Cut caffieine out of my diet

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » February 7, 2004, 2:09 pm

Any tips on surviving the first few days?
Comming off of drinking 6 cans of diet coke a day or so (ish).

CalandraWindrose · Post by **CalandraWindrose** » February 7, 2004, 2:24 pm

drink some caffeine free diet coke - it doesn't taste exactly the same but gives a similar carbonation sensation!

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » February 7, 2004, 2:29 pm

Good for you! I was off caffeine for 6 months once, but I fell off the wagon and am back to the point of "needing" it.

If you were drinking that much a day you may have a hard time. I was only coming off two cups of coffee a day and that was hard in the morning. Do you drink most of it in the am? If so, you will feel sluggish and easily irritated, but it will pass in a week if you stay strong.

Drink caffeine free diet coke, maybe your body will treat it as a placebo and it won't be so bad? If you drink coffee (my weakness) switch to decaf. I find that even decaf perks me up a little because of a psychological correlation between it and being "awake."

This may not apply to you, but I was reading about depression and how millions of people are unknowingly self-treating themselves for depression through the use of caffeine. My father, who has severe clinical depression has always been strongly dependent on caffeine (even with his medication). If you feel depressed or irritable for no reason or have problems with concentration after a week, you might want to consider natural supplements like St John's Wort, Vitamin B complex, or 5-HTP (the best!). Mild depression is all too common in society and I don't advocate prescription anti-depressents for anyone who doesn't have serious depression.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » February 7, 2004, 2:53 pm

I'd say the easiest way is not to stop cold if you've been consuming that much. Make it a decreasing plan over a week. Have 6 Sunday, 5 Monday, 4 Tuesday, etc.. I mainly have 1 can a day and don't notice real large headaches when I skip a day. I used to drink more and going a day without gave me nasty headaches.

Raistin · Post by **Raistin** » February 7, 2004, 3:18 pm

I had this same problem quiet a while ago. I would end up serious head achs if I didnt get my 'coke fix .

I drank more than you too. But how I was able to cut down, was to limit myself. I would buy the cans,and say if I started off drinking 6 *in your case*

I would drink 6 cans, for 2 days. Then down to 5, and added a glass of Tea in to my drinking pattern. 4 on to 4, with 2 glasses of tea, then 3, 3 glasses of tea. 2 cans of coke 2 glasses of tea, then 1 can and 1 glass of tea.

Then its easy to bust since your body had a dose of caffeine, but a watered down type with a small does of pure. Thats how I did it. If I made any sense.... lol

Sanaelya · Post by **Sanaelya** » February 7, 2004, 3:52 pm

you should definitly find some alternate drink to fill its place.. hopefully something caffeine free

i have been drinking the minute maid light lemonade, its not too bad really, and im pretty sure it has no caffeine(just doesn't say caffeine free anywhere on it)

its like 10 calories a can

only bad thing about it is lemons are a natural diuretic so you may pee more

Spankes · Post by **Spankes** » February 7, 2004, 3:57 pm

Drink tons and tons of water. Lots of water will speed up you metabolism just a bit and keep your body happy almost eliminating headaches all together. I went from drinking almost a 12 pack a day to nothing replacing it with probably 3 times as much water. I was pissing every 45 minutes but never caught a headache and was sleeping better at night almost immediately.

Should you find yourdelf getting a headache though take excedrin. The caffine in it will get you through the jones and the painkillers will remove the headache.

Pahreyia · Post by **Pahreyia** » February 7, 2004, 5:05 pm

Go Mormon. Caffeene free until they invest in another beverage company.

a_guide · Post by **a_guide** » February 7, 2004, 5:18 pm

Pahreyia wrote:Go Mormon. Caffeene free until they invest in another beverage company.

What do you mean by that? LoL It sounds like it could be interesting but I just don't get it atm.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » February 7, 2004, 5:42 pm

Anytime you're quitting anything, it's good to cut down before you completely stop.

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » February 7, 2004, 6:02 pm

The mormon cult has a "Word of Wisdom" that says they shouldn't drink any wine, strong drink, tobacco, or hot drinks. So, the hot drink part covers tea and coffee. It doesn't actually say no caffeinne as far as I know, tho some mormons take it to that level. But things like chocolate contain caffeinne and are consumed by many a mormon.

As for what the cult invests in, no clue!

Arborealus · Post by **Arborealus** » February 7, 2004, 6:08 pm

Morphine isw a good substitute...one tends not to need stimulants much when strung out...

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » February 7, 2004, 6:10 pm

There's always caffeine pils. Pop one of those to ease the need once in awhile until you stop altogether.

I drink a large cup of coffee in the morning and a caffinated soft drink at lunch mon-friday then usually coffee on weekends.

There's a definate benefit to drinking lots of water and no caffinated drinks. I usually don't get enough sleep at night and need the coffee at work to perk me up. If I change my sleeping habits I'll most likely try getting off the caffeine as the sugar of soda and in the coffee (if you use it) doesn't help with the teeth much either! There's lots of good reasons to stop consuming caffeine...also, carbonated drinks don't help with digestion so that's another benefit of not drinking those during meals.

Traz-KOE · Post by **Traz-KOE** » February 7, 2004, 6:21 pm

Quitting cold is tough...I had to do so by doctor's orders about six months ago (had to cut back on all acids, even, so no diet and/or caffiene free soda for me). Another good reason to lay off soda, though, is for your teeth. It's not the sugar, so much (though it doesn't help), but rather the phosphoric acid most companies add for "flavor".

Herbal tea is your friend, especially peppermint.

Decaf coffee still has caffiene in it; only so much can actually be extracted, so if you're coming off it entirely I'd avoid that too.

As for diuretics, since caffiene itself is a pretty hefty one I wouldn't be too worried.

(EDIT: And it's far eaiser than quitting EQ, so be happy there.

)

Asheran Mojomaster · February 8, 2004, 12:36 am

Spankes wrote:Drink tons and tons of water. Lots of water will speed up you metabolism just a bit and keep your body happy almost eliminating headaches all together. I went from drinking almost a 12 pack a day to nothing replacing it with probably 3 times as much water. I was pissing every 45 minutes but never caught a headache and was sleeping better at night almost immediately.

Should you find yourdelf getting a headache though take excedrin. The caffine in it will get you through the jones and the painkillers will remove the headache.

Yeah, thats what I did, I went for 5 days with no coke at all, until today I had to drink a little bit...couldnt stand it anymore. I'm drinking between 1-2 gallons of water a day atm.

Edit : Btw, its not easier than quitting EQ, I didn't have urges for EQ after I quit it, but I am from this. Of course, I didn't have urges to play EQ for the last 3 months I actually played.

noel · Post by **noel** » February 8, 2004, 1:47 am

Spankes wrote:Drink tons and tons of water. Lots of water will speed up you metabolism just a bit and keep your body happy almost eliminating headaches all together. I went from drinking almost a 12 pack a day to nothing replacing it with probably 3 times as much water. I was pissing every 45 minutes but never caught a headache and was sleeping better at night almost immediately.

Should you find yourdelf getting a headache though take excedrin. The caffine in it will get you through the jones and the painkillers will remove the headache.

Amen.

Spankes · Post by **Spankes** » February 8, 2004, 2:29 am

Asheran Mojomaster wrote:Btw, its not easier than quitting EQ, I didn't have urges for EQ after I quit it, but I am from this. Of course, I didn't have urges to play EQ for the last 3 months I actually played.

Way easier than quitting eq imo. I could never have another soda ever and be fine (unless it is coke mixed with crown!)...but I still log on to eq a couple times a week

a_guide · Post by **a_guide** » February 8, 2004, 2:33 am

Meh I know about the Word of Wisdom, I was raised a Mormon, my confusion was the reference to investing in beverage companies. I'm curious, can anyone fill me in?

Spankes · Post by **Spankes** » February 8, 2004, 2:40 am

A mormon guy bought and/or ran Pepsi. Maybe still does, I dunno.

Or some major controling interest (CEO I think), something like that anyway.

Edit: Snoped!

A variant of this rumor states that the Mormons own the Pepsi-Cola Company. That too is untrue.

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » February 8, 2004, 10:38 am

Thanks for the tips all.
Aside from a resounding headache yesterday I seem to be doing fine.. have some caffine free diet coke, only drank two cans yesterday, the rest water.

Also fell asleep harder last night than I have in weeks, hope to continue that trend.

Ironically enough, I quit EQ in december. =p

CeNo65 · Post by **CeNo65** » February 8, 2004, 6:42 pm

i quit all sodas at the start of the new year, all i drink is water

every morning i have cup of black coffee, it seems to have enuff caffinee to keep good all day

ps. i hate coffee

Lor · Post by **Lor** » February 8, 2004, 8:07 pm

I've pretty much stopped the coffee drinking in the mornings....I really hate using those damn porta crappers on the construction sites, now if I'm really tired in the morning i'll pop a vivarin or two, that gets me right through the day

Asheran Mojomaster · Post by **Asheran Mojomaster** » February 9, 2004, 1:00 am

I'm having cravings again

.

brego · Post by **brego** » February 9, 2004, 1:12 am

Spankes wrote:
Asheran Mojomaster wrote:Btw, its not easier than quitting EQ, I didn't have urges for EQ after I quit it, but I am from this. Of course, I didn't have urges to play EQ for the last 3 months I actually played.
Way easier than quitting eq imo. I could never have another soda ever and be fine (unless it is coke mixed with crown!)...but I still log on to eq a couple times a week

i feel your pain spankes...not really but yeah whatever...i just went to a diff game heh, then another, but its okay, eventually i think my stepdown process will work!!

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » February 9, 2004, 11:11 am

Pahreyia wrote:Go Mormon. Caffeene free until they invest in another beverage company.

He means mormons own every fucking thing, they're taking over! I seem to recall some years back when the mormons here made a big stink about july 4th or some such holiday falling on a sunday and wanting to cancel it. Fuck you John Smith. Out here we have those latterday saints churches like other people have starbucks. They build mini churches outside of every school in site, and have people sitting outside of school property handing out the book of mormon to kids walking home from school. Atleast my schools. The worst is the missionary people who fucking stalk you if you even glance at them. I had a pair acutally follow me home from school one day even though I had told them I wasn't interested.

For all the things wrong with mormonism, atleast it isn't Scientology.

Ogbar · Post by **Ogbar** » February 9, 2004, 11:29 am

I thought it was Joseph Smith

"Dum dum dum dum dum"

(image lifted from "Setting the Record Straight ", a page posted in response to the South Park episode.)

Back on topic: I agree with the lots and lots of water approach.

Deward · Post by **Deward** » February 9, 2004, 12:05 pm

I try to stay away from caffeine except on special occasions like the movies. I still drink a lot of decaf coffee. It took me a bit to get used to it but I don't get the shakes on the weekends or restless nights like I used too. Be careful about switching to a diet drink though. Most of them have aspartame which in my opinion is worse than caffeine. My mother-in-law drank a 6 pack of diet coke a day for two decades. She now has advanced alzheimers and is only 56 years old. We can't entirely blame the aspartame but we think it contributed to her getting the disease so young (average age is like 80).

Here is a website: http://www.aspartame.com

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » February 9, 2004, 12:07 pm

I drink a pot of regular coffee in the morning. I've cut down a lot

Decaff, water or gatorade in the afternoon depending on the weather.

Cold turkey is the only way I can quit things, I'm not very good at moderation.

Seebs · Post by **Seebs** » February 9, 2004, 12:55 pm

I think it helps to take diet pills or a BC powder to break the Caffeine cycle.

Large quantities of tea help as well.

masteen · Post by **masteen** » February 9, 2004, 2:17 pm

Seebs wrote:I think it helps to take diet pills or a BC powder to break the Caffeine cycle.

Large quantities of tea help as well.

LOL!

Without coffee, there's no fucking way I could function before noon. I don't know how I ever got by without it!

Skogen · Post by **Skogen** » February 9, 2004, 2:21 pm

I've never understood the Coke or Pepsi drinkers. Having at least a six pack a day, and in the morning in lieu of coffee?!

COFFEE. It is the way to two. One or two cups in the morning, and I am set!

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » February 9, 2004, 9:04 pm

John/Jospeh... eh fuck em both.

Sirensa · Post by **Sirensa** » February 9, 2004, 9:17 pm

I used to drink a minimum of one 32oz for breakfast, one for lunch, one after work of diet coke. With the occassional can extra thrown in on the afternoon. Gotta love the diet coke addiction! Don't think the caffeine or lack thereof ever affected me.

I cut way back when my coworker had stomach surgery and couldn't drink carbonated beverages anymore. We share an office so it was just too mean of me to keep chugging my giant soft drinks all day while she was battling her cravings.

So drink a lot of water now - and cokes usually only if we eat out or hit the movies.

Caffeine-free will help a lot if you're having problems though, taste is close enough to fool you, at least temporarily.

Korell · Post by **Korell** » February 9, 2004, 9:42 pm

I drink around a 2liter of Mt Dew a day, add in some of those SoBe Adrenaline rushes whenever I start to feel sluggish.

Caffeine

Asheran Mojomaster · February 10, 2004, 12:14 am

Korell wrote:I drink around a 2liter of Mt Dew a day, add in some of those SoBe Adrenaline rushes whenever I start to feel sluggish.

Caffeine

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » February 10, 2004, 9:52 am

Day 4 of no caffine, and you people fucking suck.
That is all.

Seebs · Post by **Seebs** » February 10, 2004, 12:55 pm

Quitter.

You are impressing nobody.

Drink caffeine until you get a kidney stone. Then stop, but only for a little while.

Big Baby.

brego · Post by **brego** » February 10, 2004, 1:01 pm

rofl seebs

Sirensa · Post by **Sirensa** » February 10, 2004, 1:52 pm

Why are you quitting caffeine cold turkey anyways? People usually have a reason for doing something so ludicrous! ;P

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » February 10, 2004, 2:42 pm

a) Coffee is hot
b)
c) It tastes like ass.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » February 10, 2004, 2:50 pm

Aslanna wrote:a) Coffee is hot
b)
c) It tastes like ass.

You're not dumping enough sugar and cream into it!

One Cup of Coffee != one packet of sugar

6 packets and you're taste buds will be loving life!

Lalanae · Post by **Lalanae** » February 10, 2004, 2:52 pm

Winnow wrote:
Aslanna wrote:a) Coffee is hot
b)
c) It tastes like ass.
You're not dumping enough sugar and cream into it!

One Cup of Coffee != one packet of sugar

6 packets and you're taste buds will be loving life!

That's defiling coffee! Grown ups drink it black.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » February 10, 2004, 3:00 pm

Lalanae wrote:
Winnow wrote:
Aslanna wrote:a) Coffee is hot
b)
c) It tastes like ass.
You're not dumping enough sugar and cream into it!

One Cup of Coffee != one packet of sugar

6 packets and you're taste buds will be loving life!
That's defiling coffee! Grown ups drink it black.

You haven't had the swill that comes out of the industrial coffee machine in the breakroom at my work! When you turn 10 like me you'll quit playing grown up and get back to your sugary roots!

Akaran_D · Post by **Akaran_D** » February 10, 2004, 3:07 pm

Why are you quitting caffeine cold turkey anyways? People usually have a reason for doing something so ludicrous! ;P

I've been suffering from some nasty headaches, sleeping like ass, and a few other things. I also dislike the idea of being dependant on any sort of drug to make it through the day... so I thought I'd start with caffine and see if I end up feeling better overall.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » February 10, 2004, 3:10 pm

Akaran_D wrote:
Why are you quitting caffeine cold turkey anyways? People usually have a reason for doing something so ludicrous! ;P
I've been suffering from some nasty headaches, sleeping like ass, and a few other things. I also dislike the idea of being dependant on any sort of drug to make it through the day... so I thought I'd start with caffine and see if I end up feeling better overall.

I'd probably say cutting out the 6 cans of Diet Coke a day (Mmmm aspartame) would do more to make you feel better than the actual caffeine cutting itself.

CobsTheWarlord · Post by **CobsTheWarlord** » February 10, 2004, 5:13 pm

In the morning I tend to go to waffle house and have about 4 cups of coffee and a few cigs before school. Any help on a way to possibly cut back....also on most days having another 2-3 cups at nite after work.

Deward · Post by **Deward** » February 11, 2004, 12:00 pm

Cobs - switch to decaf man. the first few cups taste like ass but you get used to it after a while. I used to drink 2 caffeinated pots a day at the office. I like my coffee black but when I switched I started out by sweetening and creaming(?) my decaf till I got used to it. Eventually I kicked the caffeine habit entirely. I realize decaf still has a little caffeine in it but it is a lot less than regular coffee.

I would give up the smokes too. I loved to smoke when I was drinking in college and afterwards but they just aren't worth what you are doing to your body. I was able to quit smoking cold turkey mostly. I changed into the annoying "bum smoker". Pretty soon my friends were sick of me asking for smokes and stopped giving them to me. Easy and gradual way to quit. I told them how I was quitting too and they just chuckled everytime they gave me a smoke. After a while they got sick of my begging and I stopped smoking entirely. I still buy an expensive cigar now and then though. That isn't smoking though...that's living!

VeeshanVault

Cut caffieine out of my diet

Cut caffieine out of my diet

Help?