7 Months Training Without Caffeine! Pros & Cons

[@Ahmed-vk8pv]

Quitting caffeine is such a noble and great idea, imma need a hot cup of coffee to think about it🤔

[@sikastrength]

Have one for me!

[@charlie8286]

I quit caffeine 4 months ago, the best decision ever, I used to have lots of crash energy thourgh the day and required caffeine to keep moving and my brain to work for a few more hours. My sleep was bad too I slept many hours and still felt tired. All went away after quitting caffeine, I am constantly productive all day without crashes, there is no brain fog anymore and I sleep and dream like a baby. Never coming back to caffeine

[@andriipurskyi23]

And how long did you last?)

[@jayeye89]

I started getting defensive while watching this. Then making excuses as for my reliance on coffee. The thought of quitting it actually makes my palms sweat. Maybe I do need to teach myself a lesson in resilience and willpower.

[@sikastrength]

If you get defensive while listening it's usually a good sign to have a longer think after the event

[@wendell3610]

I do the exact same thing with giving up things. As soon as I feel 'reliant' on extraneous things, I feel like I need to test it.

[@sikastrength]

You feel you need extraneous test.. each to their own.. 🤣😅

[@sscswimmer1]

I like to basically deload from caffeine before a competition. Makes it feel more potent and gives me a mental boost of knowing that I was training on nothing for a week or two and now it's go time.

[@Pop-wl8yg]

I’m on day 6. I’ve quit before and lifting was still pretty easy. I miss that extra push but it’s doable. I have noticed that cardio is a lot harder without caffeine. When I drank caffeine I could get on the bike for 12 miles nonstop. Now without caffeine, cardio feels like more of a chore…. I have noticed that cardio is easier first thing in the morning. I guess because of all of the cortisol when you first wake up.

[@ConradMarbourg3635]

Thanks for your feedback. Personnaly I went from like around 8 coffee a day to only one big coffee at 7:30 - 8am when I start working. I don't see it as a problem, I can go well without one but it does not endanger your health and I like it so I keep it as such. Regarding sleep, I did not have trouble to fall asleep but I feel that the sleep is better in term of quality because I feel my sleep is deeper and I recover better overall.

[@danshee5033]

overthinking and mild depression is the only thing that sucks when going caffeine free for me. i will pull thur 💪🏽

[@zennappi]

Has Sikastan become tested nation? Sika strenght LIMITED? There wasnt ANY limits before...

[@sikastrength]

For LITERAL tax reasons it will temporarily be limited.

[@aidanivesdavis]

Yeah, here in Sikastan, Im not sure what "training with less drugs" even means

[@Hooberschmit1]

I have one aeropress worth (probably like 100-120 mg caffiene) worth of coffee when I get up in the morning. I can't have caffeine before training in the evening, because it fucks my sleep up. The morning coffee doesn't seem to impact my sleep in a super visible way, unless I start escalating my usage.

[@Yupppi]

It's funny. I have my own story of how I gave up coffee multiple times for months, at some point probably for a year (perhaps had a cup or two during that year just to see) for medical reasons. It was rather easy when I was motivated (e.g. had a reason to do so). However I remember a couple of times I gave up coffee, how the first few days, sometimes weeks, once it lasted for a month or two, the world was completely grey. I felt like nothing could move me one way or another, I didn't feel passionate towards anything. Of course part of it was also the circumstances when I did that. On the other hand some of the periods I have up coffee were very good times as well. Body started healing and I got better sleep, I felt balanced and started feeling positive. Unfortunately it rarely if ever helped with messed up sleep cycles. Which is kinda funny, you'd expect a great benefit there. I was never the guy who needed caffeine to function in terms of being able to wake up or anything. Almost the contrary, the same issues that made me quit coffee a couple of times also caused the coffee sometimes to feel bad after drinking and the rush would be unpleasant. The reason why I drank/drink coffee is just pleasurable taste to me. Like the most difficult times being without coffee wasn't the first mornings. It was like months after when there was an extremely pleasant sunny early afternoon and I thought about eating a slice of bread with a good cup of coffee, or some pastry with it. Those have always been the golden moments, the peak enjoyment in life. Rather than thinking about it when I wake up groggy or feel bad when waking up or feel slow, those were never the moments I liked coffee with. But one time when I gave up on coffee it was weeks of feeling like I am not a person without coffee, how I needed it to feel things, get excited about something, feel like a couple of hours of full focus and playing guitar for those hours or getting something great done. It's been a weird adventure being with and without coffee and being addicted but also not being addicted to it. Ironically at some point I actually avoided drinking coffee before workout/sports, or on those days, when I was still drinking coffee just because I didn't want to feel "half-empty" as I'd describe the weak feeling when coffee hit wrong. I'd absolutely have to eat something before coffee to fill my stomach with. And it would often diminish my appetite, which was pretty uncomfortable when I tried to eat 2500...3000 kcals/day and my normal expenditure was around 2200...2400 kcals/day. Also two cups of coffee almost felt like a death sentence. I also learned that I'm at least somewhat sensitive to caffeine in terms of getting sleep so today I'm trying to be more rigorous on the timing. The most ironic thing in this whole business is that when I got back to coffee after those breaks, the first cup was often 1. Awful tasting 2. Caused a terrible feeling inside. Obviously the 1. was big part of why I changed the ways I make coffee because it was really obvious after the breaks that something was wrong, for 2. it was inevident I wasn't tolerating it yet and I'd need to sort out other issues first. So getting back to coffee wasn't a bliss at all. Today I've put some effort into figuring out how to make the best cups of coffee and buy some decent beans at the expense of my wallet, I thought that if I can't drink coffee all the time and if I'm sometimes gonna suffer for it, and the only reason I really want to drink coffee is those good enjoyable moments, I should invest in making it the most valuable experience when I do so. Less is more. The only caveat with that was that I bought such a delicious coffee that for the first time in my life I was happy to drink it even black and I would make two cups instead of one and suffer just because it tasted so good. I've known plenty of people who say caffeine has no effect on them. Ironically they are the ones having trouble falling asleep or sleeping long enough or just being constantly tired.

[@AndyGinny1]

This may sound weird but I’ve quit caffeine for over a week and my lifts in the gym have got better! The deep sleep is insane!

[@teatowel11]

This has the sane kind of benefits of giving up things for lent or fasting. Even if you are not religious you can benefit from some of the traditions.

[@Niggob25]

Loving that shirt!!! Cheers from Germany 💪🏻

[@muggish19]

I have an addition to caffeine and I'm ok with that. The thing I'm most concerned about with my caffeine consumption are long term health problems.

[@charlesmulliner]

Love a coffee, normally one 5 days a week and take a week off every 4-6 weeks just so I stay sensitive to the caffeine

[@megiMove]

I have no problem . I did it for fun with energy drink or pre-workout.. and i feel my energy is more stable ! Gonna try one when i finish the squat program and going for pr

[@wolfemooney7188]

I’ve never properly “quit” caffeine, but have stopped using it every now and again to reset my tolerance before a max. After the first couple days the lethargy and headaches go away and training is normal. I’m not sure why but seems to be significantly more important during that week it is otherwise.

[@eidorianeagle5806]

Funny thing is that when you give up coffee and you see friends or coworkers begging for a cup of coffe you get this sense of superiority and disgust. At least that s how i feel sometimes.

[@bobbyraejohnson]

You have kids?

[@saltychristian2528]

The benefits of quitting caffeine is that the occasions you actually use it you feel like you’re high on coke.

[@user33housecats]

This is what I want! I want it totally out of my system and to be able to have it as a treat. I'm drinking Teeccino herbal coffee now on day 7

[@saltychristian2528]

@@user33housecats Throat coat is a great herbal tea with licorice that stimulates your adrenal glands, I drink it every morning and it wakes me up pretty fast too.

[@heath6809]

So true 😆. The euphoric burst of energy is almost psychedelic. That’s why caffeine should be saved for PRs or competitions.

[@nattysam94]

I’m on day 5 caffeine free. This. Is. The. Worst. First two mornings, I woke up feeling like a sack of potatoes. Slight head tightness occasionally but no full-blown headaches; thank god. My workout yesterday was also 💩. The only positives I’ve seen are no midday crashes in energy. Praying this ends soon 🙏🏾

[@LucasDimoveo]

I don't drink or enjoy staying up late, so coffee shops provide a social benefit as well

[@JFat5158]

I stopped drinking it because I just felt jittery after drinking it. Like energised but in an uncomfortable way. This was like just after buying a coffee grinder etc to make good coffee at home haha I miss the taste so much but it just makes me feel like shit.

[@157MattH]

I love coffee as well but I found out I'm allergic to coffee and a mold that is found on coffee and tea. I get very irritated if I drink it and I notice I get mild inflammation in my neck. I am still really sad about this as it's been almost 2 years since I stopped.

[@Brandon-bl8ko]

good video. every now and then i take a month or 2 off caffeine. mainly just to clear the tolerance for it. ill have to keep an eye out for how i feel the next time i cut er out.

[@mubeen3877]

Been lifting for 3 years close to 4 years now and started taking caffeine now. I only take when I feel tired or missed a meal.

[@johnbiboudis4339]

enjoyed this episode while drinking my fourth cup of coffee for the day

[@damianclegg8684]

Enjoyed the video. Any advice as iam now 5 months caffeine free and my workouts are still are not enjoyable at all. To the point where I want to give up strength training after 10 years

[@nattysam94]

😢

[@jimmierustler5607]

I'm going to prove to myself i don't need water, a month without being reliant on the extragenous chemical of dihydrogen monoxide will be a good test of willpower, i'll post updates on my progress.

[@bool2max]

The dumbest comment in this thread here

[@enrapturedgoose5317]

@@bool2max ironically your comment is the dumbest because you cant notice an obvious joke haha

[@charlies8282]

Water is necessary caffeine isn’t 🤦‍♂️

[@shannonheathcliffmul]

@@charlies8282 maybe for you

[@reclaimer2019]

@@charlies8282 obvious sign of addiction, i feel sorry for you.

[@isaiahmelvin8727]

I’ve done this for almost two weeks. Overall I feel amazing but I do feel miserable in the gym

[@GoodVibesOnly1914]

Opposite for me! Workouts have been great. Everything else feels gloomy and unmotivated haha

[@agustincai]

what about study

[@ericooliveira9693]

Do you reckon it would have been as feasible to give up caffeine if you were still working a normal day job? I don't really feel dependant on it for training, but working (especially long hours) is a different ball game

[@sikastrength]

Fuck I meant to bring that up. Ultimately i work about 20% more now but the psychology of stress is different so it never drains me. I also more sleep but there's plenty jobs where I wouldn't have had to get up at 5:30. As i mentioned I did it a few years ago when I was working full time, training about 20 hours a week and running Sika and it was fine.

[@Pi03k]

From coffee snob to decaf. Crazy. I's like if a hunter become vegan. Which decaf do you recommend?

[@sikastrength]

The one where you cry into your cup the least 😪. I just a tassimo pod right now as they're not that bad

[@ud9hh]

Like your vid, you said at the time anyway you still drink tea, isn't that the same though just a bit of a different kick?cheers

[@MrSpicabooo]

I dont intake caffeine at any other time than in my pre workout and thats only on the days i lift (4x a week) would u say i have a caffeine problem?

[@tariqo16]

i didn't want to give up coffee but my stomach can't handle it no more for whatever reason i still jug it from time to time so i can stay up for some stuff

[@sikastrength]

I do like the idea of clinical use of caffeine, for when needs must. Like pain killers etc

[@Igergg1]

I almost got offended, so I defenitely needed to hear this 😃

[@martinc2944]

Any reason why you aren't drinking decaf as much as you used to drink coffee?

[@sikastrength]

Mostly because I just didn't really think about it until recently.

[@Wayf4rer]

If you need stimulants to train effectively, some variable of your training/recovery is off in my opinion.

[@StephanAndreMusic]

Or, you work a job that adds up to 80hrs/week :(

[@getstrongby4038]

@@StephanAndreMusic work less

[@DredFulProductions]

Great and informative content as always!

[@madsdrastrup]

Did you avoid caffeine entirely or just highly caffeinated bewerages? You mentioned tea which has some, but what about coke zero

[@sikastrength]

I avoided caffeine entirely for about 5 months then the odd cup of tea which is like 25mgs after that

[@smolboyi]

bro I am sorry but coke zero is trash, you should definitely consider quitting that if you value your health.. switch to "Mexican" cokes, they are better

[@benlobner7070]

I see the german coat of arms on the tshirt, are you trying to comopete with the german team :)?

[@hamsatd]

Stopped to have better sleep. Got that better sleep and feel good generally, but im weak AF in the gym now 😂😂.

[@nickcovino2369]

It benefits me and everyone around me if I continue to drink my morning coffee.

[@brettpacker2779]

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit smoking

[@sikastrength]

Caffeine over smoking all day so don't feel too bad!

[@clintiacuone1703]

I love a good pun eoin, I work in a bakery but don’t make enough dough😝

[@sikastrength]

🤔🤔🤔

[@clintiacuone1703]

@@sikastrength I hope haven’t let down the lords of sikastan😂

[@waldek32]

During decaffeinated coffee leading back to addiction.

[@terrencebeers7105]

I don’t get the same effect from caffeine tablets as a cup of coffee.

[@sikastrength]

I've never tried caffeine tablets actually

[@kylebarlow2977]

It’s a mugs game 😂 ffs

[@sikastrength]

Don't tell me you didn't laugh

[@kylebarlow2977]

It got a little smile and nasal exhale 😂👍

[@reneulloa2647]

How about caffeine pills? They are pure caffeine without additional stuff such as sugar, coffee, etc.

[@sikastrength]

Still caffeine ultimately, the coffee is incidentally to my caffeine issues.

[@abableeah3070]

Worship the Bean.

[@kev9385]

Coffe is shite in Ireland anyway

[@joakimdam9723]

What I did was cut out coffee, then started to incorporate green tea. If one never drink coffee or other caffeinated drinks, then green tea will actually give one a little energy boost

[@jedidiah4004]

What would Broderick say of this heresy?

[@sikastrength]

He knows 🤣 he was not impressed

[@WL.physio]

Skipped caffeine for 4 weeks but added some nose tork ammonia 👀🌚

[@sikastrength]

Bruh i have no time for ammonia

[@charlesmulliner]

That outro 🤣

[@totallyraw1313]

Have you ever tried to give up eating potatoes mate? That might be tough for an Irishman.

[@nathanmason4140]

Hello there

[@dumahh6887]

General Kenobi... You are a bold one

[@sikastrength]

@@dumahh6887 *four light sabre sounds*

[@lodersracing]

I learnt I can sleep all night without getting up for the toilet.

[@getstrongby4038]

I've always avoided coffee, not because of the caffeine just because of the awful taste

[@weightedsumwl]

Algo comment

[@sikastrength]

Appreciated!

[@albupavel]

so many caffeine addicts in the comments asking for coffee alternatives xD

[@croceaMors1]

I don't take caffeine so i can't relate😂

[@G3Number]

Learn to drink Only 1cup of coffe a daY and Only when you are going to train, dont complicate so much

[@sikastrength]

Yes I'll just tell the bio chemical processes in my body to just chill.

[@aidanivesdavis]

It's weird hearing someone talk about caffeine like it's alcohol or something. I think obsessing over this kind of stuff is worse for your mental health than enjoying caffeine like a normal person.

[@sikastrength]

I think the issue is just that, a thoughtless consumption of a drug.

[@basedlukashenko5249]

@@sikastrength good is a drug , so is water lol

[@iamthefiremanjj]

Ignorant as fuck caffeine is a drug

[@iamthefiremanjj]

Sheep

[@Attest411]

Sleep by far out weighs the cons.