I moved to the Okanagan over 13 years ago and, as a recovering coffee addict, reluctantly drank my very first Tim Hortons' “double double.” The two-cream-two-sugar combination instantly had me hooked for the next couple of years.
I was a new mother at the time, so this silly passion wasn’t the most convenient, but I still managed to get my fix on a daily basis.
And then one day, when I was pregnant with our second child, and not yet aware that I was, I took a sip of the warm comforting beverage that I loved so much and it tasted awful. I sipped it a few more times trying to figure out what was wrong with it, but there was nothing different about the drink, just that I no longer liked its taste. I poured it out and never ordered another one again.
Once I realized I was expecting, I figured our unborn child must have had something to do with my sudden dislike for double doubles and I started to cater to different cravings, none of which included coffee. But after Daisy was born I picked up my coffee habit again – this time from Starbucks.
My “grande non-fat mild coffee misto with two pumps of sugarfree vanilla, extra hot” took longer to say and was a little more expensive, but I ordered it once or twice a day for several years until I no longer wanted to.
“This tastes awful,” I said to my co-worker one morning after taking a sip. “I hope this doesn’t mean I’m pregnant.” It didn’t. My body was just rejecting another long-time craving, and while I didn’t know the reason for it, I was relieved to see it go.
Much like the time I gave up double doubles, I had headaches for the first few days and then I was fine. I started drinking more water, and for the warm comfort I was looking for, I turned to tea. I tried several types and finally settled on peppermint as my favourite. I never craved it the way I did coffee, but it was still an enjoyable treat.
I can’t remember how long my java drought lasted that time, but it ended one day when I drank the most delicious cup of joe I’d ever had. It was Irish coffee, with Baileys added, sugar around the rim, a dollop of fresh whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles on top. This, unfortunately, became my new daily craving and one that I gave into despite the fact that even though I never felt a buzz, I was technically boozing every day of the week - and in the morning no less.
By far, this was the coffee obsession I liked least, and I was constantly trying to end it. I didn’t include the sugar, whipped cream or sprinkles, but still added Baileys, making the drink fattening even without the extras. After countless unsuccessful attempts to give it up, and a noticeable unwanted weight gain, my cravings persisted until the day I was introduced to organic coffee lattes and I started drinking those instead.
My new addiction wasn’t one that I minded at all. It had some health benefits and was conveniently available in my cupboard at all times. But even that didn’t last forever. One day after years of drinking it daily, it too lost its deliciousness.
I no longer question why these intense cravings abruptly vanish, I just try to pay attention to my body, and if it’s no longer reacting well to something, I’ll eliminate it.
Now tea is back on the agenda and I’m looking forward to trying more varieties. I can’t imagine I’ll ever become addicted to it like I have with coffee so many times, but you never know, I’ve heard there’s a chocolate one I’ll love.
Sounds promising. Maybe I’ll steep a pot and mull it over.
Lori Welbourne is a syndicated columnist. She can be contacted at www.LoriWelbourne.com.