I'm a coffeeholic!
 

I've been doing pretty well overall with my weight loss considering the amount of coffee I have on a daily basis which is about 3 cups with cream in it. I've tried to cut out the cream and go with milk for starters but i find that milk in my coffee just doesn't taste as good so I'm back to cream.

I know that the reason I've been losing weight so far is because I've changed my eating habits, but soon enough the coffee will catch up with me and I'm going to have to banish it in order to lose more weight. I just don't know how to let go. Does anyone have this problem? Or overcome it? How?:?:

You could try to compromise a little, do 1 with cream, and then the next 2 with milk? So you have one good one, but not 3.

I saw some fat free half and half the other day - you might want to try something like that?

I feel your pain... Pumpkin Lattes are out now and we have a coffee shop on the ground floor of my building. I have had two so far this week. I get them with skim milk... so it saves me some fat, but they are SO LOADED with sugar.

I don't see any reason to banish coffee or the little bit of cream that goes in, if you really like it.

1T of cream = 52 calories

Hey, I had a similar problems with caffiene drinks. I would drink about 4-6 cans of diet coke or sugar free energy drinks. For the first few weeks, i managed to drink them and lose weight, but that came to a standstill. I talked to my PT about it and he said it was the caffiene, and partly the sweetners.

Anyway, I found the best way to stop was to gradually cut down and then stop. that way you get less withdrawl from caffiene. It took me nearly 3 weeks to stop but its nw been 6 weeks since I had any so seems to have worked. If you've got strong will power you could try going cold turkey?!
HTH

I am also dependent upon my coffee - I take mine with whole milk, no sugar. I count the calories for the milk - it adds up, I estimate that I use about a cup and a half of milk a day. But until I can't shave those calories some other way, whole milk isn't such a bad way to get them.

When I have to, I will go kicking and screaming to 2% milk. I understand why you are having trouble adjusting to using milk instead of cream - there is chemistry in your cup; the milkfat reacts with coffee and really does change the taste. Lower fat milk products aren't just less rich; there is less of that chemistry to reduce the bitterness of the coffee.

My suggestion, if you can manage it, is to try better coffee - it really does make a difference to the taste, and will make it easier to adjust to using lower fat milk. If you make your coffee at home, make sure your coffee maker is very clean, and buy fresher beans or a higher-end brand. If you get coffee elsewhere, go for a higher-end brand of coffee.

The coffee my partner makes at home - freshly ground Peet's beans, made in a press pot - is so good that I can almost drink it without any milk at all! I've never been able to do that with any other coffee. So try a better coffee if you can manage it, and see if it helps you switch from cream to milk.

Have you thought about cutting back gradually on the cream? How about do half cream, milk and slowly wean off the cream? Another option.....as crazy as it may sound is vanilla soy milk. Or, there are flavored low cal creamers out there that are yummy. But, I really do agree with carter.....the actual coffee can make a huge difference. Finally, if nothing works, then you could always work out extra and cut back on something else to allow you this treat. :)

Thanks everyone for the great advice! I don't think I can go cold turkey, I'm not that brave yet, but I will try to start off using whole milk instead of cream, and also try to cut out one cup from my day. I think that'll be a good start for me and then we'll see what's next from there on. :)

Yes i think part of the reason I have still been losing weight even though I binge on coffee is because drinking coffee somehow cuts my appetite and I don't end up eating all that I normally would. So I am probably making up calories with my coffee that I am not getting elsewhere...

I'm super bad with the coffee now that I got one of those K-cup makers. :coffee2:

I'm about bouncing off the walls some days :twirly:

It took a few years for me to go from Half & Half, to whole milk, and now to 2% in my coffee. Might try a mix: 1/2 & 1/2 + milk to start?

I feel your pain, I hated giving up my 1/2 & 1/2. But now it taste too thick to me, so I'm proof that you can get used to it!

Good luck!

on another thread some people mentioned fat free half & half is pretty good and only 20calories for 2tbls.. might be something to try. Haven't tried it myself, but I think I will be soon.

I consume an obscene amount of caffeine daily with no ill effects. And I drink my coffee black.

But now I'm trying to go to bed by 10pm every night, which is not working out so well. I think I'm going to have to cut back for that reason alone.

I wish I could drink it black. I like iced coffee black, for some weird reason.

And yeah, I have to stop drinking caffeine by about 2pm or I dont sleep well.

And I've noticed that when I dont sleep well, I dont diet well.
Vicious circle :(

I've never seen fat free half & half, will have to look for it next time I shop. Thanks for the tip SCraver and ringmaster!

For some weird reason I have no trouble sleeping after drinking coffee. So I sometimes I even drink it in the evening.:coffee:

Happy National Coffee Day,
I like my coffee too. There certainly is fat free 1/2&1/2 and I have used it in the past.. I have used the real stuff while I was losing w/ Splenda. We all get to chose what we keep and what we don't. I never pour half & half directly into my cup. I always measure it, teaspoon first, cup second. I always record it. No isle of denial. Cream didn't make me fat.

Personally I just accept that it's something that I have to allow the cals for. It's beyond the needed caffine to get my day started for me. There is just something about that warm cup every morning that is so comforting I refuse to go without it. I use a ridiculous amount of SF creamer, but like I said, it's planned for. I know that everyday I need 120-180 cals to allow for my coffee. It's pretty sad when I think about it, do you know what I could do with an extra 120-180 cals in my day! But it's worth it, I LOVE my coffee.

This is one of the reasons I became a low carber ;).

A little heavy cream hasn't held me back!

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.

Are you sure it's not the fake sugar (or fake milk?) giving you diarrhoea.

How much cream are we talking about? a dash or half a cup?

I count the milk in my coffee as my dairy serves.

I have a (male) friend who lost a kg a week when he went from 2 x lattes a day to 2 x macciato a day. I wish it were that simple for me!!!

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.

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 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?

I'm certainly no expert, but here is a summary:

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!

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 :D).

In media pictures, you always see celebrities walking around with a huge cup of coffee - seems to work for them!

So true bonnnie! But they are probably working out 5 times a week or so...

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. :D

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!

I did it :D I drank only 2 cups of coffee this morning with 1 tbsp of cream in each! so cut back from 120 cal of half & half to only 40 cal and it wasn't so bad. First step down.

International Delight Skinny Vanilla Latte & Skinny Caramel Machiatto creamers. 30 cals per tbsp. International Delight Chocolate Breve Cream, Caramel Breve Cream & Hazelnut Breve Cream - all 35 cals per tbsp. Love them.

I used to use half a cup of creamer and 8-10 spoons of sugar. I'm now down to one tsp of natural sugar and 1 tbsp creamer in my coffee. Can't live without it.

I use fat free creamer and splenda. I drink 5 cups every morning.

Coffee is the one thing that I'm not willing to give up. A girl has to have something! I have 2 to 3 cups a day with 2 tsp of sugar-free hot chocolate mix--my version of a mocha if you will. I will also drink it black or with skim milk on occasion.

See, my problem was that I could never, in reality, limit myself to 1tsp of cream. I THINK I'm only using a splash, but it's always closer to 2 Tbs. That's why I had to switch to 2%.

I've tried soy a few times, still cannot get into it. May try again.