Wake Up Journal / 5:AM - Quitting Caffeine ⏰

[fridjonk]

5:00 AM

Woke up and went straight out to run. Ran about 5 km and man was it soul cleansing, did some uphill sprints as well which completely finished me off. The weather was incredible but cold, so a little rough on the lungs. 

Currently on day 26 without caffeine. Feels incredible, I fall asleep much easier and sleep is overall way better. I don't wake up tired and groggy even though I've been waking up way earlier than I usually do. Energy is steady throughout the day and my focus is at a steady pace.

Been taking cold showers every day for about 2 weeks as well. That's probably one of the most important things one can do I've come to find. Forces you out of your comfort zone and it SUCKS but feels incredibly rewarding afterwards. It's been almost a year or two since I was taking daily cold showers and I've been meaning to get back to it for the longest time. When I work out, they become mandatory.

Also been thinking about giving nofap another go. The longest streak I've been on is probably no more than 30 days, but it was never done out of desperation, it kinda just happened on its own without me forcing it. I've found that to work best for me. But I'm not sold on doing it, I'll see how well I do without thinking about being on nofap.

I really like starting a lot of challenges like these at once. I feel I stick to them better if I've got more to focus on, so one single challenge doesn't become isolated and all my focus goes to not caving in on that one. I don't have time to complain when I've got all of it going at once.

Edited September 9, 2020 by fridjonk

[fridjonk]

5:00 AM

Run-5 km

Awesome clarity of mind in these runs, it's just like meditating, especially when it's so quiet and still outside. Uphill sprints are becoming my favorite thing to do again, your body can really run like a Ferrari if you push it hard enough, beyond mind. 

I think meditation would be more crucial than ever for me right now. Yesterday I noticed how frustrated I was throughout the day and it was clearly out of desperation for caffeine. It's weird, its like I've got too much energy that needs to be let out, else it turns into frustration and annoyance. I'm in no way an angry person, most would label me the opposite, quiet, introverted, etc, but maybe this is just a phase in the withdrawal effects. 

It's incredible how noticeably my sleep has changed after quitting caffeine. I thought I slept well before, but now I see. The duration of the sleep has not changed rather than the quality of it. It has become super easy to wake up and fall asleep, and I feel well-rested even after 5-6 hours, although I still prioritize 7.5-8 hours. 

Been really pushing my workout limits with these David Goggins workouts last week or two. Been sore in my legs since last Friday and barely able to walk, but still pushed through the morning runs and afternoon workouts. When you push your body and mind beyond comfort, you start to feel so amazing it's like you forget how it felt when you're not in a workout routine, so the mind can justify being lazy and comfortable. If your body is not following your spiritual progression by breathwork or exercise, you're missing out big time on more rapid and steady growth.

[fridjonk]

Woke up at 5:30 AM and went back to sleep due to insane body soreness. I could've forced myself to go for a run and push through it but I've done that before and injured myself by starting off too strong (got weak knees). And I'm kinda already on the edge of pushing the limits, yesterday I ran in the morning, then later in the day did a Goggins live workout which was squats, lunges and pushups for an hour straight with 0 rest. So I woke up this morning feeling like I had been in war for months, lol. 

I've fully committed to nofap at this point and will be giving PMO up for as long as possible. The benefits are too great for me not to be doing it, and its a fun challenge as well. Last time I did PMO for a month I noticed how vast the benefits were, and am very curious what 90+ days feel like. The community over on Reddit, despite being a little extreme sometimes, is actually a great support system so I'll be staying updated there when I need motivation.  

[fridjonk]

Finally one-month caffeine-free (31 days).

The best decision I've made in a while, everything from sleep, mood, focus, motivation, etc keeps improving. It has become easy to fall asleep before 10 pm and wake up at 5 am. Quality of sleep has also been improved vastly. I'll continue to at least 60 days before I may introduce cacao back into my diet, but more controllably, it has so many benefits that It's one of the only exceptions I'd make.

Woke up at 5:00 am this morning with a massive stomach ace from how unhealthy I ate yesterday. I've not run as much as I would've liked to last week but its slowly progressing. If I miss a run, I do nonetheless exercise so it's not a massive problem other than missing out on the discipline of doing it beside it sucking big time. The hardest part is really just to get out of the house, after I'm out it's all good.

I'm on nofap day 5 and there have definitely been some heavy urges today and yesterday. The last time I did nofap, it became really easy after day 7 so I'll just have to get passed 3-5 more days and from there it's all smooth sailing. I find starting nofap after an LSD trip to be the best way since It kinda pushes your mind so far from pleasure-seeking that it doesn't even occur to me. But I decided to just start it now the hard way, and defeat this "addiction" once and for all. Porn is not healthy in any way, whether addicted or not. 

[fridjonk]

My birthday today. Never really felt that those are any more special than other days. But I guess it's nice that people show a little more care and love on this particular day. I'll be eating healthily all day nonetheless, my desire for unhealthy food has completely vanished.

Went for a 5 am run this morning. Hearing the rain made me dread getting up and go outside. But as I mentioned in my last post, it wasn't bad at all once I was outside, matter of fact, it was actually fantastic! The mind tries to play tricks and sway you from doing uncomfortable things with a very logical reason, especially when it's as vulnerable as it is in the morning.

Nofap Day 6 today, I can already see a difference in how I communicate with others. It doesn't take many days for the testosterone to build up. 

[fridjonk]

5:30 am

Looked into breathing techniques for running last night and It worked so well I almost doubled my distance. It was really refreshing running in the pouring rain. In the afternoon I did the Mike Chang flow workout which left me drenched in sweat. I'm really enjoying pushing my limits at the moment, it feels so incredibly good afterwards, mentally and physically. Cold showers help me to recover a little faster as well. 

Day 8 of nofap, no urges so far. I've noticed my workouts are definitely more intense from the testosterone build-up.

 

[fridjonk]

5:00 AM

Woke up and went straight out for a run. The plan was to run the same distance as last time which was almost double the distance before it, but I ended up doubling this run as well, so tripling what I was doing before, it took about 1.5 hours and felt so incredible. 

The "runners-high" is very real, lol. ?

It's Nofap Day 10 currently and I awoke to a surprise in the middle of the night. A wet dream! I knew this would come at some point and I'm not gonna lie it felt a little disappointing. But from what I've read and heard It's doesn't count as a relapse at all, while it might set some off for 1-3 days, others don't feel loss of motivation or energy at all. I don't really feel any difference so far so I won't comment on it for now. I've been feeling no urges at all, and feel like I could give this up forever, but I feel there will be tough times when I'm feeling down or tired. Those times will be the most important to stay strong and be ready for war.

Day 36 of no caffeine. That habit has far gone and I could stop counting If I'd wish to but I'll keep counting for at least 66 days. 

The only things I've yet to get into routine are meditation and reading. I've been trying to start my reading for probably 2 months, and have had the same book on my desk all this time. I can not figure out why it's so hard for me to start it again when I was averaging like 100 pages a day 7 months ago. It really is just a matter of picking it up and starting, it's that simple, yet I've somehow procrastinated on it forever. Today will be the day I pick it up and start reading.

I REALLY feel that I'm missing meditation after a little break. I need to find a place in the day and make it a habit as well. Maybe after my morning runs would be ideal, since I'm going to bed so early now. I most likely will start with 20 minutes sessions and work my way up to an hour. 

Edited September 19, 2020 by fridjonk

[fridjonk]

5:30 AM

 Went for a good run, my whole body was super sore from a David Goggins workout I did yesterday, which completely killed my legs and stomach. But It felt great nonetheless. Exercising is a spiritual process if you treat it as such. You tap into your inner warrior when you want to quit but keep pushing.

Managed to read 17 pages in Psycho Psybernetics yesterday and will read some more today, finally, I've started! after procrastinating forever.

Nofap day 0. Yes, it happened, I relapsed. I've been having insane urges the last 2 days and it just felt like it needed to happen after this morning run. Now I've got a fresh perspective on the after-feeling of a relapse and its safe to say it's not worth it at all. I'll keep on going strong with that thought in mind. The only disciplines I've got left to beat are nofap, reading, and meditation. I've conquered every discipline I set myself the last 2 months and it feels EPIC. I know I can beat this nofap addiction. Although I've never been a serious "addict", no more than 1-3 times a week, but the fact is, if I can't stop for more than 12 days without losing control, then it's safe to say its an addiction.

I've found out by doing an overwhelming amount of challenges and disciplines at once has been the best way for me to get back on track. I'm so motivated to keep them all going that there's no room for failure. 

[fridjonk]

5:00 AM 

Went for my longest run so far, about 2 hours. 

Don't know if I'll even be able to run in the morning, but I'd love to, this has become super fun! 

[fridjonk]

5:00 AM

The weather this morning was incredible, night frost and stillness, starlit sky, and nobody awake. Really picked up the pace on this run and really pushed myself. I'm almost in bliss now after its over, lol. Really loving the fresh autumn air. Went for a 5:00 AM run yesterday as well and it was incredibly windy, I enjoy running in both type of weathers.

Nofap day 3. I notice I always get urges after workouts, due to being in such a good mood. But I feel like it's only that way the first 10-14 days, then it'll eventually pass. 

 

[Espaim]

It's so freeing to get off caffeine 

I'm happy for you. I'm on day 35 now

I've seen some compulsive habits of mine are becoming increasingly boring like mindless browsing and watching TV or even porn. I think it's being caused by quitting caffeine.

Good luck!

[fridjonk]

@Espaim Thank you, brother!  

Currently on day 47 and I'll be discontinuing counting the days from now on, to make this a part of my life. All of my desire for caffeine has completely vanished. This made such a massive difference in my life it's very surprising, all from quitting caffeine. 

I've also noticed what you mentioned about becoming more mindful. Caffeine has this robotic effect that makes you very efficient for a short period of time, but totally mindless. After quitting, my energy and focus have been steady throughout the day. 

Good luck to you as well. 

 

[fridjonk]

5:00 AM

I've been resting my running for the past 4 days due to a knee injury. I went for a run as soon as I woke up in the morning. The pavement was as slippery as ice, which made running a lot more difficult, but I did manage to nonetheless. Running on a slippery road works some muscles that aren't usually activated during normal runs. The small balancing muscles, so It's great for extra strength in the legs. Can't wait to run in some snow blizzards soon. 

I've also rested my daily cold shower routine the last 3 days which was a massive mistake, lol. Took a cold shower yesterday and noticed how much more difficult it was. The freezing weather here is starting to make the water a lot colder, and it's usually freezing cold even in the summer. It's good mental toughening, and aids recovery so much faster since I'm exercising twice a day. 

I've also decided to make nofap more of a lifestyle instead of a challenge, so I won't be counting the days, I find it a lot more difficult that way since it assumes there's an endpoint when there really isn't one.

[fridjonk]

5:30 AM

Really picked up the pace on this run and ended up running like there was someone chasing me and trying to kill me, lmao. There's often a point in my runs, maybe 40 mins in where a whole new gear of energy opens up and I go from gear 5 to 8. Could be due to the mental "quitting at 40%" rule that Goggins speaks of, once you're passed your breaking point and still keep going, there's some limiter (governor) in your mind that just drops and that's where you really grow. You always grow the most at the last bit of the exercise, the rest is just build-up to the toughest part. I'm absolutely fascinated by how the mind and body work when really pushed. 

Also been incorporating iso weight lifting into my schedule. I've been doing this flow workout every day in the afternoons, but will now do them every other day rather. Did arms yesterday which was fun. Also took about an hour to loosen up my hip flexors, they're insanely tight, and it's important for running to be loose there, so I foam rolled and did some stretches. Will be taking foam rolling and stretching a lot more seriously, for now, to loosen up my body. 

The funny thing is after I started exercising twice a day my weight has been shooting up each week. I went from like 78kg not working out to about 85 working out twice a day, lol. But rest assured it's water weight, just funny how counter-intuitive everything can be. 

[fridjonk]

5:00 AM

Got a good 50 min run in, and sprinted the last 5 minutes. Been having a really weird sensation above or in my right Achilles tendon lately. I've read it's due to increased mileage and speed for new runners. I've been running now for about a month so I hope it starts to get better soon. I'll foam roll it and stretch today. After yesterday's foam rolling session, I noticed how incredibly relaxed I was when I went to bed. I managed to get into extremely deep relaxation which felt awesome.

I've been thinking of starting to drink cacao again since I completed 50 days of no caffeine and am done counting. I really wasn't planning on drinking caffeine again but cacao has a really small amount of it and the benefits of it outweigh that tiny caffeine intake. But I won't drink it every day as I've done before, more so every other day or once every three days. I treat cacao as a supplement to my health and wellbeing. 

Edited October 2, 2020 by fridjonk

[fridjonk]

Been semi resting this week, and by that, I mean not working out twice per day but once. So I rested the morning runs from Monday until now, and only did evening flow workouts. I've been waking up at 8 AM some days, and 5 am others. It really took its toll on my body to exercise so much, but I feel well-rested now and feel I can start again with the double workouts. It's not really necessary, but I enjoy both of them so much that I'll continue to do them for now. 

Been drinking cacao finally since I broke the caffeine streak. The stimulation I get from the theobromine is so clean and pure its amazing. Currently drinking some as I write this. ☕ But I have to be careful with not consuming too much of it so the effects become stale. Maybe I'll alternate tea one day and cacao the other. 

Really missing my runs even though I've only rested them for 3 days. I had to give my Achilles and knees some time to recover. My Achilles have really been bothering me on my runs, so I've been foam rolling my calves well to prevent any further injuries. Also started to take a joint supplement that consists of Omega-3, vitamin-C, hyaluronic acid, and collagen. I took it the last time I had the "running flue" which was about 2-3 years ago. I was also trying to reach a full pistol squat. I had the strength to do it but still couldn't reach it. 3 weeks after taking this supplement I could do 5 in a row. So I'll be looking forward to seeing results from that soon.

[BlackMaze]

Good work! 

I can't imagine how amazing should feel waking up at 5 am and going for a run so early. Runners high is very real! I had it before and once you stop you start feeling like shit. 

Your journal is very inspiring and i consider starting running again myself. 

Caffeine sucks. I used to drink alot of coffee, then i quited completely for a month or so and i felt better. Now i started drinking again maybe only one in the morning every second day and i don't have a problem anymore, i enjoy an occasional cup. But maybe it's even better to not drink at all. 

Keep it up! 

[fridjonk]

@BlackMaze Thank you very much!  I'm glad that it brings some motivation for you, it's just a matter of starting and not overthinking it really. And that runners high feels so good, feels very primal in a good way. This journal was one of the greatest things I did to keep going, so I hope you make one as well so we can keep track of your progress as well. 

Caffeine should be fine every other day honestly. I'll be drinking my cacao until I start noticing if I'm dependent upon it, then I'll rest it. 

[fridjonk]

5:30 AM

Only slept like 5 hours, but the morning run was so wholesome that I'm as awake as I could be. Yesterday marked John Lenon's 80th birthday and his peace tower light beam was lit up. I stopped at a point near the ocean to just look at it, under a fully starlit sky and the moonlight. Felt a great peacefulness from it, and nearby was a construction site of condos being built for homeless people, how fitting. Anyways, this joint supplement I've been taking feels like magic, it's incredible how well and fast it works. My body felt like a well-oiled machine on this run. Still got some tiny aches and pains in my knee, but my Achilles and all my joints just felt smooth and well lubed. I felt like floating on clouds during this wonderful run.

 

[fridjonk]

8:00 AM

Woke up late today due to not being able to fall asleep last night. Which ended up in a 2-hour fap session, lol. After I completed my 12 day run some weeks ago, I've been fapping about once every 4-6 days which ain't really a problem. It's not interfering with my life, but I notice how easy it is to feed back into it and the gap between the nofap days shortens. So I really want to get on track with it again. When I'm doing it at about once a week rate, I honestly feel fine and normal. But when I've been on 10-30 day streaks in the past you feel at the top of your game kind of. I really want to get to that point again. I find the first 5-10 days the hardest to bypass. I'm going to read a little on nofap today to gain some of that motivation back to get over the beginner's hump. 

Did an awesome flow workout yesterday and was absolutely drenched in sweat like never before. So much that I was actually slipping on my mat when I was planking. Did an extra two sets of plank at the end of the workout just because when you're already so far in, you might as well go even further. I listened to Leo's latest video during the workout which was great. Was definitely a wake-up call for spiritual "pursuit" again. I'll listen to "The many facets of awakening" during today's workout with some chill mix under.

I've only ran twice during the past 9 days which is really disappointing, but I won't sweat over it because I did train those days, and my knees did feel the need to rest a little. I've noted down on my chalkboard to run every day for the next 5 days before I can rest. I can feel how comfy it has become to skip morning runs, especially when it's really windy or rainy outside. Your mind is really good at tricking you in those moments to go back to bed.

Edited October 12, 2020 by fridjonk