off the turps...

askthecoffeeguy

ok been a bit unwell recently nothing serious and im on the mend - but as a consequence ive been off coffee COMPLETELY for 12 days now - holding out for 14 days as a new record and the longest ive gone without coffee in about 10 years

but the first few days I THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO DIE! as a result of the caffeine withdrawal - anyone else been similarly afflicted?

Lacehim

Nasty! So are you off caffeine total or just coffee? I haven't had any issues not having a coffee on holidays but I drink tea when i'm out and about unless I can find a decent coffee. Tea has some caffeine content anyway. Cold turkey can't be nice though.

askthecoffeeguy

Lacehim wrote:

Nasty! So are you off caffeine total or just coffee? I haven't had any issues not having a coffee on holidays but I drink tea when i'm out and about unless I can find a decent coffee. Tea has some caffeine content anyway. Cold turkey can't be nice though.

no caffeine, no processed food or processed sugar - hard core cold turkey included fever, the shakes, and vomiting - not all related to cutting out coffee but im sure it didnt help!

Dry_bean

askthe coffeeguy wrote:

ok been a bit unwell recently nothing serious and im on the mend - but as a consequence ive been off coffee COMPLETELY for 12 days now - holding out for 14 days as a new record and the longest ive gone without coffee in about 10 years but the first few days I THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO DIE! as a result of the caffeine withdrawal - anyone else been similarly afflicted? P

Never had the experience. I drink 3 espresso beverages a day, have done for longer than I can remember, however, if I'm traveling and cant get a decent brew I simply abstain without any ill affect. Either I'm just lucky, or perhaps I simply don't drink enough coffee.

Lacehim

askthe coffeeguy wrote:

no caffeine, no processed food or processed sugar - hard core cold turkey included fever, the shakes, and vomiting - not all related to cutting out coffee but im sure it didnt help!

Sugar withdrawal is bigger than most people think. It's probably a combination of all of them at the same time! It's surprising how much sugar is in our diet these days. Just read the packet of anything processed and it will be in there somewhere or somehow. They even sneak caffeine in quite a few unassuming softdrinks too! So what is all this for atcg? Are they trying to determine allergies or trying to rule out something that's making you ill?

Dry bean. wrote:

I drink 3 espresso beverages a day, have done for longer than I can remember, however, if I'm traveling and cant get a decent brew I simply abstain without any ill affect.

You better ask the Mrs how cranky you get DB! lol. I know my Mrs appears with a coffee some trips and says drink it, then talk! hahaha.

Brett_H

Every time I get a cold or flu I'm off coffee but I can't tell if the ill-effects are ill-related or withdrawl related! Sugar thing sounds interesting Lace and if a lack of it can cause Withdrawl-like symptoms I'll beer to keep a bowl of it by the bedside just in case.... 😃

steve82

I am very sensitive to caffeine, any drug for that matter so while I love coffee and good tea I cant have as much as I like so my intake is fairly moderate anyway. Estimate no more than 50 to 150mg / day. I have tried to go cold turkey on caffeine a few times and experienced similar side effects to the OP, not fun at all. The headaches up the back of neck / head are the most unpleasant part - supposedly something to do with blood vessels returning to a more relaxed state / higher flow. These headaches can be so bad as to create nausea. If I want a break or reduction for a while, I find it much more pleasant (prob healthier to?) with good quality green tea or Oolong, brewing weaker and weaker over the coarse of a week or so. Could just use normal tea as well, but I find green tea to have relaxing qualities to it. Or there is always no doze, breaking up tabs and slowly tapering off over time.

Lacehim

Sugar is just as addictive as any other additive like caffeine, it's just not published as much in the media. Have a read of this. http://www.growyouthful.com/remedy/sugar-addiction-recovery.php Most interesting is this "You have to break the sugar addiction completely. If you continue to use sugar in moderation, you will remain addicted and the dopamine-response sugar craving will continue. Just like any other addiction, you have to stop using the substance completely." So having it now and again isn't any better for you if you need to give it up completely. The issue these days is you have to be careful of what you eat because of all the processed foods in our supermarkets, and you need to cook from scratch all the time. My sisters diabetic type 1 and I can imagine that would be really hard stopping sugar 100% and always watching what you eat. She seems to struggle with her insulin levels constantly! 🙁

Koffee_Kosmo

askthe coffeeguy wrote:

ok been a bit unwell recently nothing serious and im on the mend - but as a consequence ive been off coffee COMPLETELY for 12 days now - holding out for 14 days as a new record and the longest ive gone without coffee in about 10 years but the first few days I THOUGHT THAT I WAS GOING TO DIE! as a result of the caffeine withdrawal - anyone else been similarly afflicted? P

I was forced to go without for several months on Doctors orders After about 10 weeks I started on decaf KK

askthecoffeeguy

i gave up the juice because i was very unwell with food poisoning or similar, and couldnt face consuming anything other than water or fresh fruit for the first week its been two weeks off the coffee as of today - and to celebrate I had a coffee! just a single shot latte at the start of a power shift behind the coffee machine at prahran market today - my first day back on the job for the new year given that i often consume five strong coffees when im working i reckon that one is pretty moderate for me plus id have to say its the longest that ive gone without coffee in 10 years - its good to give the kidneys and the lymphatic system a rest - and i have more natural energy and increased concentration without it! which is not to say that im giving up - just cutting back and giving it a rest for awhile hell, im about to bring my own retail coffee product to market - so i cant imagine myself being off the turps for too long! P

Brett_H

askthe coffeeguy wrote:

hell, im about to bring my own retail coffee product to market - so i cant imagine myself being off the turps for too long! P

Start a thread, start a thread!!!

askthecoffeeguy

Brett H wrote:

Start a thread, start a thread!!!

shameless self promoter that I am im reluctant to start spruiking my own product lest I be compared to certain moderators of another forum... p

Brett_H

Well at least give us a hint of where to look! If it's great I or someone else will undoubtedly start a thread... I would hate for Crema to miss a story because www were being modest!!

askthecoffeeguy

Brett H wrote:

Well at least give us a hint of where to look! If it's great I or someone else will undoubtedly start a thread... I would hate for Crema to miss a story because www were being modest!!

ok ill start a thread feel free to shut me down if i cross the line!

askthecoffeeguy

ok its official - im back on the turps limiting myself to one coffee per day - but what a great way to start the day i feel alive again and im way more productive on the juice than of it! P