20 days, no caffeine.

[sketch]

So I gave up caffeine (in any form) just over 20 full days ago. No coffee, no espresso, no soda, no energy drinks/supplements, no chocolate, etc.

Has anybody else ever done this? What was the withdrawal like for you? What was your daily/weekly caffeine intake like?
I drank basically a dunks medium iced coffee every morning, and some days threw a red bull or other energy supplement in the afternoon.

I had head aches for about a week and a half (nothing unbearable, but I'm a chronic headache sufferer as is and I typically just deal), but now I feel so much better without it.

Why'd I give it up? Basically, every day around 2-3pm (work 9am-6pm hours during the week) I'd get drowsy and want to go to sleep. Again at 8pm. If I were to go to bed at 8pm, I'd probably wake up around 3-4am....which wouldn't fly particularly well.
To make it worse, I work part time on some weekends as a barista at a local coffee shop.

How about any of you?

[stealthee]

I gave up Mountain Dew once. At first the withdrawls were so bad I literally felt like I had a horrible hangover. I had a bad headache and felt like I had to puke. After the guy I worked with asked what was going on he told me I was stupid for trying to go cold turkey and went and got me a Dew. I drank it and immediately felt better. After that I only had one glass of Dew the next day and then I had none for months.

Now I occasionally have one, but its not needed. I drink Kool Aid alot. I know it has a lot of sugar, but no caffeine is better.

[HilbillyHomeboy]

Caffiene sux...unless it's mixed with vodka in red bull form!

[CoreyB]

I drink a lot of caffiene. I have worse habits to kick though.

[93STLTH]

Since I work 12 hour shifts, 6:30 to 6:30, both days and nights, caffeine is a big part of my life.

[MADMarc]

hahah this thread hits home. When I worked at a bar my normal intake was a cup of coffee or two while working and possibly an energy drink at work to keep me going, including a cup or two first thing in the morning. On my days off...maybe a pot of coffee to rock me through school. I cold turkeyed when I got sick and caffeine never meshes well when you're sick. Headaches were gnarly but added into the whole "i still have the flu" symptoms so it wasn't unbearable. When I came out a few days later I felt great, no more headaches and no more drowsiness at specific times of the day. Now that I'm not working there I only rock a cup of coffee or tea a few times a week and exercise on a regular basis. I think the exercise helps out big time :)

[91stealthrt2]

I drink on average about 3 cans of mt dew a day. Usually less on my days off and I will get a minor head ache. I really should cut back. I'd probably lose a few lbs in the process. 6' 200lbs.

[marshallh]

I drink at least a pot of coffee a day. Last year when I went back to live at my folk's place I stopped cold. Nothing happened.


Then again I can drink several cups and then go right to sleep. It does nothing to wake me up in the morning.

[11secondFWD]

For years (like past 6) I have only drank water, and I don't eat candy. So I never really have or want caffeine.

[RealMcCoy]

I drink at least a pot of coffee a day. Last year when I went back to live at my folk's place I stopped cold. Nothing happened.


Then again I can drink several cups and then go right to sleep. It does nothing to wake me up in the morning.

That's me as well... I drink at least a pot of coffee a day. I can drink it at night and have no problem sleeping. Doesn't seem to effect me, I've gone without it for several days at a time with no withdrawl symptoms.

[futurevr4man]

i used to drink caffeine a lot in the form of soda or coffee. i felt like it never made me extra hyper or anything, it was just something that tasted good. i stopped cold turkey just due to the fact i think its really unhealthy. i had a headache but it was nothing crazy. i expected it too.

now whats really weird is 5 years later, when i drink a cup of coffee i am SET for hours. it really hits me hard. so if you have stopped, wait for a while without any caffeine at all, and then drink a cup of coffee. its weird how your body can change like that

[colt45 gto]

not sure if caffine effects me, i can have a strong coffee before bed and go right off. i never feel any different from any kind of caffine hit.

[futurevr4man]

not sure if caffine effects me, i can have a strong coffee before bed and go right off. i never feel any different from any kind of caffine hit.

cause your body is used to it. like i said, get off it for an extended period of time, then drink a cup. i used to be just like you, but now (years after leaving caffeine behind) if i drink a cup of expresso or something it lights me up for ~3 hours. then i crash of course...

[VR-4 0wnz j00]

I've done it before. It really doesn't bother me either way.

[green-lantern]

I drink a lot of caffiene. I have worse habits to kick though.

This!

[BA TURBO]

I was a 4 -5 cup a day caffeine fiend while at work and would drink about as much on the weekend. I gave up caffeine about 6 months ago and now I sleep better, am much better at my job as I am able to be more focused on the task at hand and now I don't get that mid afternoon drowsiness that makes me want more caffeine.

I do mix my morning cup at about 90% de caff and 10% caffeine.

When I do have any straight caffeine, which is almost never now, I get off like a rocket on it.

Feel much better without it.

Bob-

[skyrunner]

I do this every few years. I always feel better when "off" of it, but I generally drink it in soda form and I drink soda more for the calories than caffeine. Problem is, there are no caffeine free sodas in the soda machine at work (only place I really drink soda). If I had more money to burn I would just keep the fridge at the office stocked with some good juice drinks for when I am hungry, but I am pinching pennies to try to move into a bigger house next year. After that, I'm sure something else will come up... I know I am just making excuses, but I really feel like I would be healthier if I had more money ;)

I used to do gymnastics through college and when I would drink caffeine before workouts it would totally throw me off. It made me really jittery even though I couldn't feel anything at all unless I was upside down trying to balance myself on a couple wooden bars! Although I drank a ton of Mtn Dew in High school, I quit all soda for almost my entire college career. I kinda wish I had never started drinking it again...

[Atrosity]

The 2 for 3 dollar monster energy drink special gets me every day. It is a habit to have one in the morning then again at the 3 o clock drowse.

[thor'svr4]

i don’t have a caffeine problem

McDonalds bacon angus burger meal with a monster at 11am
subway foot long meatball marinara plus a can of nos at around 3pm
dinner and another monster around 6-630ish pm.
plus numerous cans of vault through out the day.

right now ive got whats left of three 12 packs of vault and two 24 packs of Dr. Thunder sitting right under my desk for while i study. the mini fridge is legit loaded to the top with sodas and energy drinks. but ive gotta say i dont really ever have any problems when i dont drink the stuff. lately ive been getting 'enhanced water', pretty much a Snapple knockoff, with every meal at my schools dining hall. i dont really notice a difference in energy after not having the caffeine. Also on the weekends when im at home there’s never any soda. Maybe because I’m constantly getting high dosages of caffeine and then zero caffeine on the weekend my body has never gotten addicted to it?

now i want to stop just to see what happens.

edit:
awwww wtf! chocolate has caffeine in it!?!?!? sooooo no more peanut m&m's..... now thats gonna be hard because ive got a nice big bag of them right next to me and there calling my name lol

[TwIzTeD_3kGt]

Usually have a 20oz. coffee and an Amp energy drink on the days I work. I've stopped in the past, usually end up with a week long headache (caffeine constricts the blood vessels in your brain, without it, they swell) and then I'm fine after.

[AdamVR4]

I've started to drink about 1 Dr. Pepper per day... And a pack of Starbursts LOL. Glad I've got a good metabolism but I gotta quit this shit. Yet to get into coffee.

[sketch]

I thought that I was set on the headaches...but last weekend I started getting pretty bad pains near the forehead region. Ugh...tomorrow is 4 weeks though!

[Mean Green]

You guys don't wanna know how much Coca Cola I drink....it's the only bad habit I have besides breaking my own car. I would be worried what the outcome would be if I stopped drinking it.