Kicking a redbull addiction

gibson123

no more advice just a quick good luck, I have quit smoking but can't manage the caffeine quit, the headaches are intense and the sore bones are worse. Mine is coffee and tea though.

Mands

skintandscared wrote: »

I'm back to work on Thursday 3 Jan so I think I will take that as Day 1 in the cut-down challenge

I wonder if starting on that day gives you the best chance of succeeding?

It'll be the first day back for many people: there'll be piles of post and overflowing inboxes and virtually no enthusiasm to be there.

Sally in accounts will be going on and on and on about the seven pounds she put on over Xmas and how she has to loose it, Brian from design will have just quit smoking and there'll be someone claiming that this year is *really* the year that they'll go to the gym four times a week and why don't you join them?

Or something. Adjust to fit for your own workplace

I think getting through the first day back without being rude to anyone and clearing *some* of the backlog is probably a decent result. Add in cutting down on the Red Bull and it just looks like a recipe for disaster.

What about starting today? Or, in a couple of weeks? Then things will have settled back down some and Sally will be sweet natured again having re-opened the biscuit tin. Until then you could be preparing mentally for the cutting back.

Best of luck,
Mands

skintandscared_2

Mands wrote: »

I wonder if starting on that day gives you the best chance of succeeding?

It'll be the first day back for many people: there'll be piles of post and overflowing inboxes and virtually no enthusiasm to be there.

Sally in accounts will be going on and on and on about the seven pounds she put on over Xmas and how she has to loose it, Brian from design will have just quit smoking and there'll be someone claiming that this year is *really* the year that they'll go to the gym four times a week and why don't you join them?

Or something. Adjust to fit for your own workplace

I think getting through the first day back without being rude to anyone and clearing *some* of the backlog is probably a decent result. Add in cutting down on the Red Bull and it just looks like a recipe for disaster.

What about starting today? Or, in a couple of weeks? Then things will have settled back down some and Sally will be sweet natured again having re-opened the biscuit tin. Until then you could be preparing mentally for the cutting back.

Best of luck,
Mands

Thanks for all those things to think about Mands. Starting today is pointless, because I know that I will have a lot tomorrow on New Year's eve. We're heading back to our old pub to celebrate with our mates and one particular friend and I always end up on the Jaeger bombs I think I will give myself the two days at work on Thurs and Fri to catch up, get over the back-to-work blues and psych myself up for a gradual cut-down.

mountainofdebt

skintandscared wrote: »

Yes, the cutting-down approach seems less scary. I'm back to work on Thursday 3 Jan so I think I will take that as Day 1 in the cut-down challenge.

Why put off until tomorrow (or until the Jan 3rd) what you can do today???

Nicki

Ive decided to do a detox in January so am preparing for this by weaning myself off caffeine in advance, as the combination of withdrawing from caffeine and sugars together would just be unbearable!

I started 3 days ago and am down to 1 cup of tea and 1 cup of coffee already yesterday with no ill effects. Today I plan just to have the tea, and hopefully by 2 January which was my target date, I'll be clean having also been pain free.

My strategy was this:

1. Pick a date to be clean by, and work backwards from that.
2. Cut down slowly, either by consciously dropping a drink a day, or by choosing a lower caffeine alternative. In your case there is 45mg of caffeine in diet coke and 80mg in red bull so you could switch a diet coke for a red bull when you really NEED a hit, and just aim to have fewer cans of both in a day.
3. You also need to find something you really like to take the place of the red bull and diet coke, as part of the attraction is the fact that you feel you are having a break and a treat when you have one. Probably another carbonated drink would work best but caffeine free?
4. As others have said, steer clear of painkillers and chocolate while you do it.

It is do-able and hopefully you will feel better and be wealthier by the end.

squeakysue

I had a serious diet coke addiction, I just cut it out completely and craved it badly for a few weeks but now wonder what all the fuss was about lol. Not as much caffeine in diet coke though so agree gradual would be better for you to help your body and brain adjust, good luck

somethingcorporate

After 5 years of 5-6 cups of strong coffee a day I have just gone cold turkey 3 weeks ago.

Aside from the initial crippling headaches it is not really too bad and I do not feel any worse for it (but my blood pressure is thanking me!).

Good luck, it' a tough fight but for you the financial as well as the physical benefits should be compelling. One day at a time!

aliama

I know from experience that caffeine withdrawal is a *****! Worst headache I've ever had, and I've had my share of hangovers. You have my sympathies.

Having said that, the sugar in redbull is probably far worse than the caffiene, so perhaps you could try swapping a can or cans for a cup of tea or coffee (without sugar). You could start with replacing one can a day and increase from there. This won't help with the caffiene addiction, but it should stave off the caffiene withdrawal symptoms long enough for you to break the redbull habit.

I'm taking the view here that it's the redbull addiction you want to break here, not the caffeine addiction.

*edited to add* I went back and read a bit more carefully and see that you don't drink tea or coffee. Is there a reason you can't start? I know it can be a bit of an acquired taste, but the best way to acquire it is by drinking it.

skintandscared_2

mountainofdebt wrote: »

Why put off until tomorrow (or until the Jan 3rd) what you can do today???

Because I know that tomorrow evening there will be no way round drinking it so it's definitely pointless until at least 1st Jan It's really helpful to hear how others have cut down, thanks. I'm thinking that a bottle of "value" diet lemonade used to dilute sugar-free squash might be a good substitute.

skintandscared_2

aliama wrote: »

I know from experience that caffeine withdrawal is a *****! Worst headache I've ever had, and I've had my share of hangovers. You have my sympathies.

Having said that, the sugar in redbull is probably far worse than the caffiene, so perhaps you could try swapping a can or cans for a cup of tea or coffee (without sugar). You could start with replacing one can a day and increase from there. This won't help with the caffiene addiction, but it should stave off the caffiene withdrawal symptoms long enough for you to break the redbull habit.

I'm taking the view here that it's the redbull addiction you want to break here, not the caffeine addiction.

Yes, I want to stop the redbull thing altogether. I do usually have the sugar-free versions whenever possible, but I'm aware that they just have more chemicals in them and the asparthame sweetener is probably more lethal than sugar! I've never drunk hot drinks - just don't like them. But I have been drinking diet coke literally for years.