November 02, 2003

Givin It Up

This is the month I'm giving up coffee. The goal is to increase my energy level, wipe out my anemia and maintain a healthier diet by cutting out coffee, sweets and alcohol. Quite a challenge, as I adore a big pot of coffee in the mornings, a couple glasses of red wine in the evening (especially if I'm blogging) and a bit of chocolate on those days I've done an extra hard workout.

In September I quit eating sweets. I've been able to avoid chocolate, cookies and cakey things without much problem. Last month I quit drinking alcohol. That particular commitment isn't going so well. I've basically just switched from red wine back to beer. I've consumed more beer this past 30 days than I had during all of 2001 and 2002 combined. Gambrinus premium traditional lager is my current pick; a malty Czech beer with just a hint of bitterness. Oh dear, this is going to be difficult. It's quite easy for me to say I'll give it all up when I'm slightly hungover the morning after, or when I'm so full of chocolate coated Hob Nobs that I feel sick to my stomach. But just give me six hours and the story's different.

I'm two days in to the no coffee thing and it's been easy thus far. I don't get headaches when I don't have caffeine, but I do love the coffee aroma, the morning ritual and the buzz it gives me. Now Thom West was apparently a ten-cups-a-day kind of guy and he's been able to give up coffee for the past three weeks. He's drinking herbal tea which, frankly, I just can't picture him enjoying.