One week in: 40 Days of Water, or, caffeine addiction detox
Apparently both Bryce and I have a caffeine addiction. Or had one at any rate. And for all of you sitting smugly over your half-caf skinny latte, let me tell you, that we only had 1-2 cups a day. Of brewed coffee. Not fancy schmancy super-duper highly caffeinated espresso drinks. The first day, I missed my coffee but tried to feel extra thankful for my hot water (in lieu of a warm caffeinated start to my day) and in my shower. The second through fourth days were pretty awful honestly. I was in a fog. We went to bed at 8 PM and then felt exhausted when we woke up (with infant interruptions of course) 11 hours later. Apparently, besides providing you with your morning jolt, coffee also supplies various hormones to the body . I guess a daily cup of joe over time means that coffee provides you with those hormones and your body stops producing them.
Most people just get a “caffeine headache” when they go off caffeine. My guess is that Bryce and I have been functioning on caffeine for a long time. We’ve been perpetually tired and used a morning cup to get us going in the morning instead of consistent exercise and lots of water. The last few days were so bad I thought that I couldn’t really give up my morning cup, it was too painful. The worst of it was that since caffeine revs up your immune system both of our immune systems were hit full force when we quit cold turkey. I was congested immediately, which didn’t help the head fog feeling and Bryce has since contracted strep throat!
Sunday we are taking as traditional Lenten feast days and so had a cup of decaf in the morning. Bryce also had a cup of white tea to aid his detox (which should’ve been a slower weaning than a cold turkey dropping of caffeine). And because he has strep, he’s having juice since that’s about all he can swallow. He’ll get back to just water soon.
But get this: I feel amazing now. I’m tired but not lethargic. Even when I wake up tired within 2 hours I’m fully awake. I have more energy to be with my kids and my head is more clear than the ‘coffee clarity’ I’ve been used to. Granted, there have also been some residual benefits — I think it’s also helping me not crave other bad foods (my sugar intake has really decreased too) and I find myself really enjoying and craving more water and lots of healthier foods, like spinach.
I’m also discovering how much I turn to beverages for comfort: coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon, a glass of wine or a cocktail after a long, hard day. It’s helpful to purge myself of this, if only to see what I turn to for meaning instead of Christ.
March 1st, 2010 at 4:41 pm
I am SO interested to read that you feel so much better now. I am a 2-3-cup-a-day cofffee drinker, and though I do drink quite a bit of water too, I wonder how it would be to quit caffeine.
March 2nd, 2010 at 1:28 am
Caffeine is truly scary stuff! I gave up my usual 6ish cups of tea a day (!) cold turkey a couple of years ago replacing it with peppermint tea. Similarly I felt so much better – also knowing that I could function without having to rely on a drug. I have to say I did go back to drinking tea – because I like it. But I only have 2 cups a day (perhaps 3 on a bad day…) but found that after giving up for just a couple of weeks I actually couldn’t face a cup of tea first thing in the morning and I still can’t until at least 10:30 – and this from a former I-need-a-cup-of-tea-before-I-do-anything person. Coffee is only for a treat
Anyway – great that you stuck to it and are reaping the benefits!
March 8th, 2010 at 10:52 am
So glad to hear Judith that you’re also enjoying the benefits. Replacing with peppermint tea is a good idea. Or Rooibois. I think I might just have one cup of tea once we’re done with this — we’ll see.
Katie, I can seriously think and concentrate so much better now. And I’m more awake, though I don’t get that super-quick awake feeling coffee gives.