What Happened After I Stopped Drinking Tea
Coffee addiction is a modern problem, but black tea is not innocent either. I was born in Türkiye, and I am 28 years old now. I’ve been drinking tea since I was 6 or 7 years old. It’s a tradition here, so that chart is no joke.
My daily tea consumption was an entire pot — and not a small one, but a large pot like the one in the picture below. Desserts pair well with sugar-free tea, which is one reason (among others) why I gained over 35 kg (77 lbs) during the pandemic. I was literally obese and couldn’t lose weight due to my situation. I was working 9 hours a day and spending 4 hours on the road. There wasn’t even enough time for me to sleep and rest. (And I was working half a day on Saturdays, with the 4-hour commute still being an issue.)
After I changed my job, I was finally able to work with a personal trainer and a dietitian. My dietitian always advised me to drink only one cup of tea or coffee a day, but I didn’t listen. I was already stressed, and drinking tea was my comfort.
In just a year, I lost 20 kilograms, but then my progress stopped. The disappointment and stress were so intense that I couldn’t see what I truly needed. But then, something magical happened.
I distanced myself from toxic environments and people. Mental health is a crucial aspect of a weight loss journey. Although I still couldn’t sleep well, my stress levels were significantly lower.
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Then, I quit drinking tea. And coffee. The only things I drank during the day were a cup of green tea in the morning and lots of water. I thought this would be challenging at first, but trying new things was so exciting that I didn’t even miss tea.
Suddenly, my sleep quality improved. I was able to go to bed early, and I didn’t toss and turn at all. My face changed — it wasn’t puffy anymore. My teeth were brighter, and while my dark circles were still there, they looked better.
After a long time, I made a mistake. One night, while watching The Handmaid’s Tale, I decided to drink black tea. I could only finish one cup, and after two episodes, I went to bed. But I couldn’t sleep.
It was midnight when I got into bed, and my mind was racing with thoughts and memories. I gave up and tried to read a book under a soft light. By 2 a.m., I was bored and tried to sleep again, but I still couldn’t.
I got up and did many things — chasing my cats, washing their bowls, washing my dishes, and so on. By 5 a.m., playing video games was my only option because this “wakefulness” felt different. I knew I needed to sleep, but something in my brain was urging me to stay awake — unwanted and useless.
It was already 8 a.m. when my brain began to shut down. My mind was doing everything to stay awake, but my body was exhausted. I got into bed again and finally managed to sleep after two hours.
When I woke up, I didn’t feel rested at all. That experience was a disaster, yet in a way, it was also magical. It was like rediscovering a superpower!
Looking back, quitting tea and coffee was a pivotal decision in my journey towards better health. What seemed like a small change at first turned out to have a profound impact on my well-being. I learned that sometimes, our habits, even those that seem harmless, can hold us back from reaching our full potential. By letting go of my tea addiction, I not only improved my sleep and physical health, but I also gained a new sense of control over my life. This experience has taught me that real transformation starts with the courage to make small, intentional changes — and that sometimes, the simplest steps can lead to the most significant results.
