You will destroy your stomach if you drink that much for too long a period of time. Coffee is good, but that also needs to be moderated. Just space out your intake.

Chaosvuistje

Netherlands2581 Posts

February 01 2012 12:02 GMT

#43

Get seriously ill for a year so you get a nausiating feeling for the rest of the day when you even drink half a can. It worked for me.

Slowly get less intake. It is hard to really stop in one go unless you can hop over to another addiction.

bITt.mAN

Switzerland3693 Posts

February 01 2012 12:13 GMT

#44

Eating raw beets is awesome, 'cept it gives your mouth\shit a wierd colour.

GigaFlop

United States1146 Posts

February 01 2012 15:44 GMT

#45

I used to be somewhere close to your position. Lots of soda and energy drinks. Sometime ago I switched to canned iced tea, and then to regular tea. Once you get used to regular tea, even the canned tea from before will make your mouth feel sticky from all of the sugar. I've had only one energy drink since, and it was during the Skyrim release weekend. Feels pretty good.

Go grab one or two variety boxes of regular tea next time you're at the store, and then try them until you find the one you like best without adding sugar or anything else.
Also, make sure to actually use boiling water instead of trying to make iced tea with cold water and teabags. Makes a giant difference.

Chef

10810 Posts

February 01 2012 15:58 GMT

#46

http://lifehacker.com/5585217/what-caffeine-actually-does-to-your-brain

Here is a knowledge bomb: If you use caffeine regularly your body becomes tolerant and you begin to lose effectiveness. Rather, you become as effective as a person who doesn't drink caffeine when you've just had your dose, and less effective when you've not had your regular dose. In order to gain good effects from caffiene, you have to have it only once in awhile... Rarely enough that your body does not become tolerant to its effects. I assume it is pretty similar to other things found in energy drinks, but I don't know.

Tea is not exactly a healthy alternative. It tastes good and it has antioxidents, but it's still caffiene and you can still have too much of it. The best way to have more energy in your life is to get off your regular intake of drugs.

By a funny coincidence I'm actually quitting caffiene right now. 37 hours in and I am feeling pretty okay. Most of yesterday I had a dull headache. Was drinking several cups of various teas (black, oolong, green and white, whatever I felt like). Noticed I've been feeling really tired and low on energy. Slept pretty well last night for the first time in awhile and feel pretty awake today. Your habit is probably more serious and might take longer.

glgl coffee tea etc taste good, but if you want caffiene to be useful you can't have them daily.

Erik.TheRed

United States1655 Posts

February 01 2012 16:05 GMT

#47

As others in the thread have said, you might be developing a dependency on caffeine so your brain requires a certain amount of it before you feel "awake". Make sure you are getting a good amount of sleep every day, and seriously try cutting back on your daily intake. Also make sure you are getting in some physical activity, maybe jogging for 30 mins every morning when you wake up will help as well.

You'll probably feel really tired for a few days... just try to hang in there and your body should get used to the lower amounts of caffeine.

Also having a good breakfast can help you stay awake. Something like: 1-2 eggs, toast, grapefruit, juice, and a cup of tea will give you everything you need to start the day.

If you're not sure what kind of tea to get, I'd suggest Tazo - Awake, it's got some caffeine but just having one of these a day isn't a big deal.

[image loading]

Some more info from MedicineNet.com about caffeine withdrawal:

+ Show Spoiler +

symptoms include headache, tiredness/fatigue, decreased energy/activeness, decreased alertness/attentiveness, drowsiness/sleepiness, decreased contentedness/well-being, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and felling muzzy/foggy/not clearheaded. The onset of withdrawal symptoms typically begins 12-24 hours after abstinence, with the peak intensity occurring at 20-51 hours. The withdrawal symptoms last for a range of two to nine days. This is a considerable amount of time that makes it easy to understand why people would have a hard time cutting caffeine from their diet.

TeH_CaRnAg3

United States239 Posts

February 04 2012 02:24 GMT

#48

sorry for the long time no response, have been busy the past week. My issue with not being able to wake up properly I think may be a sleep condition, so im going to see a doctor about it sometime in the very near future. I've been doing more exercise, haven't had an energy drink since right before writing this blog, and trying some of the things mentioned here, and other places, and no matter the amount of sleep I get, exercise I do, i'm still waking up tired. I'll continue to do these things as I realize that the effects of exercise and a better diet aren't going to show themselves till after a few weeks most likely, but I am going to see a doctor, because it's really frustrating to not be able to practice or ladder as much or as effectively as I want to without energy drinks.

Thanks a lot to everyone who responded with good intent, everything said here has been taken into account by me, and I hope to hear some more helpful suggestions. Thanks a lot guys.

TeH_CaRnAg3

United States239 Posts

February 04 2012 02:30 GMT

#49

On February 01 2012 03:16 HardlyNever wrote:
Drinking that much crap is extreme. Drinking that much crap for the expressed reason to sit around and play starcraft is honestly deeply disturbing to me.

I'm not trying to be a douche in your blog, but you might need to seriously reconsider your life, and not just what you are drinking.

thanks for your input.

my lifestyle isn't the issue, I do and have started doing regular exercise. though talking with a friend I have begun to think it may be an issue with my sleep. Possibly a sleeping condition. So i will see a doctor about it.

about me wanting to not feel tired and play starcraft, well, to each his own man. If you don't take starcraft seriously, or games seriously, that's totally straight man, no problems with it from me. But I take it very seriously, it's my dream to be a progamer. And if I am feeling unable to get up and practice, without having to go drink a bunch of unhealthy beverages, i am very unhappy. My lifestyle is my choice, and if im happy, that is all that i care about. And for the most part I am, besides this little issue were discussing here.

Again, thanks for your input, as I can see where your coming from.

United States3249 Posts

February 04 2012 04:05 GMT

#50

If you still want a caffeine high, just buy caffeine pills. Caffeine pill + water = no health problems whatsoever, no teeth staining, nothing. Just the drug high.

evanthebouncy!

United States12796 Posts

February 04 2012 11:17 GMT

#51

s l e e p