Coffee.

We have a long, complicated relationship. It provided me with my first job in high school. It got me through late night study sessions in college.

But where is it getting me now?

Sometimes I wonder if my daily coffee-green tea-Coca Cola lineup could be the cause of my achiness and stiff joints. Is it behind the muscle tension that creeps up my back, shoulders and neck? Caffeine notoriously dehydrates, so with all the water I drink, am I barely breaking even? Am I a true “night owl,” or is it the caffeine that keeps me up ’til 2 a.m.?

And those days when my eyeballs feel like they’re bouncing around inside my skull… they always seem to coincide with the days I’ve made myself more than one iced latte.

As part of my campaign to become a discerning eater, I think it’s time to take a good look at how what I eat — even my beloved caffeine — affects my body.

While coffee can be healthy, what if having it in excess is causing all this achiness, muscle tension and dehydration?

And one thing it’s definitely not doing anymore?

Waking me up.

So Starting Now…

You thought I was going to say I’ll nix caffeine, didn’t you? Get real. I’m addicted, and we all know that breaking up with food cold turkey is a recipe for disaster. But I’m going all the way down to one cup.

Starting today, Monday the 19th, I’m test-driving this change for one week. I feel groggy today after a caffeine-filled weekend, so it’s going to be tough. But I need to find out:

1. Will I feel better, healthier, and have better workouts after I cut back on caffeine?
2. Can it even be done?

I just finished my second iced latte as I sat down to write this, knowing it will be my last second-cup for a week — maybe longer.

I have to admit I’m scared. Not only is caffeine a mental and physical stimulant, but it’s a metabolism-booster. Will I be able to reap its rewards with one cup? Or will I start to gain weight, drool through my workouts, and sleep 12 hours a night?

One Cup, Day Two: Reality Sets In>>