I absolutely LOVE coffee but it's the death of me. For the past two and half years I have enjoyed a Grande Americano coffee almost every single day. I feel like a caffeine addict and if there was a CAA (Caffeine Addiction Anonymous) support group, I would join.

So, I decided it's time to kick the caffeine habit. Why? Because even though I love coffee, I am tired of dealing with all the negative effects associated with my daily Americano. Plus,I am currently reading Caffeine Blues by Stephen Cherniske and let me tell you,it's been one long book of a wake-up call. Yikes! If you are having trouble giving up caffeine, I recommend reading this book. It will give you a swift kick in the pants to stop the caffeine madness.

Here are the negative effects I have experienced from caffeine (why it's taken me so long to give up coffee is beyond me. My common sense must have been clouded by a thick layer of caffeine haze):

1) Foggy brain - At first coffee gives me a lift and I feel like a superstar on speed. Then I crash and I can barely string a sentence together. Okay, I am being a bit dramatic but I feel "out of it" when the caffeine surge wears off.

2) Decrease in energy levels - After drinking coffee in the morning, I crash around 3PM in the afternoon. Most people may succumb to drinking another cup of coffee or another soda to pick them back up, but if I drink caffeine that late in the day,I will be up until all hours.

3) Craving for sugar - Ever wonder why coffee shops sell all those sugar-laden goodies along with the java? Coffee causes a drop in your blood sugar which then causes you to crave sugar. An infusion of sugar forces the body to quickly spike blood sugar levels.

4) Heavy and sluggish feeling - Since I have a sensitive stomach, caffeine causes my stomach to become bloated (again, WHY did I ever start drinking coffee?). With a bloated stomach I feel heavy and sluggish, especially during my runs. I have even noticed I run if I drink coffee before a run. All these articles about caffeine improving sports performance baffle me because I have only experienced a decrease in athletic performance from caffeine.

5) Overall feelings of being blue - Some days I feel happy and full of life all day after drinking coffee, but other days coffee causes my elevated moods to plummet. Stephen Cherniske's title for his book could not be more appropriate because many people do get the blues after drinking caffeine. On the days I don't drink caffeine I feel alert and happy all day.

6) High cholesterol levels - After reading Caffeine Blues I finally discovered why I have high cholesteral even though I am a vegetarian and eat a low-fat diet. I learned there are two chemicals in coffee that cause an increase in blood cholesterol levels.

How am I kicking my caffeine addiction? I am following the "Off-the-Bean" program outlined in Caffeine Blues. Right now I am drinking a 1/2 decaf 1/2 caf Americano and then I am switching to tea. My goal is to be completely off caffeine in 3 weeks. From what I learned from Stephen Cherniske, it will take 60 days until I notice major changes after giving up caffeine. So, with that being said, I will report back in 60 days and provide an update. Until then, wish me luck as I embark on this caffeine-free journey!

Colleen Canney is a Career, Life, and Wellness Coach based in the Greater Milwaukee,WI area. She loves hanging out in coffee shops and writing but she will not longer be sipping a fully caffeinated Grande Americano. For more information on Colleen, please visit her website at www.colleencanney.com or contact her via email at colleencanney@live.com.

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