I quit caffeine in December of 2020 and it was the best decision of my life, I had no idea how severely even just one cup of black coffee a day was negatively impacting both my mental health and metabolic health, now I'm much more calm and rational and my hunger horomones are balanced
I drink coffee so others may live! LOL 😂 I’m a gal that can be happy watching paint dry, so I need that little boost to get me motivated (2 mugs in the morning w heavy cream, collagen, cocoa & a dash of liquid stevia). I didn’t start drinking coffee until in my 40s. I wish I had started in my teens - I truly have more tolerance for ppl with my daily dose of caffeine. I read the other day that coffee can enhance some neurotransmitters in the brain (similar to dopamine). I can believe that! I have gone off coffee once or twice, but saw more detriment than benefit in it. No 30 day challenge for me! Btw, I stopped drinking alcohol and smoking 28 years ago - best thing I ever did for myself- physically, mentally, & emotionally.
If you want to cut this challenge short, nobody is going to fault you for it. If you aren't seeing the benefits, you thought you would, then it's not worth it. The information is good for the rest of us, though. Thanks for taking one for the team.
Interesting readings! I gave up caffeine several times but I just feel better throughout the day if I have a little in the morning, so I do have a cup of coffee usually. If you feel the bad outweighs the good in this challenge...do what is best for you!
Thanks Steve, I used to do a certain kind of religious fast called a Daniel Fast twice a year. Normally, I pretty much live on coffee and part of the fast is only water to drink. It's 21 days long and that seems forever when it comes to coffee. The fast also includes no animal products only plant products and no sweeteners of any kind whether they are artificial or natural. It's a great time to pray and focus on your faith and I've always been able to get through it quite easily because of Prayer. I've always been fine to eat out with my husband and exchange a beer and a steak meal for a salad and steamed vegetables. I know this is a little lengthy but I wanted to tell you that the only thing I ever crave during this time is coffee and it's the first thing I have at midnight on the end of my fasting time. I'm a type 2 diabetic and during this time I do lose weight however my numbers never change significantly. I know now that all of those baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas and dried fruits could not possibly affect the change I needed for decent glucose readings. Anyway I'm right there with you I understand exactly what you're going through as far as coffee goes! I know that you have to finish this challenge and I wish you success in getting through it. But I do want to thank you immensely that my numbers are now always below 120 and that is one hour after a meal it's unheard of for me! Thanks to you and the RUclips keto community I start my morning less than 110!
I didn't even attempt the no coffee challenge but I am replacing one cup daily with herbal tea from my garden like I said I would. My challenge was to start jogging again. I was in such good shape before the C thing then let myself go out of fear. Started off very slow with short little distance. Currently up to half a mile then walk 2 miles
Thank you Steve! It took six months to gradually reduce sugar in my morning coffees to nil, and this morning I’m going to give up my excessive amounts of cream cold turkey. Up all night tossing around the idea that maybe I should just give up drinking coffee cause the taste of coffee without cream is going to be - oh so awful…. You described perfectly how I’ve been feeling lately and I figure that it has been a very long winter in so many different ways. I’m giving up Cream in my Coffee for Sun in my Face and hope this restarts the clocks. Be kind to yourself… Find your Sun…. Best wishes, Linda
I want to thank you as you were the impetus for me to take a break from drinking. I haven’t had one since New Year’s Eve! Only an occasional craving that doesn’t last. I understand how you feel with no caffeine. I feel it’s a stimulant I still need. I try to use pre workout and at lunch or in afternoon. It’s interesting to hear your experience and you are brave to try these challenges. Wishing you the best 😊
God Bless ya Steve. You can actually see your lower energy level. I have dismally failed at the daily morning cold shower. I tapped out early on. Too much at once. Too many other habits to change to make it happen that I didn't consider. Switched to 100 squats a day. So far so good. I'm investigating cryotherapy sessions as a follow-up attempt.
I backed off to two cups a morning (from a entire pot or more) and somedays just one cup per morning. I have not had any side effects and from watching your videos, I am actually not going to give up coffee entirely - but will stick to one or two cups. More power to you Steve. Maybe this will get better? Maybe the end of the month may not come fast enough! You are stronger than I am. Whatever you choose to do, no judgment from me!
I am choosing to do challenges that make my life better. This one will not, and it looks like you are finding the same. Thanks for being so genuine, you are brave to share your challenges with all of us. 💪🏼
I drink a ridiculous amount of coffee, but on a daily basis, only one cup will be caffeinated. Last week I had an extraordinarily heavy workload for a couple of days, and I treated myself to 3 cups of caffeinated coffee for two of those days. I felt like superman. When I switched to mostly decaf, a few months ago, I noticed an improvement in my sleep quality. I’m not sad about the caffeine, but there’s always the option to have an extra cup when I have a heavy workload. PS good on you for fighting through your 90 day alcohol craving. Five years, seven months, five days.
I gotta hand it to you, Steve-you certainly display extreme dedication to this challenge, even though it has sapped your will to live. Lack of interest in usual activities is seen in some depressed people.
After 19 months without coffee I think there are lots of positives. Almost completely off BP meds except low dose of one. Resting HR of 55. Laid back, great moods, and just one less habit! A cup or Two of coffee in the morning won't hurt you so it's up to you.
Wow Steve I can really feel your energy ... You know better than anyone, if something's not right...well it's not ❗❗There's wisdom in saying I've done it, I've had it...now it's not working for me and move on🧐 No shame in listening to your body telling you your goal is done. Blessings 🙏
You've come so far, I think you should drink a lot of water and keep going. I'll bet you're getting over the hump and it will improve soon. Won't it be great to not be addicted to anything? I know, easy for me to say! 😋
I'm 16 months sober and don't miss booze at all. I'm being successful on keto thanks to you and other channels like yours and feeling much younger. I love my coffee and I only drink it early in the morning and won't be giving it up. Thanks so much for all your GREAT videos!!
I was a total coffee addict and quit over 25 years ago. It was starting to make me agitated and I thought it could be affecting my adrenals. The withdrawals are real! You'll be fine if you keep going, it's just going to take a while. I enjoy not being dependent on it. I drink peppermint tea for a lift now.
I was a total caffeine addict too and quit cold turkey. I have constant crippling anxiety now. Were you able to completely return to normal? Deciding to start drinking coffee was the worst decision of my life.
I am on day 4 of quitting coffee, not by choice at all. I developed an allergy to caffien/coffee so everytime I had some I would break out in hives and have a massive panic attack. My Dr advised me to quit drinking coffee because he suspected I've become sensitive to the phytic acid or may have developed a full blown allergy. Let me tell you, I am SUFFERING! I have severe headaches, lower back, hip, leg, and knee pain so bad I can't even sleep. I am in a total fog, simply dysfunctional. I am praying this gets better soon, and I will never touch coffee or caffeine again because I will never put myself through this hell again. Thanks Steve for the update 👍sorry mine is a bummer too.
@ Hi, I’m doing much better and still enjoying a cup of hot coffee in the mornings. Thankfully whatever was causing the hives was not coffee! I suspect it was severe oxalate dumping from years of overconsumption of spinach smoothies. Anyway, I love coffee and intend on enjoying it. Hope all is well with you and God bless.
You pretty much described my attempt at no caffeine perfectly (not for this challenge, but a while ago). No motivation. No joy in anything I used to like to do. When I described it to my friends, they said I was depressed. That really proved to me it wasn't worth it for me. I'm not try to say it won't be worth it for you. But I couldn't keep on living that way.
Yes I remember giving up coffee for 4 month for my gastric sleeve surgery. But there was so much going on with prep that I did not have time to feel any of the changes. I remember the intense headache for a little while. Nowadays... The amount of coffee I drink, depends on the amount I make. If I make a pot, I drink a pot... sooo I am only doing espresso now. I lowered the size of the cup. From Mug to cup. And as an experiment I lowered my dairy consumption and I switched from Heavy cream to black. I want much less "black" coffee now. I am now usually fine with one cup, while before I wanted three. So I guess the fat makes me want more? Steve, as much as I hate you going through this not so fun month, I am glad, because now I know that giving up coffee is not really doing much. I will now not attempt to ever do so unless ordered by a doctor.
Caffeine stimulates dopamine, which is the primary neurotransmitter that gives us a feeling of "hope for reward". The lack of desire to do fun things you're feeling is likely because you're calibrated to having a slightly higher dopamine level with the caffeine. Without that increase in dopamine, fun things just don't feel like they'll be as fun.
@@worstcaseofcrabsever5510 I think you've misunderstood my point. The key word is calibrated. Humans are calibratory creatures. As an example, if you have a candy bar with a large amount of sugar and then go have a strawberry right after, the strawberry will taste bitter. But if you abstain from sugar for a few days, the strawberry will taste very sweet. The sweetness of the strawberry is the same, but your calibration with the candy has affected your enjoyment of it. My point is not that caffeine is in any way required for dopamine, rather, my point is that caffeine has perhaps calibrated Steve to a supra-physiological level of dopamine, thus (like the candy to the strawberry) making the normal dopamine levels that activities like videogames produce in him less comparatively exciting now that the caffeine is absent.
I have given up caffeine several times in my life, and was never successful. I was happier and felt more myself when I consume caffeine. Last time I quit for a full 6 months, and the things you are describing never went away for me. I don’t consume very much. I drink 2 cups of half caffeine in the morning, and that is enough to keep me feeling myself and happy.
Like me, with tea! That HALF strength tea still allows me the flavor without the hyper feeling that full strength tea brings! Two half-cups seem enough now! Coffee wipes me out! Too much caffeine! I can’t have epinephrine in my dental freezing, either. My body shakes afterwards and I’m wiped out. Each of us is so different!
Try taking some vitamin C and/or coconut oil for energy. Just don't do it after around four in the afternoon if you want to get to sleep before midnight. And keep in mind that in the same way excess weight didn't pile on in a month's time, it won't come off in thirty days either. If a caffeine addiction has been a 'most of your life' kind of thing, a month is a drop in the bucket in trying to break that addiction. If you succeed, celebrate. If you don't, at least you tried. Which is more than my mother and sister will ever do. They will drive (and HAVE driven) ten or more miles during power outages to buy enough coffee to get them through the day. :D
It is a challenge, my husband and I, and I kid you not, use to drink a party perk pot each day (40 cup pot) with cream and sugar. We now drink 2 to 4 cups a day with no sugar and a tablespoon of cream. The hardest part for me was giving up the sugar, 2 weeks before the headaches stopped.
I’m on day five of no caffeine after being a heavy black coffee drinker and the lethargy is brutal. The lack of passion he is talking about is spot on. Literally I just want to eat and sleep and watch TV and I am typically such a creative hardworking productive person.. on caffeine 😮 pushing through
Interesting thought about the glucose stepping up to give you a boost to replace the caffeine zip. Thank you for doing this. And I agree with others that if you want to stop, you will get no no shaming from me. I’m learning a lot from your pain. I have had similar issues both times I gave it up. I’m on a moderation mode now. That’s my body’s sweet spot.
I just read that coffee increases circulating neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine while you are drinking it, and that it can take your body over 2 weeks to adjust after stopping. I don't know if this is true or how reputable the source was, but maybe hang in there a little longer and eat some salmon to compensate. Thanks for the video!
@@SeriousKeto If there's got to be a stimulant, coffee's likely the best one. I have done better off coffee, but that was a few years back. If you're fasting in the morning though, and you've lost more weight, you're probably not eating enough calories. That could account for fatigue and lack of motivation. Dare I say try adding back some complex carbs, esp in the morning? P.S. I am encouraging you to keep trying, but we all have to have some pleasure in our lives. You've already made so many changes for the better!
I’m not a coffee drinker and I gave up soda a couple years ago. I used to drink soda all day, it seemed. I do drink tea during the week but not daily. I have to limit it now because the caffeine messes with my heart rhythm.
stopped caffeine 7 days ago as well. headaches were nasty for 2-3 days. lots of pharma pills to get through them. now headaches mostly resolved. brain doesn't function, but I do feel more calm/relaxed during the day. sleep is better. I feel more like my normal self. I think I will stay off permanently. really sensitive to stimulants like caffeine or nicotine.
I sympathize with you. My first week on Atkins (before I learned about keto) I quit caffeine. Didn’t get the headaches but did feel foggy all day. My no caffeine experiment lasted about 3 weeks. I did start drinking my morning coffee again, but I limit myself to 2 cups. Thanks for sharing your story!
I tried this with you Steve. I had to go back to the liquid bean. Got severe headaches. The only thing that would get them to ease up a bit was taking Migraine Tylenol which of course has caffeine in it… the force is wrong with this one. Maybe I’ll try a long taper off of it for like a month? A few days then cold turkey was the absolute wrong way for me. Glucose spikes is weird. Wonder if it has something to do with cell memory thinking hey let’s spike glucose we have some Java i coming but it doesn’t. Have no idea the body is strange and fascinating. I’ll give it another go soon. Just don’t have the power to over come right now. You’re a beast for going this long Steve!☕️
I've been off caffeine for a little over a year. I compare coming off of it as being similar to a space ship re-entering the atmosphere. It's rough as hell and you feel like it'll never get better. After a few weeks, it gets smooth and calm. I feel better and don't need it at all. I don't run out of energy, I just drink water with a little squirt of Mio now. I did notice the glucose being higher in the morning as well. I used to be 85-90, now I'm 110-120, but I drop to around 85 in mid afternoon. Maybe it's the same thing as you are seeing..
As I said on your previous video I was a 3-5 cups a day coffee drinker and gave up caffeine for a year. It took about 3 days to get over the withdrawal (headache and cravings) and about 2 weeks to get over the caffeine hangover (lethargy, brain fog, etc.). After that my life went on pretty much as normal. After that year I started drinking coffee again but kept it to 2-3 cups or less a day (and have ever since going on 30 years).
My Hats off to YOU Steve!!! Thank You for being so freaking awesome with this challenge! I LOVE Coffee & For Managing my Autoimmune Flare ups… Which consist of : 20 years of COPD ( never smoked) I was officially diagnosed at the age of 23 very young for these issues.. along came MS & RA.. i follow the Carnivore Diet but I’m kinda a “dirty Carni” I do have LMNT & Relyte . The diet helps but what helps more: Handstands! I’m doing a YEAR Long 365 days posting on RUclips 10 minutes a day of handstands to INSPIRE others to dedicate only 2 minutes to some kind of “balancing “ preferably.. Just a challenge that I really believe in.. Thank you for inspiring me through you staying accountable! You’re awesome Steve! Love&light from California 💗💗
Well I’m glad this video didn’t convince me to give up caffeine! I must have missed you starting this challenge until now. I on the other hand have spent the last 3 weeks or more researching my next espresso machine upgrade. Decided on the ECM Classika, the Breville Infuser is what I’ll be replacing.
Steve, interesting that you bring up the glucose changes as I’m having the same interesting readings with my cgm. I have a bit of heavy cream and stevia in mine. When I switched to decaf it seemed my glucose went up in mornings. I think maybe our bodies are compensating for lack of caffeine. Dr Cywes recently interviewed 2 KK regarding their bloodwork and he mentioned he gives their toddler a bit of milk in morning to get his insulin response up. Plus he is a big coffee drinker so it must not be bad if he does it. 👍
I've been fasting for the last 12 days, today is day 12 of 14... I don't do caffeine when I water fast... I feel you on the higher morning glucose. I love coffee, though I did go over 100 days probably like 120 days with no caffeine last fall... I did a carnivore challenge and wanted to reset my caffeine tolerance too... I don't know if there are any positives about cutting caffeine...
Your description of not enjoying the things you used to enjoy reminded me of when I quit smoking 30 years ago! Nicotine and caffeine seem to make things more enjoyable. However coffee is full of antioxidants and there’s more than one study that says it’s actually good for you. Life is short…have some coffee tomorrow.
Steve, I do very clean healthy keto except and it’s a big one. I drink diet my dew by the 2 liter container. I’m so bad, I drink about 9 yes, 9 each day. I’m trying to fix up my house and move across the country. I NEEDED that caffeine! When soda went to 2.14 a liter I said enough. Major withdrawal headaches for weeks. By a crazy chance a friend came over and gave me a drink. I took one sip and it was nasty. I have NO pep! My sleep has improved but nothing else. I’m giving it 3 more months and hopefully feel normal again.
Keep it up Steve. Our minds play such a HUGE part in the success. I do stuff to take my mind off coffee. Green match with heavy cream, and almond milk. Check out technique of breathing for sleep, with Andrew Weil is a trusted tip. Maybe give it some more time. Give yourself a hug for trying and succeeding. :)
I think for many of us, giving up caffeine is overrated. The numerous times I have given it up, I found no benefit and also had trouble sleeping and having no motivation, feeling depressed, which I quickly realized was worse than anything coffee or caffeine in general was doing to me. I am supposed to be drinking decaf due to acid reflux, but I don't do that either. So, I guess I will carry my cup of coffee with me throughout the rest of my life.
Hey Steve I did start drinking warm water with lemon in the mornings and I also upped my water intake daily. Let your body get use to not being stimulated. I think you will feel better in the long run. Give your body time to adjust.
Great job enduring. Would be interesting to see how long it takes to break your dependency on caffeine and why your body got to this state. I agree with other comments - anything that triggers this level of dependency is worth avoiding... which of course, is different for everyone. Good luck. Respect - regardless of what you end up doing.
I can relate to how you feel. I love coffee but had to give it up as it makes me too anxious. I drink some tea now but it's not enough so I just have to learn to live with the sluggishness. I will say, that when I did my 21 day gut cleanse a few years ago, I did feel energetic eventually, but I cannot keep that cleanse going as a lifestyle. I am 56 so I guess I have to just live with how I feel now.
I transitioned my morning two cups of caffeinated coffee with decaf but gradually, over a four month period. I felt no ill effects at all so I’m guessing the cold turkey method you used here is the culprit.
I cut back to 2 per day and stop caffeine after 9pm. Can't say it really helped with sleep etc but I feel better about reducing my overall intake at least. Thanks for posting.
I read a book years ago, written by a woman who had got rid of her cellulite (of all things!) by making various changes to her diet/way of life. One of those things was cutting out coffee. However, she said she never felt right without it so went back to having just one cup a day, which lifted her spirits no end apparently. Maybe that would work for you? Or maybe you just need more time for your body to readjust? Dunno, but best of luck with it 😊
Bless your heart, Steve. If it was meant to be you'll go with no caffeine. I gave it up several years back. But I have A-Fib. With me, it makes a difference if I attempt to have caffeine. Best to you for the rest of this month!
I also quit caffeine due to cardiac arrhythmia. But I drink decaf and decaf tea. I don’t see any reason to give up the coffee bean which is actually good for you.
I didn't do the challenge. I adore - ADORE -my morning strong, black coffee. Please don't think u have to continue the challenge if you're miserable. Life is too short.
Have you noticed people who don't enjoy the wonderful pleasures of coffee think they're smugness is some sign of superiority? It's like : " I just returned from a one year trip working in Jamaica with Doctors Without Borders to help preform heart surgery on infants. It's usually their last chance for survival and it was very rewarding. Would you like to hear about it over a cup of coffee"? "No, I'm not dependent on coffee and I'd suggest you get some help".
I'm doing sqeaky clean keto challenge; but I've never done such a thing so... well 1 wk in uni at John Bastyr in the late 80's as home work assignment. I'm still coming up to speed with calculating macros for recipes & learning logging. Just last night started with cronometer; that looks like it may be SO fun & revealing!! All those data points on macros AND micros!! WOW! Thinking by later this month I may be capable of full compliance :-) This month may end up training & prep to do the real thing? I see so many places where there were small amounts of sweeteners & am working toward recalculating blends & recipes to rectify that & building recipe base with proper tracking. Exciting!! Am enjoying the data geek stuff & feel I am becoming enabled to really mature in my nutritional walk. So next month I will be able to comply with all the logging, weighing, measuring, NO sweeteners, NO all kinds of stuff ;-) Enjoying the new recipes & changing the old to fit. Feel grounded & in charge for the future. Thank You & bless You MORE for Your transparency, drive & skills in calling Yourself higher up & showing us how it's done!! YOU ROCK!!
Good for you. I find that Cronometer gets more finite in detail than Carb Manager. I haven't decided which I prefer for entering recipes into though... Just promise me that your clean keto challenge won't turn you into the "keto police". 😄
@@SeriousKeto hahahaha No but it may give me the hand up I need for my rheumatoid arthritis, metabolic syndrome, general lethargy, inflammation etc. That's my prayer. So do You advise me to check out carb manager? I will be needing to enter tons of mixes... hot cocoa, creamer.... soup base blends...?? Do You feel I should enter those things?? Really out of my league here. Cooking, making the mixes - OH YEAH! Being mostly low carb/keto for 3 yrs - heck yes. but NO data :-( I need this to be an answer for me. Thank You from the bottom of my heart! You are a beacon of hope & how to for SO many
I'd say try them both and see which one is easier to enter recipes into. I think what you will find is that since you need to enter recipes for every new dish you want to eat, you may start limiting your selection (at least if you're like me and don't enjoy administrative tasks).
@@SeriousKeto that's why I bought Mellissa's SCKC book & will use mostly her recipes as they have macros already done but my lil fat bombs, coffee additions from Nili, Ketogenic Woman's 'pudding' stuff, Maria Emmerich's dutch baby pancake with my extra collagen/MCT etc need be entered so off I go ;-) All due to Your excellent leadership! A real leader leads by example; at which You excel!!
Hi Steve, I agree with others you have said you are just not yourself. Honestly? You look miserable and don’t sound much better! The first two challenges I think went well for you-you seemed still like yourself. This month? Not so much. Of course I’m saying this as someone who would never give up my fav morning cuppa. It just makes me happy and sets the tone for my day. I can’t see any reason to stop. And watching what you are going through I’m convinced to stay the course. As always, thanks for being “our” Guinea pig 👏🏻😁
Life’s too short for no morning coffee😂! Plus it keeps me from being hungry. This is a challenge I’d never attempt, but I’m proud of you for trying it.
The blood glucose is really interesting. I would love to find a control who never drank coffee or caffeinated beverages and see what their blood work is like. As I have said, I gave up cigarettes and alcohol a long time ago, no way am I giving up my coffee and chocolate (as a matter of fact, I am going to try and create some chocolate covered expresso beans keto style this weekend) as I think I might become a really unpleasant human being. Wishing you an easy next couple of weeks.....have you tried the Bengal Spice Celestial Seasonings tea? I found it to be a nice alternative to a caffeinated beverage when I want a change.
I just watched an amazing video discussing "uncoupling mitochondria". Turns out that caffeine AND the coffee fruit along with goat cheese and sheep cheese are great for uncoupling mitochondria.
@@SeriousKeto yes. The Dr's book is " unlocking the keto code". Let me know if you watch the video. I still think humans only need fatty meat to be their best. But I want my coffee.
Steve. I think you might be able to deal with this better if you understood the science of how caffeine works. The body creates a hormone called adenosine that lowers blood pressure and calms the brain to allow sleep. Caffeine is shaped like adenosine and blocks some of the adenosine brain receptors. Without enough adenosine your brain stays more alert and your energy level stays higher. The body grows more and more adenosine receptors to compensate for the ones that are blocked by caffeine. When you suddenly stop the caffeine you have too many adenosine receptors which effectively causes a overdose of adenosine to exist until the body gets rid of the excess receptors. This process takes time. Your symptoms are consistent with an adenosine overdose. Give your body a chance to heal and lower the adenosine level. You should start feeling better.
Did not give up coffee, but, kept it black + mct only. Also only 12oz or so per day max. It seems to increase my MBR a bit and make my ketosis stronger (stronger smell in urine, rejected ketones with strip is higher). Having a 2nd coffee later in the day, say at lunch a bulletproof-style, definately creates a headache situation in the afternoon. When doing multi-day fasting, salt water + ACV (or coconut cider vinegar) all day long except for the single black coffee+mct, works wonders in calming the digestive system and getting rid of bloatware.
I have noticed some benefits to cutting out coffee, primarily being able to make it to the bathroom in time. But my resting heart rate has decreased by about 5 beats on average. I feel like my blood pressure is responding to meds a little better too. I am also noticing more difficulty in falling asleep, though. Do you think your increased Dawn Effect could be a stress response? You get up and get to the point where you would normally have coffee and have to remind yourself you're not doing that or maybe you smell it in the house and feel a craving you then have to deny? Just a thought!
I drink only one cup a day. when I was younger I drank over a pot a day. If I work , I still tend to only drink 2 cups a day, so I feel no need to give up my beloved coffee! LOL!
I got off of caffeine some years ago and went through a lot the same. To this day, the idea that I needed caffeine to function was a myth created by an addiction. If we go through this much to stop consuming something not nutritionally necessary, we should NEVER consume it again IMO.
I have to give up caffeine next month for a surgery I'm having . This is not helping🤣🤣I must say, I do love chicory as a replacement for the flavor but it sure isn't caffeine. Funny about those glucose spikes, many folks with type 1 diabetes actually have to take insulin to offset to effects of black coffee, ie. the glucose spike caffeine causes. Good luck Steve. No one promised these monthly challenges would be "fun". You are being tested right now for sure! Go get some instant chicory or Teecino tea.
Glucose spikes can be brought on by emotions and cortisol. I have not done the no coffee thing because from what I understand, coffee is protective of the liver. My experience with Keto (having done it for about 6 months) is that I have so much energy, I often do not have any coffee or tea in a day. *I had wondered if other people had this keto "side-effect". I know lots of people have said they have a reduced tolerance for alcohol. What about caffeine?
When I learned Coffee is the most chemically dowsed product in our country, aka ( roundup weed killer) a major pesticide used in commercial grown foods, I switched to Columbia coffee, no herbicides/pesticides in the columbian mountains. I feel much better, and my body feels healthier far as headaches, joints, bones etc. I recommend a Columbian rich coffee ☕️ or any coffee not grown in filthy chemically induced soil. There are class action lawsuits a mile long in foods that have high levels of glycemate , it causes cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, and many other health issues. God bless you Steve 🙏🏻
Don't feel badly if you bail on this challenge. There were some commercials back in the...80's with celebrities (Kurt Vonnegut comes to mind) proclaiming, "I'm a coffee achiever!" I'm in my 60s and am absolutely useless without it. I've gone without coffee through 2 pregnancies and the occasion routine illness, and will never do it intentionally. God bless you for even trying. Whew, not me!
I have been reducing my caffeine coffee intake. Currently I drink 1 cup coffee then switch to decaf. My plan is to slowly work myself into a smaller cup of caffeine coffee and them blend decaf and caffeine coffee together then eventually decaf then none. I believe the caffeine addiction makes you really tired for about 30 days after quitting. Especially if you are a heavy consistent coffee drinker and when you quit rapidly. I believe it takes about 30 days or more to finally feel good again. 30 days is the usual amount of time for the dopamine gremlins to hop off and return to homeostasis
Hey Steve. I hope you can come to some balance with things soon. Personally, I would be concerned that I didn’t feel like myself without a stimulant, but that’s me, my thinking and my situation. Have you thought about adding B vitamins to your nutrition as an alternative to caffeine? I have found that they are much more effective for me than caffeine. Again that is me and my situation, but I have had friends try them and they have seen similar effects. My planking challenge is going ok, I have said to myself a few times “Steve gave up caffeine all the time, I can do this for a few minutes!” So thank you for the motivation. We will see at the end of the month if I I started too easy or not. Right now I’m thinking maybe. I hope all is well with the entire SK clan. I’ll be sending you positives thoughts for sure my friend. Be well 🙏
@@SeriousKeto man that’s too bad. A nice b12 boost before a hike and it’s what people tell me a caffeine boost is like. Thank you for working so hard with us, I appreciate your efforts.
@@SeriousKeto maybe when you reintroduce caffeine, you can test what delivery method brings you back to “pre-April Steve”. Or maybe even what mg of caffeine gets you there. If it’s just caffeine, science would say a pill would work, but as many have said, the ritual of a morning coffee is more than just the caffeine. I really see this as a unprecedented opportunity to learn a ton about yourself! Super jealous 🙏 be well Steve and thanks for everything.
It will be interesting to see how this goes. I definitely sleep better off of caffeine after that transition phase and find that my energy is also great. I can relate to that insomnia for a while. Then, I get back in that caffeine cycle after I drink a little and need it to have normal energy. Maybe I will give it up permanently at some point. Hope you find what's right for you.
Very related to this, Yesterday I finally rediscovered my all-time-favorite coffee. It's been impossible to source in my area for at least 5 years, probably closer to 10 years. A relatively new store moved in, and they have it. My half-caff experiment can jump off a cliff, and I'll deal with whatever the fallout may be.
I quit caffeine first week of Jan. I'd suggest abstaining for longer than 30 days, how many years have you consistently consumed caffeine, I was about 15 years on, 30 days simply is not enough time to establish a new baseline in my experiences, similar to when I (we) switched to keto
I did not join you in this challenge. I have given up caffeine five times in 11 years. ... about nine months worth for 4/5 pregnancies. I did not suffer from withdrawals (for more than one day) as you are. The biometric software is fascinating. Thank you for posting.
Steve fyi. This information is from doctor Ken Berry RUclips video regarding list of drugs that may cause hyperglycemia, high blood sugar. As I was reading it this morning for my own purposes, I download it from his link in his description box and his video of these are meds that can increase your blood sugar. One of the items was listed caffeine, “caffeine in moderation may actually be beneficial and diabetes but in large amounts can raise blood sugar“ I hope this might help.
1-2 months ago starting to drink coffee daily one cup when all my life never been a coffee drinker and my feeling is that I never used to feel groggy after waking up but without the coffee I feel this way if I do not maintain that cup a day.. The only reason I started to drink coffee is we bought a cappicino machine..
Individual responses may vary but population studies (epidemiology to be fair) have never indicated negative outcomes associated with coffee intake and in fact the effects are mostly positive. I've drank as much as 5 or 6 12oz servings of coffee a day and right back down to nothing but green tea and water and have noticed no effect on sleep, energy or anything else. My routine now is 2 good strong mugs of french press in the morning and then a couple of decafs later in the day while working. Sleep is beautiful as always.
I haven’t been following this project because I know how it ends. I have given up caffeine for over a year once, but I started drinking coffee and Coke Zero again. I find it much more difficult than giving up carbs or alcohol. I just admitted to myself that I am an addict and just try to limit my consumption to time before 2PM. I really don’t see the downside to caffeine, but then again wouldn’t any addict say that? I have afib but caffeine really doesn’t case any issues as long as I do everything else correctly. I take electrolytes that I make myself modeled off of Eric Bergs mix and you may want to try taking them to deal with caffeine withdrawal. They certainly help when fighting the keto flu.
You look amazingly healthy and vibrant I will not give up my coffee 2 cups a day one black and one with heavy cream in the afternoon Not willing to give up anything else that I enjoy
I'm doing well, still no coffee. Still no adverse affects. But then I only drank 1 cup a day. But I done even look forward to a morning coffee anymore. I will start up again. But notice no benefit from stopping. I believe coffee is a natural drug, a performance enhancer, if you will. And utterly delicious. I do not get the negative wrap on coffee in the carnivore camp, hey, coffee is full of goodness in every cup!
2018 - Drank a pot of deathwish daily for about 3 months. (loved that stuff) Stopped drinking deathwish. Had full-blown withdrawals so much that I checked into the hospital. Never felt like that before and don't want to ever again but I drink caffeine regularly now just not in massive doses. (No more deathwish) So I don't recommend cold turkey on caffeine. Better to wing off it IMO :D Less adverse effects that way.
Steve, maybe add some MCT oil into your breakfast meal to see if it would help. I will take a small amount of MCT oil if I'm really dragging in the morning. Just an idea.
I cannot think of a reason to give up my coffee - I use it to get through my weekday morning workouts and then my work until I break my fast, typically around 1 or 2 pm. Without it I doubt I would be successful with my intermittent fasts.
I quit caffeine in December of 2020 and it was the best decision of my life, I had no idea how severely even just one cup of black coffee a day was negatively impacting both my mental health and metabolic health, now I'm much more calm and rational and my hunger horomones are balanced
I drink coffee so others may live! LOL 😂
I’m a gal that can be happy watching paint dry, so I need that little boost to get me motivated (2 mugs in the morning w heavy cream, collagen, cocoa & a dash of liquid stevia). I didn’t start drinking coffee until in my 40s. I wish I had started in my teens - I truly have more tolerance for ppl with my daily dose of caffeine.
I read the other day that coffee can enhance some neurotransmitters in the brain (similar to dopamine). I can believe that! I have gone off coffee once or twice, but saw more detriment than benefit in it. No 30 day challenge for me! Btw, I stopped drinking alcohol and smoking 28 years ago - best thing I ever did for myself- physically, mentally, & emotionally.
most females are like that, it's normal evolution
How long did you go off caffeine for when you did?
If you want to cut this challenge short, nobody is going to fault you for it. If you aren't seeing the benefits, you thought you would, then it's not worth it. The information is good for the rest of us, though. Thanks for taking one for the team.
It's only been two weeks... Definitely not enough time for your body to reset after a likely decades-long dependency
I heard it takes about 3 months to feel normal without coffee.. 😅
@@broseph120yeah it’s not easy and it’s not quick. It’s tough. It’s a serious drug.
Interesting readings! I gave up caffeine several times but I just feel better throughout the day if I have a little in the morning, so I do have a cup of coffee usually. If you feel the bad outweighs the good in this challenge...do what is best for you!
Thanks Steve, I used to do a certain kind of religious fast called a Daniel Fast twice a year. Normally, I pretty much live on coffee and part of the fast is only water to drink. It's 21 days long and that seems forever when it comes to coffee. The fast also includes no animal products only plant products and no sweeteners of any kind whether they are artificial or natural. It's a great time to pray and focus on your faith and I've always been able to get through it quite easily because of Prayer. I've always been fine to eat out with my husband and exchange a beer and a steak meal for a salad and steamed vegetables. I know this is a little lengthy but I wanted to tell you that the only thing I ever crave during this time is coffee and it's the first thing I have at midnight on the end of my fasting time. I'm a type 2 diabetic and during this time I do lose weight however my numbers never change significantly. I know now that all of those baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, bananas and dried fruits could not possibly affect the change I needed for decent glucose readings. Anyway I'm right there with you I understand exactly what you're going through as far as coffee goes! I know that you have to finish this challenge and I wish you success in getting through it. But I do want to thank you immensely that my numbers are now always below 120 and that is one hour after a meal it's unheard of for me! Thanks to you and the RUclips keto community I start my morning less than 110!
I didn't even attempt the no coffee challenge but I am replacing one cup daily with herbal tea from my garden like I said I would. My challenge was to start jogging again. I was in such good shape before the C thing then let myself go out of fear. Started off very slow with short little distance. Currently up to half a mile then walk 2 miles
Thank you Steve! It took six months to gradually reduce sugar in my morning coffees to nil, and this morning I’m going to give up my excessive amounts of cream cold turkey. Up all night tossing around the idea that maybe I should just give up drinking coffee cause the taste of coffee without cream is going to be - oh so awful…. You described perfectly how I’ve been feeling lately and I figure that it has been a very long winter in so many different ways. I’m giving up Cream in my Coffee for Sun in my Face and hope this restarts the clocks. Be kind to yourself… Find your Sun…. Best wishes, Linda
I want to thank you as you were the impetus for me to take a break from drinking. I haven’t had one since New Year’s Eve! Only an occasional craving that doesn’t last. I understand how you feel with no caffeine. I feel it’s a stimulant I still need. I try to use pre workout and at lunch or in afternoon. It’s interesting to hear your experience and you are brave to try these challenges. Wishing you the best 😊
God Bless ya Steve. You can actually see your lower energy level. I have dismally failed at the daily morning cold shower. I tapped out early on. Too much at once. Too many other habits to change to make it happen that I didn't consider. Switched to 100 squats a day. So far so good. I'm investigating cryotherapy sessions as a follow-up attempt.
I backed off to two cups a morning (from a entire pot or more) and somedays just one cup per morning. I have not had any side effects and from watching your videos, I am actually not going to give up coffee entirely - but will stick to one or two cups. More power to you Steve. Maybe this will get better? Maybe the end of the month may not come fast enough! You are stronger than I am. Whatever you choose to do, no judgment from me!
I am choosing to do challenges that make my life better. This one will not, and it looks like you are finding the same. Thanks for being so genuine, you are brave to share your challenges with all of us. 💪🏼
I drink a ridiculous amount of coffee, but on a daily basis, only one cup will be caffeinated.
Last week I had an extraordinarily heavy workload for a couple of days, and I treated myself to 3 cups of caffeinated coffee for two of those days.
I felt like superman.
When I switched to mostly decaf, a few months ago, I noticed an improvement in my sleep quality.
I’m not sad about the caffeine, but there’s always the option to have an extra cup when I have a heavy workload.
PS good on you for fighting through your 90 day alcohol craving.
Five years, seven months, five days.
I gotta hand it to you, Steve-you certainly display extreme dedication to this challenge, even though it has sapped your will to live. Lack of interest in usual activities is seen in some depressed people.
After 19 months without coffee I think there are lots of positives. Almost completely off BP meds except low dose of one. Resting HR of 55. Laid back, great moods, and just one less habit! A cup or Two of coffee in the morning won't hurt you so it's up to you.
I don't suspect I'm going to make it that long... 😄
When did you feel like you were over the hump and fully functional, one month?
@vinconssier4224 After a week, but I'm drinking coffee again. One cup in the morning.
Wow Steve I can really feel your energy ... You know better than anyone, if something's not right...well it's not ❗❗There's wisdom in saying I've done it, I've had it...now it's not working for me and move on🧐 No shame in listening to your body telling you your goal is done. Blessings 🙏
You've come so far, I think you should drink a lot of water and keep going. I'll bet you're getting over the hump and it will improve soon. Won't it be great to not be addicted to anything?
I know, easy for me to say! 😋
I'm 16 months sober and don't miss booze at all. I'm being successful on keto thanks to you and other channels like yours and feeling much younger. I love my coffee and I only drink it early in the morning and won't be giving it up. Thanks so much for all your GREAT videos!!
I was a total coffee addict and quit over 25 years ago. It was starting to make me agitated and I thought it could be affecting my adrenals. The withdrawals are real! You'll be fine if you keep going, it's just going to take a while. I enjoy not being dependent on it. I drink peppermint tea for a lift now.
I was a total caffeine addict too and quit cold turkey. I have constant crippling anxiety now. Were you able to completely return to normal? Deciding to start drinking coffee was the worst decision of my life.
I am on day 4 of quitting coffee, not by choice at all. I developed an allergy to caffien/coffee so everytime I had some I would break out in hives and have a massive panic attack. My Dr advised me to quit drinking coffee because he suspected I've become sensitive to the phytic acid or may have developed a full blown allergy. Let me tell you, I am SUFFERING! I have severe headaches, lower back, hip, leg, and knee pain so bad I can't even sleep. I am in a total fog, simply dysfunctional. I am praying this gets better soon, and I will never touch coffee or caffeine again because I will never put myself through this hell again. Thanks Steve for the update 👍sorry mine is a bummer too.
Sorry to hear you're going through that.
How you doing now? It’s a hell of a drug and hard to get off it.
@ Hi, I’m doing much better and still enjoying a cup of hot coffee in the mornings. Thankfully whatever was causing the hives was not coffee! I suspect it was severe oxalate dumping from years of overconsumption of spinach smoothies. Anyway, I love coffee and intend on enjoying it. Hope all is well with you and God bless.
Thank you Steve, great video. Not joining you on this one, I've done it before. No thanks, I'll take my caffeine Thank you very much 😊
You pretty much described my attempt at no caffeine perfectly (not for this challenge, but a while ago). No motivation. No joy in anything I used to like to do. When I described it to my friends, they said I was depressed. That really proved to me it wasn't worth it for me. I'm not try to say it won't be worth it for you. But I couldn't keep on living that way.
Yes I remember giving up coffee for 4 month for my gastric sleeve surgery. But there was so much going on with prep that I did not have time to feel any of the changes. I remember the intense headache for a little while. Nowadays... The amount of coffee I drink, depends on the amount I make. If I make a pot, I drink a pot... sooo I am only doing espresso now. I lowered the size of the cup. From Mug to cup. And as an experiment I lowered my dairy consumption and I switched from Heavy cream to black. I want much less "black" coffee now. I am now usually fine with one cup, while before I wanted three. So I guess the fat makes me want more? Steve, as much as I hate you going through this not so fun month, I am glad, because now I know that giving up coffee is not really doing much. I will now not attempt to ever do so unless ordered by a doctor.
Caffeine stimulates dopamine, which is the primary neurotransmitter that gives us a feeling of "hope for reward". The lack of desire to do fun things you're feeling is likely because you're calibrated to having a slightly higher dopamine level with the caffeine. Without that increase in dopamine, fun things just don't feel like they'll be as fun.
could be...
@@worstcaseofcrabsever5510 I think you've misunderstood my point. The key word is calibrated. Humans are calibratory creatures. As an example, if you have a candy bar with a large amount of sugar and then go have a strawberry right after, the strawberry will taste bitter. But if you abstain from sugar for a few days, the strawberry will taste very sweet. The sweetness of the strawberry is the same, but your calibration with the candy has affected your enjoyment of it. My point is not that caffeine is in any way required for dopamine, rather, my point is that caffeine has perhaps calibrated Steve to a supra-physiological level of dopamine, thus (like the candy to the strawberry) making the normal dopamine levels that activities like videogames produce in him less comparatively exciting now that the caffeine is absent.
Greetings Steve, this was a fun series to watch! But no morning coffee... no thanks lol!☕Cheers👍
I have given up caffeine several times in my life, and was never successful. I was happier and felt more myself when I consume caffeine. Last time I quit for a full 6 months, and the things you are describing never went away for me. I don’t consume very much. I drink 2 cups of half caffeine in the morning, and that is enough to keep me feeling myself and happy.
Like me, with tea!
That HALF strength tea still allows me the flavor without the hyper feeling that full strength tea brings! Two half-cups seem enough now!
Coffee wipes me out! Too much caffeine!
I can’t have epinephrine in my dental freezing, either. My body shakes afterwards and I’m wiped out.
Each of us is so different!
Even 6 months wasn't enough? A tetsament to how destructive this drug is.
Try taking some vitamin C and/or coconut oil for energy. Just don't do it after around four in the afternoon if you want to get to sleep before midnight. And keep in mind that in the same way excess weight didn't pile on in a month's time, it won't come off in thirty days either. If a caffeine addiction has been a 'most of your life' kind of thing, a month is a drop in the bucket in trying to break that addiction. If you succeed, celebrate. If you don't, at least you tried. Which is more than my mother and sister will ever do. They will drive (and HAVE driven) ten or more miles during power outages to buy enough coffee to get them through the day. :D
It is a challenge, my husband and I, and I kid you not, use to drink a party perk pot each day (40 cup pot) with cream and sugar. We now drink 2 to 4 cups a day with no sugar and a tablespoon of cream. The hardest part for me was giving up the sugar, 2 weeks before the headaches stopped.
I’m on day five of no caffeine after being a heavy black coffee drinker and the lethargy is brutal. The lack of passion he is talking about is spot on. Literally I just want to eat and sleep and watch TV and I am typically such a creative hardworking productive person.. on caffeine 😮 pushing through
Interesting thought about the glucose stepping up to give you a boost to replace the caffeine zip. Thank you for doing this. And I agree with others that if you want to stop, you will get no no shaming from me. I’m learning a lot from your pain. I have had similar issues both times I gave it up. I’m on a moderation mode now. That’s my body’s sweet spot.
I just read that coffee increases circulating neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine while you are drinking it, and that it can take your body over 2 weeks to adjust after stopping. I don't know if this is true or how reputable the source was, but maybe hang in there a little longer and eat some salmon to compensate. Thanks for the video!
It's been over 3 weeks at this point. I'm about ready to throw in the towel on this one. 😄
@@SeriousKeto If there's got to be a stimulant, coffee's likely the best one. I have done better off coffee, but that was a few years back. If you're fasting in the morning though, and you've lost more weight, you're probably not eating enough calories. That could account for fatigue and lack of motivation. Dare I say try adding back some complex carbs, esp in the morning?
P.S. I am encouraging you to keep trying, but we all have to have some pleasure in our lives. You've already made so many changes for the better!
I’m not a coffee drinker and I gave up soda a couple years ago. I used to drink soda all day, it seemed. I do drink tea during the week but not daily. I have to limit it now because the caffeine messes with my heart rhythm.
stopped caffeine 7 days ago as well. headaches were nasty for 2-3 days. lots of pharma pills to get through them. now headaches mostly resolved. brain doesn't function, but I do feel more calm/relaxed during the day. sleep is better. I feel more like my normal self. I think I will stay off permanently. really sensitive to stimulants like caffeine or nicotine.
Good luck with whichever decision you make.
Stick with it Steve. Your self control is what has always impressed me most profoundly about you.
You may need to brace yourself for disappointment...
I sympathize with you. My first week on Atkins (before I learned about keto) I quit caffeine. Didn’t get the headaches but did feel foggy all day. My no caffeine experiment lasted about 3 weeks. I did start drinking my morning coffee again, but I limit myself to 2 cups. Thanks for sharing your story!
I tried this with you Steve. I had to go back to the liquid bean. Got severe headaches. The only thing that would get them to ease up a bit was taking Migraine Tylenol which of course has caffeine in it… the force is wrong with this one. Maybe I’ll try a long taper off of it for like a month? A few days then cold turkey was the absolute wrong way for me. Glucose spikes is weird. Wonder if it has something to do with cell memory thinking hey let’s spike glucose we have some Java i coming but it doesn’t. Have no idea the body is strange and fascinating. I’ll give it another go soon. Just don’t have the power to over come right now. You’re a beast for going this long Steve!☕️
First video I have seen with 200k subscribers. Way to go!!
I've been off caffeine for a little over a year. I compare coming off of it as being similar to a space ship re-entering the atmosphere.
It's rough as hell and you feel like it'll never get better. After a few weeks, it gets smooth and calm. I feel better and don't need it at all. I don't run out of energy, I just drink water with a little squirt of Mio now.
I did notice the glucose being higher in the morning as well. I used to be 85-90, now I'm 110-120, but I drop to around 85 in mid afternoon. Maybe it's the same thing as you are seeing..
thanks for sharing that info
As I said on your previous video I was a 3-5 cups a day coffee drinker and gave up caffeine for a year. It took about 3 days to get over the withdrawal (headache and cravings) and about 2 weeks to get over the caffeine hangover (lethargy, brain fog, etc.). After that my life went on pretty much as normal. After that year I started drinking coffee again but kept it to 2-3 cups or less a day (and have ever since going on 30 years).
My Hats off to YOU Steve!!! Thank You for being so freaking awesome with this challenge! I LOVE Coffee & For Managing my Autoimmune Flare ups… Which consist of : 20 years of COPD ( never smoked) I was officially diagnosed at the age of 23 very young for these issues.. along came MS & RA.. i follow the Carnivore Diet but I’m kinda a “dirty Carni” I do have LMNT & Relyte . The diet helps but what helps more: Handstands! I’m doing a YEAR Long 365 days posting on RUclips 10 minutes a day of handstands to INSPIRE others to dedicate only 2 minutes to some kind of “balancing “ preferably.. Just a challenge that I really believe in.. Thank you for inspiring me through you staying accountable! You’re awesome Steve! Love&light from California 💗💗
Well I’m glad this video didn’t convince me to give up caffeine! I must have missed you starting this challenge until now. I on the other hand have spent the last 3 weeks or more researching my next espresso machine upgrade. Decided on the ECM Classika, the Breville Infuser is what I’ll be replacing.
I hear coffee is healthy for you and supports the keto life style. So if you ask me, drink and enjoy!
Steve, interesting that you bring up the glucose changes as I’m having the same interesting readings with my cgm. I have a bit of heavy cream and stevia in mine. When I switched to decaf it seemed my glucose went up in mornings. I think maybe our bodies are compensating for lack of caffeine. Dr Cywes recently interviewed 2 KK regarding their bloodwork and he mentioned he gives their toddler a bit of milk in morning to get his insulin response up. Plus he is a big coffee drinker so it must not be bad if he does it. 👍
Keep going! Imagine how proud you will be and that first cup will be heavenly 😍
I've been fasting for the last 12 days, today is day 12 of 14... I don't do caffeine when I water fast... I feel you on the higher morning glucose. I love coffee, though I did go over 100 days probably like 120 days with no caffeine last fall... I did a carnivore challenge and wanted to reset my caffeine tolerance too... I don't know if there are any positives about cutting caffeine...
Good to know that I'm not the only one. Thanks.
Props for 14 day Water fast, longest Ive done is 6 days, and that was tough, 8 week carnivore today
@@Neddy540 thank you so much! It's all over tomorrow!
The best thing about going off coffee for me was when I had my first cup again! Lol! 😂
Exactly!
LOLOL I know right!
did you get that caffeine high again? how long did you stop for?
Your description of not enjoying the things you used to enjoy reminded me of when I quit smoking 30 years ago! Nicotine and caffeine seem to make things more enjoyable. However coffee is full of antioxidants and there’s more than one study that says it’s actually good for you. Life is short…have some coffee tomorrow.
Steve, I do very clean healthy keto except and it’s a big one. I drink diet my dew by the 2 liter container. I’m so bad, I drink about 9 yes, 9 each day. I’m trying to fix up my house and move across the country. I NEEDED that caffeine! When soda went to 2.14 a liter I said enough. Major withdrawal headaches for weeks. By a crazy chance a friend came over and gave me a drink. I took one sip and it was nasty. I have NO pep! My sleep has improved but nothing else. I’m giving it 3 more months and hopefully feel normal again.
I’ve decided a better version of myself when caffeinated. Good luck to you.
Keep it up Steve. Our minds play such a HUGE part in the success. I do stuff to take my mind off coffee. Green match with heavy cream, and almond milk. Check out technique of breathing for sleep, with Andrew Weil is a trusted tip. Maybe give it some more time. Give yourself a hug for trying and succeeding. :)
I think for many of us, giving up caffeine is overrated. The numerous times I have given it up, I found no benefit and also had trouble sleeping and having no motivation, feeling depressed, which I quickly realized was worse than anything coffee or caffeine in general was doing to me. I am supposed to be drinking decaf due to acid reflux, but I don't do that either. So, I guess I will carry my cup of coffee with me throughout the rest of my life.
Hey Steve I did start drinking warm water with lemon in the mornings and I also upped my water intake daily. Let your body get use to not being stimulated. I think you will feel better in the long run. Give your body time to adjust.
Great job enduring. Would be interesting to see how long it takes to break your dependency on caffeine and why your body got to this state. I agree with other comments - anything that triggers this level of dependency is worth avoiding... which of course, is different for everyone. Good luck. Respect - regardless of what you end up doing.
I can relate to how you feel. I love coffee but had to give it up as it makes me too anxious. I drink some tea now but it's not enough so I just have to learn to live with the sluggishness. I will say, that when I did my 21 day gut cleanse a few years ago, I did feel energetic eventually, but I cannot keep that cleanse going as a lifestyle. I am 56 so I guess I have to just live with how I feel now.
I admire your fortitude
I transitioned my morning two cups of caffeinated coffee with decaf but gradually, over a four month period. I felt no ill effects at all so I’m guessing the cold turkey method you used here is the culprit.
😂 I feel your pain! But worth the try to know exactly how your body responds to no caffeine. A great learning experience.
I cut back to 2 per day and stop caffeine after 9pm. Can't say it really helped with sleep etc but I feel better about reducing my overall intake at least. Thanks for posting.
I read a book years ago, written by a woman who had got rid of her cellulite (of all things!) by making various changes to her diet/way of life. One of those things was cutting out coffee. However, she said she never felt right without it so went back to having just one cup a day, which lifted her spirits no end apparently. Maybe that would work for you? Or maybe you just need more time for your body to readjust? Dunno, but best of luck with it 😊
Bless your heart, Steve. If it was meant to be you'll go with no caffeine.
I gave it up several years back. But I have A-Fib. With me, it makes a difference if I attempt to have caffeine. Best to you for the rest of this month!
I also quit caffeine due to cardiac arrhythmia. But I drink decaf and decaf tea. I don’t see any reason to give up the coffee bean which is actually good for you.
@M Chevalier-Seawell I agree!
I drink decaf as well. Also, decaf green tea! Very good!👍
I didn't do the challenge. I adore - ADORE -my morning strong, black coffee. Please don't think u have to continue the challenge if you're miserable. Life is too short.
My girlfriend once said to me, "I can't believe you would let yourself be dependant on something like coffee." I am no longer with that woman.
Good call.
🤣
Have you noticed people who don't enjoy the wonderful pleasures of coffee think they're smugness is some sign of superiority? It's like :
" I just returned from a one year trip working in Jamaica with Doctors Without Borders to help preform heart surgery on infants. It's usually their last chance for survival and it was very rewarding. Would you like to hear about it over a cup of coffee"?
"No, I'm not dependent on coffee and I'd suggest you get some help".
@@thomcarr7021 very similar to some of the comments on these videos. 😄
Lmao, you made the right decision❣
I'm doing sqeaky clean keto challenge; but I've never done such a thing so... well 1 wk in uni at John Bastyr in the late 80's as home work assignment.
I'm still coming up to speed with calculating macros for recipes & learning logging.
Just last night started with cronometer; that looks like it may be SO fun & revealing!!
All those data points on macros AND micros!! WOW!
Thinking by later this month I may be capable of full compliance :-)
This month may end up training & prep to do the real thing?
I see so many places where there were small amounts of sweeteners & am working toward recalculating blends & recipes to rectify that & building recipe base with proper tracking.
Exciting!! Am enjoying the data geek stuff & feel I am becoming enabled to really mature in my nutritional walk.
So next month I will be able to comply with all the logging, weighing, measuring, NO sweeteners, NO all kinds of stuff ;-)
Enjoying the new recipes & changing the old to fit. Feel grounded & in charge for the future.
Thank You & bless You MORE for Your transparency, drive & skills in calling Yourself higher up & showing us how it's done!! YOU ROCK!!
Good for you. I find that Cronometer gets more finite in detail than Carb Manager. I haven't decided which I prefer for entering recipes into though...
Just promise me that your clean keto challenge won't turn you into the "keto police". 😄
@@SeriousKeto hahahaha No but it may give me the hand up I need for my rheumatoid arthritis, metabolic syndrome, general lethargy, inflammation etc.
That's my prayer.
So do You advise me to check out carb manager? I will be needing to enter tons of mixes... hot cocoa, creamer.... soup base blends...??
Do You feel I should enter those things?? Really out of my league here.
Cooking, making the mixes - OH YEAH!
Being mostly low carb/keto for 3 yrs - heck yes. but NO data :-(
I need this to be an answer for me.
Thank You from the bottom of my heart! You are a beacon of hope & how to for SO many
I'd say try them both and see which one is easier to enter recipes into. I think what you will find is that since you need to enter recipes for every new dish you want to eat, you may start limiting your selection (at least if you're like me and don't enjoy administrative tasks).
@@SeriousKeto that's why I bought Mellissa's SCKC book & will use mostly her recipes as they have macros already done but my lil fat bombs, coffee additions from Nili, Ketogenic Woman's 'pudding' stuff, Maria Emmerich's dutch baby pancake with my extra collagen/MCT etc need be entered so off I go ;-)
All due to Your excellent leadership! A real leader leads by example; at which You excel!!
Hi Steve, I agree with others you have said you are just not yourself. Honestly? You look miserable and don’t sound much better! The first two challenges I think went well for you-you seemed still like yourself. This month? Not so much. Of course I’m saying this as someone who would never give up my fav morning cuppa. It just makes me happy and sets the tone for my day. I can’t see any reason to stop. And watching what you are going through I’m convinced to stay the course. As always, thanks for being “our” Guinea pig 👏🏻😁
I don't disagree with you at all.
Also, Great job on getting through that alcohol craving! That is impressive and commendable that you didn’t give in! :-)
Life’s too short for no morning coffee😂! Plus it keeps me from being hungry. This is a challenge I’d never attempt, but I’m proud of you for trying it.
The blood glucose is really interesting. I would love to find a control who never drank coffee or caffeinated beverages and see what their blood work is like. As I have said, I gave up cigarettes and alcohol a long time ago, no way am I giving up my coffee and chocolate (as a matter of fact, I am going to try and create some chocolate covered expresso beans keto style this weekend) as I think I might become a really unpleasant human being. Wishing you an easy next couple of weeks.....have you tried the Bengal Spice Celestial Seasonings tea? I found it to be a nice alternative to a caffeinated beverage when I want a change.
I just watched an amazing video discussing "uncoupling mitochondria". Turns out that caffeine AND the coffee fruit along with goat cheese and sheep cheese are great for uncoupling mitochondria.
Is that good or bad?
Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cells. It's a good thing if you want to access energy.
@@SeriousKeto yes. The Dr's book is " unlocking the keto code". Let me know if you watch the video. I still think humans only need fatty meat to be their best. But I want my coffee.
Steve. I think you might be able to deal with this better if you understood the science of how caffeine works. The body creates a hormone called adenosine that lowers blood pressure and calms the brain to allow sleep. Caffeine is shaped like adenosine and blocks some of the adenosine brain receptors. Without enough adenosine your brain stays more alert and your energy level stays higher. The body grows more and more adenosine receptors to compensate for the ones that are blocked by caffeine. When you suddenly stop the caffeine you have too many adenosine receptors which effectively causes a overdose of adenosine to exist until the body gets rid of the excess receptors. This process takes time. Your symptoms are consistent with an adenosine overdose. Give your body a chance to heal and lower the adenosine level. You should start feeling better.
Understanding does nothing to make me feel better. 😄
I can't describe how much I regret ever consuming caffeine.
Did not give up coffee, but, kept it black + mct only. Also only 12oz or so per day max. It seems to increase my MBR a bit and make my ketosis stronger (stronger smell in urine, rejected ketones with strip is higher).
Having a 2nd coffee later in the day, say at lunch a bulletproof-style, definately creates a headache situation in the afternoon.
When doing multi-day fasting, salt water + ACV (or coconut cider vinegar) all day long except for the single black coffee+mct, works wonders in calming the digestive system and getting rid of bloatware.
I have noticed some benefits to cutting out coffee, primarily being able to make it to the bathroom in time. But my resting heart rate has decreased by about 5 beats on average. I feel like my blood pressure is responding to meds a little better too. I am also noticing more difficulty in falling asleep, though.
Do you think your increased Dawn Effect could be a stress response? You get up and get to the point where you would normally have coffee and have to remind yourself you're not doing that or maybe you smell it in the house and feel a craving you then have to deny? Just a thought!
It's hard to tell...
I drink only one cup a day. when I was younger I drank over a pot a day. If I work , I still tend to only drink 2 cups a day, so I feel no need to give up my beloved coffee! LOL!
I got off of caffeine some years ago and went through a lot the same. To this day, the idea that I needed caffeine to function was a myth created by an addiction. If we go through this much to stop consuming something not nutritionally necessary, we should NEVER consume it again IMO.
Or never stop, given that I've found no physiological benefit over the last few weeks.
I have to give up caffeine next month for a surgery I'm having . This is not helping🤣🤣I must say, I do love chicory as a replacement for the flavor but it sure isn't caffeine.
Funny about those glucose spikes, many folks with type 1 diabetes actually have to take insulin to offset to effects of black coffee, ie. the glucose spike caffeine causes. Good luck Steve. No one promised these monthly challenges would be "fun". You are being tested right now for sure! Go get some instant chicory or Teecino tea.
Glucose spikes can be brought on by emotions and cortisol. I have not done the no coffee thing because from what I understand, coffee is protective of the liver. My experience with Keto (having done it for about 6 months) is that I have so much energy, I often do not have any coffee or tea in a day. *I had wondered if other people had this keto "side-effect". I know lots of people have said they have a reduced tolerance for alcohol. What about caffeine?
When I learned Coffee is the most chemically dowsed product in our country, aka ( roundup weed killer) a major pesticide used in commercial grown foods, I switched to Columbia coffee, no herbicides/pesticides in the columbian mountains. I feel much better, and my body feels healthier far as headaches, joints, bones etc. I recommend a Columbian rich coffee ☕️ or any coffee not grown in filthy chemically induced soil.
There are class action lawsuits a mile long in foods that have high levels of glycemate , it causes cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, and many other health issues.
God bless you Steve 🙏🏻
Don't feel badly if you bail on this challenge. There were some commercials back in the...80's with celebrities (Kurt Vonnegut comes to mind) proclaiming, "I'm a coffee achiever!" I'm in my 60s and am absolutely useless without it. I've gone without coffee through 2 pregnancies and the occasion routine illness, and will never do it intentionally. God bless you for even trying. Whew, not me!
I have been reducing my caffeine coffee intake. Currently I drink 1 cup coffee then switch to decaf. My plan is to slowly work myself into a smaller cup of caffeine coffee and them blend decaf and caffeine coffee together then eventually decaf then none. I believe the caffeine addiction makes you really tired for about 30 days after quitting. Especially if you are a heavy consistent coffee drinker and when you quit rapidly. I believe it takes about 30 days or more to finally feel good again. 30 days is the usual amount of time for the dopamine gremlins to hop off and return to homeostasis
Furthermore you are already past the halfway point so you might as well keep going don't give up now.
Man, that sounds rough! So sorry you are struggling.
Hey Steve. I hope you can come to some balance with things soon. Personally, I would be concerned that I didn’t feel like myself without a stimulant, but that’s me, my thinking and my situation. Have you thought about adding B vitamins to your nutrition as an alternative to caffeine? I have found that they are much more effective for me than caffeine. Again that is me and my situation, but I have had friends try them and they have seen similar effects.
My planking challenge is going ok, I have said to myself a few times “Steve gave up caffeine all the time, I can do this for a few minutes!” So thank you for the motivation. We will see at the end of the month if I I started too easy or not. Right now I’m thinking maybe. I hope all is well with the entire SK clan. I’ll be sending you positives thoughts for sure my friend. Be well 🙏
I already take B supplements, so nothing to report there...
@@SeriousKeto man that’s too bad. A nice b12 boost before a hike and it’s what people tell me a caffeine boost is like. Thank you for working so hard with us, I appreciate your efforts.
@@SeriousKeto maybe when you reintroduce caffeine, you can test what delivery method brings you back to “pre-April Steve”. Or maybe even what mg of caffeine gets you there. If it’s just caffeine, science would say a pill would work, but as many have said, the ritual of a morning coffee is more than just the caffeine. I really see this as a unprecedented opportunity to learn a ton about yourself! Super jealous 🙏 be well Steve and thanks for everything.
@@gratefulhikes that could be sooner rather than later….
@@SeriousKeto 100% understand and support you man! Can’t wait to see where this goes. Thank you for bringing us along.
It will be interesting to see how this goes. I definitely sleep better off of caffeine after that transition phase and find that my energy is also great. I can relate to that insomnia for a while. Then, I get back in that caffeine cycle after I drink a little and need it to have normal energy. Maybe I will give it up permanently at some point. Hope you find what's right for you.
Very related to this, Yesterday I finally rediscovered my all-time-favorite coffee. It's been impossible to source in my area for at least 5 years, probably closer to 10 years. A relatively new store moved in, and they have it. My half-caff experiment can jump off a cliff, and I'll deal with whatever the fallout may be.
I can't begin to describe how jealous I feel right now. 😄
@@SeriousKeto I'll have a cuppa in your honor, Steve. I promise.
Hang in there. My challenge to stop biting my nails is going well. Nice to have long nails, now need to strengthen them.
You'll soon be proud of your nails (if not already) and that makes it easy to sustain. Well done!
I feel good with caffeine ... one thing is for sure... I will not be doing this challenge. Thank you for confirming a few other reasons!
I quit caffeine first week of Jan.
I'd suggest abstaining for longer than 30 days, how many years have you consistently consumed caffeine, I was about 15 years on, 30 days simply is not enough time to establish a new baseline in my experiences, similar to when I (we) switched to keto
I did not join you in this challenge. I have given up caffeine five times in 11 years. ... about nine months worth for 4/5 pregnancies. I did not suffer from withdrawals (for more than one day) as you are. The biometric software is fascinating. Thank you for posting.
Steve fyi. This information is from doctor Ken Berry RUclips video regarding list of drugs that may cause hyperglycemia, high blood sugar. As I was reading it this morning for my own purposes, I download it from his link in his description box and his video of these are meds that can increase your blood sugar. One of the items was listed caffeine, “caffeine in moderation may actually be beneficial and diabetes but in large amounts can raise blood sugar“ I hope this might help.
Thanks
1-2 months ago starting to drink coffee daily one cup when all my life never been a coffee drinker and my feeling is that I never used to feel groggy after waking up but without the coffee I feel this way if I do not maintain that cup a day.. The only reason I started to drink coffee is we bought a cappicino machine..
Individual responses may vary but population studies (epidemiology to be fair) have never indicated negative outcomes associated with coffee intake and in fact the effects are mostly positive. I've drank as much as 5 or 6 12oz servings of coffee a day and right back down to nothing but green tea and water and have noticed no effect on sleep, energy or anything else. My routine now is 2 good strong mugs of french press in the morning and then a couple of decafs later in the day while working. Sleep is beautiful as always.
I haven’t been following this project because I know how it ends. I have given up caffeine for over a year once, but I started drinking coffee and Coke Zero again. I find it much more difficult than giving up carbs or alcohol. I just admitted to myself that I am an addict and just try to limit my consumption to time before 2PM. I really don’t see the downside to caffeine, but then again wouldn’t any addict say that? I have afib but caffeine really doesn’t case any issues as long as I do everything else correctly. I take electrolytes that I make myself modeled off of Eric Bergs mix and you may want to try taking them to deal with caffeine withdrawal. They certainly help when fighting the keto flu.
Love Keto,love my morning coffee,love my weekend drink!
You look amazingly healthy and vibrant
I will not give up my coffee 2 cups a day one black and one with heavy cream in the afternoon
Not willing to give up anything else that I enjoy
I don't drink caffeine but I totally understand that not falling asleep. I'm so sorry you are going through that.
I'm doing well, still no coffee.
Still no adverse affects.
But then I only drank 1 cup a day. But I done even look forward to a morning coffee anymore. I will start up again. But notice no benefit from stopping.
I believe coffee is a natural drug, a performance enhancer, if you will. And utterly delicious. I do not get the negative wrap on coffee in the carnivore camp, hey, coffee is full of goodness in every cup!
Oh Steve, just have your coffee, we have to have something left to enjoy 😉☕️
Dr. Cywes just did a vid on caffeine/coffee...very informative..
I’ll be watching it in the morning. 🙂
I haven't had caffeinated coffee for several years now. Makes me wonder if I should reintroduce caffeine in the morning!
It would probably blow your mind. 😄
2018 - Drank a pot of deathwish daily for about 3 months. (loved that stuff) Stopped drinking deathwish. Had full-blown withdrawals so much that I checked into the hospital. Never felt like that before and don't want to ever again but I drink caffeine regularly now just not in massive doses. (No more deathwish) So I don't recommend cold turkey on caffeine. Better to wing off it IMO :D Less adverse effects that way.
We’re past that point… 😄
No matter what the comment section says Big Chief, quitting caffeine is like quitting smoking!, nice liver now there heyhey!💚💚💚
Steve, maybe add some MCT oil into your breakfast meal to see if it would help. I will take a small amount of MCT oil if I'm really dragging in the morning. Just an idea.
I don't eat breakfast, so that's out. But thanks
💜🤩🥰🤗
Kudos to you, Steve. As I mentioned to Amy, I will fight to the death over my coffee❣
I’m ready to rejoin “team coffee”.
I cannot think of a reason to give up my coffee - I use it to get through my weekday morning workouts and then my work until I break my fast, typically around 1 or 2 pm. Without it I doubt I would be successful with my intermittent fasts.
Thx for taking the hit and doing the research on this one so that we don’t have to. I love my coffee and would not give it up for anything. LOL