Coming to a hard realization

[rawlight]

I think this is the right board for this....

Coffee, even only my one cup a day, really *is* having an effect on my nerves, the rawer I get. It seems like the higher raw I am (and I am not quite 100%) and the longer I am at this percentage, the caffeine in only *one cup* is having an effect on my body/mind.

Right now, it is so obvious, I really must address it. If I continue in pursuit of a raw lifestyle, I am going to have to give it up.

Man o man, I am sitting here and haven't even finished the one cup and feel like I want to jump up and start running. But it's not a good feeling of wanting to get things accomplished with a lot of energy, it's a crazed feeling of almost feeling out of control. This is not what I want to feel at all. It is really uncomfortable and I felt so good before I drank it, as I walked for almost an hour through the park....ack.

As I've notice these effects the last few weeks, I've tried to put them out of my head, because, alas, I am a coffeehouse person and I don't know how to go to my 'regulars' without wanting coffee. I go to read and write and they have become a regular part of my lifestyle. Honestly, the thought of giving up this part of my life (because frankly, I don't see how if I am to actually give up coffee, how I can sit there and just drink a smoothie or water without wanting coffee), scares the bejezus out of me.

On the other hand, I have always known this one cup is like my last hold out of becoming raw. As odd as that might seem. And if I can give this up, I know my whole life will change, because there is nothing else in the SAD world that I have not been able to live without.

Has anyone else broken free of the coffeehouse thing and knows how I m feeling?

Advice on all of the above gladly accepted.

[Revvell]

I'm thinking you might take a smoozie one time and see how you feel (if they allow you to bring it in).

Give this a shot, if you feel to ~

"One reason I don't want to give up coffee is... (repeat it and end it with 6-10 different endings ~ and, for the following...).
"If I continue drinking coffee...
"If I allow myself to give up coffee altogether...
"If I go 100% raw...."
"I am now realizing...."

[streetsurfer]

I've never tolerated coffee well, or had the passion for it like some do. I am more of an herbal tea person. I do like a cup of yerba mate now and then. It doesn't give me the jitters like coffee, nor the upset stomach. I believe it is alot lower in caffeine and think anyone trying to transition off of coffee could benefit by using it as a replacement. Nowadays, the more raw I eat, the less mate I drink, even. I can usually get my needed energy to get things done or pull myself out of a slump by having a green smoothie, a couple cloves of garlic, or a bowl of fruit. I don't get any caffeine w/d headaches either, if I drink mate for a few days in a row and then quit it, like coffee would normally do.

[EZ rider]

I was a caffeine addict in my pre-raw days and after going raw I experienced similar effects to what you have described. I felt like I was a Don Knots http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0461455/ jitterbug after my "fix" and I didn't like the feeling. I gave up the coffee and tea and switched to clean water. I like to drink warm water in the winter and I keep a cup of water on my small desktop cup warmer just like I used to keep my cup of caffeine on. I am very happy, relaxed and satisfied with the change and don't miss the "fix" any more. Good luck.

[islesgirl]

I think this is the right board for this....

Coffee, even only my one cup a day, really *is* having an effect on my nerves, the rawer I get. It seems like the higher raw I am (and I am not quite 100%) and the longer I am at this percentage, the caffeine in only *one cup* is having an effect on my body/mind.

Right now, it is so obvious, I really must address it. If I continue in pursuit of a raw lifestyle, I am going to have to give it up.

Man o man, I am sitting here and haven't even finished the one cup and feel like I want to jump up and start running. But it's not a good feeling of wanting to get things accomplished with a lot of energy, it's a crazed feeling of almost feeling out of control. This is not what I want to feel at all. It is really uncomfortable and I felt so good before I drank it, as I walked for almost an hour through the park....ack.

As I've notice these effects the last few weeks, I've tried to put them out of my head, because, alas, I am a coffeehouse person and I don't know how to go to my 'regulars' without wanting coffee. I go to read and write and they have become a regular part of my lifestyle. Honestly, the thought of giving up this part of my life (because frankly, I don't see how if I am to actually give up coffee, how I can sit there and just drink a smoothie or water without wanting coffee), scares the bejezus out of me.

On the other hand, I have always known this one cup is like my last hold out of becoming raw. As odd as that might seem. And if I can give this up, I know my whole life will change, because there is nothing else in the SAD world that I have not been able to live without.

Has anyone else broken free of the coffeehouse thing and knows how I m feeling?

Advice on all of the above gladly accepted.

I know exactly how you are feeling. Giving up coffee is harder for me than it was to quit smoking. It's like "what will be left to enjoy"? This is craziness indeed. But even that 1 mug a day is such an addiction and I too am feeling worse and worse each day that I continue to drink it. Your post could have been written by me. I will give it up though because I have done it before and remember how fabulous I felt eating & drinking only raw food. I know that Green Smoothies really ease the cravings. One day we will look back with such gratitude that we finally let go of the terrible hold this ritual has on us.

Oh, I forgot to post about this in my blog and on the "Challenge". I found what I think will be a real help - something I can substitute. I found it at Zehrs (chain of Loblaws here in Ontario) in the "health food section". It is a smallish container of coconut water - pure and unadulterated. I am going to get a few more of them and carry them around with me. This is supposed to be extremely nutritious and energizing.:D This is what I will use when my friends and I go for "coffee". I will post again in about a week to let you know if it helped as I haven't tried it yet.

[margoss]

herbal tea for me..there's one with spices that's so good. If I get caffeine, I feel like my lips are coming off of my face.

[snoops]

I would work with Revvell's sentence completions to figure out why you are addicted to it and why you would find it hard to stop. I found that it was the experience of meeting a buddy at Starbucks, to talk over a mocha or walking down to the local coffee shop on a work break that I thought I would miss, not so much the actual coffee. So try putting something else in the Starbucks paper cup - tea to start. Maybe your own green smoothie eventually. You can still meet people to chat or take a break from whatever to go for a coffee. Just drink something else. See how it feels.

This is why I love this forum. Even though you are talking about coffee that I gave up about 15 years ago because of heart arrhythmia's caused by caffeine, I am wondering how I will prepare dinner without a glass of red wine. Maybe I need to save my apple carrot ginger juice till dinner and drink it from a wine glass!! That sounds silly but I bought some cool blown glass wine goblets on a recent trip but they are not normal wine glass shaped and I don't like drinking(even red wine) out of them. Habit habit habit - gotta just break those crazy habits. I still love the smell of coffee brewing by the way but could care less about actually drinking it.

You CAN do it. I know it. You will be amazed how easy it really is after you deal with the day or two withdrawal.

[revdrcyn]

My dh said that when I stopped drinking coffee it was as monumental an event as the Berlin wall coming down . . .

I was going to Starbucks twice a day, every day, and never had less than a $200 balance available on my Starbucks Card (I gave it to a friend with $80 still on it when I quit)

I never dreamed I would quit, but I did (in August 2009) - and it has actually been wonderful.

One of our members on RFT has this in her signature line: "Green Smoothies are the new coffee" -- this is now my mantra and my way of life.

Try it!!!!

[islesgirl]

I like that! "Green Smoothies are the new coffee" - Tomorrow I plan to begin my day with green juice - not coffee. After that, I plan to have green smoothies for the balance of the day.:D

[rawlight]

Thanks, gang. These are great replies and most of you know what I am talking about regarding the coffeehouse thing.

I know why I drink coffee. I love the taste! It's not the caffeine persay. I don't drink it first thing in the morning, in fact, there are some days that I forget to drink it. I don't need it to wake up. I don't put on the pot first thing in the morning to get me going like most people I know. When I get out of bed, i am up and feeling fine. I don't drink espresso, so I don't even feel the 'kick', which most people do. I have a green smoothie after I come in from walking and have the coffee later in the morning or afternoon.

It's all been good until the last few weeks, when I've definitely felt some negative effects. I think I need to consider staying away from coffee houses for the time being, because that's definitely a trigger right now. I don't see how I could go into one and not be swayed. Although, in the future, I could see putting a GS in my travel coffee mug (I do that anyway) and just ordering water or even fruit. I like some of Rev's stuff, so I'll look at that, as maybe there is more to my drinking coffee than I realize.

EZ rider, yikes that takes me back, but that is a good description. Kind of like watching a "Fawlty Towers' marathon for me! revcyn you are an inspiration! islesgirl and snoops, good luck! And thanks rev.

[lunabear]

I've worked in two coffee shops and drank coffee since I was twelve. It is very addictive, especially since both of my parents drank it when I was a child and I associate coffee with not only liveliness, but also intellectualism, a comforting sense of well-being, and home. The idea of going without coffee used to make me feel unbearably sad. Of course, I also had very bad skin, mood swings, and anxiety that was so bad others used to comment on it....

Some things that helped me were, in this order almost:

Substituting decaf (still gives you a little perk, but you don't want to STOP at this step since it still produces cortisol in your body and is very artificial, decisively NOT raw)

Drinking teas (I still enjoy green teas on occasion)

Teeccino coffee substitute (very yummy, has a better aftertaste than coffee, and is much gentler on the stomach)

I wish you luck. Despite what people say, I think coffee (not just caffeine) is just as addictive as smoking. It might be even worse since it's socially approved and encouraged. You don't have to go cold turkey all at once if it scares you, but set a deadline for yourself -- say, January 1st! -- by which you want to be completely off the stuff. You'll notice a difference in your own skin, I promise.

[lunabear]

By the way, as for your love of coffee shops, I still love them too! I order a green tea or herbal tea and have just as good an experience. It's okay to be known as the "tea girl", I don't care, and I can still enjoy the ambience without getting jittery or freaking out. Plus, I can feel the difference after drinking tea -- a little more awake but not jumping off the walls. I know it's not raw, but it's definitely better than the alternative.

[MrsJohnnyG]

I was as addicted as they come... the smell of coffee just walking down the coffee aisle at the store would have me DYING for a cup of it!

I broke the addiction a couple of months ago, shortly after I was told I had cancer. I did it by:

1. breaking the PHYSICAL addiction - went cold turkey, thought I'd die from the headaches, but a few days later was fine and felt so "clear." As others have said, green smoothies in the morning give me a longer-lasting, more natural energy rush

2. breaking the PSYCHOLOGICAL addiction - for me, Teeccino, as lunabear mentioned, is a GREAT coffee substitute in that it tastes so similar, with that nutty/roasted taste, yet it's not acifying and is naturally caffeine-free. I can still have the morning ritual of brewing (with my little Keurig brewer) a cup of Teeccino and sip it out of my favorite mug... totally satisfying! (I actually don't even do this every morning, like I thought I would... just every once in a while.)

Ironically, my formerly anti-coffee husband started drinking coffee a few months ago. Weirdly enough, I'm able to brew a half-pot of organic coffee for him without even REMOTELY craving it. Um, if you knew me a few months ago, you'd never have believed this!! I wouldn't have believed it myself, but I think taking care of both the physical AND psychological addictions are key.

[michigan roman]

here at 4 years raw its the same for me when i cheat on coffee as just one cup gets my nerves frazzled and upsets gut at times

i was off coffee for 3 years but got back on it here and there the past year or so . but soon quitting all hot drinks as to me just the heat from them is g.i. tract damaging

could you imagine any other creature drinking something hot :eek:
like a dog slurping on piping hot water = no way

thats how it was for early man too but our eating / drinking habits have become a mess

[RawKnitster]

I am a latte lover from Seattle. Never-EVER thought I could break my bond with coffee. I had a similiar, very emotional, response to even thinking about giving up coffee. Turned out it was all in my head. The physical addiction to coffee only affected me for about 3 days. Surprisingly, all the emotional baggage about giving it up occurred BEFORE giving it up.

I used a substitute every day for the first three weeks. Rooibos Chai tea with almond milk and honey. I still drink it every few weeks when I want something special to relax with.

As for the emotional attachment to the coffee shop, I still feel a little twinge when I pass by the Cafe Ladro that I frequented with my daughter. That emotion is tied to her and our time together, not to the coffee shop. Although I do wonder if they ever wondered what happened to me.

You may be able to find another place that provides the comfort of the coffee shop. Or you may find you don't need it. :)

I recommend making a clean break with coffee. Set a date and do it. No wavering back and forth. It is hard enough without having to give it up more than once. :)

You have a great attitude about it. You are on your way to being free of a coffee addiction! Think how much money you are going to save. :)

[Draginvry]

By the way, as for your love of coffee shops, I still love them too!

There's a coffee shop around here that makes a pretty mean mango smoothie.

Mango > coffee