Saturday, January 13, 2007

Decaffeination (or the pain thereof)

Christmas was full of temptations. To overeat, oversleep, overindulge (in everything). But the biggest temptation for me was coffee. I'm not a regular coffee drinker. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE coffee, but I try to limit myself to a few cups per week. I dread getting hooked and having those "coffee headaches." But over Christmas I drank tons of coffee. It was just always there. Egg nog, cinnamon spice, peppermint, and my favorite: plain, black, and strong enough to float a horseshoe.
This week has been a week of coffee hell. It was our first week back from vacation, and I tried to detox from all the caffeine. I actually kept notes, because I knew it wouldn't be easy. Here's how it went....

Sunday - accidentally had about a 1/4 cup of coffee in the nursery before I remembered (sadly) about detoxing. No headache

Monday
- No coffee, no headache. This is going to be easier than I thought!

Tuesday - No coffee, slight headache in the afternoon. Still not too bad.

Wednesday - MAJOR headache around 1pm. Had been working since 9 am, not getting off until 10pm. Caved at 3pm and stopped at Starbucks. Yay for Christmas gift cards! Got a Tall (which is a small) Nonfat Caramel Macchiato. As soon as I smelled it I knew everything was going to be okay. So delicious. No more headache.

Thursday - Bad headache at 2pm. Was driving past Starbucks (why does it always have to be on my way to work?) when I made a sudden right turn into the parking lot. Thinking to wean myself off gently, I ordered a Short (extra small) regular Coffee. Headache gone halfway through the cup. As I felt the caffeine begin to pump through my veins, I realized my error: A short black coffee has more caffeine than a Tall Caramel Macchiato. The macchiato is probably about 50% coffee and 50% milk, with an additional 10-20% sugar and caramel. A black coffee is all coffee. So much for weaning myself off.

Friday - Slight headache all day. Drank tons of water, Red Raspberry Leaf Tea, and Peppermint Tea. Very bad headache 9pm. Took 2 aspirin and went to bed.

Saturday - Same bad headache upon waking. Took 1 Ferrum Phos. Headache gone in 15 minutes. Why didn't I try that before?!?!? Ferrum Phos always works on my headaches. I guess I just figured that because they were caffeine related there was no remedy.

Saturday - Currently 1:30 pm. Slight headache. Numerous glances at the coffee pot. Danger. I think I'll go check out the 50% yarn sale at Michael's. I can't stay here with the coffee pot looking at me like that.


4 comments:

Rachel said...

That's too funny! I don't drink coffee anymore, either, because it antidotes my remedy. I still have occasional cravings, though. Good luck with the detox!

Cari said...

I never thought of you as a coffee drinker. So I don't know. Anyways.. Just thought I'd let you kknow that we are back in Rockford and I <3 Disney World! hahahahahaha talk to ya later!

Anonymous said...

Sorry Ali, the coffee was probably mostly my fault. But it was fun :) Life is short. Remember the scene from Michael in the car playing "Car Bingo". "All you need is love".

Love you,
Mom

Anonymous said...

This is the other Rachel Leverton.
Rachel K. showed me your blog while we were over for lunch.
I loved your hats you knitted; I never pegged you as a knitter! I'm
just starting and Rachel K. is helping me make a hat.
Anyway, I enjoyed reading your blog.
Your coffee discussion cracked me up.
I'm addicted BIG time; you have much
more stamina than I do.
Good luck staying "clean."
~Rae