One last concern since you've all been so helpful

[missgabbygrl]

So It's going to be really hard to give up smoking and my coffee addiction.... I dont know if I should just cold turkey it or what...this is someone who smokes a pack a day :(
I'd feel bad for my bf....
NO cigarettes..
NO coffee..
ONLY raw foods..
that will be a hard few days
anyone else cold turkey it and do 100% raw?
thank you!
<3
-Gabby

[saxmaam]

Cold turkey on cigs + caffeine sounds pretty rough. When I've quit caffeine I just reduced the number of cups by 1 each day 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 ... that way I didn't get headaches. I figure, "Why endure headaches when I don't have to?"

[curlygirl82]

Miss Gabby,

YES! I just did this, and you can too, I promise!! Here's how I did it - which, of course, is not necessarily THE WAY to do it, but it's my experience, and it worked:

1. Without changing anything else, I went 100% raw overnight. I did this for 2 weeks. It started feeling weird to be so healthy, but still putting toxins in my system - coffee and a pack a day.

2. I was still drinking about 2 cups of coffee every morning, sometimes more throughout the day - but REALLY strong coffee, ok? :) Anyway, so I decided to quit the caffeine. This was, by far, harder than quitting any food or even cigarettes - it really surprised me. I had a crushing headache the first day, still pretty bad the second day, but felt almost 100% the third day. It was a tough withdrawal, but it's relatively quick - you really can do it. I hid my coffeepot in the closet, threw out ALL my coffee (cos I know I'm a junkie and I'd have a moment of weakness!), and in their spot I put my blender for green smoothies (which really, really helped, especially with some raw cacao nibs), and a package of herbal tea. That way, every time I turned to look for the coffee pot, I saw my substitutions. It really worked, and by the fourth day, I didn't even miss coffee.

3. The cigarettes I had to kind of trick myself into quitting. After about another week of raw without coffee, I decided to start a Master Cleanse. This is my eighth day on that, and I haven't smoked or had alcohol for 8 days. This is going from a pack a day of full-strength (but organic, of course! :p) cigs, and 2-3 drinks, everynight. I have quit before, using various methods, including cold turkey, and by far the easiest way for me has been on the Master Cleanse. The book claims to take your desire for toxins away. Maybe that's part of it, but for me it was more mental: I just told myself I was only going to do what was on the plan, and only for ten days. So everytime I wanted a cigarette, I made myself think of a Whopper instead! And since I was determined not to break my fast, I didn't give in. I just figured: if I can give up FOOD, I can give up CIGS! Plus, I promised myself that I only had to do it for ten days. after the fourth day or so, I really wasn't thinking about them at all anymore (again, remove all the ashtrays, etc). Even though I told myself I could smoke again after the cleanse if I want, and I'm holding to that, I kind of don't even want to, I feel so much better.

Anyway, just some thoughts. Not saying you have to replicate how I did it, but it was really helpful to me to tackle it this way. If you want to go 100% cold turkey on all of it, I think you definitely can do it! I would, however, recommend doing it when you can sleep a lot - for me, at least, I always get really tired when I quit smoking; the caffeine withdrawal goes without saying.

Anyway, best of luck to you, and ask any questions you want! You're really giving yourself a great gift by doing this - even if you don't do it all at once. Don't fear the changes, they're all good things!

Best,
angela

[D'vorah]

If I tied to cold-turkey caffeine, I'd wind up in the Emergency Room. I did it that way once. When I blew it and got re-addicted, I vowed I'd never do that again. It might work for you, but it doesn't for me.

Weaning is easy to do. You can start cutting the caffeine by mixing it with decaf until you are fully decaf, but even with decaf, you're still getting some caffeine, so you may need to cut that gradually as well.

Either way, I wish you the best getting off of the demons!

Deborah

[Lady Green Jeans]

Been cigarette-free for over 17 years. Best thing I ever did for myself. Woke up that morning and knew it was the day. Did not know about raw at the time. Did use raw carrot and celery sticks to help with having something in my mouth. Used cinnamon sticks, too.

Gave up regular coffee over 5 years ago. Oh the awful withdrawal symptoms. Was at the Health Institute and so many kind souls offered to help me the first three days. Was so very sick/nauseous, detoxing major. After the third day--felt like a brand new me. What a difference.

Go for it! If you need to do one addiction at a time, then do it that way. You are not in some great competition. You are taking care of your temple and each step is truly a love in progress.

Many blessings in your journey.

[RawHeaven]

Located some recent & old threads regarding quitting smoking:

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=44839&highlight=quit+smoking

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=38819&highlight=smoking

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=34527&highlight=quit+smoking

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=35180&highlight=quit+smoking

[Raw Angel Mom]

Yes go for it, you deserve it to be free from that.

For me it was the coffee and i had to do the cold turkey, if i would make an exception, i would get hook again on coffee.

Green smoothies help to heal addiction

Best wishes!