I quit coffee

Coffee L*O*V*E

Stomach P-A-I-N

I finally had to admit that my morning coffee was wreaking havoc on my digestion.  Even with a beautiful breakfast of fruit and oatmeal to soften its bite, I could no longer ignore my discomfort.  Along with stomach pain I had increasing anxiety, shakiness followed by mid-day exhaustion and puffy eyelids.  Hey, I'm over 40, but I don't have to look it!

I enjoy work - it is good for the soul.  But I was looking and feeling out of balance.  I was TIRED.  So naturally it was time to take action!  My adrenals need a better back-up and I know my kidneys will thank me too.


3 days off work will give me the start I need.
Day 1: Drinking lots of water, took aspirin and keeping busy.  My head is a pulsating melon in the evening.

Day 2: Drinking lots of water, took aspirin and stopped moving.  Movement means the rubber-band around my head gets tighter.  Just tired - wow - realizing how exhausted I must have been.  Coffee was masking my exhaustion.  Hard to stay focused on any task.  Walking around squinting.  Drank some wine at night more for the relaxing buzz than anything else.  Probably foolish because of the dehydrating effect, but at that point I was looking for relief.

Day 3: Moo-ing on chips.  I must need salt. My head is hinting at clarity.

Other observations:

Hot water with lemon zest is a very satisfying hot substitute.  This got me through a conference where there was a spread of sweets and a fantastic (though untested) coffee bar.

One of my biggest temptations to succumb to coffee's lure came at an unexpected moment.  I was waiting for my daughter at an orthodontist office one morning.  It was a long 2 hour appointment, and in the waiting room was a stand with fresh coffee.  oooohh.  That's not fair.  I had anticipated temptation at work and at my favorite local coffee shop, but not here, not now.  Innocuous.  At this point it was a mental test but I managed to not cave in thanks to good conversation with a friend! 

Co-workers were the least supportive.  When I declined a coffee run it was met with "I could never do that!"  and "Really??  Let me know if you change your mind!"  After a week though, pretty much everyone gets over it and you move on.  Explanations involving physical discomfort are the most accepted.  Only true friends will understand the other (and just as compelling) explanation of the search for balance.

About 10 days into my plan I found that I was drinking a lot of water, but not producing much.  It was a shift in my entire system to rehydrate properly.  I can feel this all over - wow. 

My puffy eyelids are improving - not that it was bad or really noticeable to begin with, but how many parents do you see without bags under and over their eyes?  This is a sign of kidney stress. We need to learn to read our bodies.  It is amazing what it will tell you if you listen.

Now I am caffeine free.  Pain-free.  I no longer have much anxiety or shakiness, and my mid-day exhaustion has diminished dramatically!  I am one happy camper now.  Herbal teas are wonderful, and orange zest with a cinnamon stick works great too!

There is always a solution.

This would not be complete without sharing that I have made other changes prior to this step that contributed to my success.  I changed jobs to improve my work/life balance.  I now work 4 days a week, I exercise regularly, the family is eating better more wholesome food and we have more time together.  These changes all generate good hormones and a restful attitude.  Giving up the coffee is now icing on the cake.  I don't ever want to rely on "Rocket Fuel" again.

Thanks for listening.  This has been quite the self-serving blog, but perhaps it will inspire you to work to find balance in your life.

Until next time,

Let me know how it goes!

~Rose