Contra Fates

Life Without Caffeine

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8 Comments

, 01-07-2010 at 10:18 PM (392 Views)

If I've seemed distant or disinterested lately, I have to say that the reason for it is my New Years Resolution. You know, the whole 'gotta get healthier!' one. So, the first step has been ridding myself of all of the junk food, and the junk drinks. Well, it's not as easy as it sounds!

Just about every day....every, single day, my daily work-meal regiment went like this:
1.) Make an ommellete bagel with cheese and ham. Drink a Coke with it.
2.) Choose from the 30-minute break meal of a bag of salted pretzels, or munchies, or Doritos, or a chocolate bar, or a mix of all three!
3.) Drink that 'lunch' with a Full Throttle.
4.) Peck at dinner, or, if I have to get dinner...gorge on fast food like Burger King or Taco Bell.
5.) Snack on cheesy nachos/popcorn, and undoubtedly drink it with a coke.

All of that ran me an estimated 3,000 calories a day.

Needless to say, my work/college eating regiment was SCREWED. UP. So, early January comes along and I'm looking at older photos of myself and how trim I was, and decided then and there that it was time to get my ass back in shape!

So, I've cut out soda completely, and I'm drinking nothing but water and 100% Juice boxes, and the occasional Jamba Juice smoothie. Fast food is also off the menu, as are my pretzel lunches and energy drink fixes. I've been eating nothing but sandwiches, salads, and soups since I began all of this.

My plan is get in the habit of eating better, first. I'm taking a Nutrition course this semester in college, so that will definitely help me out. Aside from that, I want to be eating better before I start working out. Once I'm ready to start working out, I'll get into 30 minute sessions about 3 times a week, and work my way up from there. It usually doesn't take me too long to get back into shape, but because of how long I've let myself just let go, I estimate it'll take about 6 months or so to be back to where I'd like to be.

Unfortunately for now, my days have been consisting of 75% sleeping, and some awake time. Without caffeine, I'm just so incredibly drained and exhausted, and I can't be bothered to do much of anything. Caffeine really was an addiction for me, and it'll be a few more days before I'll be free and clear, and feeling better. Apparently caffeine withdrawal can last up to a week, and can exude 'flu like symptoms,' I'd say that's pretty accurate.

But, I'm going to keep up on this, no matter how hard it is, or how irritable and lethargic it makes me!

So, here's to a New Year's Resolution that I hope to stick with for another six months at the minimum!

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Comments

Ryvius - 01-08-2010 12:24 AM
Hey, once again I feel ya Miss K. I'm not much of one for sodas, but I do love coffee. I used to be a real bad coffee addict. I had to have it, or else I couldn't function. I'd drink it before school, take some to school, and be craving a cup of coffee when I got home from school. I quit coffee for last year's resolution. Of course, I ended up drinking coffee again...but I don't drink it regularly, so I consider the resolution a success.

My point being: Bananas. Eat the shit out of some bananas galpal. Eat a banana with your breakfast, and eat a peanut butter and banana sammich for lunch. Seriously though, bananas really help get rid of that lethargic-ness. Slip a banana(Slip? Get it?) or two into your daily diet and see if it ain't true.
Inu - 01-08-2010 01:03 AM
Or just grab a 5 Hour Energy. ;D
Aleister Black - 01-08-2010 10:50 AM
Back when I worked for that record store, I used to drink about 5-10 of those energy booster drinks which is about 50% sugar and 50% caffeine... roughly.

I cut that out and am as of New Years also trying to get back into better shape; I've been neglecting that part of me for long enough.

So we could keep eachother in line!
SurrealSanity - 01-08-2010 06:58 PM
I admire your resolve, Kendra.

My meals consist of just about the same kind of routine as yours - especially when it comes to food at work. But, as is everyone else, I'm also trying to get back on the wagon and hopefully muster the same kind of stick-to-it-iveness you've managed to hunker down with.

Cheers to you and your endeavors, lady!
All of us are wishin' ya well and here to back you up when you need it!
Recycled Human - 01-09-2010 10:43 AM
If there's one thing I can say about Kendra, when she puts her mind to it she'll do it.

Don't worry I'll help! <3
Atlas - 01-09-2010 04:20 PM
Overly supportive comments aside, you probably shouldn't have changed lifestyle so quickly. Your withdrawal would be a lot less dramatic and the comparatively fleeting pressure for accomplishment would make it so, so much easier. Same with the exercise; the longer you put it off, the more likely you're going to say stuff like "oh I'm shedding enough pounds as it is, this is fine" etc. Gentle exercise will be your friend at this time, and it'll hasten the detox.

Insufferable know-it-all response over with, your determination sure is inspiring Kendra! Best of luck with it all, and I'm sure you'll be on that catwalk sooner than I can mumble 'hot cakes'.
Nami - 01-11-2010 02:30 PM
Meh, I don't think you need to wean yourself slowly off of anything. You're doing good

I also will be eating healthier. I think I will be what is called a "lacto-ovo vegetarian". I was a vegan at some point in time (not PETA-scary vegan, just... vegan xD) but somehow I seem to have forgotten EVERYTHING about nutrition and eating healthy. (Hey. Hardee's Thickburgers are what did me in, yo.)

Drink lots of shakes? Perhaps drinking shakes will help with getting over the caffeinated beverages. Plus, you can drop all sorts of healthy stuffs into a shake

Ultimately I don't think you will come out feeling more irritable or lethargic. You will come out feeling more energetic, actually. And that will likely be the catalyst that will make you continue. (That is... if you are eating much, much healthier.)
dthc - 01-15-2010 01:03 PM
I've been a lacto-ovo vegetarian since I was 13 and I eat pretty badly regardless. We don't have the money for me to eat broccoli and soup for every meal like I want to.

:/

Anyway, I don't think any of us are questioning your resolve. Hopefully it becomes second nature.