This past week (starting the Monday before last) has been the hardest week in the past….ohh… well a long time.
Please find a seat.
I quit coffee*.
Migraines, shaking, cold sweats, and severe nausea for DAYS. Why? Because I was addicted to having 2 pots of REGULAR coffee (strong enough to hold the spoon up by itself, and no sissy additives – hee hee) A DAY! Then add in the few… cough… several … times a week for a cup of regular coffee with 2-3 shots of espresso. I was a mess.
Isn’t that crazy? Isn’t that WRONG? Like wrong in the sense of the word that means: bad, faulty, in error, awry.
I feel so incredibly sitting here right now. I now CRAVE sleep at 10:00 pm, I am not a psycho jittery mess that is constantly acting as if PMS has me in its grip, and I am actually even a little nicer to be around. So while that was the hardest thing for me to give up – even more so than chocolate – I feel like I have made some serious strides in taking better CARE of myself. I won’t lie though, walking through the mall, I smelled that incredibly coffee aroma and nearly drowned myself in drool. But it is ok – I think that this is the best choice that I’ve made in a long time. 
Katie
*I would like to be free from coffee for a month. After a month, I am limiting myself to 1-2 cups a day of DECAF coffee.
I’m so proud of you Kat!!! I’d just about be willing to bet that giving up the coffee will aid in your weight loss too. Caffine is such a water retainer! You can do it!
Comment by Tami — January 30, 2007 @ 9:03 am
Whoa. Great job, Katie!
Comment by Anne — January 30, 2007 @ 9:21 am
I feel your pain. I give it up for Lent for the first time last year and intend to do it again. I have already warned everyone in the house so they know what to expect. But the pain is so worth it - I feel incredible after the withdrawl symptoms go away. The psychological factor is big though. I crave and want coffee more then I want chocolate (and that’s saying something!). HANG IN THERE!
Comment by natasha25461 — January 30, 2007 @ 9:50 am
You’re a better man than I am Gunga Din!!
Though in my defense - the 8-10 cups a day I drink are mostly decaf. It probably adds up to about 2-3 cups of “real” coffee.
I am SOOOO proud of you! If you can conquer this - you can conquer anything!!
Comment by blestwithsons — January 30, 2007 @ 10:19 am
Oh Girl!!! I went through this a while back!! I did a whole blog series on it because I felt so terrible lol. I know how awful the withdrawals are! I was a mess for days but was soooo much better when I got on the other side. You’re doing awesome and I am sooooo proud of you Kat!!!
Comment by Blair — January 30, 2007 @ 10:33 am
Well Done
I’ve never liked coffee, but know enough people who really do(!) to know what you must have been through this week. Keep up the good work 
Comment by Debs — January 30, 2007 @ 10:43 am
Yay Kat! I am in awe of you:)
And, uh, blest? Did I read that aright–8-10 cups a day?? I am in awe of you as well. Wow.
Comment by lady laura — January 30, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
Yeah Blest, that is a lot of coffee… If Kat can do it…
Comment by Debs — January 30, 2007 @ 1:07 pm
Good for you!
Personally, I drink 6-8 cups of regular a day and only gave it up completely the four times I was pregnant. But I always gave it up cold turkey, so I know how you feel!
Comment by Jana — January 30, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
Okay… See now. In the morning it’s 3 cups of 1/3 Caffeinated - which comes out to 1 Cup of Real Coffee. After lunch - about the same. After dinner, some decaf. So yeah - about 8 Cups - but nowhere near that much in caffeine. And I’m NOT quitting so don’t even.
Comment by blestwithsons — January 30, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
Blest,
Just thought I’d tell ya that even decaf has some caffine. You really are getting more than you think my dear!
Comment by Tami — January 30, 2007 @ 3:01 pm
Great job Kat. I must admit to despising coffee, so that wasn’t a problem for me.
Now root beer? That was a problem. Especially if it was in a glass bottle. I would drink 3-5 IBC root beers a day!
I’m proud of you!
Comment by Bethany — January 30, 2007 @ 3:21 pm
Bethany - I like rootbeer also but usually avoid IBC and Barqs these days because of caffeine. I used to drink those though…yum!
Comment by Blair — January 31, 2007 @ 8:17 am