I like a glass of wine in the evening on occasion. I started drinking concord wine, which has more antioxidants and the taste is good and grapey. I figured if I was going to drink it anyway, might as well have some benefit. I mix mine with diet 7up to cut the calories.

i've been totally off alcohol for 17 months. and i gave up coffee 4 weeks ago. i have at least 1 cup of green tea a day. it only has 15mg of caffine per cup. as opposed to the 80-120mg in a cup of coffee depending on the method of making it.

an interesting side effect is that i can't eat much chocolate. a bar of chocolate contains about hlaf the amount of caffine as a cup of coffee. now since i'm caffine reduced i find chocolate gives me really bad headaches

Headaches from chocolate? You poor dear!

I've been drinking green tea for the past few weeks instead of coffee in the afternoons. The verdict is in. It works. Before that, I was at a stall in my weight loss. Switching to the green tea has gotten the scale moving again in the right direction.

I was a huge coffee drinker but now only one or two cups in the morning instead of multiple cups throughout the day. I do have a cup of green tea every evening.

As for wine I have only had that once since going on plan and it was a disaster. Had a major whoosh and then didn't lose anything for almost two weeks; decided at this point it's not worth it.

I too had heard/read that aspartame in diet soda induces cravings and hunger.

I've heard the same about diet sodas. Thankfully, that is one diet vice I haven't picked up, I have enough others to fight. LOL I've never been able to get used to the taste, I can tell even in the best ones, and they make me very thirsty and give me a headache. Reaction to the artificial sweetner maybe???

Well, I hear here and from a nurse friend that tea doesn't have more caffeine than coffee. Good. I did revert back to a cup of Joe on my really needy days, but I have cut back alot. I have also successfully cut back on the wine, although last night my good friend (the nurse) hit it pretty hard with me. lol I can really feel it in my stress level as tax time is heating up (I'm a preparer) and my big homework assignments are getting harder - I'm cool as a cucumber though.

Now I just need to get my keister into the gym!

About six weeks ago, I stopped drinking anything with caffeine in it by noon and I can't believe the difference it has made in my sleeping. I still have a diet coke in the morning (I don't like coffee) and I occasionally have one with lunch but that is it. For the first time in years, I fall asleep rather quickly and stay asleep. It has made a huge difference in my life. I was amazed at how such a small change could have such a large effect. After reading several of the comments here on diet sodas I think I may need to think about cutting them out completely. Don't know if I can cut out my morning diet coke but I wonder if it is the reason why I am usually so hungry late-morning even after a good breakfast.