Lately, I’ve been finding myself cutting down on coffee and caffeine as a whole. I love my morning coffee ritual, simple as that. Everything from packing my re-usable K-cups, to using my Keurig Brewer to release those fragrant drops of java liquid into my cup, to doctoring it up with vanilla soymilk and taking that first irresistible sip. I think I hear some ahhhhs out there, or maybe that’s just my inner senses stirring up at the thought of the whole ritual.
Needless to say, I have been missing coffee and it’s only been 6 days since I’ve decided to cut down. Honestly speaking, I am one of those people who need consistent baby steps in order to adopt a particular habit, rather than go cold turkey and eventually give up.
In order to follow this new way of living, I have been sneaking in a cup of Samurai Chai Mate tea from Teavana in the mornings. Some days I decide to have a cup of coffee late in the afternoon, and some days I can muster up the willpower to substitute my afternoon coffee with tea. Either way, I know that I’m taking a rational approach towards minimizing my consumption of caffeine, because although it would be nice to go completely without it, I feel okay about having one serving of coffee a day—as opposed to 2 or 3. 
Yesterday’s breakfast included a brew of Samurai Chai Mate and two buckwheat berry waffles from Nature’s Path. I truly love this brand because they always seem to have an eclectic variety of flour bases! Also, the consistency of their waffles is always thick and hearty.
I tried Justin’s Vanilla Almond Butter for the first time by drizzling it on the waffles, alongside some fresh fruit, greek yogurt, chia seeds, cinnamon and pecans. It’s been a while since I’ve had this kind of breakfast so I really enjoyed it.
Since my parents were moving yesterday, Greg and I headed over to their place to lend a hand, although there wasn’t much we could do since the movers did all the heavy duty work. Well, either way my metabolism was on high-gear or I worked too hard early in the day, because I sure was starving by 12:00! When I get hungry, I actually get faint and chills all around my body. In order to refuel I had a Clif Mojo bar which helped for the time being.
After we were done and ready to eat lunch, we went to the Korean market right by their new apartment! I am so thrilled for my mom because she just started driving and it goes without saying that she doesn’t have her own car. Even though they’re at work together all day long, there are days when my dad can’t be around to take her places, like the grocery store. Now, that won’t be a problem anymore! I don’t know why, but that kind of stuff makes me excited because I want the best for my parents…
I promise you that I didn’t eat carbs and nuts all day long! Haha. I actually ordered a spicy Koreanized salad at the store and had a huge Chicken Cobb with Avocado salad for dinner since we met up with some people regarding important subject matters. Sometimes, important subject matters means that I forget to photograph my eats. But I’m totally cool with that.
Last night I knew that I’d be wanting cold food for today’s breakfast, so I broke into my GF oats and mixed it up with mashed banana, carob powder, chia seeds, soy milk, greek yogurt, and once again added Justin’s Vanilla AB with some Panda Puffs this morning. Those are kind of addicting by the way. Oh yeah! And I just had to buy those blueberries from Whole Foods simply because they’re from Argentina. Hehehe, what can I say? I’m still proud of my homeland.
Cardio Routine
This week I am trying to take my cardio workouts up a notch by being more consistent with them. I believe that there’s something about a good cardio session that kind of loosens my body up. But then again, I say that about every other kind of workout. 
I warmed up on the elliptical for 20 minutes as I performed intervals: 3 minutes of crossramp 8+resistance 6, 1 solid minute of resistance 18, 3 minutes of resistance 7, and kept going up with the resistance.
Then, I hopped on the treadmill to run for about 15 minutes and ended it with some weights.
Have you ever tried to cut down on coffee? What was your method?
What’s your favorite breakfast as of late?
Do you take the slow or fast approach of quitting habits?
Love,
Ellie <33
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I am actually really good about doing things immediately. When I decided to go vegetarian a few years ago, I decided to stop cold turkey (pun intended;). I didn’t have meat again for about 2 & 1/2 years! I have actually cut my coffee consumption down to 1 cup in the morning as opposed to 2!
Mmm, I’m such a coffee fan! I see nothing wrong with a cup a day, but if I want more than that, I switch to decaf. Gorgeous oats! I didn’t know Justin’s had a vanilla option–I’m already in love with the chocolate, honey and regular, so yeah, will be keeping an eye on Whole Foods to see if this appears.
Your breakfast (both days) looks amazing! I find it difficult to give up things cold turkey too – I have to do it bit by bit and eventually I’ll get there. Sometimes it’s hard when other people can just do things, but it works for me.
i love that mojo bar..so delicious!!
your breakfast looks delicious! I am a bit of an all or nothing person, much to my detriment! I think it’s great if you can gradually cut down – it’s more sustainable that way.
I have never thought of adding carob powder to my morning porridge. Great idea! I can’t eat oatmeal, but I would imagine that it would taste equally great with quinoa flakes.
I don’t drink coffee anymore, but when I used to, I forced myself to drink it decaf and plain. That way, no harm done, and I was also less likely to crave it.
Favorite breakfast as of late would have to be my microwave banana protein bread.
For habits I prefer to quit cold turkey. SO much easier in my opinion
Is there a reason you are trying to cut out coffee? I drink it in the morning, but that’s it. I don’t see the evil in it.
I love those Cliff Mojo bars! Especially the chocolate dipped. Yummers!
Cutting out coffee? Say it ain’t so! I did that a few years ago but didn’t notice any difference in how I was feeling so I happily brought coffee back into my life because I just enjoy it so much. I try to keep it to 1-2 cups a day and find that that woks best for me. When I did cut it out, though, I just did it cold turkey. I have that approach to everything, including when I decided to try out veganism… I basically did it overnight, and while it may not have been the most moderate approach, it worked and I was able to stick to it for over a year. And breakfast for me lately has been yogurt, cereal, fruit, and almond butter. I keep telling myself that I should change it up, but it’s something I honestly crave everyday so I figure why mess with it…
Oh, and I think it’s the absolute sweetest thing that you want what’s best for your parents
I feel the same way about mine.
I’m a coffee person too! But, I don’t drink it often because I’m the only one in the household that likes it. So, naturally, I have to cut down on coffee unless I buy my own. I’d drink it everyday if I could.
As of my favorite breakfasts, I’ve been addicted to Kashi GoLean Cereal and fat free milk with some fruit (really ripe bananas). I sometimes use soymilk instead. haha. btw..I love those Mojo Bars.
As for quitting habits, I usually quit it cold turkey. For me, the slow approach doesn’t work.
That vanilla almond butter is crack. Who knew adding cocoa butter could make such a difference? Hope you keep enjoying the non-coffee!
I actually don’t like the taste of coffee so I have never had an issue. My favorite breakfast is always oatmeal! You can’t beat a nice, big bowl of oatmeal in the morning!
I love that you are so happy for your mom. I think it’s adorable <3.
I've been loving overnight apple pie oats! So good!
I can’t offer much advice on cutting down on coffee since I’ve never drank coffee so far in my entire life. My parents don’t drink coffee and I’ve never been tempted to try coffee- that should explain everything. But I think what you’re doing is fantastic, I always tell myself: take slow but STEADY steps, the results may take longer… but it will LAST longer at the same time.
I tend to fall out of track easily when coming to correcting bad habits, but I’m not one to admit defeat easily, so I always motivate myself to continue doing what I know is right for my body and spirit.
You go girl, you can do it! Gambateh!
Oh girl, power to ya! I’m a coffee lover, and I’ve never really tried to cut it out because I love it so much. Granted, there are probably better things I could be sipping on in the morning, but I’m on a mission to cut myself some slack with kicking foods out of my diet.
If I WERE to kick it out though, I think I would have to go with the cold turkey approach. Unless I started to get headaches of course, then we’d be in a different ball game.
Mmm… I love waffles! And yours look delicious!
I agree – it’s so much better to improve something than to feel like you have to reach perfection right away. It’s too easy to fail if you try to be perfect – it’s better to take baby steps until you gradually reach your goal!
Your photos are looking more and more beautiful each time!
When I quit habits, I do it slooooowly. I like to give myself lots of time to adjust.
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