Caffeine Addiction

[wluper]

So I started thinking about this thread simply because I've got a case of Diet Mountain Dew sitting behind me. (Stuff was my life blood).

Now that I'm on induction (and doing it correctly finally), I'm faced with the fact that it has entirely too much caffeine AND aspartame.

Has anyone else had to break the caffeine addiction? I think lately I've been doing pretty well in only have two a day, but today I'm feeling convicted to quit it all together.

Looking forward to your responses.

[DieBlaueReiterin]

Re: Caffeine Addiction

i quit caffeine. i had some horrific headaches for 3 days that would not go away but after that, i've been fine. i'm surprised at how easily i can get through the day without it! i wonder if i never even needed it all along.

[Sunny_0ne]

Re: Caffeine Addiction

I HAD to cut out the caffeine and aspartame. I had been a Diet Coke junkie.

It was a rough 2 or 3 days. But now I'm drinking decaffeinated Columbian coffee because the dark roast is so much more satisfying and drinking decaffeinated iced tea with Splenda instead of aspartame.

It has made a tremendous difference in cutting cravings.

[liv]

Re: Caffeine Addiction

I cut out caffeine too. And I practically lived on in ( and chocolate). I did it gradually. Coffee and even decaf stimulate my appetite and make me want to eat.

[ceemarie]

Re: Caffeine Addiction

For me, it is Diet Pepsi!! I have never drank coffee and I don't dink any other beverages. I can drink a DP for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It has taken me a long time to realize that I reach for DP out of habit not necessity. I now, can not keep it in the house and I don't buy it at work because it is too expensive. The challenging time for me is when I am out to eat, the bottomless glass of diet pepsie is the best! I find if I don't start drinking it, I am fine, but if I open one.... then it is a hard day to not have two.

[rweeks]

Re: Caffeine Addiction

I switched to the diet Shasta line. THey are flavored with Splenda and are all caffeine free. I really like the Grapefruit soda (squirt) and Ginger Ale. I found that drinking something fizzy fooled my caffeine addiction. I still occasionally have a diet coke or Lo CArb Monster. But overall the Shasta helped me thru it. Good luck.

[NoDef]

Re: Caffeine Addiction

I used no-dose (actually generic brand) caffeine pills to avoid headaches. Since you are down to two drinks per day, I would take 1 pill morning and 1 pill evening to start. Gradually cut back by taking 1 morning / 1/2 pill evening on day 2. Day 3- 1/2 morning 1/4 evening. Day 4- 1/4 morning /1/4 evening, and Day 5- 1/4 morning and none evening. Day 6 you are off. I like this way because you can immediately start drinking water only, no aspartame in the pills, and no headaches. Caffeine headaches can be awful, and why go through that if it can be avoided. The caffeine pills are cheap in generic form.

[kat7hy]

Re: Caffeine Addiction

I have not found yet that having a little significantly slows my weight loss. I love my coffee in the morning so I have cut the size down from a large to a medium and do half decaf half caf and will eventually go to decaf. Making the transition slowly has helped to avoid the withdrawal headache. I think on this one everyone is different. For me my coffee in the morning is my treat instead of cookies, bread, etc. and psychologically keeps me going on the diet overall.

[wluper]

Re: Caffeine Addiction

So here's an update:

Yesterday, as I was reaching for my Diet Mountain Dew, I said to myself "You know... why not just not have it?"

So yesterday, I did no caffeine at all.

Let me tell you, I couldn't pop those ibuprofen quick enough. The headaches stayed pretty under control until night time, and wow, did they come. It's all good though. I took my supplements this morning, grabbed some Diet Rite Pure Zero, and gonna do no caffeine today either. Yesterday I drank enough water to drown a whale, so we'll see.

I probably should have read this thread though. Those are some good ideas.

[lkygirl]

Re: Caffeine Addiction

I went from drinking at least 12 cans of soda a day (probably more) to going cold turkey. The thing that allowed me to do that was Exedrien (hope I spelled it right) When I started to get a headache I would take one sometimes two, they have caffine in them so it helped with the headaches but I could gradually stop taking the Exedrien. After 3 days no sodas and no Exedrien. Hope this helps.

[wluper]

Re: Caffeine Addiction

Two and a half days no caffeine.

I swear I looked thinner in the mirror this morning. Not weighing again until after the two weeks though.

[Elizellen]

Re: Caffeine Addiction

Well done for dropping the caffeine

[lawyerchick]

Re: Caffeine Addiction

Congratulations! I just wanted to add that I'm a maintenance person (since 2003) who has been fighting a gain unsuccessfully for what seems like forever. I'd tried everything: returning to induction, adding intense exercise, different ratios of carbs and fats, cutting foods, lifting heavy weights, etc. etc.

I'd lose a few pounds, but then they'd pop back on for no apparent reason. The *only* thing that made a difference is cutting caffeine and aspartame. Since doing that, the weight is flying off, just like it did the first time around. I can't tell you how many times I said "maybe Atkins just doesn't work anymore" and thought about giving up, and just being this weight forever. Thank goodness I decided to cut caffeine.

This chart of my loss should give you some idea of just how bad caffeine can be:

11/23/2008 - 147.0
11/30/2008 - 145.0
12/6/2008 - 145.2
12/13/2008 - 144.4
12/20/2008 - 143.0
12/27/2008 - 145.0
1/4/2009 - 145.2 CUT CAFFEINE
1/11/2009 - 144.2
1/18/2009 - 143.0
1/25/2008 - 143.2
2/1/2009 - 142.4
2/7/2009 - 140.8

[ceemarie]

Re: Caffeine Addiction

Thank you Lawyer Chick for posting your experience with caffine. Last night I caved and poured myself a diet pepsi and took one drink and though about how the scale was moving the last 6 days that I haven't had any caffine and poured the rest down the drain. Hopefully, this is what had put me in a stall for while. Now, after reading your post, I am even more motivated to keep the soda out of the house.