caffeine ups and downs

[ViviTheMage]

If it has really drastic effect, you were probably having way too much.
I usually have at least 1 or 2 coffee during the day and occasionally I'll have a Coke or two as well. When I don't, all seems well. If I do, I can still sleep that night. It just doesn't seem to have a dramatic effect on me. If I drink too much caffeine, I get the jitters. I try to stay well away from that limit though.

I didn't drink that much pop, never touched coffee. I just think it's crazy how much it effects me...after not having it for a period of time.

pop = soda ... midwestern thing.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I honestly don't need the caffeine at all, I am awake and ready to go at 7am, even if I am awake til 3am. I just love the taste of mexican coke and dr pepper. Plus, I realized it's some pretty hefty extra calories.

can't get ripped with it.

 

[Crono]

I'm absolutely addicted to caffeine (pills are way too fucking convenient!).

I need to seriously cut back (gradually one day at a time, until I hit zero intake)... but I fear the whole process. My job is a security guard with two shifts that start at 5:00 am so I'm up between 3:30 and 4:00, and I sit/stand in a small shack of sorts. Cutting back on caffeine will make it easier to fall asleep earlier the night before, but less caffeine will seriously make it much more likely I end up falling asleep on the job. :|

That I dread the feeling less than par until my body adjusts.

You people who have cut back/quit, convince me, somehow!

You're in a caffeine vicious cycle dilemma (Phrase copyright: me).

Pills are terrible form to take caffeine because they provide less immediate negative feedback from over consumption than drinks. That's one of the reasons they can be as addictive as some habit forming prescription drugs (just ask Jessica Spano )

But seriously, your best bet is to step down your caffeine consumption by weekly changing to lower caffeine content forms.

Switch first to monster energy or any energy drink that has less caffeine than Nos and don't drink more than 2 a day. Then the following week switch to coffee. Then after that soda. Then black tea. After that, green tea or just drop caffeine altogether.

I love green tea though. Healthy, just enough caffeine to make you moderately alert, and no interference with sleep. An acquired taste, but refreshing and comforting when you get used to it.

Also, cardio 15 min a day before work will boost your energy, and more than 30 minutes of working out after work (but 2 hours before you need to sleep) will give you great sleep.

 

[ShawnD1]

I'm absolutely addicted to caffeine (pills are way too fucking convenient!).

I don't know how people can get addicted to those pills. The high is great but the crash feels horrible. Tired, sad, angry, stomach pain.
I drink decaf at work because the crash always happens after ~3 hours. I would still be at work when the crash hits, and I can't drink coffee to fix it because that would make the stomach pain even worse.

but less caffeine will seriously make it much more likely I end up falling asleep on the job. :|

Try ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. It keeps me wired to do things but it doesn't have that jittery caffeine feel. The high lasts at least 6 hours. You could also try getting a prescription for Dexedrine or Adderall. Both of those are hardcore ADHD medications that will keep your guard up for the entire shift and then some.

 

[Crono]

I don't know how people can get addicted to those pills. The high is great but the crash feels horrible. Tired, sad, angry, stomach pain.
I drink decaf at work because the crash always happens after ~3 hours. I would still be at work when the crash hits, and I can't drink coffee to fix it because that would make the stomach pain even worse.


Try ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. It keeps me wired to do things but it doesn't have that jittery caffeine feel. The high lasts at least 6 hours. You could also try getting a prescription for Dexedrine or Adderall. Both of those are hardcore ADHD medications that will keep your guard up for the entire shift and then some.

All of those work in similar ways as meth.
Not surprising since they are precursors or derivatives.

 

[destrekor]

I don't know how people can get addicted to those pills. The high is great but the crash feels horrible. Tired, sad, angry, stomach pain.
I drink decaf at work because the crash always happens after ~3 hours. I would still be at work when the crash hits, and I can't drink coffee to fix it because that would make the stomach pain even worse.


Try ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. It keeps me wired to do things but it doesn't have that jittery caffeine feel. The high lasts at least 6 hours. You could also try getting a prescription for Dexedrine or Adderall. Both of those are hardcore ADHD medications that will keep your guard up for the entire shift and then some.

:$
already take ephedrine too.
I got into this habit pretty bad because it helped with school, and now it's just a constant thing well over a year after college.
I know it's probably doing terrible things to my body, but can't convince myself at the most fundamental level of my being to actually stop.

 

[alfa147x]

Mexican coke... Lmao

Normally during the summer I go through a cleansing phase. Straight up hippy phase. Everything natural and no stimulants. It's fantastic. Feel like hell for a couple of days but over all worth while

 

[ShawnD1]

:$
already take ephedrine too.
I got into this habit pretty bad because it helped with school, and now it's just a constant thing well over a year after college.
I know it's probably doing terrible things to my body, but can't convince myself at the most fundamental level of my being to actually stop.

Yeah, that's been my experience too. It's not like I need it, but it's hard to stop doing it because it makes everything faster and better. It also makes driving a car a lot easier; the shifts are a lot smoother. Better clutch control. Better judging of distance and speed.

 

[destrekor]

Yeah, that's been my experience too. It's not like I need it, but it's hard to stop doing it because it makes everything faster and better. It also makes driving a car a lot easier; the shifts are a lot smoother. Better clutch control. Better judging of distance and speed.

Definitely.
Not only do I feel I need it just to feel my normal level of alertness (of which, I've become accustomed to "hyper alert" because I enjoy life like that), but I make sure I'm properly dosed up before I even hook up my wheel for some sim racing, which is mostly practice rounds too - I definitely have to be amped up for a race... manipulating the inputs is a lot easier all around, and easier to be more technical and precise when pumping with energy.

Additionally, I prefer to be in that kind of zone whenever I'm driving long distances. I've always felt extremely connected to whatever vehicle I'm driving, and I am more so when amped. Plus it allows me to shorten the driving time (at an increased fuel consumption rate, but whatever) and still feel readily safe and prepared for the morons who have no idea how to properly handle highway traffic and lack any etiquette.

 

[Saint Nick]

I take nothing, never have...not even when I broke my arm, or got stitches, haha. I also never drank alcohol or coffee, nasty stuff!

I used to drink pop.

Hehe, I just slammed a 20oz bottle of Pepsi.... sooooo good