I had fully planned to stick it out through the end of the month with my Cutting Back on Caffeine commitment for October (cutting back from two cups of coffee per day to one cup per day), but it’s kind of really starting to stink. As in, it’s messing with my sleep patterns and habits.
You see, ever since I went down to just 1 1/4 cups, I have fallen asleep at least an hour or two before I was planning to and then have had trouble getting up in the morning when I planned to do so.
So, you might not think this is a big problem. Except it is, because I keep falling asleep before taking my contacts out, washing my face, or taking my pills before bed (I am currently on a few different medications because of some health issues + my usual vitamins)… and well, I keep waking up at 3 a.m. or so realizing that I accidentally fell asleep before doing my nightly routine. So then I have to get up and do my before bed routine and then that wakes me up so much that I have trouble falling back to sleep. Which, in turn, means I sleep in later than I was planning to and wake up feeling like I still need more sleep.
Yes, I know these seem like such trivial problems to have, but I feel like cutting back on that one cup of coffee is kind of wreaking havoc on my life. And it’s just not worth it… especially while I’m in the middle of mothering, developing relationships in a new community, running a business, and writing a book.
So, even though I’m not usually a quitter, I’m going to give myself grace and just say that this experiment has gone on long enough and I’m going back to my two cups of coffee per day.
Stay tuned for November’s 12 Months to a Healthier You Challenge. 🙂
Samantha says
Crystal… thanks for being real! There are many times when I try something new and realize it’s not a good time, or a good fit, or I hate it, or I just flat fail. I just want to say that I’m a fairly new subscriber-not quite a year now, and I’ve enjoyed your blog. You seem to be interested in many of the same things I am and it’s nice to get your take on it. I know you’re a real person with real issues, but the struggles don’t always come through on here and sometimes I find it hard to not compare your seemingly great life with all my failures. The point is, when I read your post that you went back to coffee, it gave me such a respect for you that you would even admit that on here after making it your goal. I’m a huge fan of all your work and I really appreciate all the time and effort you put into this. God calls us all to work on different things at different times. Don’t hold yourself to someone else’s standards. I say that as much to you as to myself! God bless you!
Heather says
If some readers are disappointed, too bad! I’m sure that when you set cutting back on coffee as a goal, there were reasons behind it. If after trying it for a reasonable amount of time, it did not have good results for you, then there’s no reason to continue it.
As for perfection, one of the reasons I enjoy your posts is that you aren’t perfect! Neither are we! And that’s what’s great. Your posts are written by a real human who is trying things just as we are. Keep it up!
Pam says
Right there with ya! I too literally cannot survive without coffee! Full time night shifts, 2nd job, grad school, kids, activities… ya know… life? I can drink a cup before sleep time and have no problem crashing out into a deep slumber! Not only does it help keep me awake when I need to be awake, but it also improves my mental clarity and motivation. I drink it black or make my own lattes without all the artificial junk.
Sarah says
Good for you!
Sara says
Hi Crystal, your blog is so encouraging. I also enjoy that fact that it is REAL and you are so open about your success as well has problems. Thanks so much for sharing!
Just wondering is there a time during the day when you will not drink coffee (caffeine) after so that it dose not keep you up later than you want??
Amy says
I applaud your decision, and thanks for being so open about it. If cutting back on caffeine was creating such dramatic sleep disruptions for me, I’d make the same call.
While I don’t usually drink any coffee in the afternoon, I can’t start the day without two large mugs. I drink green tea in the afternoon and/or evening, most days. Less caffeine, plus antioxidants!
Kim says
I think we all need to give ourselves grace. I get up at 5:30 to read my scriptures and write in my prayer journal. God and I have a mug of coffee together. 😉 In the afternoon around 3, I will have another mug of coffee or make a pot of tea. It is just enough to get me through the evening and then I am ready for bed around 10pm. I try not to have any caffeine after 4pm. If I do, then I am certainly wired for the night! haha But this schedule works for me.
Sue says
Yes, I agree with the others: coffee is not bad for you (just the the junk we put in it) and you are at a stage in life where it is helpful. I have been where you are but happy to report I am now down to one cup of caffeinated coffee per day. Don’t ask how many cups of decaf :P. You will know when it’s time to cut back. For me, I began having trouble going to sleep at night then I realized my life wasn’t as hectic as it used to be. I had four babies under the age of 3.5 years but now my youngest baby is five and in Kindergarten. I was so thankful for coffee!!!
Marie says
I have been trying to stop drinking caffeine as it increases my hot flashes. It is a frustrating train ride! My DIL is a Dr of oriental medicine, and she informed me that when I am drinking it, I will be more tired because my body will want the caffeine. Once I am off, I should have more energy overall because my body will not be looking for the caffeine. But it takes a week or so of being totally off. I have been successful at times of staying off, and she is absolutely true, no more yawning in the car and getting sleepy all of the time. I really felt like I had a ton more energy. So to feel better, for me, the trick was no caffeine at all. Even with knowing that is true, and having experienced it, I keep going back to the tea! Grrrr.
Heidi says
As Moms we all need to give ourselves a little grace, so I’m glad that you did. (: I’m a 2 cup a morning kind of girl too!
Karen L says
Drink your coffee! 🙂
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/11/the-case-for-drinking-as-much-coffee-as-you-like/265693/
sarah says
I just wanted to say thank you for being real. I have maybe a cup a day, so I can’t necessarily relate with it being an issue but I really love your honesty and transparency. Thanks for not being another “perfect” blogger 🙂 God bless!
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much for your kind encouragement! I’m definitely far from perfect over here. 😉
Christine says
I’m curious about why you felt you should give it up in the first place. Everything I’ve read in recent years says it’s actually good for you. I can understand why you wanted to cut back on sugar (I should but don’t want to) but why coffee?
Crystal Paine says
Great question! I just wanted to try it to see if it would make a difference… and it did, it just wasn’t what I considered a *good* difference. 🙂
Britney says
Crystal,
Thanks for sharing. Please don’t feel guilty or like you have failed, because contrary to what many people are saying, caffeine is actually good for you! It’s a natural stimulant with no negative side effects. There’s evidence that regular, moderate caffeine intake can improve your memory and even boost your metabolism. It’s even better if you get your caffeine from coffee or tea, because both of those sources are rich in antioxidants and other nutrients that are good for you body. (See this link for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_of_caffeine There are negative side effects, of course, if you drink too much. But that requires drinking a lot of coffee.) I’m all for cutting out sugar and eating whole foods, but I think it’s sad that many people with the same health goals also advise people to give up their coffee. Drink and enjoy!
Britney
sue says
My doctor told me….everything in moderation ..he drinks one cup every morning…plus I’ve read its not bad for you..there’s lots of benefits…
Jessica Claire says
Crystal,
I forgot about your challenge on Oct 1st so I started on the 2nd. I was drinking several glasses of Coke each day and stopped cold turkey. So I am on day 20 of no Coke. I have been so incredibly tired as well. So tired that I have been taking afternoon naps. In fact, I just woke up from a 2 1/2 hour nap! I gave it up for a secondary reason though and that was to loose a few lbs. I am excited to say that I have lost almost 5lbs without any other changes to diet or exercise! I am working to loose a few more lbs but I am considering putting Coke back into my diet and making other healthy choices instead. Thanks as always for your honesty. I love the real you and raw posts the best!
Crystal Paine says
I’m SO proud of you!!! Way to go on stopping cold turkey and losing almost 5 pounds!
Turner says
This is really interesting to me, as a regular caffeinated coffee and tea drinker. What time of day do you usually drink your second cup, or do you have both of them in the morning? Thank you!
Anna says
You hung on for much longer than I could have! And you should feel proud of yourself for sticking it out as long as you did.
Like others said, you just have to do what’s right for you. Two cups of coffee per day is, in my opinion, not an excess amount anyway. I usually have two or maybe three if I start feeling groggy mid-day.
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much for your kind words!
Marin says
Good for you! Caffeine in moderation is perfectly normal and nothing to cut back on!! one of life’s little pleasures.
Lisanne says
Crystal, last year my husband’s team (Go Red Sox!) Won the World Series and it just about did us in:) We were so tired watching the games, then super amped up afterwards– it was hard to go to sleep night after night. It’s been a busy October for your team, do what you must to make it through! :). Thanks for reminding me to be mindful, flexible, and to appreciate the small things that truly help me make it through my day!
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much for your kind encouragement! And yes, we’re loving the Royals doing so well, but we’re kind of hoping the games don’t go into extra innings. 🙂
Guest says
If that extra 1/2 cup coffee is your worst vice, I’d say you’re doing pretty well. 🙂
Siné says
Good for you for realizing that this challenge was not working for you. Sometimes giving up is better than sticking it out.
JOYce says
I found this on livestrong.com and had a similar problem after serial strep infections due to antibiotic resistance ~ while the antibiotics caused a worsening dysbiosis in the process of righting the strep wrong:
“…caffeine destroys vitamin B-1, inositol, biotin, potassium and zinc, and it can hinder the assimilation of calcium and iron. All of these nutrients are important in aiding the immune system and fighting candida. Health educator Lewis Harrison states in his book “Healing Depression Naturally” that one cup of a caffeinated beverage can kill up to 75 percent of friendly bacteria in the colon.”
While I don’t drink caffeinated coffee or tea these days by choice(do drink decaffeinated black tea and Rooibos), after dealing with that whole tango that threw off my digestive system to my taking on food allergies to nearly every food(eliminated to just buckwheat and then added as one would with an infant to find the least offenders allowable), plus upper respiratory allergy/infection woes ~ for many years since I can eat anything I want, have no more seasonal allergies, AND I eat chocolate(caffeine, etc.) now and then with no issues as long as I don’t gorge and have to deal with the sugar, too(LOL).
Don’t know if sharing is helpful to you, Crystal ~ hope all is sorted for you very soon! Don’t invite unnecessary stressors, k? 🙂
Heart and Haven says
Ugh, I’m a bit annoyed at many of the comments saying you didn’t quit.
For your initial post about this goal:
“But I’m going to try to slowly cut back to one cup of coffee per day just to see if it changes how I feel or my sleeping patterns or anything. And also just because I think it’s good to challenge myself to things like this on occasion (yes, you can call me crazy!)”
I’m all about setting goals and pushing through and look to be held accountable, especially when things get tough. So, trying to offer a bit of encouragement – you only committed to one month; that’s only a little over a week away. I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT! 🙂
I hope you don’t let yourself down. Yes there is grace given if you don’t succeed, but sweeter is the victory!
Crystal Paine says
If I didn’t have a really full schedule and need to be completely ON the next two weeks, I’d totally do my best to slog it out and follow through with it until the end of the month. But in this case, I think grace was in order so that I can follow through with my other commitments and be functioning in high gear for the tasks and responsibilities ahead of me.
Thank you for grace — even if you don’t agree with my decision. 🙂
Heart and Haven says
I don’t think 2 cups of coffees a day is excessive, but if you still wanted to try to goal of cutting back, perhaps moving your bedtime routine back an hour would benefit. Without the extra caffeine, your body may be telling you your natural rhythm for sleep? Some people are naturally night owls and do their best work then, but if you’re starting to feel sleepy without the added stimulation perhaps you could consider listening to your body for this.
Connie Seward says
Don’t think of yourself as a quitter… maybe you are feeling the pressure of ‘reporting’ to your online community. Your life is your own to live however you wish.
If a butterfly lands on a flower and chooses to not take anything from that particular bloom, do we consider the butterfly to be a quitter?
We humans sure can box ourselves in with self-imposed rules and challenges.
Something to think about though, if a substance can alter your sleep patterns so much, is that something you want to be adding more of in your life? Maybe you didn’t give your body enough time to adjust.
On the other hand, if you want (emphasis)to drink more, go ahead and do it. You don’t need an excuse to do so.
God Bless!
Kristy says
Crystal – this is NOT being a quitter! This is part of the lifelong journey of learning to give ourselves Grace and learning to make good decisions.
Good job
Elaine says
Thank you for sharing this post, Crystal. I have not been trying to cut back on caffeine, but lately I have been forgetting to have my 2nd cup after lunch because I am still adjusting to the new routine of having both my kids in school full time. I have been falling asleep so early like you and now it makes sense why! I am definitely going to make that 2nd cup an intentional part of my routine again. Thanks!
Kim says
Dear Friend Crystal,
You didn’t “quit”! We know you’re not a quitter. Your overall cups for the month, when all tallied up, will be less than last month. That means that you did “cut back on caffeine”. And you discovered that it didn’t work for you. So just like you tell us you’re going to “do what works best for you and for your family” and doing that makes a healthier you. Which is what your end goal is anyway, right? So you still reached both goals 🙂 You win!
Crystal Paine says
Aw, you are so encouraging! Thank you for sharing this comment; it really blessed me today!
Jessi (@thebudgetmama) says
Thank you for this Crystal!! I’ve been trying to cut back on my coffee intake but it’s made me grumpy and unable to stay awake. Thank you for rewinding me to give myself grace! 🙂
Joy says
Welcome back! We missed you!!!! 🙂
Jen says
I have tried to cut back on caffeine many times too, mostly to avoid getting those terrible caffeine headaches when I can’t get my daily dose. My most recent attempt has been pretty successful so far. I bought a bag of my favorite coffee and bought a bag of decaf coffee. I mixed one cup of regular coffee with one quarter cup of decaf and stored it in a separate container. I used this mix to make my daily morning coffee until it was used up. Then, I mixed one cup regular coffee with one half cup decaf and did the same thing. Now I’m up to half regular and half decaf. I plan to keep going until I am at all decaf. My brain is happy because it still gets the same amount of coffee each day (about two cups) but I hardly notice the small decreases in caffeine. We have to pick our battles in life and if drinking caffeinated coffee is just one that you don’t want to fight, I don’t see the harm in that! Thanks for sharing your honest experience!
Amanda says
I do not blame you one bit. I wanted to give up soda,(I can’t drink coffee regularly) to help loose my after baby weight. However I know have a 6 month old, 2 yr old, and care for a 16 month old and 4 year old 40 hrs a week…. I just decided to be more diligent about other food intake aspects. I need to not want to lock all the kids in a room 😉 more than I need to fit into new skinny jeans. Thanks for being honest in your post!
jenna says
Good for you! We should all do what works best for us. I had to switch out of necessity (or cheapness?). My work doesn’t offer free coffee and I wasn’t willing to pay for it, so I make and bring my one 12 oz cup a day and had to make do. It was definitely hard at first since I used to be a 2 cup person as well! Enjoy your coffee!
Ann says
It may be hard for the first two weeks or so but please stick with you Plan on cutting back. My husband recently learned coffee was effecting his central nervous system, sleeping , and his heart. due to the amount of caffeine he was consuming. It started to effect his heart. once he stopped drinking coffee he started having restful sleep and his heart palpitation completely stopped. He had continuos headaches and he said he felt like he was in a fog. After the caffeine withdrawals he is now in perfect health.
MK says
I inherited a soda habit from my mom…can’t claim the health benefits of coffee, but I find myself lining up with her thinking more and more: “I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I don’t take crazy risks with my body…I’m okay with a little caffeine in my life.”
I do wish I liked coffee, though; it smells so good but I just can’t stomach the stuff!
Blessed Beyond a Doubt says
I think it’s great that you looked at how a “healthy” choice wasn’t having a healthy affect on your body.
Carrie in NC says
If you ever feel like trying this again, how about just swapping some decaf for your regular coffee? We started with 6 scoops of regular coffee and then switched to 5 scoops of regular with 1 scoop of decaf. A few months later we switched to 4 regular/2 decaf and eventually down to half caf/half decaf. Stepping down gradually worked for us. This way we still have the ritual of enjoying 2 cups of coffee without all the caffeine.
Tedi says
I’m sorry you had to go back to 2 cups a day. I just recently quit drinking my daily Dr. Pepper. Before quitting, I had tried cutting back, only drinking one every few days, but it never worked how I wanted it to work. I would always go back to drinking it every day, and that is why I wanted to quit. My thought was if I can quit it for 21 days I can make it a habit. So I did it for 21 days. And am doing it again. I feel great! I know it’s possible to go without caffeine (I know soda doesn’t have as much caffeine as coffee) and that’s what I was trying to prove to myself that caffeine didn’t take over my life and it doesn’t have a hold on me anymore. I hope you can try again with better success!! 🙂
Christin Slade says
I completely understand. I am a two cups a day kinda gal, too, and I used to drink coffee at night, but I weaned myself from that nighttime coffee and surprisingly, I adjusted well. But I had to be in the right season to do it. I had tried in other seasons and it just wasn’t a good time. But I finally found the right season to do it in and I find myself well adjusted and sleeping better.
All that to say, I understand your dilemma and there’s no fault for sticking with it for now! xoxo
Kelly @ New Leaf Wellness says
Good for you, Crystal!
Matt says
I have definitely needed my coffe everyday maybe two times 🙂
charity says
No worries you know what is best for you. Coffee is one of lifes pleasures and if you enjoy and needing it right now stick with it.
Jennifer says
Sometimes things look good on paper or in theory but they don’t actually work in real life. Before you get your body too messed up it probably is best to quit the experiment and go back to your 2 cups. Besides a lot of research points to 2 cups of coffee a day being good for you.
Amy says
I love this! I’m going to share it with my husband because the middle if the night waking is exactly what happens to him. I wonder if it is on the days he doesn’t have his second cup. Hmmm. ☺️
Amy Brouwer says
Two cups a day is nothing! It’s not like you are drinking a pot…don’t beat yourself up. I always drink two cups and maybe even another in the afternoon (usually followed by a headache, but maybe someday i’ll learn) and tried ‘cutting back’ once too…i figured there are much worse habits to break!
Jamie says
I’m proud of you! Takes courage and coffee is yummy 🙂
ann says
Coffee IS good for you and 2 cups a day is not overdoing it. Stop trying to fit your life to the “experts” advice. They are usually proven to be wrong in the end anyway.
Marie says
I don’t believe you quit at all. You set a goal, a new challenge and you tried it out. REALLY tried it out and found it wasn’t working for your body! That’s the important thing, it’s your body. No one elses.
Crystal I’ve always been impressed that you are so in tune to seeing changes in your physical body by diet or vitamins etc. You know what’s working or not. You share honestly with your readers and I love that. You are in a busy season of life so if cutting back on coffee isn’t working then don’t. I hope you don’t hold onto any quilt about it. I know I’m not holding you to a certain standard just because you posted you wanted to cut back. I pray that you will be getting better sleep now.
Lydia says
Crystal, I want to applaud you for being humble enough to say this isn’t working and move on. As a blogger, I know how hard that is to do publicly. And I agree with what Marie said. You didn’t quit really, you simply tried the challenge, stuck it out for 3 weeks and figured it out that it wasn’t working for you.
I always enjoy your blog and love hearing about your life, your experiments etc. You’ve often inspired me! Thank you!
Cherie says
I always thought that if my worst vice was some coffee during my day, I’m doing fine. Keep up all the good work you do.
MILISSA says
Caffeine in moderation (varies for each person but is equal to ~2 cups of coffee) is good for women. There are numerous studies that show it helps women combat mental decline/dementia as we age. There are other studies that show it helps with exercise (leading to better fitness) as well. So not giving up your coffee may actually be good for your health. Seriously! I’m not exactly sure how you take your coffee…but if you ever decide to tackle coffee again, maybe focus more on less sugar in the coffee or something like that. (if that even applies to you.) I think it’s awesome that you realized this isn’t working for you and let it go. That doesn’t mean “quitter” at all to me. That simply means realizing this isn’t a great goal (for you…at this time) & focusing your efforts elsewhere. Too many people do things because others think they should…or because they want to always follow through. Follow through is important…but if we fail to recognize when the goal itself no longer serves us and follow through anyways, then the whole point of goal setting becomes counterproductive. Bravo! 🙂
*side note…we need to pay attention to our internal dialogue. You did not quit. You reevaluated your goal & then changed it. Big difference. 🙂 *
Deb says
So true! You reevaluated your goal and then changed it!
I don’t know you except through this blog / emails I receive, but I think you really have it together. You know when things need to change (your groceries, this) and then you change them. Writing this blog (I guess out is a blog?!) would be like living in a fishbowl: you are very transparent and much of your life is on display.
But it is your one and only life, just as you are creating your children’s one and only childhood, and this is your one and only marriage between you and your husband. Do what is best for your family! Share it with us if you want to, but please don’t care about what we may or may not think!
I appreciate your work here that helps me save money.
Thank you.
Betsy says
Be free! Drink coffee! Supposedly it’s good for you… http://m.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/11/the-case-for-drinking-as-much-coffee-as-you-like/265693/. I love coffee and I was sad to read that you were cutting back. 🙂
Carol says
I’ve found that during busy years, when my kids were little and I had oodles to get done without a chance to slow down, coffee was a mainstay. Later when I wanted to cut some caffeine out I changed to 1/2 cafe varieties of coffee (or I’d mix my own to save money) and cut the creamers & sugar down so my brain thought it was still getting the 2 cups, but my body could get used to the smaller amount of caffeine and sugar calories. Doing it by steps and then being honest about how your using the caffeine is really what’s it’s all about.
Don’t stress yourself about giving this one up, your trying to accomplish bigger things than a 1/2 cup of coffee!
Su says
You know, coffee and really yummy creamer is my one daily treat. I get it! Enjoy. You have done so many things on your year long journey. Focus on the good; the necessary. Be happy!
Mary says
Crystal, I have tried so many times to quit, or switch to tea, etc., and I only drink one (large) cup a day! It messes with my routine so much, that I have decided it’s not worth it. Two cups a day is totally reasonable. I too am homeschooling and getting to know people in a new community. Something needs to stay constant.
Lori P says
I would have never thought I was dependent on my 2 to 4 cups of hot tea per day, but the year that we had our foster baby who was born addicted to meth and then again this past year becoming my mother’s primary caregiver I have definitely needed my tea everyday without fail. It has helped me stay alert throughout the day and gives that little extra pick me up to keep going into the evening when I might want to take a nap. Give yourself a little grace and you can always try weaning yourself off during a less busy stage of your life. That’s what I’m looking forward to 🙂
Elizabeth says
Old grandma here with some advice, dearie. If you are having trouble with being too sleepy…one possibility is the level of thyroid you have. And we learned that you need to have a doc test a more intensive thyroid test too…one that lets them know how well both the T3 and T4 are doing. Sometimes one is doing its job and the other not….but those little general chemistry screens the doc gives you won’t tell a whole lot. Our doc gave me a certain dose based on that special test….and then I saw my old Doc when we moved back west again, and he said actually, I had other indications that I was still not getting enough. So he told me how to gradually up the amount I was taking, watch carefully for symptoms of too much…and sure enough I did get some….so dropped it back some, but still more than the first doc gave me…and now? I am not near so sleepy….if I get at least 6-7 hours sleep a night I am fine. Used to be I needed 10 or more hours per day. I hope you can get some help with that issue. Be persistent and read up on such things…there are other physical signs in your body that will tell you do not have enough, too.
Crystal Paine says
Thanks for the advice! I usually don’t have any trouble at all — and feel great with 7-8 hours of sleep — but cutting back on caffeine did a big number on me. I’m ready to get back to feeling great with 7-8 hours of sleep!
So glad you figured out what was causing your issues. I’m so grateful that I’ve never dealt with thyroid issues… I know friends who deal with them and it’s been very difficult for them!
Jen says
I don’t like coffee but maybe I need to give it a try. Your reduced caffeine sleep habits sound like mine, except that I’m awakened in the middle of the night by my 3 month old. By the time I feed her and get her back to sleep I’m usually so awake that I have trouble getting back to sleep…and then am exhausted when my toddler gets me up in the early morning!!
heidi says
Careful, Jen… If you breastfeed you may end up giving your baby that caffeine rush and throw off her sleep patterns.
LeahB says
ME TOO!!! I didn’t want to be dependent on caffeine, and tried the same thing. I was also waking up at 3am and still needing to get ready for bed. (I work from home, work best in the evening, and this was chopping off a chunk of my work time. I don’t get up super early, though.) I’m back to my regular amount of caffeine. So much better. (Plus it’s getting cold out, and it’s so nice to have a hot cup of coffee a couple of times a day.)
Joyce says
Good on you! It’s nice to see you give it a go and decide it’s not for you. Much better than you toughing it out just for the sake of an audience. I believe it was you who said if something isn’t working for you, reevaluate because just because someone else is doing it and it works doesn’t mean it’s for you.
Alicia says
I never thought caffiene was that terrible of a thing anyway! We have to live a little, ya know? Good for you 🙂
Autumn Beach says
Girl, I don’t blame you one bit!
Crystal Paine says
😉
Sarah says
I’m so sorry that this has given you so much trouble. I think it takes wisdom to know that it is time to cut your losses and let go of this change, whether for now, or permanently. You have been paying attention to your body and your life, and for you right now, the benefits do not outweigh the negative consequences of sticking with this challenge. Rather than being ruled by pride/masochism/blindly following something when you see it is causing problems, you are using good sense and doing what is right for you right now.
Crystal Paine says
Live and learn, you know? It was an interesting experiment, that’s for sure!
Thanks so much for your kind encouragement!