My testimony, I quit caffeine, nicotine, and overeating in the same 4 months...

My last cup of caffeinated coffee was the Friday before Easter at Cracker Barrel at 8:56 am as we (my wife and I) were finishing our breakfasts.  I weighed about 280 pounds and am 5 foot 11 and male.  I quit caffeine due to a rapid heart rate (consistently in the mid to upper 80's) and high blood pressure (140/80)... oh did I mention I'm diabetic, probably not a big surprise.  Anyway, I went from drinking a pot and a half of coffee, a couple of low cal energy drinks, as well as a few glasses of diet pop a day (if you're doing the math you could measure my caffeine intake in grams) to none.  Easter Sunday was awful, I was nauseous, light headed and ached all over.  I spent Easter Sunday night/Monday morning in the hospital unable to sleep with a rapid heart rate due to an anxiety attack.  The doctor told me I should wean off... I said okay and began drinking one cup of tea in the morning per day, not exactly weaning, but I'm stubborn.  I quit the tea two weeks later.  For three weeks I had anxiety attacks as well as insomnia trying to kick the caffeine.  Soon I could sleep again.  Amazingly enough, after the withdrawal ended I felt better than I had ever felt in my life, I had an amazing amount of energy and felt a great reduction in the stress in my life.  Probably the biggest blessing of all was a serious reduction in sugar cravings that had plagued me for as long as I can remember.  It was no problem for me to consume an entire bag of jelly beans/gummy bears in one sitting.  Those cravings vanished.  So I began to lose weight, actually without even trying all that hard.

My last cigarette was July 3 at 11:50 am right after sex right before going to bed (TMI?)  The withdrawal wasn't so bad there, but nicotine cravings are unbelievable.  You could talk yourself into anything just to have a little taste, but I was determined, if I gave up caffeine I could give up nicotine.  I haven't had a smoke in 2 months and am still fighting the occasional craving, but feel so much better.  I feel so good I even took up running 3 weeks ago and am planning on running a 5K in March.

Now I tackled vice three.  I was already losing weight because I wasn't consuming near the amounts of sugar as previously so I decided to start counting calories here.  I went to my doctor two weeks after starting counting and weighed 259.  My blood pressure was 115/68 and my resting heart rate was 74.  When I dropped to 250 I started running.  My first run was exactly .33 miles before I was sure death was imminent.  Now I'm running about 2.5 miles at a 10 mile/minute pace (I know, not exactly setting the world on fire LOL) and walking .5 mile and am down to 245.  My blood pressure is 106/65 with a resting heart rate of 62.  I am still taking blood pressure meds, but I am not taking any of my diabetic meds any more under the doctor's supervision.  My blood sugars aren't exactly normal yet, but they're getting closer and better.  My body fat percentage is down to 26% and my goal is 210 pounds by July 4.  When I reach that, we'll see how low I can go.

Thanks for listening, and please respond if you wish!

GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!  Amazing I'm sure your wife is thrilled you are caring for yourself now.she doesn't have to worry as much about your health,and I'm sure you are very pleased with the results you are getting!!!!! I'm happy for you!!!

She is happy, actually, she's a little jealous.  She has MS and isn't able to move around a whole lot.

This is a wonderfully inspiring story.  Between the two of us, my husband and I struggle with all these vices and I am at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.  Thank you for sharing!  If you can do it, I know we can too.

Wow Way to go!!!!  Keep up the great work!

~H~

detritus: congratulations on making your life style changes.  I know first hand how hard it is to stop nicotine, caffeine and lose weight at the same time. (my bio has the fun details)  I started my journey 14 months ago. Hang in there, it does get easier.    For me running has been key in keeping up the good changes.  In October I will attempt my first full marathon.  

The first 4 days of quit smoking was by far the hardest for me. 

Thanks for sharing your story, I hope you are incredibly proud of your accomplishments - hold onto this feeling!! :)

And, just so you know, a 10 minute mile sounds pretty freaking good to me! I'm 25, 124 pounds and can only run a 12 minute mile :)

Stories like yours are why I surf these forums. I love to hear how people have made the changes that are so long overdue. Good for you! Giving up coffee is a bigger deal than you think. It's not really good for you, but stuff like that always seems a bit harmless and therefore hard to give up. I have diet Coke. I have a problem with it..l I know I can quit any time, but justify not doing it. ESPECIALLY when I'm counting calories. Right now I'm working hard to just have one can a day.

My husband, however, has a serious diet Dr Pepper problem. That man can polish off 8 cans a day on a weekend.

Detritus,

You 'da man!  I would have thought giving up cigarettes would be much harder than coffee but your story on the caffein addiction was an eye opener.  What a great story and thank you being an inspiration for the rest of us coffee hounds!

How absolutely delightful! You've done so well for yourself and you should be proud. I've recently been thinking about quitting smoking as well. I smoke 3 packs a day and have been smoking for around 19 years. I have a feeling this is going to be the hardest thing I've ever tried to do as well. My son keeps asking when I'm going to quit because I mention quitting every once and a while.

Getting started on this weight loss/healthy eating journey was hard. Now, it's much easier and almost seems natural. It took me a couple of tries to get it to stick. Perhaps kicking the smoking addiction will be the same. I remember trying once about 8 years ago and lasted two days before caving.

Yeah, I think I'm going to set my mind to it and get it done. Afterall, if I can handle one issue in my life which I never thought I could correct (being overweight), I surely can deal with the smoking.

What an inspiration you are! Good show.

Wow what a great story! I admire your willpower, and it is inspiring because I am trying to do similar at the moment. I do only have 1 cup of coffee and 1 cigarette a day, but my BP is 140/90 and as I am only 29, this is a worry to me!

I am focussing on getting fitter and losing around 50 lbs (currently 165 - 10 lost so far) and hope this will help - along with giving up junk food!

Good luck with the weight loss, and congratulations on lowering your BP!

Thanks everybody!

What a great community, actually I'm about to put my running clothes on and go for a quick one before work.  Take care.

I haven't even read what you've had to say yet... the title says it all.  I believe I suffer what you have been able to surpass.  Are you still there?

Now that I have read ... I know I have to talk to you.... man o man I want what you got.  How do I get it?