just had 2 cups of coffee.

9/29/2009 8:30:47 PM

i used to take a bunch of no-doze. feel a hell of a lot better not taking it. i've seen a few studies that pretty much show coffee only helping you the first few days you drink it.. after that not having it hurts you and drinking it gets you back to "normal". after not drinking for a week or two you're back to "normal" without it.

9/29/2009 8:47:13 PM

I drink about 2 cups of French press coffee in the morning- I don't smoke and only drink water and sometimes OJ and almond milk (new habit), so I consider this my one vice.

I try not to have any coffee after 6 or so- any later and it screws up my evening workouts and sleep.

Also, another help to having more energy is eating your bigger meals earlier in the day-
breakfast is king, lunch is a prince, supper is a pauper.

9/29/2009 9:46:36 PM

Agreed with the inverted dinner situation. Having your biggest meal at breakfast could help you have more energy during the day.

9/29/2009 9:53:57 PM

too bad most people hate getting up early, like me.

9/30/2009 8:35:28 AM

Early is relative. I'm up at 5:15 am every day.

9/30/2009 9:18:31 AM

5:15? Damn--it would take a LOT to get me up at that hour. My alarm goes off at 6:45 but I usually snooze it for another 20-30 minutes.

Having never tried going off it completely I'm not sure how much of an effect caffeine has on me, but I'd say not too strong. I usually have a 16 oz. mug of coffee in the morning, which I grab on the way out the door to work, and while I can function ok without it, I find I'm sharper afterward and it really helps me get my mind going for the day. The rest of the day I have, on average, one soda or perhaps a coffee/tea if I find myself at Starbucks or the like; I do find that if I've not had any caffeine all day sometimes I'll get a headache or feel lethargic mid-afternoon. And while I stay up late at night just because I tend to be a night owl, I usually fall asleep within 2 or 3 minutes of laying down anyway, so it's certainly not keeping me up at night even if I do have a soda/tea/whatever with dinner. I think I drink enough water to balance it all out though...usually keep a bottle at my desk at work and it's pretty much all I drink at home, with the exception of a beer/glass of wine with dinner some nights.

9/30/2009 9:38:36 AM

I will be so happy when I'm working a job again that doesn't require me to be in the office and working by 8am

9/30/2009 10:34:55 AM

I get up at 5:15, out the door by 5:45, at the gym by 6, workout for one to two hours, then at work by 8 or 8:30 am.

A vigorous workout is great for an energy boost.

9/30/2009 10:36:43 AM

It would be if my gym didn't open at 9am

9/30/2009 10:43:30 AM

Whoa! That's late! I know a ton of early morning gym rats.

I use three gyms. One is a 24-hour facility and the other two are basic work gyms, so they're usually open.

9/30/2009 10:49:03 AM

Yeah gyms in Japan are freaking ridiculous. Open at 9am, usually close by 9pm. Not much going on in the way of equipment. They have some awesome classes available, but they're all during normal working hours Basically they seemed to be designed for housewives that want to "work out" not people who actually want to work out.

9/30/2009 10:55:33 AM

^ Where are you in Japan? Okinawa?

9/30/2009 11:02:53 AM

Man I wish I was in Okinawa!

I'm about an hour outside of Kyoto.

9/30/2009 4:36:23 PM

lol

Early is not relative. 5:15 in the morning is EARLY, no matter who you are. I bet you go to bed at like 9pm too. No thanks, I like to go out and have a life!

A few years ago I was kinda seeing someone long distance and didnt' go out much during the week. As such, I started getting up at 5:30 to go for a long run before work. Not a huge deal b/c I had nothing else to do most nights after work. But if I actually wanted to do something yeah no thanks. I need 8 hours of sleep.

[Edited on September 30, 2009 at 11:24 PM. Reason : k]

9/30/2009 11:23:46 PM

Quote :

"5:15 in the morning is EARLY, no matter who you are. I bet you go to bed at like 9pm too. No thanks, I like to go out and have a life!"

You probably need more sleep than me. I feel best when I get a solid 6 to 6.5 hours of sleep per night. This means that I go to bed around 11 pm on weeknights. Honestly, most of my friends have jobs as well and don't like to stay out past 10 or so on a weeknight, so it's rare that I need to go to bed after that.

While 8 hours of sleep is recommended, it's not a rule. I have plenty of energy, so I assume I'm getting enough sleep.

10/1/2009 7:58:52 AM

I'd actually like to go to bed earlier than I do, but it doesn't seem to matter whether I've had any caffeine or not, I don't really start to get that tired until near midnight. Last night for example--had a large mug of coffee in the morning but no more caffeine the rest of the day, and I still didn't end up going to sleep until near 1 AM. I wonder if some folks are just biologically "night owls" or if it's psychological/habit since my usual sleep hours have been in the vicinity of 1-ish AM to 7-ish AM for many years now. I tried doing the morning workout a couple years ago, trying to be at the gym by 6:45, and while I felt okay once I was working out and good the rest of the day, dragging myself out of bed at 6:15 didn't fly for more than a couple weeks until I fell off the wagon.

10/1/2009 8:47:55 AM

^^I've been told that for your body to get the most out of a exercise, workout, etc you need 8 hours of sleep. Is that not right?

^Yeah I'm a night owl. I have to practically trick myself into going to bed around 1130. Left to my own devices I'd stay up to 1-2 every night and get up between 9-10 every morning. Despite 4 years of working 8-5 my body still refuses to change it's internal clock

10/1/2009 9:31:46 AM

Ahh. Definitely just enjoyed finishing my Mellow Yello 12oz. I can quite whenever I want to...

10/1/2009 12:07:58 PM

Quote :

""5:15 in the morning is EARLY, no matter who you are. I bet you go to bed at like 9pm too. No thanks, I like to go out and have a life!""

No, it's not. I get up at 4 on most days. You should be going to bed around 9.

And, yes you should be getting 7-8 hours of sleep. You may think you run fine on 5-6, but you're lying to yourself.

If you are trying to move your internal clock, look into melatonin, and possibly zma.

[Edited on October 1, 2009 at 12:13 PM. Reason : ]

10/1/2009 12:09:58 PM

i drank 2 pots of coffee last night to stay up to finish my homework. i fell asleep anyway.

10/1/2009 12:23:35 PM

I used to drink two liters of soda a day and coffee all the time while i was at work. For the past 3 or 4 years I have probably had a handful of caffeinated drinks a year (excluding a period 4 years ago when i really liked jager bombs). I don't really see the need for caffeine and when i do drink it now (even as double espresso shots) it just makes me really sleepy and i need to nap almost immediately.

Quote :

"I have high blood pressure so I have made many diet changes. Aside from cutting out salt as completely as possible, caffeine was another one to go. I have 1 diet coke in the morning just to help me wake up, but after that all I drink is water for the rest of the day."

my blood pressure has actually been much higher since i stopped drinking caffeine.

i'm going to PM you about this.

10/1/2009 1:44:39 PM

An apple will do you more good (in terms of "waking up") than a can of soda or coffee...

10/1/2009 1:46:10 PM

no it won't.

10/1/2009 1:56:28 PM

I gave it up about a month ago. Weaned off it slowly (was drinking a 24 oz travel mug in the morning plus occasional sodas during the day). I got some decaf and slowly mixed it into my coffee and was on all decaf in a week, no withdrawal to speak of. I also pretty much gave up alcohol (still occasionally have a drink but not daily). My energy level is way up, I'm sleeping better and just generally feel better. Only problem is my husband thinks I'm pregnant and not telling him for some reason.

Anyway one tip for waking up - alternate hot & cold water a few times at the end of your shower. Sucks at the time but you will feel better afterward.

10/4/2009 10:36:22 PM

I think french press coffee is a lot easier on my stomach than regular drip coffee, I have no idea why.....

I drink that in the morning (~7:30) then eat a big breakfast, light/no lunch, and sip green tea throughout the day and I feel great and no problem sleeping.


well, except for exam review all nighters like this one....

[Edited on October 5, 2009 at 3:37 AM. Reason : ....]

10/5/2009 3:35:59 AM

Quote :

"And, yes you should be getting 7-8 hours of sleep. You may think you run fine on 5-6, but you're lying to yourself."

Not necessarily true.

Quote :

"new research suggests that some of us are genetically programmed to spend longer in the Land of Nod than others. Researchers have for the first time identified a genetic mutation linked to the amount of sleep people need. "

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6795361.ece

10/5/2009 4:18:08 AM

Quote :

" I would get the shakes the shits everytime I had caffeine. Not terrible, but enough to be annoying. "

Who's with me?

[Edited on October 5, 2009 at 7:12 PM. Reason : ]

10/5/2009 7:08:18 PM

^ Only with coffee and only in the morning. But with that combination I have about 15 minutes before I get the gut punch.

10/5/2009 10:44:29 PM

wolfpackgrr that's a pretty interesting read

10/5/2009 11:48:02 PM

inspired by this thread, I haven't had any caffeine aside from a decaf once a day since Tuesday Sept 29. I am not completely ready to zonk out when I get home and feel less tired at work. A++ would read again

10/14/2009 12:23:25 PM

I am cheating right now and having sweet tea.

10/14/2009 12:25:23 PM

After 25 days of no caffeine, I have lost 4 lbs and have plenty of energy consistently throughout the day. And I'm getting solid sleep for a change! WOO!

10/14/2009 12:34:24 PM

^I drank 2 cups of coffee last week, and just one this week and I'm not seeing any of these results.

10/14/2009 1:33:16 PM

^ Coffee isn't evil. I just ditched caffeine bc I needed uninterrupted sleep and better hydration due to my marathon training.

Perhaps you don't really need to ditch caffeine.

10/14/2009 1:46:34 PM

Eh, well I don't like coffee, just the pick me up it supplies. I suppose I am better off without it as it's not good for my teeth.

10/14/2009 2:59:08 PM

I drink sprite all the time now. and some juices

10/14/2009 3:54:59 PM

haven't had caffeine in about two weeks. I don't think I have ever "needed" caffeine to stay awake or wake up, I just liked the taste. I've had no problems without it.

10/14/2009 4:25:14 PM

i've decreased by caffeine intake to about 3 caffeinated sodas/ week. the only reason i havent done it completely is because i was drinking a crystal light drink every so often that i thought did not have caffeine but i was wrong

i stopped drinking that about two days ago.

i definitely felt a bit more energized, but i can't say anything definite considering i have been having it intermittently.
right now i just had two mt. dews to aid my studying and i will say one thing-i can totally feel the effects of it really strongly

10/14/2009 5:55:56 PM