I haven't had coffee or caffeine for a year now.
In case you're wondering if you should get off caffeine yourself, I hope this little guide might help you.
My Story
Letting go of coffee was sad for me, I loved coffee. I loved the smell, the cafes, the bookstores, the vibe. I loved it so much. But unfortunately I overdid it.
My blood pressure was going up, I was getting headaches almost every day and I couldn't figure out what it was. Was it me being overweight? Drinking too much coffee or maybe not enough? Maybe the timing each day?
I went cold turkey on a whim and that went terribly. The headaches got much worse and lasted for days. Luckily a friend mentioned a headache medicine I should try and within a few minutes of taking it my headache disappeared like magic. It was regular acetaminophen plus caffeine. Mystery solved.
The best way I can explain the headaches is they felt like pressure headaches. They would build and build until I could feel each heartbeat in my head. I'm sure my blood pressure being higher was a big part of that too.
So I stopped drinking coffee (iced coffee was my favorite) and I took the headache medicine for a few days. Then I cut the pill in half for a few days. Then I stopped all together and the withdrawal wasn't nearly as bad.
After about two weeks the headaches were gone. I checked my blood pressure regularly and noticed it was slowly going down. I think at my highest I was around 155/110, but it was now closer to 145/95. I still had a ways to go.
I went to the doctor early on in the journey and they ran a bunch of blood tests, but everything came back "looking good" and they didn't have any suggestions. So I decided to take things into my own hands. I knew I should lose weight, that could only help.
With coffee gone, I felt motivated to focus on nutrition. I was taking in less calories thanks to having no coffee or creamer (man, I loved creamer even more than coffee) and I started my weight loss journey to help lower my blood pressure even more. Each week I would lose about a pound or two (thanks to this simple approach from Chris) and I also would take my blood pressure regularly. I got below 140 and it kept dropping. I'm closer to 130 in blood pressure now and excited to get lower.
I still miss coffee, I loved it. But I'm grateful to be getting healthier and to be headache free. Maybe, once I lose enough weight and get my blood pressure back to a normal healthy level, I can give it a try again.
But for now, I'm off caffeine and it's been a big help.
A Short Guide
If you're considering getting off of coffee or caffeine, here's what I wish someone would have told me:
Start Slow - You can cut what you drink in half, or change to something like decaf or tea rather than going cold turkey. You might find that you don't have to cut it out entirely if you don't want to.
Listen to Your Body - Headaches, shakiness, tiredness, all of it is information from your body telling you to listen. Your body wants you to be healthy and is trying to communicate with you the only way it knows how.
Use Medicine as Needed - Other than vitamins, I try not to take any medicines regularly. But the headache + caffeine medicine definitely helped step down off of caffeine in a very controlled way. If you are used to a high amount of caffeine every day, it might be helpful to have a specific amount your body can count on as you gradually step down to zero over time.
Think Long Term - Imagine how you want to feel months from now, not just weeks. Losing weight takes a long time and that's okay. Celebrate the small successes and be patient and kind with yourself.
Find Supportive People - One of the mentors I've appreciated during this process is Chris Terrell and he talks a lot about surrounding yourself with "only supportive people" who want to help you become the person you want to be. I highly recommend his group and I'm sure there are other great groups out there too. It's worth your time to find them.
A Final Note
I'm rooting for you. I know it's hard but it's worth it.
I'll keep posting helpful books and guides online to try to help you on this journey as I go through it myself. For instance check out my weight loss journey videos here and The Comfort Book here.
I'm with you and I'm proud of you.
