6 ms·

I am addicted to Coca-Cola and need the caffeine to stop the headaches, my diet consists of quick easy takeout so I have enough time to work in the evenings and

by iqonik 12y ago

I am addicted to Coca-Cola and need the caffeine to stop the headaches, my diet consists of quick easy takeout so I have enough time to work in the evenings and spend time with my 3 month old daughter. I am currently working on a side project that I hope will prove itself worthy of "giving it a shot". Now I'm thinking I need to get my health right before I even consider that...for want of a better saying, it's definitely food for thought.

ryanobjc 12y ago
Caffeine withdrawal is just a few days...
- iqonik 12y ago
  Really? it was a painful week the last time I tried. I will give it a go again.
  - davyjones 12y ago
    I went cold turkey and it was very unpleasant. I cut it down gradually and it worked for me. Good luck!
    - deleted 12y ago
      [deleted]
      - zikzak 12y ago
        Use green tea (you can make iced tea with it if you don't like the flavor) to get off coffee. It provides just enough caffeine to prevent withdrawal. Then after three days you can go cold turkey. This method has worked for me several times when I had a massive coffee habit and had to reset for a while. I am older now I have one or two in the morning and usually tea in the afternoon.
  - mtrimpe 12y ago
    Depends each time. First time I quit it was a week of headaches and two more weeks of sluggishness. Second time it was a day or two of headaches and a week of sluggishness. Second time around I did just accept that I was going to take paracetamol by default (so on a regimen and not reactive to pain) to take the edge off the headaches though so that could've helped.
    - deleted 12y ago
      [deleted]
  - cowpewter 12y ago
    The easiest way I've found to do it is to pick up some Excedrin (or the generic equivalent). It's basically just aspirin and caffeine. Go as long as you can in the day til you start getting a headache, then take 2 pills. Do that for a week. The second week, take 1 pill. By the end of the second week, you won't even need the 1 pill, you just won't get the headaches.
pm 12y ago
Get your health right first. Your side project will always be there, the time you spend with your daughter will not.
- iqonik 12y ago
  Unfortunately being first to market is key (I think). But yes, you're right, she is already changing so much everyday :-)! Either way, I need to find a better balance, is 3 months too young to teach her to code?!
  - peterjancelis 12y ago
    Not true. Being the last mover is more important than being the first. Also, having an established competitor is great as it allows you to research what customers say about their experience. An MVP with a slightly different angle can become obvious from that.
    - amirmc 12y ago
      It depends a lot on the type of product and the particular market. You shouldn't underestimate the inertia of something that's 'good enough'. If you're not one of the early ones then something about your product will likely need to be significantly better in some aspect.
  - mseebach 12y ago
    > Unfortunately being first to market is key (I think) No knowing the first thing about your product or market, I'll still go out on a limb and propose that you're most likely wrong. If I had a nickel for every time I thought something was absolutely key, and it turned out to be a wrong assumption - well, I could probably buy a Starbucks latte. Hey, by all means, work hard, push forward and do awesome stuff and win, I'm all for that - but don't lie to yourself, especially not if it's impacting your health and your family.
    - iqonik 12y ago
      The market is recruitment (in house and agencies) - and knowing the types of products they still use because it "works for them" and how hard it is to get them to change workflows etc; I believe early adoption will be key. Only time will tell I guess, I'll be sure to do a "Show HN" when I am done!
ars 12y ago
If you are drinking Coca-Cola just for the caffeine the first thing to do is switch to unsweetened coffee. That's much safer at least. The phosphoric acid in Coca-Cola will really mess you up if you drink a lot of it. Then reduce the number of cups you drink - or if that's hard then mix using 10% decaf and slowly increase the ratio, while keeping the number of cups the same.
0x5f3759df-i 12y ago
Your side project isn't worth anything if you're dead from a heart attack at 45.
mootothemax 12y ago
so I have enough time to work in the evenings and spend time with my 3 month old daughter It's tough, but really worth it. After my daughter was born (she's 18 months now), I set a rule that no matter what happens, 18:00 to 20:00 is guaranteed for her and her alone. It's a double win: something for me to look forward to every day; and my daughter gets quality time with her father before going to bed every night.
rab_oof 12y ago
Nodoz (caffeine pills)? A fraction of one will help with the headaches associated with withdrawal vasospasms.
jules 12y ago
Cooking a good meal only takes 10-20 minutes.
monort 12y ago
You should try tea as caffeine source.
ruidelgado 12y ago
Honestly, I had that same thought when I started, and it never stopped. I'm glad you're reconsidering it, especially because you need to eat better. Trust me, it'll even make you more productive.
100timesthis 12y ago
I have been a Coca-Cola addicted for years, I was drinking at least a liter per day, sometimes two, this when I was a teenager. I've never been fat nor with health problem. One day I decided to stop, It took me two weeks of headaches to kick it off, but now I'm far less nervous, I sleep much better and my life improved a lot. Still if I drink a can of coke I'll have headaches for at least two days, as I don't drink any caffeine. So do it, use painkillers when you can't handle the pain, but don't exaggerate with them, it's worth it not only for the long run but you will quickly see improvements on your daily life, good luck!

by iqonik 12y ago

ryanobjc 12y ago

Caffeine withdrawal is just a few days...

iqonik 12y ago
Really? it was a painful week the last time I tried. I will give it a go again.
- davyjones 12y ago
  I went cold turkey and it was very unpleasant. I cut it down gradually and it worked for me. Good luck!
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
    - zikzak 12y ago
      Use green tea (you can make iced tea with it if you don't like the flavor) to get off coffee. It provides just enough caffeine to prevent withdrawal. Then after three days you can go cold turkey. This method has worked for me several times when I had a massive coffee habit and had to reset for a while. I am older now I have one or two in the morning and usually tea in the afternoon.
- mtrimpe 12y ago
  Depends each time. First time I quit it was a week of headaches and two more weeks of sluggishness. Second time it was a day or two of headaches and a week of sluggishness. Second time around I did just accept that I was going to take paracetamol by default (so on a regimen and not reactive to pain) to take the edge off the headaches though so that could've helped.
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
- cowpewter 12y ago
  The easiest way I've found to do it is to pick up some Excedrin (or the generic equivalent). It's basically just aspirin and caffeine. Go as long as you can in the day til you start getting a headache, then take 2 pills. Do that for a week. The second week, take 1 pill. By the end of the second week, you won't even need the 1 pill, you just won't get the headaches.

pm 12y ago

Get your health right first. Your side project will always be there, the time you spend with your daughter will not.

iqonik 12y ago
Unfortunately being first to market is key (I think). But yes, you're right, she is already changing so much everyday :-)! Either way, I need to find a better balance, is 3 months too young to teach her to code?!
- peterjancelis 12y ago
  Not true. Being the last mover is more important than being the first. Also, having an established competitor is great as it allows you to research what customers say about their experience. An MVP with a slightly different angle can become obvious from that.
  - amirmc 12y ago
    It depends a lot on the type of product and the particular market. You shouldn't underestimate the inertia of something that's 'good enough'. If you're not one of the early ones then something about your product will likely need to be significantly better in some aspect.
- mseebach 12y ago
  > Unfortunately being first to market is key (I think) No knowing the first thing about your product or market, I'll still go out on a limb and propose that you're most likely wrong. If I had a nickel for every time I thought something was absolutely key, and it turned out to be a wrong assumption - well, I could probably buy a Starbucks latte. Hey, by all means, work hard, push forward and do awesome stuff and win, I'm all for that - but don't lie to yourself, especially not if it's impacting your health and your family.
  - iqonik 12y ago
    The market is recruitment (in house and agencies) - and knowing the types of products they still use because it "works for them" and how hard it is to get them to change workflows etc; I believe early adoption will be key. Only time will tell I guess, I'll be sure to do a "Show HN" when I am done!

ars 12y ago

If you are drinking Coca-Cola just for the caffeine the first thing to do is switch to unsweetened coffee. That's much safer at least. The phosphoric acid in Coca-Cola will really mess you up if you drink a lot of it. Then reduce the number of cups you drink - or if that's hard then mix using 10% decaf and slowly increase the ratio, while keeping the number of cups the same.

0x5f3759df-i 12y ago

Your side project isn't worth anything if you're dead from a heart attack at 45.

mootothemax 12y ago

so I have enough time to work in the evenings and spend time with my 3 month old daughter It's tough, but really worth it. After my daughter was born (she's 18 months now), I set a rule that no matter what happens, 18:00 to 20:00 is guaranteed for her and her alone. It's a double win: something for me to look forward to every day; and my daughter gets quality time with her father before going to bed every night.

rab_oof 12y ago

Nodoz (caffeine pills)? A fraction of one will help with the headaches associated with withdrawal vasospasms.

jules 12y ago

Cooking a good meal only takes 10-20 minutes.

monort 12y ago

You should try tea as caffeine source.

ruidelgado 12y ago

Honestly, I had that same thought when I started, and it never stopped. I'm glad you're reconsidering it, especially because you need to eat better. Trust me, it'll even make you more productive.

100timesthis 12y ago

I have been a Coca-Cola addicted for years, I was drinking at least a liter per day, sometimes two, this when I was a teenager. I've never been fat nor with health problem. One day I decided to stop, It took me two weeks of headaches to kick it off, but now I'm far less nervous, I sleep much better and my life improved a lot. Still if I drink a can of coke I'll have headaches for at least two days, as I don't drink any caffeine. So do it, use painkillers when you can't handle the pain, but don't exaggerate with them, it's worth it not only for the long run but you will quickly see improvements on your daily life, good luck!