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Genevieve
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| Posted: July 17 2006 at 11:08am | IP Logged
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I know this sounds silly but I can't seem to stay awake while reading books to my little ones. I'm contemplating increasing my intake of caffeine either in the form of tea or coffee.  I'm desperate. I wasn't worried when I slept through college classes but now read-alouds?! I sleep 9 hours a night but I still have a nursing toddler.
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Genevieve
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JennGM
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Genevieve,
I have no answer, but just wanted to tag along. I've been wailing at the fact that everything is bad for you. I'm tired of hearing it. I avoid things so I can get pregnant. Then when you're pregnant you're supposed to avoid even more. Then I'm reading about menopause and you're STILL supposed to avoid all these "evils" of food. But there's such a long list...can't a woman ever treat herself? 
I find Marilyn Shannon says to avoid caffeine, but then she says it's okay in moderation if you just can't do without. If your adrenal glands are suffering, caffeine isn't good for them. Do I listen? No...but my intake is much smaller than before. I drink even more evil than coffee, though. It's called Diet Coke....
Perhaps just a small bite of dark chocolate could give you a pick-me-up?
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Genevieve
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| Posted: July 17 2006 at 11:21am | IP Logged
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Jenn, I don't drink coffee and tea. I'm just a desperate woman trying to stay awake.
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Genevieve
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JennGM
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Genevieve wrote:
| Jenn, I don't drink coffee and tea. I'm just a desperate woman trying to stay awake. |
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Don't start, now! Really, dark chocolate will help. Perhaps one with espresso beans? Yummy.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Genevieve
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| Posted: July 17 2006 at 11:25am | IP Logged
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JennGM wrote:
Genevieve wrote:
| Jenn, I don't drink coffee and tea. I'm just a desperate woman trying to stay awake. |
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Don't start, now! Really, dark chocolate will help. Perhaps one with espresso beans? Yummy. |
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Now chocolate... hmmmm I LOVE dark chocolate.
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Genevieve
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ladybugs
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| Posted: July 17 2006 at 11:28am | IP Logged
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JennGM wrote:
I drink even more evil than coffee, though. It's called Diet Coke....
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Ok, maybe it's because I haven't had any coffee this am, but when I first started reading this sentence, I gasped! My Jenn? Drink evil?
Then, I finished the sentence!
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ladybugs
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| Posted: July 17 2006 at 11:30am | IP Logged
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Genevieve,
I think it's easy to fall asleep during read-alouds because it's such a relaxing and cozy time.
I know this might sound odd, but are you hydrated enough with drinking water? Sometimes, we're tired because we're dehydrated.
Just a thought.
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Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
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Elizabeth
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Coffee--actually caffeine in general--is bad for me. I don't think the research bears out that it is universally bad but I know it doesn't do good things for me. It makes me hyper-sensitive and even the slightest bit affects my sleep (and that includes chocolate-covered expresso beans  ). I went back in the archives to see when I gave up STarbucks.It was mid-August last year. I didn't give up caffeine completely until mid-October. I was pregnant January first. I have no idea if there's a connection though...
I never used caffeine until shortly after my fourth baby. Coincidently (or not?), I never had trouble with depression or with weight until then either...
Genevieve, if you can't get through the afternoon, you don't need caffeine, you need a nap. And you deserve it too. Caffeine might not be bad for you but a nap would be good for you.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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stefoodie
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I usually nap after a read-aloud. Even a 10-minute power nap does me wonders! And I'm not even pregnant or nursing anymore! Take the nap:D
...And the dark chocolate if you still need help after that -- my newest discovery is Vosges chocolate; they've got a black sesame/wasabi/ginger combination that is awesome. It's called Black Pearl Bar.
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Sarah
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I couldn't keep my eyes open after my 3rd child, even in the morning. Yes, maybe I need more sleep, but its not going to happen.
I'm a coffee drinker with no side effects (that I know of  ). Dh wants to be able to drink coffee, but it makes him feel terrible. There is some data proving that unfiltered coffee (Frnch press type) can increase your blood pressure (I think its blood pressure).
Marilyn Shannon thinks everything is bad for you. I lost faith in her when she had the "cure" for morning sickness and it was as simple as taking more vitamins and eating extra protein--yeah, sure, whatever! She really makes you feel guilty if you don't comply.
Anyway, I drink two cups of coffee/day, except when I'm pregnant  and I'm fine.
However, it is addicting, so think about it before you start.
I love getting those cups of coffee each day. I use good tasting coffee, organic half&half, and sugar. I look forward to it everyday! But like I said before dh tried the same thing and it made him feel worse--in his joints, stomach, and a general blah feeling.
I would stay away from Starbucks and those type of places because they really do contain MORE caffeine--or so I've heard.
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Dawn
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Is coffee bad for me? Goodness, I hope not!  I drink a fair share of it everyday!
Sarah wrote:
| I love getting those cups of coffee each day. I use good tasting coffee, organic half&half, and sugar. I look forward to it everyday! |
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You and me both, Sarah!  I - well we, meaning dh and I - drink organic fair trade coffee. We use cold filtered water and whole beans that our coffeemaker grinds and brews. I make mine *extra light* - with 1 teaspoon of sugar. Four cups later I've probably had my fat intake for the day!
I have heard coffee is good for you mentally. But like Elizabeth said, you have to know your limit. If I drink my full 4 cups in the morning, anything else I have through the day is decaf. Often I make decaf on winter afternoons (though sometimes I opt for tea).
Genevieve, how is your water intake? My dh swears that drinking water all day long keeps him energized.
I find I have good energy most of the day, but I - like most of us here I suspect - could do with some more. For me I am looking at changing my diet and drinking more water. I am trying to find a book or website or something with ideas for eating specifically for energy.
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8kids4me
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I've heard that in moderation it's fine. You can get antioxidents from it. I drink a couple of cups of organic coffee in the morning(black), in a cup with a saucer(not a huge mug). Sometimes, I have sweet tea in the afternoon or MAYBE a coke. I have diabetes so I have to watch it, and I do NOT like diet drinks. If I go without the caffeine I am fine, but dh who guzzles gallons of diet pepsi isn't so lucky if he goes without . I would agree with the power nap if you can get it, or the dark chocolate. or both
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Lisbet
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I'm another that started drinking coffee after the 3rd baby!! I drink 3 cups a day, 2 in the morning and one in the afternoon. When I'm pregnant, I drink 1 in the morning and 1 in the afternoon. Never after 3 pm, and I do make sure to drink all my water each day too.
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JennGM
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ladybugs wrote:
JennGM wrote:
I drink even more evil than coffee, though. It's called Diet Coke....
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Ok, maybe it's because I haven't had any coffee this am, but when I first started reading this sentence, I gasped! My Jenn? Drink evil?
Then, I finished the sentence! |
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Thanks for the chuckle, Maria...and the wonderful faith you have in me. 
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Jennifer G. Miller
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MaryMary
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My hubby reaches for a piece of crunchy fruit (apple,pear, etc.) when he needs a pick-me-up. Must be all that chewing action that wakes him up a bit. I'm a coffee girl, myself...
Mary
Mom 2 3 
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JennGM
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| Posted: July 17 2006 at 1:45pm | IP Logged
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Sarah wrote:
| Marilyn Shannon thinks everything is bad for you. I lost faith in her when she had the "cure" for morning sickness and it was as simple as taking more vitamins and eating extra protein--yeah, sure, whatever! She really makes you feel guilty if you don't comply. |
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Oh, you made my month, Sarah! I keep picking up her book, take a few, and then try to kick away the guilt.
Somewhat related, I also picked up Kippleys' "The Art of Natural Family Planning" to see what they said about menopause. It was so short, so little, but so , at least to me. I paraphrase: This is the time in your life that you'll be worry and chart free...the Golden years, but consider abstaining in reparation for sins.
Beautiful sentiment, but geez! Are they calling all menopausers to do this? So when I hit that time (which looks to be soon), according to Shannon and Kippleys I'm to be abstinent, alcohol, sugar, caffeine free the rest of my life....plus a few others I missed, I think. Not much to look forward to.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Elizabeth
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JennGM wrote:
Somewhat related, I also picked up Kippleys' "The Art of Natural Family Planning" to see what they said about menopause. It was so short, so little, but so , at least to me. I paraphrase: This is the time in your life that you'll be worry and chart free...the Golden years, but consider abstaining in reparation for sins.
Beautiful sentiment, but geez! Are they calling all menopausers to do this? So when I hit that time (which looks to be soon), according to Shannon and Kippleys I'm to be abstinent, alcohol, sugar, caffeine free the rest of my life....plus a few others I missed, I think. Not much to look forward to. |
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This is another thread altogether--go for it Jenn! This is when the Kippley's lost me altogether. I read this when I truly thought I was very pre-menopausal and found it nothing but callous. That was after spending hours with the book trying to find places where it was pro-pregnancy.
I am going with the sugar and caffeine-free though--all part of the depression-busting plan. Personally, I don't think menopausal absitinence is going to help with anyone's depression or midlife crises in this house.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Willa
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I thought coffee was good for you, like chocolate 
I am getting way more energy recently as I've cut back on the sugar and simple carbs, so you might want to experiment with that if you haven't already. I have a nursing toddler too. I still need 8 hours sleep but at least I'm not so totally drowsy every afternoon.
Also, I increased my water intake so that may have helped too.
I drink a cup of coffee in the am and a cup of tea in the afternoon if I really need to.
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aussieannie
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To find a non-caffeine alternative is a better thing because you are not sure what is causing your tiredness. I know I probably seem obsessive about mentioning thyroids but my life is ruled by the lack of one!(probably atrophied by now)
I was on a coffee thing recently, at a time my medication for the thyroid was not correct, when you are tired it is easy to turn to these quick pick-me-ups. But I found that the coffee seemed to turn of me  that I started to develop other symptoms that made me question the culprit and culprit it was! After coming off it, those symptoms died away.
So I decided to do a little more thyroid reading...and I discovered that caffeine impacts on the thyroid via your adrenals (thyroid and adrenals work together, one down the other down.)
What can seem like the answer to start with can be a catalyst in time for further problems.
Powerful stuff it is too! Recently I was at a cafe at 8.30pm and I ordered a de-caffeinated latte, well afterwards I realised I forgot to mention "de-caffeinated", but I kept drinking, 5 hours it took me before my body would allow me to sleep! 1.30am I think it was.
I think if you are not sure of want is causing your tiredness that caffeine is probably not the best thing to resort to. I will back back to this thread if I can find any herb that could be of help.
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amiefriedl
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Elizabeth wrote:
| Genevieve, if you can't get through the afternoon, you don't need caffeine, you need a nap. And you deserve it too. Caffeine might not be bad for you but a nap would be good for you. |
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OHH - well said, well said Elizabeth! What a true statement! All mothers should take note! Naps are not an extravagence, they can be so vital to good mothering. Especially a homeschooling mother.
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Topic: Is coffee bad for you?
