To keep life interesting and to do some physical cleansing, I am fasting coffee (and other caffeinated drinks) from now through the end of September. And no, decaffeinated coffee is not allowed. Yes, I know for all of you coffee lovers like me, you may ask in complete disbelief, why would anyone deprive themselves of something so good? If you are not a coffee drinker, you just may not understand. That’s okay.
Coffee to me is the smell that greets me in the morning and reassures me that life will go on. It helps me awake and get my thoughts in gear when my mind otherwise would rather dream away in a mist of half thoughts and imaginations.
So, the next month or so may be a bit more hazy at times for yours truly. It’s an experiment for sure. You see, as I get a bit older, it is very easy for me to settle into these habits and get complacent with my health. Is coffee unhealthy? Well, if you are like me, it’s a bit excessive and yes it probably not the most healthy habit. I just don’t moderate myself very well.
Why 35 days? Well, it takes 30 days to make a habit and 35 days brings me to the end of the month of September, so it’s just easy to remember. Will I start drinking coffee again? Dunno, don’t think I’ve gone this long since my early 20’s.
Was there a time recently that you gave up something for a season? What were you reasons? Was it productive in some way?
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22 Comments
More power to you, Phil. I’ll cross my fingers for you. Perhaps in the interim, you can wear a fine dusting of coffee instead — like I tried last night. Hilarious.
Thirty days to make a habit, huh? So maybe I could not eat for a month. That would be quite the diet!
Kelly, yeah that would be a diet alright, though much more ambitious. Heck, you’ve got like 10 more days before you’d fall over dead. Actually, I don’t think fasting is a proven way to loose weight in the long run. It’s discipline I believe which is something I’m working on, well er hope to be working on. Maybe this is a good. start. Fine dusting of coffee, yeah maybe I’ll try that.
Aww… I was going to post a link before the pink back got to you.
I love coffee, and I was really happy to hear that I should drink it, so I wrote that up just to give you some news from the pro-coffee camp.
The studies that I have seen not only think you should drink coffee, but fully caffeinated coffee. Well, hopefully that will be some food for thought.
If you still go ahead with it, good luck!
Mike, just wrote a comment to your post. Yeah, there are many good affects to coffee. Heavens no I would not even think of drinking decaf. Now that stuff will kill you, unless it is water-processed, but then what’s the point? No, coffee is good and for many folks. I just need to take a season to cleanse my body, but I absolutely loved your post with very compelling reasons. How very cool, and yes I’m going ahead with it. Thanks though for the sentiment.
Phil,
By the end of September you will feel so much better. I used to be in love with my morning coffee but when I got pregnant a few years ago I had to give it up. Now when I drink it I feel almost panicked..I don’t like that feeling at all. I guess I’ve gotten use to feeling like me without the extra boost and now the buzz is too much.
Take a vitamin B complex and a good multi during the month. That will help with your energy level and make the process a little easier for you.
Good luck,
Lisa
Lisa,
Thanks for the encouragement. Yes, I’m looking forward to getting past this detox phase. I’m going to be doing some other cleansing things in this period like going on a Daniel fast which is eating only vegetables late in September, but one thing at a time. Good tip on taking vitamins. Will look into that. Thanks.
Coffee puts the system under the strain of metabolizing a deadly acid-forming drug, depositing its insoluble cellulose, which cements the wall of the liver, causing this vital organ to swell to twice its proper size. In addition, coffee is heavily sprayed. (Ninety-two pesticides are applied to its leaves.) Diuretic properties of caffeine cause potassium and other minerals to be flushed from the body.
Get the real scoop on coffee at http://www.CaffeineAwareness.org
And if you drink decaf you wont want to miss this special FREE report on the Dangers of Decaf available at http://www.soyfee.com
Thanks Mark, never touch Decaf. Knew for years it’s a major no no.
One thing to watch for is headaches. Going from lots to none suddenly can be a painful experience. We I to do that I would need to wean slowly off for a month to avoid a month of migraines. Plus I love my fresh coffee, chocolate, energy drink, etc etc … It’s he geek poison of choice.
That said I gave up smoking four and a bit years ago and of all the times I had stopped that was the hardest which means that I don’t fancy starting again in case I can’t stop (I’m a slight control freak like that).
Matt, Thanks for the tip. I tried to cut down a bit before going cold turkey. It’s not been too bad, but I’ve definitely had my low points the last couple of days. We’ll see how the rest of the week goes. Wonderful that you quit smoking. That is a great habit to kick. My dad actually lost his life to lung cancer, so after seeing someone pass away from it, I’m pretty turned-off to the idea myself.
Phil, I started drinking coffee because of blogging. Hopefully, I won’t be an excessive drinker of coffee. Well, there are articles that says that a little bit of coffee is good.
I wish you all the best!
Best Wishes
Sam Chan
Sam,
Yep, I’ve heard both sides of the argument. I think it all depends on your physical/personality make-up. I’m not entirely certain that I won’t start drinking coffee again after this 35 days. This time period is a season of fasting, reflection and cleansing for me. Regardless of the benefits/drawbacks to coffee, I want to go through a series of cleansing processes this month that requires abstaining from coffee. Much of this cleansing is related to fasting on different levels, which has huge health benefits, that’s for sure.
I’ve never been a coffee drinker. Not even during college. I think caffeine is so bad for you.
Cherann, I think some of those reports about the benefits of coffee are funded by the U of Starbucks. No doubt there are some downsides.
here is a list of comments from people who think they can just stop “good for your” coffee
scroll down a little
http://coffeefaq.com/site/node/11
caffeine is the worst addictive substance period
Folks have been addicted to many things. Coffee is certainly one of them. I’m not sure I would consider it as the worst next to nicotine, alcohol or other more intense drugs. I personally witnessed my father passing from lung cancer after a lifetime of smoking. Talk about a tough addiction, wow. We as a society have become very good with addictions. We’ll get addicted to food, drinks, tv, you name it.Yeah, there’s many addictions, I just wouldn’t put coffee as number one.
I got told to avoid caffeine by the hospital. I couldn’t wean of it. I was told to avoid it altogether. Yes I love caffeine but I knew I had to stop so I went from 900mg to nothing. Yes it was hard but it had to be done. I had a headache and cravings, felt sick and shaky. I am on my 6th day of no caffeine. Sometimes I get craving for coffee but I used to drink everything with caffeine. It is very hard but I am breaking the habit. I thought if I faced any addiction it would be to scratch cards not caffeine.
Della, Hang in there. I found the fifth and sixth days to be the absolute toughest. The next week may not be much fun but I guarantee you’ll feel better down the line. Be sure to read my later post on what I learned from the experiment. You can do it. Tell lots of people, focus on what you are gaining and don’t look back. Let me know how it goes for you.
Rather you than me, i can’t survive without 15+ cups a day, anyways i would like to wish you the very best of luck, hopefully after that period of time you might be able to stay off it permanently.
Wow, Neuro thanks for the comment. That was actually a year ago and yes I’ve made a permanent shift in caffeine consumption. I no longer drink coffee and have dramatically reduced my caffeine in take. Sounds like a post to write.
This is my 7th day , no caffeine. Frankly, i feel awful. But im sleeping better. My reason for quiting, is i dont do anything half way, and caffeine no exception!! I wish me luck and also you Phil
Phyllis, hang in there. The seventh day was one of the hardest for me. I encourage you to go 35 days. it’s just long enough that you can’t fake it. I now two and a half years later don’t drink coffee anymore, only green tea. it does have some caffeine but much less and doesn’t give me the gitters or any of the other nasty side effects. Green tea is also an anti-oxidant so it is good for you too. Best of luck.
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