So I have inventory this morning at work and have to be there early. I think mmmm I think I'll get a tasty flavored latte. I prefer a local coffee shop. But only Starbucks is between home and work, an I don't have much extra time. I order a grande soy pumpkin spice latte. First if all it's 5 buck. I mean geez, this is why I frequent the locally owned joint. Here's the worst part. I enter it into my app and it's 300 calories!!!! Holy cow! I mean yeah it was most of my breakfast today but seriously. So as I'm sipping on it I'm thinking "this is a serving of whole grain pasta with marinara sauce, or two cookies, or two glasses of wine tonight!" As I pondered this the latte tasted less and less scrumptious. Plus it was too sweet. I actually added black coffee to it when I got to work. And it's half full in the fridge right now. I guess if I had thought about it before I should have guessed it was that many calories. Thank goodness for finally counting because before I never would have considered that ibeas using 1/4 of my non active day calories.

Yes, this stuff is scary.

I used to work at a certain coffee shop (*cough*) and yes, the caramel macchiato has get this... 12-18 pumps of (sugar) syrup depending on size

How much sugar is that? Well, about 16 grams in the sugar-free. Ouch. It's about 60-80 grams...

There are manyyyyy ways to make Starbucks drinks calorie counting friendly! Non-fat, skinny (sugar free vanilla), etc!
One drink that I love is the Pumpkin Spice Latte which doesnt come in a skinny version, and even the short witout whip and topping, and using non fat milk is still like 130 for a SHORT! But sometimes we have to indulge a bit right?
I actually made a homemade pumpkin latte this morning for only 56 calories! Not as good but def less calories, and cheaper!

That's why I drink their shaken black iced tea (lightly sweetened). 80 calories (grande)

I was surprised by the calories too, but then again I used to go to Starbucks after dinner for like a dessert. I usually had a Frappuccino (probably the worse thing on the menu).

Now I just stick with their regular good ole' coffee and put a few shakes of the vanilla or chocolate powder they have by the milk, and sometimes cinnamon. I figure coffee is coffee, so they can't be adding more calories to that. If I want a pumpkin coffee I can buy the flavored kind and make my own.

I get it as a misto... half sweet, nonfat milk. It's just the right kick of sweet pumpkiny goodness, without the incredibly amount of calories. Estimated it at around 130 for a Grande.

And since when did a caramel macchiato have 12-18 pumps of syrup? A venti only gets 4 of vanilla, but the caramel sauce on top packs a doozy of a sugar punch.

Ya know, reading this thread, it makes me glad that I have never even once set foot into a starbucks. Now, don't get me wrong, its not that I have anything against starbucks, I simply am unable to drink coffee. Have tried it many many times..even the really good stuff in Italy, but it makes my stomach hurt. It doesnt make me sick to my stomach, it actually gives me pain. So, as one who cant drink coffee, there is absolutely no reason for me to walk into a starbucks, and seeing that it seems a temptation loaded place, it is something to be grateful for!!

I drink tea..black. Its boring, but it is actually the way I like it. Twinings English Breakfast Tea is my hot drink of choice.

Oh man, i was at starbucks this morning and everyone was ordering that pumpkin spice latte!!!

@punkrprincessa - does everywhere let you order a short? Because i see it in the nutrition info, but it's never on the menus and i never see smaller cups. I personally think the tall is way too much sweetness and would prefer a smaller option.

Wildflower - they all have the short size, and in the event that they're out of cups they can make you a short in the tall size cup. It's not on the menu because it's not ordered often, and frankly because they want to make more money. But if you want a tall's worth of a drink and find it too sweet, order it half sweet or two pumps.

And to anyone who wants to indulge in something delicious but try to make it guilt free, talk to your barista. I loved working there, I had a list of drinks under 200 calories I allowed myself to treat myself to once or twice a week. When customers had dietary concerns (allerigies, high fat low carb, low calorie, high protein, etc.) I loved working with them to come up with the perfect drink. Or ask me, since I miss it a lot :P To me it's my very favourite favourite indulgence, so I had to find a way to make it work.

I'm the opposite of TornadoSiren - tea makes me really, really nauseous, while I can drink all the coffee I want without a problem. Luckily, I prefer coffee anyway! But the baddest I get is a cappucino. I don't go for the sweet drinks at all. Pastries, however, are a separate discussion that goes way beyond the scope of this thread!

Sticker shock is what I call it. I remember almnost a year ago, starting to CC, entering the data into my app when needed. There was the thread on calories in a spianch omelet at IHOP.

Welcome to the real world. One of the best things I have done. The isle of denial is no place for me.

As per SBX- I go about once /week with DD. An absolute highlight of my week. I order a grande cap, for there (cup/saucer), 1 splenda, cinnamon on top. Now that I am at maintanence I bring 6 choc covered almonds (120cal). I got SF pumpkin syrup for my coffee at home. Is it the same as a pumpkin latte? No. But it doesn't have to be either.

It will come down to what are your goals. *For me*, I did not want a self induced plateau. I do not ever want to go through weight loss again. What are your goals?

@neonwildflower - Thanks for the info - I am so going to start ordering shorts! Do you know how many shots of espresso are in a short? I just find I never finish drinking the whole tall, but I do enjoy the level of sweetness for the amount I drink (if that makes sense?!) lol.

Whenever I visit Starbucks (which is often) I like to order a Grande Caramel Light Frappuccino. This only amounts to a mere 150 calories, and so long as I eat a light breakfast I never feel guilt about treating myself!