Can anyone help me with this please?

[Mickkey]

Today is my start day, and already I'm vividly remembering the debilitating headaches I had trying to wean myself off caffeine. They were so bad, I would rank them up there with migranes. I'm not looking forward to going through that again. I would usually break down and have a cup of coffee or soda just to stop the pain, or take to bed just to sleep it off. These were intense and I'm a person who has a high pain tolerance.

Any advice at how to go about breaking off caffeine would be greatly appreciated.

I also ran across a comment from someone here in the forums saying that even decaff has caffeine. Anyone know if that's true? Thanks.

[julirama723]

Re: Can anyone help me with this please?

The best way is cold turkey. Caffiene is a drug, plain and simple. If a coke addict wanted to quit, they wouldn't just reduce the amount of lines they'd do per day, would they? Nope! The best way to quit is to just stop. Withdrawal is hard, harder than carbs, but once you're done with it, you're done!

And yes, decaf coffee HAS caffiene. Decaffienated means caffiene has been removed from the product, it does not mean Caffiene-free.

[LuckyD]

Re: Can anyone help me with this please?

Hate to say it but Julie is right. There is really no pretty way to quit caffiene. I got horrible headaches too. I knew they were coming so I planned the days that I would be feeling lousy. I took lots of ibuprofen and just gutted it out. It was well worth it. Some people need to wean themselves slowley and just cut back on their intake. If you can be disciplined enough for that approach you may wnat to try it. But for me I am more of a 'rip the bandaid off fast and get it over with kind of person'.

[Mickkey]

Re: Can anyone help me with this please?

Thanks to you both. Yes, deep down I know you're right, but I DON"T WANT TO DO IT! I'm going to try the weaning approach and see if it works for me. If not I'm throwing it off and will prepare to suffer for awhile. Wanting to feel "better" has gotten me here in the first place. Again, thanks!

[Scooterjam]

Re: Can anyone help me with this please?

It will pass....it just's hangs around for a few days....it's your body de-toxing...

[heatherm422]

Re: Can anyone help me with this please?

Caffeine withdrawal is AWFUL!!! The headaches are horrible but they do go away and you do feel much better when you're off the crap!! Good Luck!!!!

[Mickkey]

Re: Can anyone help me with this please?

Well I'll let you all know how I'm doing on that. Thanks for the advice!

[speedyturtle]

Re: Can anyone help me with this please?

Hey Micckey, I cut down to 1/2decaf and 1/2 leaded coffee 2 days ago. I feel a little tired until I get going. Today a little headachey and draggy so far. Did not think it was going to be easy after reading some posts, but not as bad as I thought either. Should be easy to cut it out completely in a few days er maybe 3/4 decaf and 1/4 caf then cut it out. Yeah that sounds better hehe. either way I will do it and so can you ! Herbal Tea in the morning does not sound too bad. Good Luck

[cocobelle]

Re: Can anyone help me with this please?

Make sure you're drinking all that water... dehydration + caffeine withdrawal = MASSIVE headaches!! Don't over do on the Motrin (by taking more than is recommended), but definatley take it around the clock for a few days. Get lots of rest!!

[ladyhairg]

Re: Can anyone help me with this please?

How did it go over the weekend w/o caffeine? Hope it's going better than expected.

Try brewing a pot of flavored herbal tea ( I love blueberry!) with a little bit of cream. The heat and steam help with the headache, and the feeling of drinking something warm can maybe fool your brain into thinking it's getting coffee!

[Mickkey]

Re: Can anyone help me with this please?

Thanks to everyone for responding! I hate to admit it I'm doing terrible avoiding the caffeine. I'm so addicted to the stuff. I never realized or admitted it to myself. I want to do this, I just keep finding reasons to avoid doing Atkins the Right way. I want to do it My way, which everyone tells me doesn't work, and I Know doesn't work. I'm just fighting myself

The one thing I used to do was drink lots of diet coke, and I believed that it kept me from eating. Which obviously it didn't do, look at my weight. I'm definitely drinking lots Less than I used to. I had only one glass yesterday, so I'm making some strides. Again, thanks to all of you for the support, and for Knowing it's darn hard.

Oh, I also wanted to say.... just cutting back has caused headaches to start. That's what lead me to believe I'm Really addicted to this stuff. Also, how strong an addictive substance is caffeine? It really can't be that strong, can it?

[WarOnTypeII]

Re: Can anyone help me with this please?

Look here's the deal. I've done Atkins "My Way" before as well. I've also lost weight on "Atkins" my way. What happened to me is ..... I'd stall, wonder why I stalled, take a "break" from Atkins and then not get back on because I was enjoying the indulgence of foods that aren't good for me like pizzas, pancakes, cookies and milk, peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches (oh get this, sugar free jelly on LOW CARB BREAD .... bwahahahahahahha .... makes me laugh at my self).

Whatever, the bottom line is, I didn't RETURN to Atkins because I didn't notice a weight gain right way. Strange, but I thought by eating those bad things for me ONE TIME, and that I didn't automatically jump up 40lbs, somehow I was cured. Years later, I'm back where I started.

I have one cup of coffee a day. I'm in ketosis, and I've lot a ton of weight with caffiene before. I'm just trying it this way for now. I've cut back my caffiene and aspartame and no bars THIS TIME.

That's progress. If I'm finding I'm not losing any weight or that my gut isn't getting any smaller .... then I will know what to expect and cut out caffiene altogether.


The point is .... don't let caffiene addiction stop you from pursuing this WOL. If you need the caffiene go ahead. Just realize, if you aren't losing weight that MIGHT have something to do with it.

I know I'm not going to let my one cup of coffee a day stop me from pursuing this WOL and losing weight in the process. Nor will I let it become an excuse to quit on myself.

Good luck.

[WarOnTypeII]

Re: Can anyone help me with this please?

P.S.

I just reached across my desk and found a large coffee that I got this morning ..... it's half full.

That's my one cup a day rule until I'm ready to stop altogether for a time. If that requires another induction or an extended induction in order to get a clean induction ... so be it.

But I'm not stopping just because I'm having one cup of coffee a day.

[WarOnTypeII]

Re: Can anyone help me with this please?

http://www.teeccino.com/diabetes.aspx

<li>Coffee Elevates Stress Hormones

• Caffeine in coffee elevates the stress hormones cortisol, epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) and norepinephrine.11, 12, 13, 14 These hormones are responsible for increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and a sense of “emergency alert”. Circulation of oxygen to the brain and extremities is decreased and the immune system is suppressed. Elevated epinephrine levels can decrease insulin sensitivity.15
• The purpose of this “fight or flight” response is to provide the body with a temporary energy boost for intense physical activity. With today’s sedentary lifestyle, the continual state of increased stress resulting from caffeine consumption negatively impacts health. Although research about the effect of stress on diabetes is inconclusive, stress management has been shown to improve blood sugar regulation.16

<li>Caffeine Aggravates Hypoglycemia

• Caffeine triggers hypoglycemia through the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal glands, causing constriction of blood vessels, decreased circulation to the brain and a feeling of low blood sugar, even if the value is within the low range of normal. This adversely affects mental and physical performance.17
• The body’s reaction to hypoglycemia results in food cravings, often of higher fat foods with a lower glycemic index, further increasing the hypoglycemic effect.18, 19

<li>Caffeine is Related to Insulin Resistance

• In order for the tissues to effectively utilize sugar for energy, they must respond to the circulating plasma insulin. Resistance to insulin is a major factor in Type 2 diabetes. Studies suggest that caffeine ingestion contributes to insulin resistance and impairs glucose and insulin homeostasis.20, 21 Even coffee in moderation has this effect.22

<li>Caffeine Raises Blood Sugar Levels

• Studies investigating the effects of caffeine on glucose tolerance suggest that caffeine intake causes a rise in blood glucose levels.23 Caffeine interferes with the metabolism of glucose and a new study shows that caffeine during and after a meal raises blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetics.24 In people with diabetes, this creates problems with self-regulation of blood glucose

<li>Coffee Increases Homocysteine and Risk of Diabetic Complications

• Increased plasma homocysteine increases a person’s risk of suffering from a heart attack. Coffee drinking significantly increases homocysteine in the bloodstream, even more so than caffeine alone. The negative effect of coffee occurs with both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, and is noted within hours of coffee consumption.25
• Both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee consumption increase homocysteine levels, a plasma-based amino acid, even within hours of coffee consumption.26, 27, 28 For people with diabetes, raised homocysteine levels increase the risk of developing degeneration of the blood vessels in the eyes.29, 30, 31

<li>Coffee Decreases Magnesium Abosrption

• Coffee drinking is associated with decreased absorption of magnesium resulting in lower blood levels of magnesium.32 Caffeine reduces the reabsroption of calcium and magnesium in the kindey, causing minerals to be excreted in the urine.33, 34 Magnesium is an essential mineral utilized in more than 300 enzymatic reactions and physiological processes including energy metabolism, effective utilization of glucose, hormonal balance and proper heart function.35
• Magnesium deficiency is a contributing factor in diabetes and the development of diabetic complications.36, 37, 38 Low levels of magnesium increase the development of insulin resistance and alter the ability of cells to take up glucose.39

<li>Coffee Increases Risk of Heart Attack in People with Diabetes

• Coffee drinking increases the risk of succumbing to an acute myocardial infarction in people with diabetes.40 Diabetes itself is a risk factor in heart disease, and a J-shaped association is suggested for the link between coffee drinking and risk of developing acute coronary disease: the more coffee consumed, the greater the risk.41

Caffeine Interferes with GABA Metabolism

• GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid) is a neurotransmitter naturally produced in the brain and nervous system that plays an important role in mood and stress management.
• Caffeine has been found to interfere with binding of GABA to GABA receptors, preventing it from performing its calming function.42 In diabetes, all areas of the nervous system are affected and neuropathic pain can be a complication of the disease, particularly in areas where there is a reduction in GABA-ergic influences.43

<li>Caffeine Affects Fetal Development

• Caffeine has a negative effect on pancreatic cells and fetal development. Continued researc is being conducted to explore a link between coffee consumption and childhood diabetes.44

Interesting site. Of course they're trying to sell something and all, but .... interesting.

[Mickkey]

Re: Can anyone help me with this please?

WarOntype II......Wait a minute, wait a minute.....are you telling me that sugar free jelly on low carb bread is BAD?????

O.K.... just joking. Thanks for all the great information and for sharing your story (which sounds similar to mine.)