Giving Up Caffeine?

So, I am a huge fan of caffeine, but I am trying to give it up, as its grown to the point where it is in addiction.  I used to easily down a liter of diet mountain dew each day, possibly more caffeine, in the way of diet pop.

I was wondering what everyone's experience with cutting caffeine and weight loss is... I've heard it both ways... I've heard that caffeine stimulates weight loss and I've heard that it promotes cravings.  I'm slowly but surely on my way to cutting out diet coke in general, but I was just wondering about the caffeine.  Thanks! 

hey tyrdrop, I am addicted to plain ol' black coffee... while at work I drink 2-5 cups a day... I have found that when I cut it out of my diet then I don't exercise when I get home.  Because my plain black coffee only has 5 calories a cup and no carbonation or sugar substituates it has not hindered my weight loss and actually cures cravings... because I actually crave the coffee now instead of other things.

I understand this is NOT healthy and I do NOT recommend it.

i read that it is okay for pregnant women to have about 300mg of caffine a day...based on this i'd say it's okay and not demeritable to health to actually have this much caffine a day.

I gave up caffeine back in June. I admit the first 2 weeks was a bear because of withdrawal but once it was all out I could not have felt better. I get up more easily in the morning and I go to bed more easily at night and at a decent hour. As for weight loss I think it has more to do with me replacing caffeine with good old water. Where before I was drinking at least 1 gallon or more of tea (sweet and caffeine) a day now I drink about a gallon or a little more of water everyday.

Original Post by joanne811:

i read that it is okay for pregnant women to have about 300mg of caffine a day...based on this i'd say it's okay and not demeritable to health to actually have this much caffine a day.

 I was just looking this up to see how many drinks the equals and I ran across an article that says the new guidelines from the March of Dimes in now 200mg (or less) or 1 12oz cup of coffee.

 

 http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/143 32_1148.asp

Caffeine can suppress appetite if you only have it in small amounts. When you over do it, it can increase appetite. I have no idea what those amounts are, but I do know my limits! 2 cups of coffee in the morning, black with splenda, and that is it! More than that it makes my stomach feel grumbly and then I eat! Limitations, moderation, and control! Good luck.

I drink at least 1 pot (12 cups) a day and it has not caused any problems with my weight loss!  I gave up my diet coke, and diet mt. dew, but I will not give up my coffee!!  I sometimes even drink 2 pots a day--not so much for the caffeine, I just like coffee!  I also drink about a gallon of water a day--and let me tell you--with the coffee drinking, I get rid off all that water quickly!!!!  Everyone is different--some can drink in mod. without any problems and some just need to give it up.  Do what is best for you--

Switch to tea, specifically green tea, try cutting  down on the caffine gradually to ease the withdrawl symptoms.  Green tea is far healthier than soda, and has way less caffine.  High caffine intake is just as bad as any other overindulgence.  Try to stick to 200 mg or less of caffine a day.

caffeine seems to stimulate my appetite, not to the degree alchohol does, but it does a little bit.  i have been addicted to energy drinks like red bull so i'm cutting them back.  not caffeine completely though, just those drinks.  i've switched to tea instead since that at least has some health benefits. 

Original Post by bajars2531:

Switch to tea, specifically green tea, try cutting  down on the caffine gradually to ease the withdrawl symptoms.  Green tea is far healthier than soda, and has way less caffine. 

A lot of green tea has caffeine too. So if your goal is to reduce your caffeine intake, make sure you read labels carefully.

Another option is to drink decaffeinated coffee or soda of your choice. It tastes the same.

I tried Atkins, and I had to give up the coffee, as soon as I did I got quick results.

However they didn't last, cause here I am again.  I am not giving it up again.

I bet you'd burn more calories if you weren't atrifically buzzing from the caffine, but is it worth it? Really I can't make it through my day otherwise.  Like r6riderchick I can't make it to the gym at the end of the day if I don't get my coffee it's too hard and then the extra burn is a wash.

You gave up the soda that's good right?  Coffee is what 6-7 calories?

i loooove love love love LOVE coffee and soy hot chocolate kisses. It's terrible for my brain (caffeine = adrenaline rush/induced stress), body and the environment but it's my favorite substance to abuse. A cup of coffee = temporary relief from depression/insta-happy.

I tried backing off of caffeine by drinking Yerba matte (has just as much caffeine as coffee, but is way more diluted). 

As for tea...the amount of caffeine in it is miniscule (or I've built up a tolerance). 

How I measure caffeine: 

One 6-oz cup of coffee (black) makes me jittery and is enough to make me crash in an hour unless eaten with something.

7-10 cups of green tea just makes me want to go to the bathroom alot. It doesn't make me feel caffeinated at all. Tea = for flavor.

3 cups of black tea = 4 sips of black coffee.  

I was a coffee addict. Though I didn't drink more than 1 or maybe max 2 huge jorums a day it was like I couldn't function without it. I also drank loads of tea and diet cokes. I gave up cold turkey about 2 months ago and HAVE NEVER FELT BETTER. For the first 2-3 days after giving it up I felt like I had the flu. I stayed home from work in the afternoons and needed to sleep, I felt ill to my stomach and exhausted. But then, one morning about 4 days into it I woke up and was FINE and have been fine ever since. I didn't lose weight from it but I wasn't trying to either as I am roughly at my goal weight. However, now I sleep 100% better and am such a happier person. GO FOR IT!

Original Post by cafegen:

Another option is to drink decaffeinated coffee or soda of your choice. It tastes the same.

As a coffee lover, I can assure you that decaffeinated coffee definitely DOESN'T taste the same, unless you just drink cheap coffee, like Folgers or other brands like that.  If you are a true coffee lover, who buys freshly roasted beans from a local roaster, grinds it yourself and then only makes small pots of coffee so you can drink it all while it is fresh and hot, then the taste difference is very noticable.

That being said, I find that caffeinated coffee in moderation in the evening after dinner helps me to suppress the urge to snack while just filling up on water doesn't.

I don't consider myself a coffee addict, but my coffee mug holds about 32 ounces of coffee and I often drink three or more cups per day.  I have quit before for extended periods, but I never noticed any difference like nycgirl.  And caffeine has never kept me awake at night either.

I think that the effects of caffeine are very much dependent on the person and whether it helps with weight loss or hinders it really depends on your individual body chemistry. 

I found this forum while wondering something similar. If I don't have caffeine by lunchy I have terrible headache (sometimes ibuprophen helps, sometimes not) I've decided to quit because I'm wanting to drink more water and I've heard you have to drink 8 cups of water for ever cup of coffee/caffeinated soda and I think it will help my up and down moods during the day. I still drink black coffee every once in awhile in the mornings, but at least it doesn't have all the sugar and dairy that my mochas and dr. pepper have.

A few years ago (4?) I was getting horrible stomach aches every day by the end of the day (much like heartburn) I realized I was drinking 3 dr. peppers a day and often coffee, too. So I decided to stop because they are so acidic. I didn't have any caffeinated sodas for a year (I treated myself to a dr. pepper a year later, b/c it was also my birthday and i was hooked again. It's just so good!)

So I dont' have much to say, but I know caffeine can be bad for your nervous system, so I'm going to keep it to a minimum