Coffee and me
I really, really love coffee.
This is my third day without coffee and I’m sad. I miss it. That zingy, sharp feeling of being buzzed and lively. But seeing as this is all about learning to listen to my body and cultivate a deep sense of loving-kindness in life, I have to give it up.
See, over the last weeks, I’ve had recurrences of the pain and discomfort that I was having pre-surgery. It’s been frustrating and exhausting and I’ve been fighting it. And losing. Which isn’t a very kind way of being with one’s body: battling and all. The only way I seem able to be pain-free at this point is with dietary changes, so, as much of a bummer as it is, I have to let go of some things that I love to eat (and drink, as in my beloved coffee).
So, in the process of giving in to the reality of the situation, there is loss but there is also this sense of stopping long enough to say, “Hey, body, what do you need? What works for you?” And I’m getting some good answers and doing my best to really listen. I’m extraodinarily grateful that I’ve been practicing Yoga and meditation long enough to be able to tune in. Ten years ago, this would not have been possible for me, that is for sure.
Surrender is an okay place to be, much to my suprise.
March 24th, 2008 at 7:45 am
I recently gave up coffee, too. I also love it tremendously. I never started my day without a latte. Bummer. I feel your pain, well, not your actual pain that caused you to sacrifice the coffee, but you know what I mean. Giving up anything is hard, but you are lucky you are so in tune with your body to know what it needs. Good luck!
March 24th, 2008 at 9:07 am
You can do it Nona! Can you drink decaf as a transition thing? That always made me feel better when I was pregnant… I didn’t feel as deprived.
March 24th, 2008 at 10:02 am
I hope you feel better! Good luck with kicking the coffee….
March 24th, 2008 at 11:11 am
My coffee intake has been skyrocketing lately and I am thinking that I need to get a handle on it again. Seems like I have to drink so much to help me get going in the morning and it shouldn’t be like that. Thanks for reminding me that I need to at least take it easy. Good luck with your changes. I am about to give up chocolate and beer indefinitely.
March 24th, 2008 at 11:17 am
I can’t believe you are giving up coffee! (I can’t believe that Gretchen is thinking about giving up beer! and chocolate?!?) As you know, I’ve never been a coffee drinker (nor a beer drinker) so I don’t even really know what I am missing. Are you going to do tea? Tea is addicting in that it is tons of fun once you get into loose leaf stuff.
March 24th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Melissa, you crack me up… actually, it takes serious PAIN for me to listen to my body, so even though I might tune in, I often find myself tuning out what I hear…
Kelcey, it’s already been four days, so I won’t do decaf as a transition. Maybe eventually!
Gretchen. Beer and Chocolate? That sounds extreme. I will call soon to get the details!
Kristen, I have been drinking tea (herbal and a bit of green) and it is fun. Not as fun as coffee, but still fun!
March 24th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Oh I hope you can do decaf…I gave up coffee during Josh’s reflux thing - for a whole year. Very difficult. I am back to my morning cup now and it’s really one of the few things in life I don’t know if I could give up permanently, although, if my body were sending me messages, I feel it would only be fair to listen. I admire your strength! Good luck!
March 24th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
It’s great that you are listening to your body and it will thank you for it. I gave up coffee a while ago, cold turkey. I’ve since found alternatives for when I want a nice warm pick me up. Maybe try Dandelion or Chai instead?
March 24th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
ooo - you are brave. I don’t think I could do that entirely. I did give it up while preggers and had decaff.
I like the taste too. And the social aspect of it.
March 25th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Nona — I, too, feel your pain, as Melissa said. I am in my fourth day of giving up coffee, and can’t get rid of the starvation headache! It’s terrible. I tried chewing gum to alleviate the pain, but I think that is only exascerbating things. Are you getting headaches?? Lulu
March 28th, 2008 at 9:41 am
I’ve been working on listening to my body more, too. I’m using the book Integrative Nutrition and working with one of the IIN counselors to help me. I think it’s working! I’ve written about it on my site if you want to hop over and join the book discussion.
April 1st, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I have a very sluggish digentive system and when I went to the nutritionest she actually said that for my body a coffee a day was probably a good thing to help get things going
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