Why do they tell you only 2 cups of coffee or tea? I need at least three to make it through my shift,and what about green tea instead or as a substitute for some of your water intake?any suggestions or input would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Debbie -- From what I can remember, I have always heard that caffeine slows down the fat burning process. What I sometimes do is order a half-caff and then have two of them...that way it only equals the caffeine of one coffee. You can drink green tea too, but really anything with caffeine could slow your losses.

thanks ,maybe this explains my non losses.

Oh dear! I didn't know that caffeine slows down weight loss. I hope my two cups before 7 AM won't hurt too much. I also find that I can trick myself into thinking that my afternoon tea has caffeine, which it doesn't.

I don't know about you all, but I have to have my lo-carb monster drinks...For all of you that don't know...it's an energy drink. I usually have 2 a day.

Evette, Does it have caffeine?or does the energy come from another source?

What are the low-carb monster drinks? How do they count on the plan? I could stand to have a little more energy!

Monsters are like Red Bulls. I would think the Monster Low Carb (not regular) would be either a freebie or a condiment. Here's the nutritionals:

Lo-Carb Monster Energy
Ingredients: carbonated water, sucrose, glucose, citric acid, natural flavors, taurine, sodium citrate, color added, panax ginseng root extract, l-carnitine, maltodextrin, potassium sorbate, sodium and sulfate, caffeine, ascorbic acid, sodium benzoate, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, sodium chloride, guarana seed extract, inositol, glucuronolactone, niacinamide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, cyanocobalamin.
Nutrition facts: Serving Size: 8 fl oz (237 mL); Servings Per Container: 2; Energy: 10 cal (42 KJ); Total carbs: 3 g; Total fat: 0 g; Sugars: 3 g; Riboflavin: 1.7 mg; Niacin: 20 mg; Vitamin B6: 2 mg; Vitamin B12: 6 µg; Sodium: 180 mg; Taurine: 1000 mg; Panax-Ginseng: 200 mg; Energy Blend: 2500 mg (Caffeine 80 mg)



(From left to right) Monster Energy, Lo-Carb, Khaos, and Assault

Thanks Cassi!!! You always got my back!! Love ya, girl!!

Evette - I saw that ticker moved again! Are you heading to 118? Or 115 for the even 100lb loss? You're going to feel like you're feasting in maintenance. Love you too!

ok,I am not too bright but I am going to ask anyway lol how come the caffeine doesnt count in the drink but they say only two cups of coffee a day? Is this an exchange? do you still alow yourself 2 cups of brewed heaven a day?what does it taste like? sorry still relativly new here. and congrats on the losses.:

Oh, if you ask the COD I'm sure they will say the caffeine counts, regardless of the source. Caffeine is a diuretic, which (I think) using too much would cause you to dehydrate, which in turn, would cause you to retain any water you do have. Sort of like how your body goes into starvation mode with too little calories, too little water can turn your body to survival mode too.

When I started I went from 4-6 cans of diet coke a day and another 3 or so glasses at home to the 2 a day recommended. I had a headache that no amount of aspirin, tylenol or motrin would take away for 9 days.

After close to a year on plan, I probably have between 2-4/day. But 4 is a very heavy day for me. You will get used to it, but with everything so new on the plan, if the caffeine is your vice, that's minimal. You can slowly reduce it in your own time. An extra cup of coffee isn't going to stall your losses. Again, my opinion, and I have no training in any type of nutrition or medicine.

Oh Cassi, you don't give yourself enough credit. After being on the plan for a year, you have lots of experience, which I trust more than any training the COD counselors may have.

Cassi - Your diet coke additction sounds a lot like my diet pepsi one, LOL. When I am being *good* i.e. POP, I only allow myself to switch to diet pepsi after I have fulfilled my h2o requirement for the day.

The caffeine DT's are a scary thing. The week-long headache was a real eye opener for me. It's a different feeling than any other headache I have ever had.

on the subject of energy drinks--I haven't tried the Monster but I am a big fan of the Diet Rockstar! Anything to get through the day sometimes.