Tips for giving up caffeine?

[Dyrne]

I’ve given up my Diet Coke addiction, mainly for General health reasons but also because drinking fizzy drinks is associated with overeating and weight gain; and I’m on attempt #3638 of losing weight.

The trouble is, I don’t drink tea or coffee so I have gone from drinking 6-8 cans of Diet Coke a day to having absolutely zero caffeine intake at all!

I have a massive headache, keep falling asleep in the afternoons, and am generally very grumpy!

I know it will pass, and I just need to power through these first couple of weeks until my body adapts to the lack of caffeine, but does anyone have any tips of how to manage my caffeine withdrawal?

Sadly, I’m definitely not a “moderation” person so for me I have to cut it out completely - the idea of “only having 1” or “gradually cutting back” doesn’t work for me!

[beckieperk]

Hi there....how long has it been since you gave caffeine up? I started a detox on monday. Had crippling headaches Tuesday and wednesday, but I'm absolutely fine today. I used to drink 4 or 5 cups of tea a day and maybe 1 or 3 or 2 coffees, so not loads. Maybe it depends how much you had before?? Or maybe my headaches will come back?
Sorry no real advice, but didnt want to read and run.
Good luck.

[Fakeflowersaremynewnormal]

Yes just keep going, have plenty of non caffeinated drinks and take a painkiller if you need to. Watch out that the painkiller doesn't contain caffeine though. If you really like diet coke you may miss the drink itself so try to find a different drink you enjoy instead.

[Fakeflowersaremynewnormal]

I would say less than a week for the headaches to pass.

[AsAhDiSeh]

Well done!

Stick with it - the horrible headache goes away by day 3 so you're a third of the way there already.

Drink enough water - it won't make the headache go faster but at least you won't feel worse

I believe the part that takes a couple of weeks is for all the adenoid receptors in your brain to go back to normal but you won't notice that bit

[Fakeflowersaremynewnormal]

Another tip don't let it sneak back in a few months later when you suddenly need a boost one day. That is a slippery slope.

[Dyrne]

Thanks for the support all! I had one can on Monday and nothing since. I’ve still got the headaches but I think it’s not helped by this stinking cold I have at the moment. Fingers crossed I might be doing OK by the weekend.

I have been drinking more water; trying to aim for at least 2L a day. Struggled a bit on Monday but have been doing better the last couple of days!

And yes good advice about the slippery slope. I found myself thinking today “we’ll surely one won’t hurt?” But I know it wouldn’t just be one, and surely now it’s best to get the caffeine and aspartame withdrawal over with!

I’ve also been working out how much I’m saving every time I pass up a chance to have a Coke - all those pennies add up quickly when you were drinking as much as I was!