I Quit Drinking Coffee, (for Awhile)

A little over three years ago I decided I was drinking too much coffee. My travel mug, full of coffee, went every where I did and I was drinking over a pot a day. My travel mug was like another appendage, so, decided to quit drinking coffee.

It wasn't affecting my life in a negative way. I like rushes, adrenaline, caffeine, or otherwise and I was sleeping well, so, it wasn't a caffeine problem. I enjoy good coffee and ordered from Gevalia , thus wasn't being Folgerized, or ButterNutized nor could I find any coffee warts on my body. Basically, I quit to find out if I could.

Also, want you to know I quit like a man no patches, extra filters, nothing to put under my tongue and no counseling. I laid my cup on its side, gave what coffee I had left to my family, squared my shoulders and walked away into the ethereal, non addictive world of a former coffee drinker.

What I didn't plan for, though, or anticipate were the withdrawal symptoms, it was like quitting smoking again. I smoked for over 30 years, was smoking three packs per day and years ago quit cold turkey. Eliminating coffee produced that same craving, for me, as did quitting cigarettes. There were days when I could think of nothing but how good a cup of coffee would taste. Nevertheless, I prevailed, the cravings subsided and my body decided it could live without a caffeine fix.

I went over two years without a cup of coffee replacing it with water. I began everyday with 20 oz. of that colorless liquid and my travel mug went everyplace I did, filled with water not juice extracted from a bean. I was on top of the world no coffee addiction and proud of it.

Then one day a familiar odor from the past infiltrated my coffee defenses, and I absorbed it. It was the odor of coffee. I believe it was at church, at Sunday lunch, and the coffee smelled good. I told myself I didn't want a cup and that was that until the next Sunday, when I smelled it again. After that everyplace I went had fresh coffee brewing waiting for me to drink, even fast food restaurant and quick stop mart coffee smelled good.

Then one Sunday I decided I had control of the ex- coffee habit and I drank a cup. It tasted good.

This went on for about a year until a couple of months ago I decided I could control caffeine and went online to Gevalia to rejoin. Over the past three plus years I've received notices from them about how much they missed me, so, they were thrilled to have me back. I know that's true because they told me and they wouldn't lie.

I received my free coffee pot and renewed my quarterly caffeine fix. Thus far I control the coffee pot. Still start the day with 20 oz. of water and water is in my travel mug when I leave the house. Presently I'm only drinking one or two cups per day, so, I can stick out my tongue at the coffee demons.

I swore I would never smoke again, if for no other reason than knowing I would need to put myself through the hell of quitting again. I never made that commitment with coffee, thus, I'm drinking with a clear conscience. Memories of outlasting that craving for caffeine will never leave me, though, and my desire to control it will not cease.

Nevertheless, I'm officially off the wagon and love every minute of it. Join me for a cup of coffee? I'm buying.