Caffine issue

[shelbyquinn03079]

So I am planning on starting again after having my baby 5 weeks ago. The problem I have is cutting out caffine. I want to do away with it plus I don't like coffee and I don't want to be drinking diet drinks But..............the problem is that right now there is NO WAY I will be able to get through my day without it. I am currently getting about 3-4 hours of sleep a night and that is even broken up in 1 1/2 hour slots because of the new baby. On top of that naps are not an option because I also have a 20 month old I am running around after all day. I am just curious what anyone would do in my situation.

PS FYI I am not nursing I bottle feed

[Elizellen]

Re: Caffine issue

REad this FAQ about caffeine
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=6749
It might convince you that you need to give it up.

Maybe if you take the recommended vitamin supplements as Dr Atkins suggested you may find you dont need caffeine anyway!

[ladyinred]

Re: Caffine issue

Drinking lots of water keeps your brain hydrated too, so you don't feel brain-fatigue.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Caffine issue

good for yuo coming back so soon. How about getting DH to take onew of the late night feedings so you can get 3_ hrs of sleep as sleep is very iportant for your health too.

[cmooregreen]

Re: Caffine issue

In addition to my daily vitamin, I take 1000 ml of vitamin C in an all natural health drink called Emerg'en C every morning. You just mix it in 4-5 oz of water and man does it give me the energy to get through the day and the vitamin C to get through the cold season! Also, you really do need to work at getting some help with the little ones so that you can get sleep. If you are like me, you feel guilty asking for help (Supermom syndrome), but I bet those who love you won't mind helping if you let them!

[sunflowergrl]

Re: Caffine issue

B vitamins can help with energy, they are a main ingredient of a lot of 'energy' drink. Congrats on the new baby and the 20 month old. Good luck!!!!

[fiddlejen]

Re: Caffine issue

In addition to my daily vitamin, I take 1000 ml of vitamin C in an all natural health drink called Emerg'en C every morning. You just mix it in 4-5 oz of water and man does it give me the energy to get through the day and the vitamin C to get through the cold season!

Doesn't EmergenC have some sort of sweetener in it? (I've always assumed it did, so I stopped using it long ago. I always liked it - would be nice if it doesn't have sugar.)

[tabekat]

Re: Caffine issue

If you think that caffeine is keeping you awake you have been misguided, just like the rest of us.

Any lift you may get with caffeine is soon followed by a big drop that places your system lower than it was before. I was a huge coffee drinker when I started Atkins, and I found it much harder to give up than anything else.

I too, had the mistaken idea that it was giving me some energy. What a joke.

It took about 4 uncomfortable days for me and then my system was free of it. From that point on I couldn't believe how much better I felt. My body was so relieved to be free of those superficial ups and darker downs. Yours will too.

Give up the caffeine. You won't regret it.

[crystal4l]

Re: Caffine issue

I agree with Tabekat..... I have been off atkins for awhile because I also had a baby. Mine was born in November. It took me awhile to get back on the bandwagon. I have a 2 yr old and she is high energy. Going back on Atkins has reminded me of how I used to feel when I was on it before. You get a lot more energy, as you don't have the highs and lows from sugar/caffeine. Your body will adjust quickly. Hang in there.

[Pineapple]

Re: Caffine issue

There's also been some debate over the entire caffine issue, because it's looking like that citrus is the culprit of stalls and sugar spikes rather than caffine in sodas. Might explain why people say that a diet soda with sucralose will stall them when regular coffee won't.

I don't drink either, so this is just speculation on my part.

[RationalBeing]

Re: Caffine issue

I'll tell you straight up that the first time I did atkins I stalled for 2+ weeks when I went back to drinking my cafe americanos (2 shots espresso + hot water). It sucked. I was cruising along, down 20lbs and then bam, 2 weeks of no loss. I gave up the americanos and went right back to losing weight regularly. MIght have been a coincidence, not sure if the americanos made me eat more cuz it spiked my insulin or what, but I highly recommend you cut the caffeine - it will more than likely help - plus its just plain healthier anyway.

[Elizellen]

Re: Caffine issue

Doesn't EmergenC have some sort of sweetener in it? (I've always assumed it did, so I stopped using it long ago. I always liked it - would be nice if it doesn't have sugar.)

Correct Jen
If someone is haveing 1000mg of Vitamin C (2 packets) they would also be having TEN carbs of sugar too according to this

[teejay]

Re: Caffine issue

Girly you need to get somebody to help you out with the children. A grandparent or a friend to come over even for a couple of hours in the afternoon so that you can take a nap. Also you need to get hubby to help out at night. Either one of the overnight feedings or a couple of the late evening feedings so that you can go to bed earlier. Also I am curious, after a few days all of my kids were on a four hour feeding schedule. Is there some reason why your baby is not? Just a curiosity. Cutting out the caffeine really is a good idea, just for the benefits to you. I know that it is hard, but in the long run it is definitely worth it.

TJ

[shelbyquinn03079]

Re: Caffine issue

Thanks for all the input. I expected most of the advice I've gotten about leaving it alone and I know its the best thing, it just seems really impossible right now.

DH does help a huge amount. He is the one to get the baby to sleep for "the night" and he gets up at 6 and does that bottle. Half the problem is my inability to fall asleep early in the night even though I know that DH will put the baby to bed. Also my daughter gets up shortly after the baby has his 6:00 bottle.

The baby eats every 3 hours for the most part. The first strentch at night I can usually get him to go longer but that takes me still being up and rocking him in his bassinet to keep him asleep. Also, if he starts feeding at 3 hours and it takes a half hour to an hour to feed him and get him back to sleep and then I have to fall asleep you can see why we aren't getting much sleep-lol.

There really isn't anyone to come help me during the day or at least nobody has offered so thats not really a choice. DH went back to work after 2 weeks. He offers to get up during the night for a feeding but he has to go to work the next day and I have stay at home mom guilt-lol. I get enough "unsaid" and "hinted" grief that if the people who have the opinions about me staying home with my kids knew that not only did I not work but I made him get up when he had to go to work the next day I can only imagine the attitudes I would get.

Don't get me wrong I am WELL aware and so is DH that he actually has the easier part most days. As I said in a moment of pure exhaustion and frustration to him the other day "I wish I could go to F****** work once in a while"-lol. I just wasn't prepared for all the judgement I would get from other people who have all kinds of opnions on our choices. Ya know, i am 32 years old and have worked since I was 14 and was on my own as of my senior year in highschool. Durning that time I worked 2,3 and sometimes 4 jobs but I take a few years off to raise my kids and I get treated like some lazy person who "just doesn't want to work" Not everyone feels this way but there are those in my life that do.

Oh god, I lost track of my point of the post. Thanks for the advice. I will take it all into consideration. My guess is I will have to ween myself. Even if the reports say it doesn't help you stay awake it sure feels like it does when I can't open my eyes in the morning-lol. I do want to do away with it and know it is the best choice so I will do my best to make that happen.

Now if I could just find a way to fit in the gym-

[sunflowergrl]

Re: Caffine issue

WOW!!! You look great!! Good for you!! Seeing how well people have done on this WOL makes me feel good and gives me so much hope! Thanks everyone for sharing. I am down to 1/2 cup coffee with 1/2 packet of splenda in morning only. I used to drink coffee with lots of French Vanilla creamer all day long! It has been the hardest part of induction for me. (I am on day #5 and still no cheating).