I have given up caffeine as of about one week ago. I have also given up sugar except for raw honey, but I've gone back on this about three times, when I craved sugar so badly that I went out and bought cocoa krispies and strawberry syrup for strawberry milk. Also, I've used some regular, non-raw honey, which I don't consider healthful. Today I decided against giving up sugar but then was re-inspired to do it again. I reached a turning point of sorts when I developed back problems. My lower back went into spasm and hasn't been the same since. At first I was kind of despairing over the possibility of back problems, but then I researched the problem on CureZone and discovered that I should ice it, not so much put heat on it, and stay hydrated. I also have been using a gel that contains homeopathic arnica, which has gotten me through the worst of it. I also started drinking a minimum of eight glasses of spring water a day. So far, all this has helped, except when I was putting heat on it at first instead of ice. It has gradually gotten quite a bit better, though it is still a problem, and I have to be careful what I do. I'm enthused by my new lifestyle. I have been addicted to coffee for about three years straight now, and I have been consuming sugar all my life, though I consumed a lot less in my childhood than I have in say the last 6 years (I'm 31). All told, I guess you could say I'm doing alright in that I only have three years (still, a long time!) of caffeine addiction to overcome and haven't consumed massive amounts of sugar for that long. I also used to drink coffee casually in my college years, but I wasn't addicted then, per se. Because of my back problems, there is no way I'm going back to caffeine. I have been so dehydrated these past three years and still am! I know that if I go back to drinking caffeine and its accompanying dehydration, my back problems could get far worse, and I may actually become disabled because of them. I know that this is how things start and that they only get worse. Sugar, on the other hand, I am finding much harder. But I have been doing some reading on the Addiction: Coffee forum and the Addiction: Sugar forum, and this lead me to go back to look at some tests I had done in 2004. At the time, they found that my adrenals were depleted because I have high cortisol levels in the morning and low cortisol levels in the evening, resulting in anxiety first thing in the morning and fatigue in the evening. I did a saliva hormone test. That was a long time ago, and though I've taken an adrenal glandular supplement since then, which I'm sure improved matters some, I realized that this is like my back -- if I don't take action and stop taking substances that are abusive to my adrenals, I'm going to develop adrenal fatigue, just as I would have developed worse back problems. Essentially, I was re-inspired to give up sugar. Just thought I'd share. It's going to take a long time to re-hydrate to the level I was at three years ago. Sugar is dehydrating too, in addition to being tough on the adrenals, so since I gave it up for my adrenals, it helps the situation with my back too. It's been really hard giving up sugar, but I have also developed a new "lease on life" because of it, in addition to the giving up of coffee. Your support would be appreciated. If there's anyone in a similar situation, maybe we could e-mail back and forth and support each other through low periods and times of desperation. Just e-mail me through the site.
I can understand your dilemma about giving up addictions like caffeine and sugar. Caffeine is definitely easier than sugar, but I try to dose them low personally. Like a light roast coffee once a day or something sugary at one sitting a day. Perhaps don't deny yourself sugar, but lower the dose or limit the amount of intake. Your mind will weaken if you deny yourself things and you may break and overindulge. This should be a controlled lowering until desire and cravings diminish. When you can look at something you used to enjoy and NOT have a true craving is when you've conquered the addiction.
I used to have a lot of alcohol in college, but the cravings went away slowly over time. It's cause the body is used to feeling a certain way and when something is missing, then it tends to weaken the self-control mechanisms. Rather than self-control, it's best to mitigate cravings by lowering the dose or limiting intake to a certain time. That way, you taper off instead of cold turkey quit. Some people can quit bad habits cold turkey, everyone's different.
Don't beat yourself up at quiting anything, simply reduce it over time until you can say "I don't need this nutritionless substance any more!" Feed the body first nutritious foods, then cave a little to the cravings. Nutrition first, addictions last.
Interesting that you say that -- nutrition first, addictions last. I have forever had a long-term health plan that I've been trying to implement, but I just haven't had the funds for it. Finally, I have found a way of funding it, but even this takes time to implement. Among other things, I'm going to do the diet based on the principles of Weston Price/Sally Fallon's cookbook, "Nourishing Traditions." For the longest time too, I've had that attitude, thinking that if I have that long-term plan that it would be enough. Essentially, I believed the same way. But then I started developing these back problems. For the last three years it's been eat and drink whatever I want while I wait for the day when I can implement my big health plan, more or less. But I'm so dehydrated that I figure I have to do something just to survive. I don't know. I certainly don't want worse back problems and I have to think about the time until I am able to implement my plan, but not having caffeine and sugar and the freedom to eat whatever if I'm not going to eat a fully nutritious diet is a pain. Anyway, I think I'll keep on without caffeine or sugar and just do the best I can. Thanks for your support. Responses are appreciated!
Two things that sugar and caffeine compromise is skin. Quitting the addictions should improve skin quality and hydration. Sulfur and silica rich foods will help aid in the collagen matrix of tissue, including skin.
I've been doing omega3's, iodine, zinc, and magnesium daily, along with active thiamine, B12, and folate. The calcium is in the foods I eat like probiotic drinks and other sources. One thing that's really difficult is to down veggies, fruits, and berries at 9 servings a day. At most, I do 3 servings of raw or steamed foods, organic when possible.
I work with a person that's got MS probably, but it's diagnosed as dystrophy. It's a gradual progression on his part, been years in the making. Not a good sign when muscles don't work right and you're wheelchair bound. I'd like to avoid anything like that and stay as healthy for as long as possible.
Unfortunately, I'm like you and have some of the best plans, but the ACTION part is the difficult part. So I phase them in gradually, carefully listening to my body. Before I eat any food, I consciously think to myself if I should eat it and if it is the best choice at the time. If I'm eating junk, then I accept the food and don't feel guilty. But, I ensure that I compensate by eating a lot more veggies, fruits, and berries later. My dream is to eventually drop all the junk and eat only healthy foods. The phase is approaching when that will happen, but our food supply is so - controlled.
Yeah, I noticed that my skin has gotten a lot worse than it's ever been in the last three years, I think because of the dehydration from the caffeine. Looking forward to reversing that!
It sounds like you know what you are talking about. It's hard at first, but you will feel so much better in the long run. Glad to hear you are taking the steps to become healthier!
Hi, yeah, please reply! I just saw this response. My situation now is not much better than it was when I posted, this, except at least then I was really trying a different diet. I'm still addicted to coffee and sugar and my health is suffering because of it. I really need to be on a healthy diet, but I don't have the self-discipline to do it. I suppose I'm being kind of hard on myself. You suffer the consequences though. I succumb to cravings every time I try to eat healthily and give up sugar and caffeine.
Cravings for sugar and stimulants are signs your body is not getting enough carbs. This can be impacted by eating too much fat which blocks your cell's ability to absorb the converted sugars properly.
You'll notice a lot of people on low-carb diets crave carbs, sugar, and stimulants.
I'd recommend you try a high carb/low fat diet, like Macrobiotic, or Fruitarian style. Keep your fat intake no more than 15% of your total calorie intake for the day.
The amount of carbs you should target a day is 5 grams of carbs per pound of your healthy body weight.
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Giving up caffeine and sugar 
