2006-12-17 16:21:05 · 12 answers · asked by mamalicious 1 in Health ➔ Diet & Fitness
Start by having 1/2 and 1/2 coffee. Half Decaf and half regular. Every week use less and less regular until you are using full decaf. It took me about 1 month and I had no headaches.
Make sure that you don't have much chocolate or you start to crave the caffeine again.
2006-12-17 16:24:50 · answer #1 · answered by PP4865 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I went cold turkey when I did it. I had massive headaches for about three days. Avoid Excedrin or any other painkiller that has an ingredient to 'speed healing'...that's usually caffeine. Try drinking caffeine free sodas or coffee (they still have minute amounts of caffeine, but not enough to keep you hooked) to at least temporarily convince your body you're giving it what it wants. Water is your friend...when you go to restaurants, order just water (or water with lemon - whichever you prefer). This is the tough part: Ease up on chocolate (don't give it up entirely...that's just being mean to yourself!). Chocolate also has caffeine in it. Eventually you'll find that things with caffeine will give you the headaches and being without is the natural state of things. It's not easy at first...but it works!
2006-12-17 16:38:04 · answer #2 · answered by emmapeelfan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I totally sympathize with you! I just gave up caffeine in October and it was a battle, but here's some tips:
1) Don't stop cold turkey. It's hard on your body and you will have withdrawl symptoms like headaches. Slowly taper off. Give yourself a few weeks to taper and make a schedule to help you set your goals.
2) Find a substitute drink you'll give yourself. Example: if you like coffee, drink decaf. If you drink soda, try the decaf. This helped me trick my body into thinking I was getting something out of it.
3) If you cave in, don't be too hard on yourself and don't give up. Don't judge yourself for giving in, just keep trying.
4) It takes the human body 4-6 weeks to develop new habits. So don't expect you'll be able to get over your caffeine cravings right away, you need to be patient and develop new habits.
5) Make sure you follow through with new habits: Example: when you crave caffeine, you trick yourself into having decaf. Or maybe you choose to distract yourself... whatever you choose is fine.
6) Don't expect withdrawl symptoms to vanish right away. It took my symptoms about 3 weeks to go away and then my cravings went away too.
Good luck
2006-12-17 16:27:32 · answer #3 · answered by nurse_ren 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Caffeine is a very nasty drug. We build up a tolerance to it very quickly and all your current coffee use is only taking you back to normal.
Giving up is a good idea, once you give up you can get a buzz from just a cup of tea.
But if you quit and you are a heavy user you may have headaches, dizzy spells, and feelings are immense tiredness.
Start by reducing your usage. But make sure you do in at a time when you don't have a lot stress, work and so on.
2006-12-17 16:39:13 · answer #4 · answered by flingebunt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why are you trying to give it up? Weening is the best way for Caffeine. As suddenly stopping can cause rebound effects...such as headaches etc. Speak to your doctor about the medical affects the amount of caffeine that you consume. Perhaps cutting back is better than completely stopping.
2006-12-17 16:27:22 · answer #5 · answered by Steph 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could cut down slowly. Do half caff for awhile. (a cup of half caffeinated and half decaffeinated) Then maybe even a quarter caff. I just quit cold turkey because I was getting ready to go on a fast and my body needed to be free of it. Never went back to it regularly - but I treat myself to a cup every month or two on days when I didn't get enough sleep. I drink a lot of decaf tea now. It's a nice warm drink - and takes the place of coffee quite nicely.
Good luck!
2006-12-17 16:26:02 · answer #6 · answered by liddabet 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a nurse. Wean yourself. If you don't you could be miserable. Start slow and make your intakes smaller and smaller. Before you know it you will be free from caffeine. You can do it. After all your'e already going in the right direction. Take Care.
2006-12-17 16:26:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cut down on yr daily quota and try chewing on
''chewing -gum'', if u feel the urge to have more caffeine.
2006-12-17 16:31:27 · answer #8 · answered by ๏๓ รђคภtเ, รђคภtเ รђคภtเ ....... ! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wean yourself off of it slowly instead of 6 glasses of soda and coffee drik five and switch to decafff teas and try decaff sodas and coffees
2006-12-17 16:24:48 · answer #9 · answered by kleighs mommy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried decaf. you still get the great tase of coffee
2006-12-17 16:25:39 · answer #10 · answered by Pandora 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋