I used to drink a lot of coffee. I would but double cream and double sugar. Then I went to putting two milk and a sweetener. I never found the coffee tasted the same after putting fake sugar and milk in it. I'm finding that caffeine and coffee in particular isn't sitting well with me. I find it gives me diarrhea.
I do know what you mean by caffeine decreasing your appetite. I used to drink a coffee before I would work out to give me an extra boost. I'd suggest cutting down on the cream and sugar if you really want to drink coffee on a regular basis.
If your had said: I will eventually need to banish my 5 slices of pizza per day habit, or my habit of eating chips or french fries on a daily basis - I'd probably agree. But coffee with cream? I guess my question is, how many calories are you actually using with the creamer?
Coffee can be good and bad for weight loss. First, it spikes your blood sugar, making you feel not-hungry. But then, when your blood sugar starts falling soon later, you will feel major hunger pains. You will notice you put your body through a sort of roller coaster effect. There is also another interesting effect that caffeine has on the body, if you have too much, then it counteracts your energy and can make you feel tired and lethargic, which is probably why you can fall asleep at night after drinking (this happens in a lot of cases, but not to everyone).
I personally am also a big fan of coffee. A trusted scientific friend of mine once told me that a bit of cream and sugar is actually better for you because, as your blood sugar starts falling again, your body has the cream and sugar to fall back on - thus lessening the hunger pains. But, I don't know - I'm not a scientist.
I personally found that I was one of those people that would start to feel lethargic with too much caffeine. I found that what I really wanted was the sensation of sipping something warm while I worked (just like a baby!) and after my first or second cup of coffee, I simply put hot water in a mug. I don't like herbal tea because it makes me feel nauseous. So, just hot water, sometimes a twinge of lemon,but satisfies my need for that comforting feeling and doesn't put my body through a roller coaster.
Caffeine addict here. Do not go cold turkey, I did that once when I was pregnant and man did I suffer. Caffeine is a physical addition. I love cream in my coffee, but use it as a treat. I usually drink it with (are you ready for this?) 1%. I know I know. But it is the caffeine my body craves, not the cream. 3 cups is not a horrible habit, but if you do go to 2 you have saved that much fat and calories in the cream. Flavored coffee is also wonderful, and may help with kicking the cream. Or just add a little cinnamon to the pot. Good luck with whatever you do.
I oh-so miss my carby calorie laden Starbucks visits. Lattes, cappuccinos, and machiatos. *sigh* My tubby arse, thunder thighs, flabby arms, and huge belly don't miss them though. They're more than glad to see the empty calories go.
I am having about 120 calories in cream a day, give or take depending on the day, but that is the average for my 3 cups (2 tbsp each cup). I never use sugar, I cut that out 5 years ago.
I know that for myself it isn't the feeling of having something warm; I guess the reality is that I now rely on coffee to replace food after seeing the effect it has had on me when I am hungry. I still eat, just that I probably eat much less with the coffee than without it. If I didn't have the coffee to fall back on I would probably end up binging on chips and all sorts of fatty snacks. So maybe the coffee isn't so bad if it means replacing the junk food? 120 cal Vs 500+ cal?
Caffeine even in absense of calories can affect blood sugar, which is also why low-carb diets forbid coffee:
"Drinking coffee over a short period of time has been shown to raise blood sugar. Caffeine does this by enhancing the effect of two hormones (adrenaline and glucagon). These two hormones release stored sugar from the liver resulting in high blood sugar"
Whether or not the little bit of milk and sugar actually helps regulate the 'comedown' from coffee (as my friend told me), is just me relaying a story from a biologist friend of mine - not sure if its true!
Does coffee really raise your blood sugar? It's not got any sugar or carbs in it, so I'd presumed it was fine for blood sugar.
The milk and cream will raise your blood sugar but does it gradually.
The sugar that raises the blood sugar and very quickly.
I had gestational diabetes during my last pregnancy so I was checking my blood before and after most meals and some snack times as well; coffee didn't affect my blood sugar (thankfully ).
I always treat my coffee like a treat. I figure it's my tiny splurge item and if I make room for it in my calorie count and keep my fats low in other places then it's ok. Besides, according to studies, coffee drinkers are less likely to have type 2 diabetes, parkinson's, dementia, few cases of certain cancers, heart rhythm problems and strokes.
I'd go ahead and treat myself to a cup of coffee or two. Maybe, cutting one out and replacing it with a cup of tea or a glass of water would be a step in the right direction?
I'm a coffeeholic as well and never plan to stop. I also work at Starbucks so it's sort of a requirement.
I love fat free H & H and use it at home in my coffee and hot tea. It taste great and once you start using it you won't even miss the regular H & H. The fat free is 40 calories for 2 TBS and of course no fat which is great!
We have all given up much in our quests for better health, better looking bodies, or whatever our motivations happen to be. I say drink your coffee. My god, we have to have some vices, right??
There is much out there that is bad for us..if we gave up absolutely everything that someone said was not good for us at one time or another, our lives would be pretty damned dull.
Don't beat yourself up over one thing that is not perfectly healthy for you. Enjoy your coffee!
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