Ugh! I have given up coffee several times for dieting. A little over a year ago, I lost 40 pounds fairly effortlessly having all of the coffee/HWC I wanted plus one meal in the evening. I never felt hungry bc I was getting that constant fat infusion all day. I always had a big iced coffee in my hand. But that isn't working for me now. I've been working on it for seven weeks and after the water weight I am down four pounds and seem to be going up now if anything. So, cutting out the HWC seems the only thing I can do at this point to go down in calories. But I'm really torn about whether I should try to learn to like it black or just give it up.

The only reason I can see to try to drink it black (which I did today, and it wasn't terrible but right now not something I will be enjoying) is that I keep coming back to it. It's always an issue for me when I'm trying to lose, either for or against. And if I learn to drink it black, it will be a non-issue.

OTOH, it seems crazy to teach myself to be addicted to black coffee since I currently don't like it or want it.

The bottom line for me is which is going to be more beneficial for weight loss, and I'm not sure which. I am leaning toward giving it up, but fear that's the wrong move. Of course, it's not like I can't change course later... Just curious about what others have done.

And since I know the obvious answer is to put something different in my coffee... I have tried them all and I don't see any benefit of, say, water yucky almond milk over black, or any of the other alternatives I've tried.

That's a very personal choice. I drink my coffee with a tablespoon of heavy cream, and splenda. Sometimes I put some lite whipped cream on top (20 cals/2 tbsp). I really enjoy it that way -- it's sweet and rich, just like I like it. I treat myself to a coffee from Starbucks (skinny usually) every couple weeks because I really enjoy them.

You'd have to pry coffee out of my dead hands, I will never give it up. It doesn't affect my weight either. I use a little coffeemate creamer and I'm good to go. I don't do iced coffee's though I know those are way too many calories.

I keep hearing coffee being brought up but I am not aware how it's a problem for weightloss. Ignorance is bliss in this case for me.

I'm an old guy, and I learned to drink coffee black as I first started drinking the coffee during the days of World War II, whcn sugar was rationed. I actually prefer it black, but that's just my personal choice. :You have to figure out what is best for you, and what will work for you.

The drinking of coffee never hindered my weight-loss efforts.

You look amazing! I am tempted to just do whatever it is you do!

I say don't fix it if it's not broke. Right now it's not working for me, though.

You know, the only difference between hot coffee and iced coffee is the addition of ice. I make a pot of coffee in the morning and have a cup hot and then later pour it over ice. I'm not talking about a frappacino or something.

If only I had started that way! I never liked sweetener of any kind in my coffee, but I do like it light and creamy.

Oh, I see. I remember a few years back watching on the early morning news a segment about iced coffees from different places and some were the equivalent to eating 2 big macs. Let's just say that information stuck with me.

That would be a whole different thread I guess. I kinda wish they were the equivalent of two big macs. That would make my decision a little easier.

Even a Starbucks IC, if you order it w no sugar or milk/cream is zero calories.

So measure your milk or cream and budget in the calories. If you're spending more than 200 calories on cream, you may want to substitute lighter options, but do it gradually. Don't go from heavy cream to skim milk. Instead, try half-and half. Or use your regular creamer, just a tad bit less of it and use a tiny bit of skim milk or instant non-fat milk powder.

Gradually decrease the amount of high-cal creamer and increase the amount of the low-cal creamer.

You might try instant nonfat milk powder is often a really good option, because you can make a "cream" substitute just by using less water when making the milk from it (or use more powder when adding it to coffee).

I normally have somewhere around 500 cals worth of HWC during the day. I don't eat at all until around 4 or 5 p.m., so it's all the calories I have before late afternoon/evening. So cutting it down would be like cutting my meals down, kwim? And I kinda feel like if its b'fast and lunch that going lower than that is getting flimsy. I can kind of see that that's not logical. But that's kinda my gut reaction. I guess also I'm kind of curious to see whether I'm capable of IF w/o getting that fat stream all day. I kind of feel like I've been an IF faker since it's not like I'm not getting lots of calories during my "fast".

I also try to stay as close to zero carb as possible. Most of my carbs actually come from HWC, probably more than half. So stopping the cream in my coffee will make a big dent there.

I just use one serving of creamer in my coffee... it's actually the perfect amount.

My creamer of choice right now is Soy Delicious Vanilla Coconut creamer, and it's only 20 calories per serving and all natural (which is important to me).

Most creamers regardless of how fancy they are (Mocha-vanilla-caramel-macchiato-super-chocolate-sprinkle-unicorn-essence... blah blah blah) are only 20-40 calories per serving, including all those seasonal flavors you see.

So what's the problem you have with coffee then?

I am sorry. I must be being horribly unclear... I like it w a lot of heavy whipping cream, but I am looking to go lower on my calories. The obvious place for me to cut is the HWC in my coffee. So what I'm thinking about is whether or not I should just give coffee up all together or if I should try to learn how to have it black?

After you read my opening post, did you think I was asking about whether or not I should having hot v. Iced? I need to seriously need to work on my communication skills.

My point really was that you seem to be looking at this as a black-and-white, two alternatives issue when it doesn't have to be. There are many other options as well. If you WANT to try drinking it black or giving it up, go ahead and do that. If you don't like that, try the other option, and if you don't like that option,try something else.

If you want to try drinking it black (or just darker), that's fine, but doing it gradually (as I suggested) will probably make the transition easier. So cut back maybe 5 to 10 percent at a time. Get used to the flavor and then cut back a little more.

When I wanted to use less artificial sweetener, and wanted to learn to like iced tea I started making a pitcher of unsweetened iced tea and a pitcher of Crystal Light. I'd pour the glass with the Crystal Light and add just a splash of the iced tea. I gradually increased the proportion of tea to Crystal Light, and stopped making two pitchers. Instead I'd fill a gallon pitcher with water, add a few teabags and one packet (to make 2 quarts) of Crystal Light (so it was half-strength).

Now I often will make a gallon of iced tea and add only one or two single serve packets of Crystal Light (some flavors I like a little stronger).


Tapering often works better than cold-turkey changes.


There are many other options too. You might try using unflavored undenatured whey protein powder as a creamer substitute (either on it's own or in combination with a lesser amount of HWC). It's very low in carbs, dissolves well in hot water (you just want it to be cool enough to drink before adding the whey powder or it may clump), has a mild milky flavor (without the strong "protein powder" aftertaste of the more common protein powders).

Undenatured just means that the whey is separated out from the milk at lower temperatures than more conventional protein powders. This leaves the whey with a much milder flavor. It also dissolves more completely in liquids without any chalkiness.

I understand what you're saying, kaplods. I am by nature very black and white, it's true. I may end up taking one of your suggestions.

As of today, I had one cup of black coffee and a diet coke so far. I've been up for about four hours and not feeling terribly hungry even though I was STARVING when I went to bed last night. Maybe the HWC isn't necessary to get me through to my late afternoon meal. I am thinking I will have it a little earlier than usual if I need to.