Why Would I Ever Quit Coffee?
I love it, after all. I mean I really love it. I don’t have to go into detail, right? The grinding of the fresh beans, the sound of the perculator, the roasty smell filling the kitchen. Then there’s the moment I find myself standing in the corner, where the counter meets the counter, kids running through the house, already screaming and fighting and screaming. I bring that hot mug up to my nose and breathe in deeply. All of the stress just melts away. I have my coffee, and I can sip it down oh so slowly while the house burns down around me, no big deal. Because, coffee.
And that’s how my mornings were. And then my afternoons too. And maybe in between when a friend would offer to grab me a brew from the local coffee shop before heading over. And I found myself feeling so tired all the time. And heavy. Bloated. I’m not saying all these symptoms were attributable to my exhaulted caffeinated beverage, but whatever they were kept nagging at me on the daily.
Then a girlfriend came over to work on a project one morning, late morning. Or maybe early afternoon. I quickly started in on my familiar routine, spinning around the kitchen in anticipation of a new pot of coffee. But, she said, she’d stopped drinking coffee months ago. WHAT?!?! This friend, who was one of the biggest coffee drinkers I knew and loved, had just up and quit? Well, that wasn’t going to stop me. So I still had my cup of coffee made fresh, albeit solo, while she sat and told me how she managed to escape her caffeinated fate.
Her symptoms matched mine. Tired. Anxious. Extra weight.Tried everything else. Ok. Maybe. Just a week. That’s all. Then I can have it back. But what would I drink in its place? How would I raise my kids? And, most importantly, how would I actually literally survive without caffeine?!?
I didn’t know the answers. But you know that moment when your perspective shifts just an eighth of a turn? And you find yourself imagining what life might be like when, not if, you made a change? That happened to me. I was all of a sudden kind of excited. Like I’d been given a means of escaping from some set of chains long forgotten they’d become so commonplace. The thought that it’d be a relief not to have to brew coffee every morning even crossed my mind. I know, crazy. But I kid you not, I found myself up for the challenge, and then some.
So the mindset was there, which is pretty much the hardest part of making such a monumental shift. You have to have a strong reason, either to run towards a change or to run away from complacency. I kind of had both. Which gave me the momentum I needed to get through the first three days. Mild headache yes, but that was the most notable physical issue.
Moreover it was the grieving process of realizing how dependent I’d become on the very meaning that coffee held for me in my life. The permission I’d given myself to let things go when I had coffee to comfort me. The social importance I’d placed on coffee. Classic peer pressure I’d accepted as the norm. Everyone feels better together, with coffee. For the longest time I couldn’t picture undergoing the emotional distress of losing coffee, and then one day, I could.
The thing is, all the stars aligned. A few days prior and I would’ve thought you were nuts if you told me that there’d I be, on Monday morning, without my trusty mug. But once my mind did it’s mind-shift thing, all the pieces started falling into place. In other words, I didn’t just breeze through unprepared. It was like all of a sudden my whole world opened up and I knew exactly what I had to do. Here is the strategy I used; perhaps you’ve found yourself daydreaming about doing this for yourself too, and this list might help you to achieve the freedom that’s been dangling in front of your nose just out of reach, until now.
It’s been almost two weeks since that last cup o’ joe, and now that I’m on the other side of that fence, I can honestly say I can’t recall why in the world I was so attached. I actually felt this way only a couple days in, and the need for coffee has yet to return. Will I ever enjoy another cup whilst watching the kids scream around the kitchen, all of my problems melting away into the protective shield that coffee once was? Maybe. But I’ll be the one calling the shots, not the other way around. Coffee is no longer the boss of me. And that liberation is worth it down to every last drop.
If you’d like the simple list less the explanations, scroll to the bottom where you’ll have access to a free printable for a screenshot or a fridge magnet. But because there is a method to my madness, I recommend reading through my reasons for everything before jumping to the bottom! Full disclosure ~ there are affiliate links in the text below, but not all links represent an affiliation. There are no additional costs to you for clicking through to any of the links provided, as they are in place as a convenience to you, my reader, should you become interested in any of my recommendations. I do not recommend products I have not used or that have not helped me along in my journey.
Ok, so here goes!
First, I immediately knew I’d have to rely on hot tea. This wasn’t going to be about deprivation if I had anything to say about it. I was going to go all out on crowding out the coffee with other cozy things. Now you might think that hot tea couldn’t possibly replace coffee, and if I was set on having coffee, you’d be right. But I had already named my future accomplishment, so I was willing to make the switch. Luckily I had a remaining stash of Teeccino Herbal Tea at the ready. This stuff brews up like tea but has the look and feel of our great friend coffee. You can even add creamer (will get to that in a minute). Different flavors abound, just visit their website to see for yourself. I love their Vanilla Nut and Maca Chocolate Roast, and am about ready to order their Almond Amaretto (if you think you might prefer their brewable version). Want to go the Amazon route? You can buy a variety pack Prime style, which includes Maca Chocolate, Vanilla Nut, Hazelnut, and French Roast.
Next, I knew I was going to be tired while my adrenal glands got back on track. Which meant sugar cravings were going to be off the charts. What’s the fastest pick-me-up besides caffeine? Refined sugar and processed carbs of course! And I definitely did not want to become an addict of donuts and HoHo’s.
So the next smartest thing I could think of was to fill my body up with lots of naturally energizing nutrients that also curb the sweet tooth, the likes of which can be found in citrus fruits, crunchy apples, bananas, and sweet veggies like beets, squash, snap peas and sweet potatoes. I also needed a healthy all-natural sweetener, and Bjorns Double Propolis Colorado Honey totally fit the bill (this honey doubles as an immune supporter extraordinaire btw!).
And as if I needed yet another low-energy remedy just in case, I made sure to dig out my Citrus and Peppermint Essential Oils, as those are scents that really help with clarity and energy. (Note: These links will bring you to Young Living Essential Oils, as those are the oils I most often use. If you choose to purchase from Young Living, you can use my ID #2612532 in order to get and stay connected. DoTerra Oils are also food grade and are of a high quality. There are people in both camps that will swear on the moon that one is better than the other, but honestly, yeah).
Sidenote on the essential oils: Peppermint is also great for headaches and digestion, two other areas on which you’ll probably need to put attention once you embark upon this adventure. And if your oils are food-grade quality, try putting a couple drops of Lemon Essential Oil (also a Young Living Link) in your water for a boost in flavor and detoxification.
So then there was the issue of constipation. Coffee does help ya go, don’t ya know. And without it, well the ol’ digestive tract can find itself kinda stopped up for at least a short time. Hydration is key, as is lots of fiber. So back to the vegetables, especially leafy greens, artichokes, and the cruciferous variety like cauliflower and brussel sprouts. Whole grains like quinoa and rolled oats are imperative for good digestion, sweetened with some banana, cinnamon, and a handful of walnuts on top.
As far as hydration goes, I wanted to add as many flavors to my water as possible to keep things exciting. Apple Cider Vinegar, even a teaspoon in a large water bottle, helps to alkaline your system (coffee is extremely acidic, so this is important for finding equilibrium again). Make sure you buy the real stuff and not some knock-off. This authentic Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar formula is organic and includes the mother, plus it’s super cheap in bulk. At one tablespoon a day, this jug will last you 8 months! A squeeze of fresh lemon or lime works great too. You can even steep your water with strawberries, cucumbers, and mint!
Of course, replenishing electrolytes is a great idea, just so long as you aren’t loading your system with tons of excess sugar in the process (neon blue gatorade comes to mind). I learned about a product called SOS Hydration back when I was selling supplements at a wellness-focused grocery, and I really liked what their science had to say. These individual powder packets come in many different flavors (or you can grab a jar with a scoop), so I buy the variety pack off of Amazon and call it a day. Bottom line, whatever form of hydration you choose, just do it. Not only will it keep you from craving caffeine, but it’ll improve digestion, brain power, and keep your body energized to the point you might even forget about that coffee altogether.
Lastly, I wanted to add in some active therapy for cellular repair and immune boosting focus. When you rip the rug out from under your adrenals, it might happen that you fall under the weather a little bit as your body tries to find its footing without the artificial boost it’s been so accustomed to. Another hot drink to the rescue, I found myself frothing up a mug of MUD/WTR every day, with an added scoop of healthy-fat Thai Kitchen coconut cream (healthy fat is extremely important for good digestion and healthy brain function) to make it so delicious.
MUD/WTR is an amazing blend of cacao, turmeric, medicinal mushrooms, cinnamon, and the like. It does have a small boost of Chai, so if you’re going for absolutely zero on the caffeine scale, this one isn’t for you. But they say on their website a cup of this chocolatey goodness comes in at about 1/7th of the caffeine you find in a regular cup of coffee, so you do the math. I say the benefits of their other ingredients totally outweigh whatever was keeping me chained to coffee in the first place. Also for immunity, remember that Double Propolis Honey I mentioned above, which makes a conveniently healthy sweetener for your MUD/WTR if you’re drinking at room temperature.
I promised I’d talk about creamer later, and this is a perfect time to do it. MUD/WTR also offers an awesome non-dairy creamer option that happens to have zero sugar! Obviously it can be added to your MUD, but it also adds just the right touch of creaminess to the Teeccino I mentioned earlier.
And if you’re still not totally convinced you can leave caffeine 100% in your rearview, try making Matcha Lattes instead. Matcha is a green tea powder out of Japan, with tons of health benefits far exceeding that of coffee. PureChimp Matcha is a ceremonial grade powder that is pesticide free and it even comes in recyclable glass with up to 50 servings per container. But be careful, as with the MUD/WTR above, adding lots of dairy creamer and sweetener might make for more empty calories than you started out with. You can also bake with Matcha, or add it to smoothies for some added immune-boosting antioxidants!
Ok! So now you’re ready! If you’re going to go cold-turkey, make sure you’ve planned ahead with lots of replacement beverages and lots of nutrient-dense whole foods. The last thing you want to do is replace a coffee habit with a junk food one. And remember that essential oils can stimulate your senses to get you over those energy slumps too! Speaking of energy slumps, getting outside for a brisk walk in the sun can really get your blood flowing. Actually, any kind of nature in general will help to brighten your mood; talk about an easy (and free!) way to make your day better!
If you still find yourself barely slugging by despite all of your herbal remedies and whole foods, it might be time to give your body what it is screaming for: a good ol’ fashioned nap. Even a 15-20 minute window of relaxation on the couch can do you wonders. And don’t worry, you’ll graduate out of needing a nap once your hormones re-calibrate. So if you just can’t hang, allow yourself an afternoon break.
And this might seem obvious, but get to sleep in the evening at a reasonable hour too! Staying up late, bingeing on Netflix or finishing up on emails, will not compliment your coffee-free intentions come morning. So have a little discipline. Your body will thank you immensely for giving it a chance to get back to living unencumbered by artificial stimulants on the daily.
This article would not be complete if I didn’t update you on some lovely side effects I’ve experienced since The Great Decaffeinating. I don’t have blood sugar numbers to support this, but I feel I’ve really gotten my levels under control. Focusing on filling my body up on nutrients first makes me fuller faster, and keeps me fuller longer, not to mention they really boost my energy levels. In other words, my cravings for junk food have all but vanished.
I’ve also lost about 7 pounds in the last two weeks. Now this is probably not attributable to quitting coffee on its own, but with all of the extra hydration, focus on healthy digestion, and extra rest in order to “get over the hump,” I have to say I’m pleased with the aftermath of my efforts. Funny how when you don’t necessarily focus on counting calories or losing weight per se, but direct your attention towards shifting some other seemingly small thing stage left, you can look back and see how that small thing actually served as a trigger that sent all the dominoes into motion. My jeans fit better, my t-shirts lay flat, and gosh dang it I feel more confident than I have in a while. Physically, yes. But I did what I said I was going to do, and that is definitely one of the best ways to build momentum and clarity for healthier choices long term.
Do you have any other recommendations for kicking your caffeine habit? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below! And don’t forget to click here for your free PDF!
- Teeccino Herbal Coffee Blend or other Herbal Tea Blends
- Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats
- Bjorn’s Double Propolis Honey
- Peppermint, Lemon, Citrus Essential Oils
- Apple Cider Vinegar and SOS Electrolyte Hydration
- MUD/WTR and MUD/WTR creamer
- Full-fat coconut cream like Thai Kitchen brand
- Matcha Green Tea Powder
- Sunlight and Light Exercise
- Rest, Naps, and SLEEP!