I've always drunk caffeine and found it an appetite suppressant.. however my old psychiatrist used to go on and on at me about how drinking caffeine was causing me to binge and that I should cut it out... that kinda freaked me out. I've never found that to be the case though (or at least I don't think I have.. I was binging at the time but I didn't see any link to the caffeine I was drinking).. the idea of cutting out caffeine actually makes me feel a little bit upset lol. I find it comforting somehow.
Anyway has anyone else found or heard this thing about caffeine being an appetite STIMULANT? Because I've heard other people tell me it too...
Although at one point I used to drink energy drinks instead of eat which is NOT a health weight loss approach and I have since banned myself from drinking any at all so I don't fall back into that.. but that's why I was so surprised by my psych's insistence that it was causing me to binge and that it's an appetite stimulant.

all good news as i like coffee ... no I love coffee

It definitely improves my workouts since I workout so freaking early. It also IMPROVES my sleep. I sleep much better with 2-3 cups of coffee before noon than I do when I was totally abstinent.

There are some studies that shows it temporarily boosts metabolism, however there have also been a couple recently that suggest the metabolism drops off farther than normal after so that it is a netzero effect.

As to the appetite stimulant part. COFFEE can be a stimulant for me at times but not because of caffeine, because of the acid irritating the stomach making me THINK I am hungry. Decaf is no better. I find brewing my coffee with cinnamon and a dash of cayenne (dont knock it 'til you try it!!!!) totally eliminates that. Every friday I have coffee with girlfriends at a coffee shop and "have" to drink normal coffee and my "hunger" is much higher.

PaintedButterfly - whether or not caffeine contributes to your own tendency to binge is something you may need to experiment with/pay attention to. It kind of depends on WHAT your own personal binge triggers are. Mine are more related to self sabotage and caffeine is not a contributor at all (actually since I found the connection between morning caffein and IMPROVED sleep for me it is actually a binge deterrent before noon. After 5 it is a binge stimulator because I highly associate evening coffee with dessert - although again, decaf is no better here).

However there have been studies that show that binges occur as a response to stress or anxiety, then caffeine CAN (not WILL) have an impact as it can increase feelings of anxiety and stress. It can also be hard to tell sometimes. Because the effect of caffeine may only drive your binge when you are in the presence of another binge trigger. e.g. most morning you have a cup of coffee and you are fine. Thursday morning you start thinking about your mom's impending visit and your stress starts rising. Add a couple cups of coffee and suddenly the cookies hiding in the back of cupboard go from tempting to the only thing in the planet that will save you.

Is your psych stating that because he thinks it is applicable in your specific case based on any kind of knowledge of your binges, triggers, food patterns, or is this a blanket statement s/he always gives to patients. Some people think caffeine is evil and will do anything to disparage it.

I always felt personally that coffee works better in my favor when losing weight. I drink my coffee black with some cinnamon and it gives off a pleasant aroma like I'm at a starbucks.

I've been drinking coffee and I don't think it has helped or hindered my weight loss. I just have to be careful not fall into bad habits like having a pastry with my coffee!

I see no reason to give it up. I drank 3 cups of strong coffee per day throughout my 50-pound weight loss last year and continue to drink it as I maintain my lower weight. If anything I would guess that coffee helps weight loss by boosting metabolism. And I recently read an article about new research showing that coffee (even 4+ cups) reduces the rates of several types of cancer.

Freelance

I've noticed that one small mug of black coffee when I gets to work gives me enough of a boost that I'm able to concentrate on my work and am less likely to be sidetracked by thoughts of snacks.

I think it helps. I drink a cup in the morning and one around noon with almond or coconut milk and stevia .

Another coffee lover here!: I really like the idea of adding cinnamon as I believe that cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar and reduces the risk of Type 2 diabetes, so that is helpful, too, especially when dieting.

Caffeine will help you suppresses your appetite.But to much caffeine will cause you too much trouble.

In my experience, caffeine has no adverse effect whatsoever on weight loss. I lost 50 pounds last year and have been maintianing for 3 months, all the while drinking three cups of strong coffee with milk (and sometimes sugar) every single day. The latest research suggests that coffee helps prevent several different cancers, too. I see no reason for you to give it up.

F.

HI.........

Nice to meeting you everyone....
Interesting topic here...Haven't heard about caffeine and weight loss programs before. Sounds like something worth looking into more closely.....

I don't normally drink coffee cause it makes me feel jittery but I do when feeling too lazy to exercise. It's temporary boost.