I'm not addicted. I can stop any time I want to.
Who says that? Addicts.
I'm addicted to coffee/caffeine. I hate saying that. I'd rather say that I can stop drinking coffee any time I want to, I just chose not to. Which is what I usually do say.
Once I counted the number of coffee shops in the town I live in. Just this small town had 17 coffee shops at the time. I don't know if that is the current number, I know of a few that closed, and few others that opened. I'd bet it's pretty close. And that is just in my little town. That doesn't include any of the surrounding towns that I spend time in. I have a stack of coffee stand cards in my car that is impressive. And that is just from the last year. Last June my car was broken into and the only thing I can tell is missing is the card holder with my coffee cards and a Trader Joe's gift card that was still fully loaded. It was a neat little card carrier and I miss it.
I don't have a coffee pot at home anymore. I get up and head to work, make the coffee, and snag the first cup. Every single day I'm tempted to stop at a drive up coffee stand before I go to work for a latte on the way. And sometimes I let myself. I've been trying hard to make that a once a week experience, however. The cost adds up in a hurry. That's why 17 coffee shops can survive in a small town, after all. On the weekends I tend to hit a coffee shop or I find myself making a packet of instant fufu coffee at home.
This Sunday, I got busy around the house and worked on a project I've been excited about starting, and I *forgot* to get coffee. I forgot! Until mid afternoon when I couldn't see straight because I had a raging headache! And that is when I decided I have an addiction.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that it's not just coffee anymore. I used to avoid drinking soda (and eating potato chips too, but that's a totally different "addiction"). Now, when I get lunch or dinner out, I order a Dr. Pepper rather than an iced tea. I'm looking for the caffeine and the sugar.
In the grand scheme of things a caffeine addiction is probably a pretty minor addiction. You never hear about people hurting people or committing terrible crimes to get a cup of coffee. But in a personal scheme it kind of *is* a big deal. I'm better than an addiction, be it food, alcohol, caffeine, or something else. And caffeine can have detrimental effects on health. Including keeping me awake at night if I have some late in the afternoon, caffeine increases stress hormones. I don't know anyone who needs MORE stress. And caffeine is also a bone robber. It can block calcium from being absorbed by your body. I've added calcium supplements to my diet. Is it for naught? Have I been wasting my time with those? Probably not entirely, but certainly I'm not allowing them to be the most beneficial.
Usually, I take a break from coffee because it isn't the coffee that I like. In fact, other than the wonderful, enticing aroma, I hate coffee black. I like the sweet and creamy flavorings that go it in. so when I get gung ho about losing weight and feels super motivated, I quit drinking coffee. I don't want to waste calories that I can use on food on coffee creamer. It tends to derail in not too long. It smells so good! But I do usually lose weight right away, even if that is the only change I make in my diet.
So I'm quitting coffee and soda (again). I think it's for the right reasons this time. It isn't a quick fix to lose a few pounds. It's more along the lines of I'm getting older and can't afford brittle bones because my calcium supplements are being wasted. It's more about not increasing the amount of stress I already have every day by creating false stress in the way of sneaky hormones. It's about being a better person and not being controlled by an addiction.
I'm going cold turkey too. I think it will be a few miserable days, at least, but I don't have the self control to wean myself off. So I've stocked up on decaf green tea (good antioxidants in there and I like it). I'll still have the hand to mouth habit covered with a cup of hot tea. I'll also keep a water bottle by my desk and up the amount of water I'm drinking. And I'll keep some ibuprofen handy in case I feel a headache coming on. I will win this battle. And I'll be better for it.
Wish me luck.
