeding, I was back to regular in a second. I'd like to give up the Diet Pepsi since all the artificial stuff is so bad for you but by about 1 p.m. I feel like I just need it.
Best of luck!
You can do it! It's tough at first, but you'll make it through. =)
Girl, I feel you. Take away my caffeine and chocolate and it's gonna be a UFC cage match up in here. ;)
Okay, diet drinks I can so understand, but giving up your morning cup of real "Joe"? Oh, girlfriend... I'd sooner pluck out my eyelashes.
I've been there. The withdrawal is the hardest part...I still drink de-caf coffee every morning and the trace of caffeine is enough to get me by. Now if I have caffeine, I'm a hot mess. A co-worker recently said to me, "Thank God you don't drink caffeine"...which makes me think perhaps I'm high strung enough without it. :-)
That's totally great about AT! And very well deserved.
Man, CF or not, Starbucks employees should NOT be talking on their mobiles when working! You should report that to corporate asap!
At least they make Diet Coke in a CF version! I know all the places that serve CF sodas now thanks to my pregnant daughter. :) It's amazing how many places now offer that. And don't forget root beer (unless, of course, you HATE root beer) as it naturally has no caffeine.
May the force be with you. And don't worry about Matt. He can go out and just get hisself a cup of leaded coffee, so no pity here.
don't you worry - i gave up caffeine when i got pregnant and the angry symptoms go away in a few weeks. BUT. someday in the future, when you think you are addiction free, you will smell a freshly brewed pot of your old lover and you will remember all the good times you had together and fondle the pot a bit while your coworkers watch in horror.
a little tiny trick that helped me when i quit soda 10 years ago was sniffing someones soda. my bladder has thanked me ever since.
every now and then i backslide and have a dr pepper but my dermo just told i'm allergic to red 40. sooo i slip in a mountain dew about once a month.
Wow . . .bummer . . . .well, I am off to make a pot of coffee . . . cause, well, I got 4 kids . . . and I ain't giving up caffeine.
Later! :)
why would yu do that to yourself? bring on the caffiene!
I don't think I could give up drinking Coke. Good for you though!
Congrats for making it on Apartment Therapy!
Liz, congrats on the Apartment Therapy house tour. It looks fantastic. So sorry to hear about your withdrawal symptoms. You're a better woman than me. I am convinced there is crack in Diet Coke. The mere thought of giving it up gives me shivers.
congrats on the apartment therapy feature! it's easy to see why they would post your great shots thoug!
good luck on your caffine boot, it's rough, but worth it in the end! if you think you feel bad now, just wait till you see what happens when you sneak a glass after a few months
Good luck with your caffeine withdrawal, I am giving up smoking and sometimes feel like you seem to be feeling. BTW your home is absolutely gorgeous.
Girl, I feel your pain. I used to be a Diet Mt. Dew addict and gave up all soda/caffeine for medical reasons.
It was rough but totally worth it. And I do think I crave sweets less since getting off of it, too.
And I now believe from personal experience that artificial sweeteners are from Satan. Seriously.
Yes, well, caffeine is my drug of choice..in coffee, not sodas. I will keep a cup at my desk most of the day if I'm not careful...C
Caffeine withdrawl sucks.
I'm not the caffeine fiend in the house -- it's been my DH. He's tried to kick it a few times, and being on this end (helping him through it) has not been a picnic. I feel sorry for him and anyone else who has to go through it.
Good for you! I need to do it. I have one cup of coffee in the morning with a diet coke chaser. I try to limit it to that, but I still feel like it's dissolving my teeth. It's a real dilemma: diet cokes or teeth. Argh.
PS. Congratulations on the apartment therapy feature!!
Visiting from Angela's Peony Patch! And all I can say is bless your heart. I have tried giving up caffeine, but I have no will power whatsoever. I commend you my friend, and if it'll make you feel better, those of us in the Starbucks line behind you, we won't mind if you snatch Lamont from the frisky teenager's hands. For the sake of getting all of our orders correct, of course.
Hey, I'm hosting an apron giveaway over at my blog. Today's the last day to enter. Check it out if you'd like.
Blessings to you (and your hubby)=),
Kelli @ SustainingCreativity
I've kicked the caffeine about 2 years ago and like everyone says its pure hell for the first 2 weeks, cranky, tired and headaches but afterwards I've never felt better and my skin looks better too! Keep on keeping on! (: I saw your post in AT and I love your style, so much fun!
LOL - I've given up caffeine before. Many times. It's not pretty. Once in a while, my cruel & unusual hubby makes decaf in the morning and doesn't tell me. By about 9:00, I am crabby and tired and headache-y and don't even know why.
I gave up caffeine this past May. Sucked. The headaches, the grouchies, the envy of everyone else still drinking caffeine. Took about 3 weeks to really get past all the woe is me & all-around lousy feeling. But now, I'm doing better than ever & darn near relieved to not need caffeine. I've had significantly less migraines too. Not to give tmi, but I had a breast biopsy recently . The MD said caffeine drinkers have a higher incidence of breast cysts. joy.
Anyways, when I stopped cold turkey, I couldn't believe how many people came out of the woodwork to tell me how addicted they are & could never give up caffeine. They went on n on n on. Sheesh - alright already! It was getting to the point like they were discouraging me (or justifying their own weaknesses).
I honestly didn't like being in a caffeine club of sorts. It reminded me of the die-hard smokers that huddle outside in a little group braving the rain & wind just to get a smoke in behind the building.
So I just tuned the caff addicts & naysayers out & now I'm sailing on by - caffeine free. Saved a boatload of money in the process too.
Good luck girl -I've no doubt you can't succeed.
Hang in there!!! You can do it. And don't listen to those who fell off the wagon!
I gave up caffeine and proceeded to be bitchy for 2 weeks, and headachey, but THEN, I:
1. lost weight
2, stopped having PMS symptoms
3. now sleep better
Yes. there are some mornings when I miss it, but I have been splurging on Harry and David Moose Munch decaf coffee, and it makes for a delicious morning!! Good luck!!
If you can make it through this rough part you are going to feel amazing. I quit coffee years ago and it was rough but it was SO WORTH IT. I just feel better without it.
Hang in there.
Could you get a decaf Gingerbread Latte at Starbucks? That is my favourite drink around Christmas time and there is so much syrup in it....it overpowers any graving for caffeine. :)
You may feel cranky for a while but the humongous plus of no caffeine is the end of cramps during that time of the month. Don't mean to talk about such things in a comment but a month without that joy convinced me that caffeine is completely dispensable!
I spent one lovely (fattening) summer working at the headquarters of a coffee company. I didn't even like coffee. But it was my job to recruit people who liked coffee, so I figured I should become acquainted with the stuff.
There was a full, professional self-serve espresso bar (with all the syrups and yummy stuff) and 8 kinds of brewed coffee and all the insto-presto cappuccino stuff like you'd find at a gas station.
So 3x a day I'd have a coffee conconction I created, and I'd spend the rest of the day sipping from a 32 oz iced tea. Every day.
And every Saturday I'd get a headache that no amount of Advil would cure. By the third weekend, it finally occured to me that I was having weekly caffeine withdrawal. (Shouldn't have been a surprise. I don't think anyone could go from 10,000 grams of caffiene a dayto non without suffering some kind of adverse effect.)
But instead of going cold-turkey (because that would be a hard place to live a caffeine-free life and because I really liked my Kona/caramel/cappuccino concoction), I cut back to one coffee drink a day and maybe some iced tea in the afternoon. It helped cut down on the headaches and I was able to go back to my caffeine-less weekends without suffering.
I remember when my mom went caffiene free she got the headaches, saw stars, and was not pleasant to live with.
You might want to have a cuppa something or one soda or something to get through the first week or two before replacing it altogether. I hope it passes quickly for you!
*eye brows raised* there have only been two good reasons in my life thus far to give up caffeine and their names are Eva and Isabela. And even then, I cheated a little.
Post a Comment