So I Quit Caffeine This Week... Should You?

[theag]

Sometimes when I'm sick of butter in my coffee I switch to coconut milk. Nearly the same effect, but completely different taste for a change. You can also put some whey protein in it, I recommend chocolate flavour. Tastes awesome (like a hot chocolate) and perfect protein+fat breakfast. The protein breaks fasting though, so if youre dieting based on an intermittent fasting plan you might want to leave it out.

Also drinking a lot of green tea lately. Delicious and healthy :embarrased:

 

[borntodominate]

^ Sounds like me right now. Got headaches and shit.

But just like smoking, I will quit this successfully

 

[Daniel A]

A friend of mine that is in the USMC introduced me to military energy gum (MEG). It's chewing gum with caffeine (and other stuff I think). Probably not very healthy, but I'm sure it works.

It's been a while since I drank coffee and it wasn't that hard to stop. I might just try to go without coffee for 2015 then drink it whenever I feel the need or get offered any.

I love coffee though and it's an industry I'm interested in.

 

[Journey2Million$]

I quit drinking coffee several months ago. Sometimes I drink black tea, but I'm going to quit that too and just go with herbal tea, which has no caffeine. Caffeine sucks the minerals out of your body, which is very bad. I try to get more minerals in my body by eating healthy organic foods and I don't want caffeine to suck it back out. Most people eat a diet that is poor in minerals, so caffeine makes it even worse. Bad for your health. I have a cup of organic vegetable juice in front of me right now.

 

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[MTF]

I decided that I want to cut out caffeine after having abused it for a few years. I'm starting by reducing it, but I'll get to cold turkey eventually.

I'm somewhat less focused and driven, but I'm actually feeling tired at night again, which isn't something that I'm used to. It's also harder to get lost on dopamine traps (social media) when you're sleeping well.

This video triggered it, though I'd seen others like .

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_xA70lWrDs

I stopped consuming any caffeine roughly in March. I don't think I see any big differences but I only drank tea in the morning. I may be still getting some trace caffeine in dark chocolate and stuff but that's probably a negligible amount.

Either way, just didn't want to rely on any stimulant in everyday life. I loved my tea for the taste but I suspect that there must have been some addiction going on as it gave me too much comfort and I really needed to drink it every day.

 

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[WillHurtDontCare]

Some of the wildest experiences included 1000mg a day. You know as well as I do that at that point, you're not getting any "boost", but jitters and anxiety with a massive crash coming up soon, not even addressing the health concerns.

Been there, though I never had crashes. It just made me angry and paranoid.

 

[Ing]

I decided that I want to cut out caffeine after having abused it for a few years. I'm starting by reducing it, but I'll get to cold turkey eventually.

I'm somewhat less focused and driven, but I'm actually feeling tired at night again, which isn't something that I'm used to. It's also harder to get lost on dopamine traps (social media) when you're sleeping well.

This video triggered it, though I'd seen others like .

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_xA70lWrDs

25 years ago I cut of caffeine, too. About 5 years I didn’t consume any and after a while it was great. Could work better. Didn’t get tired so fast.
Sadly I came into consuming again from social aspects.

But I can recommend living without!

 

[WillHurtDontCare]

I've moved the "quitting caffeine" discussion out of the Random Chat threads, there are several threads here related to it.

I like when my posts get moved to random threads - it's fun when you realize that a bunch of people are already talking about something that you're interested in.

 

[doster.zach]

This video triggered it, though I'd seen others like .

Thanks for sharing. I always thought of this when I was younger but I started drinking energy drinks anyway.

Trying to cut back down and probably will be no caffeine when I'm on vacation.

I never had any of these hardcore effects like he did but I do notice if I want to "grind" I crack open a energy drink with 300mg of caffeine in it. ( I usually drink it over the span of like 2-3 hours)

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

I recently quit caffeine as well. 3 weeks sober, I mean caffeine free. However, I quit caffeine as I am trying to find a migraine trigger. Caffeine could be a trigger, so I cut it out. Maybe in a month or two without a migraine while off caffeine I will drink some caffeine for a few days to see if it triggers a migraine.

Interesting. Did you know OTC (over the counter) migraine medication actually has caffeine in it? Like Excedrin Migraine.

 

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[Rauschmi]

Interesting. Did you know OTC (over the counter) migraine medication actually has caffeine in it? Like Excedrin Migraine.

Yeah.
Headaches are caused by a swelling or tightening of blood vessels in the brain. The swollen blood vessels puts pressure on nerves in the brain, thus causing pain triggers to be sent to the pain center in the brain.
Caffeine helps with headaches by constricting blood vessels. This constriction reduces the pressure on nerves and thus helps alleviate the pain. Use caffeine in conjunction with Tylenol or ibuprofen and the absorption rate us increased which further speeds up the relief.
Just a little tidbit for folks.

 

[ChetUBetcha]

Farewell, my love.

Farewell sugar free Rockstar that jump started my day.

Farewell diet mountain dew that made lunchtime better.

Farewell sugar free red bull. Even the grey goose is going to miss you.

And farewell to the toxic cocktail of all three of you that I convinced myself didn't affect me.

It's been 48 hours, my love. Everyone says I should be over you by now.

Granted, the Oxycodone helped ease the pain.

Everyone said you were no good for me. I probably continued to see you way too long.

I will surely miss you, my love. But it's over.

Not sure if any of you guys have checked out the book "Caffeine Blues" But it's an incredible book. Caffeine Blues: Wake Up to the Hidden Dangers of America's #1 Drug: Cherniske MS, Stephen: 9780446673914: Amazon.com: Books
(Not an affiliate link lmao)
You don't even need to read the whole book. The first 80 pages will knock your socks off.

 

[heavy_industry]

It’s 10 years later, and I am drinking sugar-free rockstar as I post this

Dude, I can't believe you've just posted this.

I read this entire thread a few hours ago and I was about to say: "how is your caffeine consumption now, 10 years later?"

How was your productivity affected when you were on/off caffeine?

 

[heavy_industry]

Caffeine is fuel for me. I don’t do drugs I drink very little alcohol. In fact, no alcohol since January.

I prefer a steady caffeine high.

I am getting off caffeine to see if I improve my sleep. Some science nerds believe it might be a mild neurotoxin. Will see what happens.


Nice pic by the way, seems like your printer enjoys drinking soda as well.

My keyboard loves it too. I think I've fried 1-2 laptops thus far

 

[socaldude]

I'd be more worried about the cheap B12 (cyanocobalamin) the sucralose (artificial sweetener posing as a "healthy" alternative) and the artificial colors. Compared to that, the caffeine might as well be a piece of broccoli.

I do strict diet and I can “tell” what’s bad for my body. Those energy drinks damage your gut.

The best alternative I’ve found has been the zero calorie, zero sugar Yerbaes or just plain black coffee. Or just supplements with water.

 

[wyattnorton]

I felt little benefit to being off caffeine for 2 weeks.

Felt more “naturally” tired and slept better I guess.

Didn’t get as much work done or wake up early as easily.

Black coffee (not those artificially sweetened headache bombs) are the way to go.

 

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[James Klymus]

I'd be more worried about the cheap B12 (cyanocobalamin) the sucralose (artificial sweetener posing as a "healthy" alternative) and the artificial colors. Compared to that, the caffeine might as well be a piece of broccoli.

Exactly what I was thinking. People have been consuming black coffee and tea for a long, long time. Preworkout with 300mg of caffeine per serving, shitty fake chemical sweeteners, and artificial colors? About 10 years.

 

[heavy_industry]

After I stay off caffeine for a few months, I want to reintroduce it in the form of caffeine pills taken with l-theanine, and use it as a cognitive booster only when working on the most important task of the day.

If I don't measure and cap the dosage, things spiral out of control very quickly.

 

[TeeJay_]

I used to drink 10-12 espresso cups a day (using one of those Bialetti coffee maker on a kitchen stove). I would then put the black coffee in a thermos and drink it for the next 2-3 hours mixed with milk. And then, redo a new batch.

I realized it was more of a cope mechanism for my anxiety, as if I was pretending to become mentally sharper by drinking coffee non stop. It only made me more agitated, nervous and impulsive.

I still drink coffee once in a while (maybe 3-4 per week), but not as an hourly routine (yes "hourly" routine) like I used to. I switched to tea and chamomile for my daily routine (3-4 per day), it's milder.

 

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[andyhaus44]

I personally, after reading this and seeing all the addicted adults can only be grateful that I won't ever have this issue.
Why?

I have a genetic thing where I react paradoxically to caffeine: It makes me tired and groggy and has the opposite effect it should have.

I tested this on myself several times, even doing a placebo control test (with the help of my dear mother).
A caffeine tablet of 400mgs makes me more tiered than 2 pills of antihistamines or even actual sleeping pills.
It was so bad that I felt myself drowsing off while WALKING, after taking that caffeine tab.

So yeah, no caffeine addiction for me

Awesome! That’s a good problem to have. You’ll be happier without it

 

[Fasted]

After abstaining from caffeine for four and a half months, the lingering withdrawal depression persisted, which may not be solely attributed to coffee.

Yesterday I had one cup of coffee, and my mood improved significantly, as if I had come back to life. Now I'm contemplating returning to a decaf lifestyle, but I'm afraid of experiencing the depression and negative moods again.

Same - I tried caffeine free. Didn’t like the depression. Gave up after around 3months because I just couldn’t shake the low mood and lack of motivation to meet daily tasks. Also noticed a decrease in sociability and just generally felt flat. Having said that I felt less jittery and slept deeper.

Won’t be doing it again because I don’t want to deal with the withdrawal. From what I’ve read it’s quite a long withdrawal, or can be.

So I drink a lot of the stuff. Also addicted to nicorette lozenges. Better than actual drugs/alcohol though so I’m not stressing too much.

 

[Vigilante]

@Z are you out there??!?!?

 

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[Vigilante]

How many different types of caffeine you were taking? I say, others than coffee.

I love the delicious coffee that I make with my AeroPress. This invention takes the best flavor of each coffee bean. I highly recommend it. I have always maintained the limit of two cups of coffee at most every day, and I had no problems.

Do not fall into dementia by this decision you have made!

TrueSouth.

Could you go for 72 hours without coffee, and without a withdrawl headache?

 

[dknise]

Curious...

Has anyone quit caffeine entirely and noticed a profound difference in mental acuity? And if so, can you give an example of how you came to that conclusion?

I admit caffeine is something I have a lot of and sometimes I wonder if it hurting or helping.

I've quit caffeine several times and I've always gone back to it due to my lack of productivity. There was a time in April I decided to cut entirely clean from it, and 3 weeks later I only had a days worth of work to show for my efforts haha. Caffeinated back up and the productivity came back.

 

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[Vigilante]

I also would not be surprised that there is a high correlation between the FastLane mindset, and the regular use of products like caffeine and other stimulants.

 

[Vigilante]

I created an anonymous poll here :
https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/health-fitness/47858-caffeine-poll.html#post297422

 

[truesouth]

TrueSouth.

Could you go for 72 hours without coffee, and without a withdrawl headache?

Yes. Without any problem.

Before when I consume any coffee, did have negative effects like palpitations and when I spent one or two days without consuming any other coffee I felt sick with headache and even weak.

Now I use only organic coffee beans, and I have only to endure the exquisite taste.

Anyway, this is my experience, and every body works differently. And also, between different types of coffee is a world of difference.

 

[Vigilante]

Interesting. So to determine if the correlation of caffeine users was higher or lower than "normal," we had to find out what normal was.

Well, seemingly in the United States, 85% of adults regularly, habitually use caffeine. So... it is going to be difficult to show an aberration which is what my hypothesis was...

because everyone uses caffeine.

 

[Get Right]

Curious...

Has anyone quit caffeine entirely and noticed a profound difference in mental acuity? And if so, can you give an example of how you came to that conclusion?

I admit caffeine is something I have a lot of and sometimes I wonder if it hurting or helping.

I quit a few weeks ago for a different reason. I had some problems with BVO (Brominated Vegetable Oil) that is in Mountain Dew, PowerAde, etc. I decided to avoid all caffeine during the same timeperiod.

On the third day off the stuff my mental state was tremendously better (as a result of no BVO). After a few weeks I added BVO free caffeine back (tea). No more problems.

To answer your question - I didn't notice a mental difference due to the caffeine. Sugar yes, caffeine no.

 

[Darius]

I don't drink coffee and rarely drink pop, soda, what ever you want to call it.

I might experiment with coffee for a couple weeks and see how it does me.

 

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