2.5 month Taper SUCCESS!

Long time lurker. This sub helped me quit twice before (2020 & 2023) so I wanted to come back and share where I’m at. I know how much it helps to read other people’s plans when you’re piecing your own together.

On and off powder since 2019. About 8 months ago I added brewed cafe tea on top of the powder, which got me to around 280 to 360 mg MIT/day estimated. The tea was sneaky because it felt “lighter” than powder but it was loading me up. There’s a spot near me that makes it way too easy to grab, which is part of why it crept in fast.

Tapered the tea down first while keeping powder stable. Tea fully gone 5/14. Started the powder taper from there. I was using around 16-20gpd and dropped down to 10gpd right away. That first week rough. Then k kept a strict journal across 5 doses, dropping around 5-7% every 2 to 3 days. Goal was to land at 5g before a family vacation & hold through the trip. I tried pushing faster and it wasn’t worth what it cost my family & business. Slow was the move.

What actually helped me:
The supplement stack I put together felt like it helped the tail end of the taper by at least 20%. I’m not going to list the exact lineup, but it was built around morning energy and nighttime sleep support.

Sticking to a consistent nighttime routine is essential.
Stuff that’s honestly mattered more than the supplements: weighted vest walks, weightlifting, swimming, cold showers, morning sunlight, a protein-heavy breakfast, replenishing electrolytes, throwing out the extra bags that I had stashed and only had enough to finish the taper which held me accountable. I also want to personally think a few individuals from this sub who became my accountability partners. You guys are truly amazing.

The whole reason I’m doing this is to get my life back, to FEEL again, and to fall back in love with life. It’s wild to see how much of a hermit you actually become on this sludge. The version of me my family gets when I’m chasing 2-hour dose intervals isn’t the dad I want to be.

Pulling for everyone here! There truly is light at the end of the tunnel.