I Gave Up Coffee - Here's What Happened...

|The post I Gave Up Coffee – Here’s What Happened appeared first on Moonstruck La Vie En Rosé on March 3, 2019|

Hey, hey its Tuesday! I seem to be on the struggle bus this week. The normal routine is just getting me down, and I cant seem to stay on top of it all. Has that ever happened to you?

Well, I just tucked Nora into bed after working on some Kindergarten homework. She is trying really hard to learn how to read, and I am very proud of the effort she is putting in! In fact, it was Nora that came to me after bath time and said “Mom, I’m ready to work!”. She just melts my heart <3 We will get there baby girl,with small steps forward each and every day!

Now, onto today’s post! Well, lets be honest, after reading the title you may be thinking…you gave up coffee, whyyyy?! Or, how on earth did you do that?!

I did it cold turkey! I’m an all or nothing kind of girl. But, let me tell you, it wasn’t easy…

Why I Quit

I decided to give up coffee in the middle of dry February. I’ve known about my coffee addiction for quite some time now. Consuming coffee has always been a full body experience for me. I love the smell, the taste, the ideal slow morning sips as we settle into a lazy Saturday.

Seriously, my earliest memory of coffee is like a Foldgers commercial. I remember waking up to the smell of my mom brewing it before school. So, its safe to say that having that cup of coffee became a ritual that easily found its way into my daily routine. So much so, that while we were living in San Diego, I visited most of the independent coffee roasters in town to scout out the perfect cup!

Addicted to coffee huh? Yes! And, full disclosure, I drank coffee during both of my pregnancies. I tried to give it up but had horrible ocular migraines that would not subside. So, in order to function, I went half caf. For you non coffee drinkers out there that’s half caffeinated, and half decaf.

But, it was midway through dry February when the thought of my coffee addiction resurfaced. I was pulling into the local drive thru on the way to work. And, it dawned on me while reaching for my wallet, (after ordering a large iced latte) that my energy may be a little too dependent on caffeine to get through the day.

And, maybe I had the caffeine = energy equation all wrong because more often than not, I could easily fall asleep after drinking my large iced latte. Something, wasn’t adding up. So, I decided (after one more coffee run of course) that coffee had to go!

What Happened When I Quit Coffee

Getting through the weekday mornings proved to be easier than I anticipated. Although my Nespresso machine was glaring at me on the kitchen counter, I was distracted by two tiny humans that I had to get ready during the morning rush.

So, dragging my feet into the kitchen and reaching into the cabinet for my Nespresso pods is a habit that was surprisingly easy to give up. However, the constant headache was a nagging reminder of my decision. What helped dull the pain? Staying hydrated, doTERRA peppermint essential oil for the headaches, doTERRA’s Mito2Max, matcha green tea, and lots and lots of iced tea.

Yes, I’ll admit it, I was still getting my caffeine but, in different ways. The point is, I was breaking up with coffee first.

Bonus Read: Check out this post, to learn more about how experiencing a constant state of stress could be effecting your health.

Did you know that there are benefits to coffee consumption?

Most adults can benefit from up to 400 mg of caffeine each day. Pregnant women, should keep caffeine intake to 200 mg or less each day. Some of the benefits are:

Reduced inflammation in the body
Improved focus and alertness
Decreased risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Antioxidant rich

However, we are all aware of some of the disadvantages to drinking too much coffee:

Increased anxiety
Digestive distress
Sleep disorders
Increased inflammation (if adding extra sugars to your cup. Cue the sighs of Caramel Macchiato lovers everywhere!)

I was suffering from increased anxiety levels and lack of sleep. It took a few days but, after giving up coffee my sleep was amazing! I was waking up progressively more refreshed. And, in turn my major anxieties subsided. But alas, my headache did not.

So, is coffee out of my life for good?

The break from my morning cup did help me realize that life without coffee is possible. But, with the close of dry February came the end of my coffee hiatus. I just could not kick the headache from caffeine withdrawals. And, given my current season of life getting that extra burst of energy has proven to be beneficial.

I am concerned that my body has become so dependent on caffeine. After all, with 15 coffee-free days under my belt I was still experiencing headaches! That’s insane! So, I plan to indulge less frequently, like when I am in dire need of an energy boost or as a weekend treat.

For me, right now moderation is key. And, eventually I can see myself saying goodbye for good. I just don’t like the dependency that comes along with it. But I want to hear from you, could you ever see yourself kicking coffee to the curb?