Detox

[geekchick]

About a week and a half ago, I decided that I was going to try to cut back a lot on the amount of caffeine I consumed over the course of the day. Given the rate at which I consume Diet Coke, plus the minimum two cups of coffee a day in the office, I tended to have a little bit of blood mixed in with my caffeine stream. I know better than to think that I can quit cold turkey; I tried that once and spent two solid days in a dark room wailing about the godawful headache that painkillers couldn't touch, and then was back on it again after a month or so. This time I've taken to drinking only caffeine-free Diet Coke (most useless drink ever!) after lunch in an effort to start weaning myself off of it.

I could have a Diet Coke, or even a small cup of coffee if I was inclined, right before bed and it wouldn't bother me in the least. I don't notice when I've got a lot of caffeine in my system, but boy howdy do I notice when I don't. The first few days, I'd come home from work and would be dragging and ready to go to bed by 11:30. (Those of you who know me realize how very unusual that is, since I'm definitely a night owl.) On the other hand, I've been having much less of a problem getting out of bed in the morning lately, even if I've been up until 2 AM; I've moved my alarm back from 8:30 to 7:45 and haven't been out of bed any later than 8:15 in the last work week. I get up in time to putter around, read email, check LJ, reload the iPod, eat a small breakfast and take all my pills, and still get to work on time. I like this more than "get up at 8:30, stick my head under the shower, slam down the giant handful of morning supplements, run out the door and still be technically late for work".

Once I cut the caffeine almost entirely back, it will be time to work on breaking the addiction to Diet Coke. That's not caffeine-related, as I get the same cravings for the caffeine-free version; it's some sort of psychological addiction that I have. I think this will be harder han cutting back the caffeine, honestly. Maybe I'll try switching to flavored seltzer water to see if it's the carbonation that I really want.

And now, time to go get laundry out of the dryer and head down to Fredericksburg to meet a doggie.

Comments

[geminigirl]

I find it's the mouth feel of soda that I like, and that even flavored seltzer doesn't do it. I'm not much of a soda drinker, but every once in a while, I like the mouthfeel of the caramel color, and artificial flavoring.

But then, I've become a big fan of Diet Rite...no caffeine and no nutra sweet.

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

I've gotten to where I still need Diet Coke or a reasonable facsimilie in the mornings, but I won't have any after lunch.

caffeine-free Diet Coke (most useless drink ever!)

I thought that was Diet Caffeine-Free Mountain Dew. ;-)

[asetwoman.livejournal.com]

I am convinced that aspartame is addictive. People don't believe me, but I know my spousal unit was addicted to it, and he admits it too. And yes, it wasn't about caffeine.

Good luck with the doggie. Hopefully he won't be too scared by the whole process. Good on ye for doing it, too.

[dawnmipb.livejournal.com]

I wonder if you're not actually addicted to the Aspartame, as I am.

Aspartame is made from aspartate, which is similarly structured to glutamate, a neurotransmitter that naturally occurs in our brains. Glutamate can work as a stimulant, making thoughts clearer and faster. Unfortunately, neurons can be stimulated right to death, so too much glutamate/aspartate can kill your brain slowly.

Problem? We don't know how much glutamate/aspartate is too much, because it got shoved through the FDA too quickly.

*spits on Donald Rumsfeld*

(Note: all of the above information comes from the Neurobiology of Personality videotape series from The Teaching Company. Fantastic series.)

I get those icepick out the right eye headaches whether I stop drinking caffeinated or decaffeinated Diet Coke. It doesn't matter.

I would suggest the Splenda version, but I think I've seen you say it sucks and tastes horrid.

*sympathizes*

*trudges off to get first DC of the day*

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

caffeine-free Diet Coke (most useless drink ever!)

dark cold fizzy water... serves some oral-distraction and hydration function. Better than smoking, certainly...