Quitting Coffee

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On March 1st I decided to stop drinking coffee. Although there was no official reason I really wanted to see if I could conquer yet another addiction that I was dealing with. I have been drinking around 12 cups of coffee daily for the past 10 years and honestly, I love coffee. I love the way a good cup tastes (thanks to my Breville Bambino Plus) and although I could never really put my finger on what coffee was doing for me, I did notice some differences when I stopped drinking.

WITHDRAWAL– I thought the world would end if I didn’t fuel myself with at least the obligatory morning cup but even on day one I was OK. I did experience a slight headache for 20 minutes on day 3 but it went away on its own and may not even be related to the caffeine withdrawal. 4 weeks later and it’s as if I never drank coffee at all. Seriously pain-free.

SLEEP- After I had kids I convinced myself that any time after the kids fell asleep is “me time” and the daily 2 AM bedtimes were not so much me hurting myself but a reflection of what I deemed self-care. Fast forward to today when I am no longer drinking coffee and I realize the time my body actually starts to shut down is 9 and by 10 PM I better be tucked into my bed. In return for these earlier bedtimes I am waking up before my 8 AM alarm feeling rested and I failed to realize just how important that feeling is.

MOOD– Before I stopped drinking coffee I was a highly irritable mess of hormones and bad attitude without my morning java. That has gone away although I don’t think I am happier without coffee. I think the real measurable difference here is how I am NOT feeling like a slave to the caffeine. I will be the first to admit the effects of this addiction made me mean sometimes.

ENERGY- I was drinking so much coffee daily that there was never any real downtime from all of that caffeine. Now after over 3 weeks, I think my energy is the same which is a little maddening.

I guess at the end of it all I am actually pretty let down with the lack of change that came with quitting coffee. Considering I put such a big effort into ensuring that I did get my daily fill (hello addiction) I was hoping to have some life-changing revelations. I’ve had 3 lattes and another cup of espresso over the past week and there was no difference. I kind of feel cheated that I have been putting so much emphasis on how coffee was helping me get shit done when things seem to be exactly the same without it.

On the plus side, now that I am no longer addicted to the coffee I can slow down and enjoy it again. Now if only I could finally give up sugar.

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Aneta Alaei

Aneta is a Toronto-based mom of four that loves a good meal, great company, and learning something new. In her free time, you can find her trying to keep yet another plant alive.

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32 Comments

Cathy Goodwin
March 28, 2019 / 9:32 am

I only drink 1-2 coffees a day right now but not sure I could give up my caffeine addiction very easiler. I wish I could give up sugar too. A friend of mine gave it up a year ago and what a HUGE difference it made.
Aneta Alaei
Author
March 28, 2019 / 12:24 pm

I am going to start drinking again in the hopes I can have one cup of really good coffee a day.
Debbie Akerman-Davidov
March 28, 2019 / 4:54 pm

I can’t live without it, but I only have max 2 cups a day. And just with skim milk, no sugar at all. So its basically good for me 😉
Lynda Cook
March 30, 2019 / 4:53 pm

I tried to quit coffee way back about 15 years ago, but had such bad headaches I couldn’t do it, but I am happy to say today I only have 1 or 2 cups of coffee a day, that is much better then what I was drinking, plus it landed me in the hospital too, I was dehydrated from just drinking coffee, and was told to better slow down on the coffee!
Shirley OFlynn
April 19, 2019 / 8:14 pm

I don’t drink coffee that much anymore but I use to drink over 10 cups a day. When I do have a cup I choose decaf now.
jan
April 22, 2019 / 6:45 pm

we stopped coffee while on a 3 week vacation a few years back, simply because it wasn’t available most of the time, and it was not much of an issue. we did go right back on it though when we returned home as it is a morning tradition we enjoy too much. good luck!
Carole D
April 23, 2019 / 1:02 am

I have been drinking decaff for a few years. Real coffee was giving me heart burn. I can’t remember if their was any benefit other then no more heart burn. I need to conquer my addiction. I keep going back to them!
kristen visser
April 23, 2019 / 10:04 am

well that is amazing that you gave it up to see the difference or lack their of it did on your body. I am not completely obsessed with it and could go without it (not for always just a day here day there) but i fully enjoy the smell and taste and it becomes part of my me time in the morning. i do not enjoy coffee any other time of the day . at least you know now you can go without
Shirley
April 23, 2019 / 11:19 am

I drink one cup of black coffee daily I have quit drinking coffee a few years ago for quite a few years and I had switched to tea
wendy hutton
April 23, 2019 / 1:42 pm

I too love my coffee but I always limit myself to 2 cups max a day, and I have tried totally quitting but I miss it first thing in the morning
Jonnie
April 23, 2019 / 3:46 pm

Congratulations on accomplishing your goal, even if it didn’t change your life. At least you know now how it is and isn’t effecting you.
JoKing
April 25, 2019 / 3:13 pm

I am thankful that is one addiction I don’t or didn’t have. With any addition you may not be able to have just one. Wish you all the best!
Erin N
April 25, 2019 / 3:24 pm

I am currently trying to cutout coffee. I’m starting with cutting back and replacing some of cups with decaf, but it is pretty tough!
Calvin
April 25, 2019 / 9:19 pm

I only use caffeine in low amounts, and I take breaks,… like a few week sin between to reset the system. Optimal choice of course is none at all
LisaM
April 26, 2019 / 1:39 pm

What an interesting idea – I love coffee but feel like I can go without it.
Tara Gauthier
April 27, 2019 / 1:07 pm

I rarely drink coffee as it’s never been my “thing” and I have a medical condition that is negatively impacted by drinking too much of it. I do enjoy the odd latte or mocha type drink but have never drank coffee just on it’s own, needs some flavor to it for me! Interesting results – there are definitely days where I feel like I need it to make it through my day.
Debbie P
April 28, 2019 / 6:44 am

one of lifes pleasure i will not give up
LILLIAN BROWN
May 30, 2019 / 1:49 pm

I have cut back on my coffee because I was not sleeping well
Christine Holliday
June 1, 2019 / 6:35 pm

haha…I thought the world would end also!! It wasn’t that bad….the thing is…ya kinda gotta find something else to take up that morning cuppa….I chose herbal teas
Debbie White-Beattie
August 2, 2019 / 1:21 am

I’m lucky I guess because I’ve never liked the taste of coffee and I only drink water
Debbie White-Beattie
August 10, 2019 / 1:25 am

I’ve never drank coffee but it sounds like a junkie getting off drugs
mrdisco
August 12, 2019 / 10:48 am

that’s a pretty hard thing to do!
LisaM
August 14, 2019 / 11:17 am

I enjoy my coffee too much to actually give it up. But I applaud you for trying!
Elizabeth Matthiesen
October 15, 2019 / 10:09 am

I doubt that I could ever give up coffee, though I do now mainly drink a very weak Nescafe. I did manage to give up sugar and use a sweetener instead and I must say I’ve lucked out as it’s one that doesn’t cost too much and I don’t find there’s a weird taste at all.A lot of sweeteners I can’t abide as there’s a weird after-taste for me.
Elizabeth Matthiesen
December 5, 2019 / 12:37 pm

I’d be interested to hear whether you managed to stick to one good cup of coffee a day – I never, ever could do that.
Shirley P
December 10, 2019 / 4:27 am

I drink one cup of coffee in the morning I dont eat sugar I cut that out a while back I do have a bit of chocolate not every day
Victoria Ess
December 25, 2019 / 6:31 am

Good for you for making a goal and sticking with it!
AD
December 25, 2019 / 3:23 pm

Good for you! I found out I had a coffee related allergy about 3 years ago and quit cold turkey; suffered withdrawals, but now I feel amazing.
Cynthia B
December 8, 2020 / 8:53 am

I try to have one cup of coffee in the morning. This is a huge cutback from what I used to drink, but you inspire me to try quitting altogether!
Lynda Cook
November 10, 2021 / 8:51 am

At one point I was drinking so much coffee, I tried to give it up but ended up getting severe headaches, so of course went back to drinking more coffee, well this time I ended up in the hospital, my head felt like it was going to explode, so I went to the hospital. They ended up putting an iv in, I was badly dehydrated and it was all due to way to much coffee and not enough water, now I only have 1-2 8oz cups of coffee a day and feel so much better
Heather Swanson
November 13, 2021 / 7:21 am

I will never give up my java
Linda H
November 19, 2021 / 10:07 am

I usually have about 2-3 cups of coffee in the morning but I don’t think I could quit completely since it has always been part of my morning routine.