I am pursuing a healthier lifestyle and have known for a while that the diet cokes have got to go. I have just been ignoring it! I am embarrassed to admit that they are a big part of my life. Sonic Happy Hour beckons, but more and more, I've found that I can't wait for 2:00 - I "need" it earlier. I've been going to McDonald's for $1.00 cokes in the morning, or keeping cans or 2 liters at home.
The Route 44 doesn't last me the rest of the evening anymore either. Some days I hit Happy Hour at 2 and go back before 4, because my coke is almost gone. It almost doesn't dawn on me to drink anything else! In fact, I planned to quit on Friday night - I had enough money for a medium coke zero from Sonic on my way home from an event. It was 9:45. I told myself that was the last one, so I sipped slowly!
Saturday morning William and I took Gavin to the Chiropractor, then stopped at Sonic for breakfast. We both got Rt. 44's - didn't even dawn on me until we got home! But, I hated to waste it... On my way to an appointment, I took it with me, remembering that this was my last one (so I sipped it slowly again!)
Then I took the kids out for lunch - in the flurry of activity (who wants what, no we're not getting kids meals, because I said so - what do you want...) I ordered myself a coke zero. ARG
So today I did it! I did not pour a coke zero for breakfast. I did not buy one on my way to church. I did not stop for one on my way home from church. I turned down my son's offer to pour me one when I said I had a headache (he knows that when I don't have my caffeine, I get a headache). At 1:20, I took the baby to bed with me - to nurse him and try to keep my headache mild. No luck!
By 4:20 I was in full withdrawal. I felt like an episode of CSI. I was tempted to shrink back into a corner and be dramatic, but I refrained! By 6 I asked William to look up the symptoms of Caffeine Withdrawal.
I had no idea! I spent the whole day between the bed and the bathroom. I haven't been able to keep anything down! I almost gave up several times, just wanting the pain and sickness to stop. It's now 11:45. I have been 24 hours without caffeine. My head is throbbing, despite Advil and even a Hydrocodone!Signs and symptoms. The most commonly reported withdrawal symptoms are listed below:
- Headache – (often described as being gradual in development and diffuse, and sometimes throbbing and severe)
- Fatigue -- (e.g., fatigue, tiredness, lethargy, sluggishness)
- Sleepiness/drowsiness -- (e.g., sleepy, drowsy, yawning)
- Difficulty concentrating -- (e.g., muzzy)
- Work difficulty -- (e.g., decreased motivation for tasks/work)
- Irritability -- (e.g., irritable, cross, miserable, decreased well-being/contentedness)
- Depression -- (e.g., depressed mood)
- Anxiety -- (e.g., anxious, nervous)
- Flu-like symptoms -- (e.g., nausea/vomiting, muscle aches/stiffness, hot and cold spells, heavy feelings in arms or legs)
- Impairment in psychomotor, vigilance and cognitive performances
At this point, there is no turning back. The thought of going through another day like this is enough to make me never want to have caffeine again! I know that it's in lots of things, and I'll probably still eat chocolate :)
So, this is a cautionary tale. If you don't drink caffeine: don't start. If you do drink caffeine: stop now! (but do it on a weekend or time where you can be indisposed!)
Good luck! Your body will thank you for it in the end. Once you are off the stuff, have your vitamins checked. Carbonated water depletes the body of calcium. Caffeine depletes the body of various vitamins (althought, I've forgotten which ones).
ReplyDeleteYou'll feel like a new woman once you are back on track!
I too gave up caffeine this year. I had surgery and was lucky enough to have morphine the first day, so no withdrawal headache for me. After that I was still sick from the anesteshia and for some reason everything tasted like bananas, so I didn't want to go back to colas. 3 months caffeine free and happier for it!
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