Starting Over - But Want to Quit Coffee First

[TaylorLee42]

I'm back and ready to start again, I'm using this time to read, read, and read some more to prepare for a perma lifestyle change. I will be starting December 27th. Between now and then, I want to kick the habit of coffee. I know it sabotaged me in my last attempt on Atkins because of the sweetener and cream I needed in my coffee and ate many of my carbs in coffee drinks. I managed to quit smoking 1 1/2 years ago, so I know I can quit coffee, and I know I can do atkins and live a healthier lifestyle. But first, I must kick the next demon and that is Coffee. I drink 4 Large Cups of double milk, double sweetner per day without fail. I love it, but it controls me.

So, having said that - Is there a safe caffiene free herbal tea I can use safely when I am on Atkins? ( I would begin the transfer cold turkey to the tea , but want to transfer to something Atkins friendly that will NOT hurt my results and success.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Starting Over - But Want to Quit Coffee First

>>Is there a safe caffiene free herbal tea I can use safely when I am on Atkins?>>

Yes.

Brand and flavor is up to you.

Just make sure you're not trading one habit for another.

And ... the conventional wisdom is to cut down on caffeine slowly ... cuts down on the withdrawals.

[mission to lose]

Re: Starting Over - But Want to Quit Coffee First

I'm back and ready to start again, I'm using this time to read, read, and read some more to prepare for a perma lifestyle change. I will be starting December 27th. Between now and then, I want to kick the habit of coffee. I know it sabotaged me in my last attempt on Atkins because of the sweetener and cream I needed in my coffee and ate many of my carbs in coffee drinks. I managed to quit smoking 1 1/2 years ago, so I know I can quit coffee, and I know I can do atkins and live a healthier lifestyle. But first, I must kick the next demon and that is Coffee. I drink 4 Large Cups of double milk, double sweetner per day without fail. I love it, but it controls me.

So, having said that - Is there a safe caffiene free herbal tea I can use safely when I am on Atkins? ( I would begin the transfer cold turkey to the tea , but want to transfer to something Atkins friendly that will NOT hurt my results and success.

Since you are not starting Atkins until the 27th, I would suggest cutting back a little each day, say starting today, cut back 1/8 of your consumption per day. Otherwise you may be in for some nasty headaches and other side effects. About 25 years ago, I stopped my 6 pack + per day of Pepsi habit cold turkey. Back then we were not as aware of the withdrawal symptoms. After a few days of headache, I was so tired I could barely move. I actually went to the doctor, and they ran some tests, and then it was decided it was Pepsi/ caffeine/ sugar withdrawal. Nowadays anyone would have realized that. Doc told me to start drinking the Pepsi again, not as much per day, and slowly, cut back 1 can every few days, until I was finished. I felt better immediately, and when I had given it up completely I felt so much better since I did it slowly.

[mykuki]

Re: Starting Over - But Want to Quit Coffee First

I have the same problem with coffee. I always say I'm going to start Atkins tomorrow and then when morning comes I need coffee!!!! Artificial sweetners give me terrible headaches so I use regular sugar and luckily I'm lactose intolerant so I only use a splash of milk. Let me know how it goes. I'm starting tomorrow and am quitting coffee cold turkey (only thing that worked when I quit smoking)
Good luck to you.

[Georgiana]

Re: Starting Over - But Want to Quit Coffee First

Welcome back to ADBB, mykuki!

Artificial sweetners give me terrible headaches

All of them? Usually people have an intolerance to one or a few... but not to all.

You could also use stevia. The Sweetleaf brand is only stevia extract (from a plant) and inulin (inulin is fiber). There is also liquid stevia sweetener.

luckily I'm lactose intolerant so I only use a splash of milk.

You could use cream instead.

am quitting coffee cold turkey

You do as you wish, but if you're going to quit cold turkey, have some pain killers handy.

An alternative would be to cut out caffeine slowly.

How much coffee do you usually drink? Are you a "caffeine junkie"?

[meat]

Re: Starting Over - But Want to Quit Coffee First

hey taylor, for what it's worth i was in the same boat as you and just stopped completely 11 days ago.

everyday of my life revolved around the next milk, espresso and cupcake/cake/cookie combo orgasm.

i randomly slept for 19 hours one day.. woke up and didnt eat for 5 or 6 more hours, and then just started eating low carb, and everything was ok.

the thought of coffee hasn't really crossed my mind much because

a) i think it makes me feel like crap in ketosis

b) caffeine has been shown in 1 study abstract i read to create an insulin surge by up to 25%

c) it's inextricably linked to other high carbohydrate and generally life-draining foods and modes of thinking for me and i'm really skeptical i could just drink it without desiring 500lbs of sugar in some form or another to go with it

i'm not sure exactly how much my initial fasted state helped me with this, it's possible i overslept the caffeine hangover/addictive replenish impulse while also reaping the benefits of abnormally good blood sugar.

normally, no lie, if i woke up at 3am, i would drive 30 miles to a 24 hour donut and coffee shop if that was the only thing open because i was that addicted.

it's been 11 days now without a single sip of coffee or any caffeine and i haven't really noticed it.

the one difference is some days when you just wake up tired, or underslept, you can't cover it up with a cup of coffee and feel alert for awhile.

so that's one difference... when i'm tired, i'm just tired. no cure. i'm going to experiment with exercise for this purpose soon.

[imagood1]

Re: Starting Over - But Want to Quit Coffee First

It's the 27th -- how are you doing?

I went from 2 or 3 pots (yes pots not cups) of regular coffee with creamer and sugar in every cup to 1 or sometimes 2 cups of decaf each day. Drink pure water - that will help! Take a couple pain releavers if you need them but remember, when it's worth it you can make your mind up to change your bad habits. You did it when you quit smoking you can change the coffee habit also. Good luck to you!

[Jennifer81]

Re: Starting Over - But Want to Quit Coffee First

Tomorrow is my first day without coffee too. I normally have 3 cups, with a bit of hazelnut coffee mate creamer and a scoop of sugar.
*sigh* I will miss it. The headaches will suck for a few days, but it's for the best.

[Georgiana]

Re: Starting Over - But Want to Quit Coffee First

I will miss it.

Your health won't.

The headaches will suck for a few days

You can take an OTC painkiller if you need it.