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| Buttah Explored* |
Last week I participated in an experiment of my own design. For the five work days, I went without coffee.
It was a trial. Even though I do like teas and drink them fairly often, tea is not my go-to hot beverage. It is certainly not my, "getting up in the morning, on the go" beverage. Or, it wasn't until last week.
It was Thursday before I wasn't actively craving coffee and considering abandoning the experiment. Still, on Saturday morning upon reporting to a rare Saturday shift, the coffee had brewed and it called me, loudly.
The first taste was gulped hungrily. I soon settled into a more respectable sipping and savored with glee. I had coffee again at home on Sunday and it was swell. Quite.
This Monday morning the day begins with Green Tea with Honey and Ginseng to have alongside some cottage cheese, sliced strawberries and peaches, saving coffee for a weekend pleasure.
Maybe.
The experiment shall continue for the next few weeks, or for as long as I can stand. Unless, it is proven that there is (or is not) a direct correlation to the hot beverage of choice and overall eating habits. (I believe I eat poorly and / or make poor choices when I drink coffee and not so much when I have tea. I also tend to drink more coffee and less of other beverages (like water).
The theory may be all wet, but there it is.
It may simply be mind over matter.
Whatever the case, appreciable and measurable changes must be made and maintained--forevermore.
This is a new start.
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I've limited my coffee consumption since I started counting calories. I tend to load up on creamers and I love sugar in my coffee which is why I cut back. I'm also hoping it will help me sleep better at night. Did you notice a difference?
ReplyDeleteHi! I do creamers but not sugar. The coffee (in and of itself) is not the issue, but what it triggers. I am hoping that a happy side event is better sleeping. Last week was not a good test week for that, as I'm fighting off some kind of head cold. So, not sleeping much. Yet. Thanks so much for coming by and leaving your comment.
DeleteModeration in all things, my dear. I have two cups of coffee before leaving the house and that's all. I don't take it with sugar, but plenty of half&half.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I have noticed is that I drink a lot more water at work than at home. I think it's because I have a water bottle at my desk. It's also part of my strategy to move more. I figure if I drink a couple of liters during the work day, I'll have to get up and walk to the restroom a lot more often! And then, if I choose a restroom further away... more steps!
Good luck with the tea, Debra. I hope it works for you!
I drink more water at work generally too. But, I find (have found) that I don't transition from coffee to water very easily. Given my 1 and 1/2 hour commute, I must be careful about how much I drink (of anything) at work. ;-)
DeleteThank you. I need to attack on several tracks. I've got other strategies in play. ;-)
I switched to tea after learning about a study where people were waking up from surgery with terrible headaches. At the time it was thought to be related to lack of caffeine. (not sure how that resolved as it was years ago, so ? but it did make me change my behaviour.) Now, once in awhile, I'll have a decaf, but usually it's tea. (I, too, load up on half & half in decaf but don't add anything to tea.)
ReplyDeleteI have mixed feelings about giving something up one loves entirely, unless what one loves is illegal street drugs, in which case, moderation is off the table. Otherwise, I am in the e group: have a cup or two and then switch to something saintly like water. ;)
I didn't even start drinking coffee until I was in my thirties. It is out of habit and (likely psychological) need, not love I think. NOT drinking is (beyond escaping the triggers) is an exercise in discipline.
DeleteI will see how I do / feel.
I've done the coffee-free thing a number of times over the years, but it always manages to creep back into my life. Okay, maybe not creep - more like, I welcome it with open arms. :D
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with making healthy changes!
Thank you for the well wishes. :-)
DeleteI bow to you. Coffee is the one thing I could not give up, not even for a day. The addiction is that strong. That said, I limit myself to a cup and a half in the morning, switch to water all day, and get to end my day with my decaf coffee. It's sacred.
ReplyDeleteMy son is my inspiration as he is the most disciplined person I know. I went a month without having potato chips. I need that strength back. ;-)
DeleteThat sounds like a great plan -- not total removal, but weekend treats. That's how I eased into no-coffee when trying to conceive. Those were rough times. You seem super aware of how coffee affects you overall, which is good -- that will probably help you be successful. I love the cat picture!
ReplyDeleteI think so too. At least I hope so.
DeleteThank you. That's my Buttah. He decided to plant himself on my bedside shelf structure. That darn cat. :-)
I was a tea drinker until Em sent me an article about the health benefits of coffee for cancer survivors. Now I drink a cup or two in the morning but it doesn't have food associations for me. Although in another life coffee and cigarettes did go together.
ReplyDeleteWhich reminds me, when I was quitting smoking I realized that the only times I didn't smoke was in bed or in the shower, so I tried to spend longer doing both. A lot longer. It could work for dieting too : )
LOL..that's a thought. I will take it under advisement.
DeleteI don't drink coffee at home - I only really enjoy a good espresso-based flat white, and so have one about every two to three days. Sometimes I can go five days or so without it. But yes, like you, I can make bad choices. Yesterday I had a long work-out at the gym, and feeling very satisfied had a coffee, and then ordered (against my better judgement) a raspberry and banana muffin. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI read that the more caffeine you have, the greater tolerance you build up, so if you want the benefits from coffee (ie of a pick-me-up) that I often do, then it's good if I don't have as much.
Point A - yes. Exactly.
DeletePoint B - yes. Exactly. I didn't / don't want to get to a point where I'm drinking even more coffee throughout the day.
Kudos to you for trying out this experiment. How is Week 2 going?
ReplyDeleteYou've got me thinking about my own habits. A cup of coffee in the am and a glass of wine in the pm. It would take a lot of conviction for me to take on such an experiment. Maybe I can borrow some mojo from your son.
Week two has gone (surprisingly) well. My body hasn't fully adjusted and my energy level is not quite where it should / where I need it to be--but I attribute some of that to the bug that had hold of me for a bit.
DeleteSure, he has plenty mojo. ;-)