Caffeine Behavior Analysis

The behavior that I noticed about myself and I perceived as a habitual action that required change was my frequency in coffee consumption. Before the start of the project, I became aware that I drank about 3-4 cups of coffee per day throughout the course of the entire day, every day of the week.

A. Analyzing the Pros and Cons for Change I chose to change this behavior when I became aware of the many health problems associated with drinking too much coffee or caffeine. According to WebMD, heavy caffeine consumption can cause health problems such as Glaucoma, Heart Disease and Osteoporosis. Coffee has also been proven to worsen Diarrhea, Bleeding disorders and Anxiety. According to Stein Et al (2000), coffee produces the

It is a stimulant and tends to increase the heart rate, which for me, increases restlessness, nervousness, stress and anxiety effects. Among the various side effects related to coffee, there are some benefits. Some of the benefits for me were increased weight loss, increased energy, and an overall improvement of concentration and fatigue. Moreover, the cons in changing this behavioral trend would be a perhaps a decrease in energy, and a more stagnant concentration through the day. There are many determinants that have influenced my behavior in coffee consumption. In the Food- Related Determinant, Taste is more of a barrier for me. There are many alternative food choices I can consume that can provide an equal amount of energy, however the taste of coffee was more alluring to me than

Upon monitoring myself during a two week period, I realized that my consumption of coffee increased on days where I slept little the night before. The next step was the Self-revaluation process where I reassessed the feelings about my behavior. I realized that I wanted to reduce my coffee intake so my life may be prolonged and prevent myself from developing CVD. I also realized that if I continue this trend of relying on coffee for energy, I may eventually become addicted to it, or it may be difficult to function without it. I then employed the Environmental Reevaluation process; I also recognized that my behavior may have a negative impact on my son. Relying on coffee for energy, may prevent me from engaging in activities with my son that requires large amounts of energy. I believe that these processes were applicable to the current Stage of Change because the information I gained regarding coffee and the stimulus around it led me to consider a change in the near future. My next step was the Self-Liberation process where I became committed to changing the behavior. I understood that by sleeping more at night would make me less reliant on coffee for energy. I also started purchasing green tea instead of coffee and I began using my will power to make the substitution. In this process I believe that I