It's time to say goodbye to you Starbucks...

[Matilda]

I don't have a journal set up yet. I hope to soon. I needed to come here though and write I am ready to be raw. I have been attempting for about two weeks now. Have not yet made it thru the whole day. I feel it is time now. I went to Starbucks this morning....but it is time to say goodbye to that place. (and plan what to do with all the money I will save by not buying latte's any more. :D )

So here I am saying hello everybody. Hope to see more of you all. And I will check in here later today with some happy healthy news. :)

[kmik]

Welcome Matilda!

Today it's goodbye, but in a few days you'll actually be thinking "good ridance!"

I'm so glad you made the decision to move to the Raw Side :) The extra money you have will be perfect for buying organic fruits and veggies!

This board is great, and you'll be able to find the support you need here from the many helpful, experienced rawbies :D

[hackerm]

Welcome! I've only been raw for 6 days, but I was a diehard Starbucks fan. 6 days ago, I gave it up...cold turkey. Sure, the first few days I was heavy-lidded in the afternoon and ready for bed by 9:00. But I realized something, after the evil caffeine flushed out, I was sleeping like a rock at night. I'm not fuzzy in the afternoon anymore either.

Although, today, sitting with a coworker who had a fresh piping hot cup o' evil joe, I sat and breathed it in, like a new ex-smoker breathing in second-hand smoke. I must admit, I almost caved. I thought, oh, one little cup of de-caf isn't going to hurt me, but I was strong and the moment was fleeting. I thought back to how far I have come in the past 6 days and I prevailed.

If I can do it, you can do it!

[Crystal Rose]

Welcome, Matilda!
I was the Starbucks Queen. I thought seriously of forming a Starbucks Anonymous group. I LIVED for Starbucks.

I first got addicted to Starbucks in 1993 when they first started popping up everywhere. I would drink a triple cappuccino in the morning, then have maybe another one or two Starbuck drinks throughout the day. I did this for years. Until I finally got very, very, very sick right after my knee surgery in January of 2001. My body couldn't take it anymore, and it was further complicated by the pharmaceutical drugs I was taking in relation to my knee and my "carpal tunnel syndrome" (I hate to put a name to things). At that point, I was drinking two or three triple macchiatos a day. When my body rebelled, I almost died. I lost 20 pounds in three days and slept 12 hours in a week. It's a LONG story, but with God's help, I nursed myself back to health with fresh vegetable juices and what-not.

I had to stop drinking all coffee products cold-turkey, or I believe I would have died. My heart was racing so fast, I thought I was going to have a heart attack, but I was afraid to go to the doctor, cuz I believed they would kill me. After a few weeks, I started feeling better, and after a few months, I was healthier than I had been before.

Unfortunately, fast-forward to a couple years later, and I SLOWLY got back onto this horrible drug. I told myself that decaf was okay, and a SINGLE cappuccino in the morning was okay. But when I would have more than one, those same symptoms would start to come back. Finally, again, I felt my health going downhill rapidly, so by early Spring of 2005, I went to the Optimum Health Institute, and had to say goodbye to my drug of choice for the last time. That first day coming off coffee & caffeine (I was also drinking A LOT of iced tea) was so intense. I had the worst headache of my life, and wouldn't have wished it on my worst enemy. But, luckily, after that day, it kept getting better and better, and by the end of that week, I felt great. Within two weeks, I made the commitment to go 100% raw and haven't looked back.

I wanted to share my story because I empathize so much with any other Starbuck people. There is a product called "Teeccino," made by a company in Santa Barbara, which, if you don't know about it, is a great substitute coffee drink. It's brewed, just like coffee, but it has absolutely no coffee or caffeine in it. I don't even need to drink that anymore, but in the beginning, when I still had my cravings, it really helped.

Didn't mean to "get into my life story," but honestly, I made it as short as I could. The bottom line is that coffee and caffeine are no good for people, and I am living proof of that. It leeches calcium from your body, messes with your adrenals, is bad for your stomach, etc., etc., etc. Something just told me to share that story with you.

Good luck on your healing journey.

Best of everything to you,
vicki
Certified Living on Live Foods Teacher

[Jamie]

Matilda~~ I think I spent 1/2 of my hubby's last years earning on white choco mochas.....It was hard at first,, I"d always say just one more :rolleyes: But truly,,, Now even if I try to get one, I can't drink it. They taste awful to me.
I was so addicted to the caffeine,, I didn't realize until I would go without for a few days and the intense headache would come.... but now I feel great and am so thankful for coming this far.....

Best of luck to you,
Jamie :)

[Matilda]

Thank you everybody for your understanding and sympathizing. Nice to know I am not the only one trying to free themselves from Starbucks hooks.

I am still struggling with it...but have faith that I will soon know a coffee free life.
I hear it is nice. :)

[SimpleGirl]

Matilda you said you drink latte's. If I am correct they have milk. Giving up the lattes will free you from milk. I have to say that the one thing that I restrict is dairy. I feel amazing since giving up dairy. No more sniffles. Now I still drink a small cup of coffee but am down from huge quanities. Good luck.

[Sharon in Colorado]

You can pick up a couple of Lara bars instead. I like the Cashew Cookie one (just cashews and dates)

[purtyflowrr]

I'm new to raw. What are Lara bars and where can I get them? Also, I'd like to say, "Starbucks is VERY addictive!!!!" I work there and see people come in three or more times a day. I stopped drinking caffeine at the beginning of 2005. I was caffeine queen!!! I had diet coke EVERY morning and a venti mocha frapp light every day. I got so sick of being addicted to the crap. So I gave it up. Cold turkey. I was on the couch for an entire day sleeping. I felt like crap. But I will never start drinking it again. Now if I have some, I am shaky and CRAZY. I am already a little looney, so caffeine makes me insane. :) I hate the taste of coffee now. So glad I stopped drinking it.

[Crystal Rose]

I know exactly what you mean, Purtyflowrr. I am so glad I am free of the stuff. I'm like a different person. I sleep better, wake up rarin' to go, and my energy is more even throughout the day. I must admit, tho, sometimes it's a little hard for me if I have to go into a Starbucks -- the smell of coffee, you know? I don't go very often anymore, unless I have a meeting. And, to think I used to practically LIVE there. Amazing.
vicki

[Sharon in Colorado]

Any health food store should have them. Thought it would be a nice treat since you'll be off your coffee, you can buy one of those instead as a reward until you are set free.

[RawTruth]

... is my latest favorite saying. And, it's soooo true.

You can't get out for much under $5.

Multiply that by 365 day = $1,825.

Stopping in once a day for 5 years = $9,125 !!

:eek: :eek: :eek:

And ... people say that eating organic is too expensive. Puhleeze!!

It's so freeing to rid oneself of the corporate brainwashing that Starbuck's has done -- we actually believe we're treating ourself to something great -- that we "deserve" a coffee drink and a dessert -- that doing so is somehow positive!! I was in advertising and PR for a number of years and ... it's been very very clever brainwashing ... er, uh ... advertising that's got all of America hooked on their product. I even see parents buying little kids coffee drinks!!!

I'm sooooo far off topic here!!! Welcome Matilda!

p.s. purtyflowrr -- Trader Joe's carries LaraBars -- at $1.29 each, they're a great place to buy them. LaraBars are advertised as all raw -- they're quick and convenient to have with you in an emergency especially if you're new to raw and don't have the habit yet of always carrying food with you. I usually have one in my glove compartment or briefcase "just in case."

[edie]

Matilda, Been a starbucks junky...Being raw is rawsome ! Be patient, Look at what you ARE doing and maybe not so hard at what you aren't. GOOD LUCK ! Edie :)

[ren]

I work at Whole Foods Market and with my discount I spent $2.60 most every day I work there for coffee, getting regular then getting half caff. Today I cleaned out my car and found lots of change to buy the dollar mangoes they have on sale tomorrow. Weaning myself off coffee has been good. I've had two consecutive menses and not spotted once and my acne hasn't flared up as bad.

[Secret Heart]

I was off the coffee addiction for two months and then slowly seeped back into it...I'm so dissapointed with myself. All of your resolutions to get off of it for good are inspiring me. I don't know about all of you, but I seem to be more sensitive to caffeine than many of my friends and colleagues. Most are content to have one cup a day or a week even...but when I'm off the wagon I have to have at least 2-4 cups a day....and I hate myself when I'm on it!
When I was free of it for two months sure i went to bed at 9pm, but I felt SANE, centered, healthier. That's it...gonna cold turkey it again. I can do it, and I know all of you can too!

heather