3 month NO Coffee experiment results...

becoming_a_new_me

I use a mixture of almond milk and coconut milk in my coffee. You don't want me giving up coffee as the bodies would build up around me and I would likely become an ax-weilding maniac. Good for you though for quitting!

NewLIFEstyle4ME

I use a mixture of almond milk and coconut milk in my coffee. You don't want me giving up coffee as the bodies would build up around me and I would likely become an ax-weilding maniac. Good for you though for quitting!

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :flowerforyou: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

NewLIFEstyle4ME

The body fat info is fascinating.

I can't say I love coffee because though I love to drink it I generally have so much flavored creamer and sugar in it you can't really taste the coffee. I've been trying to cut back but I do have the side effects, the headaches from caffeine withdrawal are rough! I'm down to a few cups on Sunday mornings when we go out for breakfast and maybe one day of having some instant coffee crystals shook up in my protein shake (it tastes like an iced mocha.) I want to cut it completely though.

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The headaches are insane, agreed. Cut back on it slowly and you'll have lower-grade headaches for a longer time, or cold-turkey it and you'll have more intense headaches for a shorter period of time. Watch out for "headache"-specific pain meds, many contain 65mg or so of caffeine, so you're just changing your source of caffeine temporarily, which is NOT helpful! Plain ibuprofen seems to work best for me, as it is in anti-inflammatory and seems to mitigate the headaches for me considerably.
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If it's a flavor thing, Celestial Seasonings makes a caffeine-free tea that tastes very much like regular tea. For some reason, quitting tea is easier for me and I've heard that from several other people. So try switching from coffee to tea, then making the tea weaker and weaker, then switch to the Celestial Seasonings stuff to keep the flavor consistent. I used that technique the last time and there was almost no pain involved.

THIS was my main fear in not giving up or even cutting back on coffee for years. I was terrified of the dreaded withdrawals and "headaches" because I HATE headaches with a passion! I want to emphasize that this did NOT happen to me AT ALL. I experience ZERO withdrawals, cravings or anything negative at all. So, everyone is different, but with all the coffee and cream I consumed with reckless abandon, you'd think my poor head would EXPLODE with headaches and pain...but NOPE. No negative nor painful withdrawals for me AT ALL. Just FYI.

That's good to know.

Sadly, for a lot of us, there is pain involved (hence my advice about mitigating it - because hallucinogenic headaches are absolutely no fun).

PS: I love your tagline in your ticker. "Sweat is fat crying." I might have to steal that...

Absolutely, please do...I stole it from the internet myself :laugh:

thomassd1969

I do not drink coffee, never have but drank loads of diet pepsi or coke. Probably around 100 oz a day. Never drank water- ever. I thought that if it had no calories it was fine. On a bet with my finacee' I stopped cold turkey in Oct 2011 like you. My energy went up, my belly bloating went down and my cravings for fast food/junk food decreased a lot. I was amazed. I drink only water now, nothing with artificial sweetners. Its amazing what we convince ourselves is ok then when we make a change our bodies react and shock us.
Good Post

NewLIFEstyle4ME

Kinda off topic but I have been a migraine sufferer for several years ( was having approx 3 a month). I cut caffeine out of my diet and I no longer suffer from migraines (I have had one bad headache in several months). Maybe an added incentive for any migraine sufferers.

Wow That's deep and such GOOD NEWS!!!! Yep, I had a sever ache/pain in both my hands BEFORE stopping coffee--that completely disappeared once I stopped drinking coffee...then last month, when I restarted--BAM--that pain is back:frown:

SofaKingRad

Interesting study. You said you gave up other things cold turkey at the same time. What were those other things? Have you started those again too? Could those other things have an effect on your observations?

I only ask because I've done something similar in the past but I drink my coffee black and I saw no changes due to eliminating from my diet (other than I had those horrible withdrawal symptoms :laugh: ).

mfp_junkie

What the.....no good can come from this thread. Must go find a Starbuck's....

BigMech

I stopped drinking caffeinated coffee about 4 years ago. I felt so much better afterwards. I still drink a couple of cups of decaffe a day, but I drink them black, so there is no calorie impact. I just like the hot beverage, and tea isn't my thing.

I try to avoid caffeine in most drinks now, and feel like my energy level is much consistent because of it. I feel alert in the morning, and don't need anything other than my workout and decent nutrition to feel energized all day.

Joannie30

WOW!! Now THIS is interesting!! I drink coffee every single day in life with semi-skimmed milk. I had no idea that it has these effects!!!!!

I think i'll give stopping a try for a bit and see what happens...

Brunner26_2

Has your weight increased in this time?

Hmmmmm, Most EXCELLENT question!

Interestingly enough (and I'm grateful I posted this, because all kinds of stuff is swimming around my head now), I was SUPER CONSISTENTLY losing scale weight (.02, 04., .06, .08) on a regular basis. Then BAM! Nothing...Nothing for about a month:mad:
I was still eating super well and exercising and doing everything the same EXCEPT...I started drinking herbal teas around that time---(SUPER hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm:frown: ). I figured I needed to up my calories and around that time...I STARTED REDRINKING THAT BLASTED COFFEE AGAIN. I did indeed gain weight, as a matter of fact, I gain 5+ pounds and attributed it to the extra calories I was eating. This is something to SELAH (pause and meditate upon) about.

Thank you for posting this question!!!!!!!

I suggest rechecking your BMR and TDEE figures. In order to gain 5 pounds of body weight, you'd need to eat almost 18,000 calories more than you burned. How was the body fat % measured?

auntiebabs

interesting. I too have cut down on coffee tremendously. I still have a cup at breakfast and a cup at lunch.
Have you heard anything about Tea? Does it also have a similar effect on weight ?

According to the lady I spoke to tea does not have the same affect. She said it is not the caffeine that reacts with the hormones but something else in the coffee. That scuppered my plan of moving onto decaf!

My sis is a biochemist and did 10+ years of research at a major pharma co. before she had her kids.
Oddly enough she found that while decaf contains no cholesterol in it it elevates your cholesterol levels, regular coffee did not do this.

LilRedRooster

Meh, I like my coffee, and I usually like it black. When I go into town for things like shopping, I like me a good chai latte to go walk around with. Only time I gave up coffee completely was when I was pregnant and initially nursing, and that was just because my hormones made me throw it all up two seconds after it touched my lips. Granted, I don't drink a lot, usually a cup or two, and that's not even every day, so my giving it up wouldn't have a huge impact, especially since I usually don't add creamer, and never add sugar.

NewLIFEstyle4ME

Interesting study. You said you gave up other things cold turkey at the same time. What were those other things? Have you started those again too? Could those other things have an effect on your observations?

I only ask because I've done something similar in the past but I drink my coffee black and I saw no changes due to eliminating from my diet (other than I had those horrible withdrawal symptoms :laugh: ).

Excellent...no, Most EXCELLENT question! I gave up completely:

Sugar

Dairy

Meats (chicken, lamb, pork, beef everything except fish & poll/troll caught tuna)

Junk foods (chips, fast foods, fried foods, most things that came in a box or bag--ya know, empty HIGH calorie stuff)
Sweets (brownies, homemade cakes/pies)

I restarted (about the same time I restarted coffee AND DEFINITELY when I restarted herbal teas) I restarted EATING...

Eating soft served ice cream cones (kiddie size--chocolate) about 3 times or less per week (DAIRY) Also note...before restarting coffee and dairy and as I think of it...I'm now having GAS (I'm sorry for this personal and disgusting info)

Eating Trader Joe's shoestring potatoes (fried stuff in a can)

Eating Brownies (Vegan and homemade), a couple of times I had homemade peach cobbler/apple pie...not a whole lot of the pies (a couple of time), brownies kinda often.

I also have eaten a few times some pork sausages and over medium eggs as well.

I used the excuse of needing to eat extra calories/my exercise calories on eating these things, to help meet my goals of calories for the day.....ummmmm, hmmmmmmm:indifferent: Also, important note: Whenever i ate these things, I was ALWAYS within my calorie budget. I can count on 1 hand the times since starting my journey I've "over-eaten any calories. I'm ALWAYS within or perhaps just slightly below my calorie budget.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS QUESTION...IT HELPS ME IN MORE WAYS THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW:flowerforyou:

Cheri_Moves

Coffee is the ONE thing I refused to give up since starting my weight loss journey almost a year ago. I have lost a total of 75 pounds, BUT 3 months ago I started intense training (triathlon and strength) and have plateaued. I have tossed around the idea of trying to cut coffee but... It feels like I would be going to my best friends funeral!!! I think I'm ready to give it a try... not just coffee though, caffeine. It sounds like the caffeine causes increased cortisol levels, which causes you to store fat in the midsection. Also causes you to be dehydrated and store toxins in the digestive system. \

Ahhh Coffee... this is just not fair. :sick:

Gioooo

I used to drink coffee every morning and when I decided to get into better shape I also decided I wanted to stop all the 'addictive' habits I'd been used to (coffee, binge eating). I love coffee but i just stopped drinking it cold turkey and I dont miss it/enjoy it as much as I used to. I had no side effects or anything after stopping. I dont think theres anything wrong with drinking coffee though, I just did it for myself :-)

NewLIFEstyle4ME

Has your weight increased in this time?

Hmmmmm, Most EXCELLENT question!

Interestingly enough (and I'm grateful I posted this, because all kinds of stuff is swimming around my head now), I was SUPER CONSISTENTLY losing scale weight (.02, 04., .06, .08) on a regular basis. Then BAM! Nothing...Nothing for about a month:mad:
I was still eating super well and exercising and doing everything the same EXCEPT...I started drinking herbal teas around that time---(SUPER hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm:frown: ). I figured I needed to up my calories and around that time...I STARTED REDRINKING THAT BLASTED COFFEE AGAIN. I did indeed gain weight, as a matter of fact, I gain 5+ pounds and attributed it to the extra calories I was eating. This is something to SELAH (pause and meditate upon) about.

Thank you for posting this question!!!!!!!

I suggest rechecking your BMR and TDEE figures. In order to gain 5 pounds of body weight, you'd need to eat almost 18,000 calories more than you burned. How was the body fat % measured?

I regain those pounds over a month's + time and there is literally NO WAY I ate anywhere near 18,000 calories--period. I exercise/strength train a LOT/regularly/daily too. If anything, i've been under eating calories during this time for sure.

My body fat percentage I get from my scale...it's a Body fat/Water/weight scale.

NewLIFEstyle4ME

What the.....no good can come from this thread. Must go find a Starbuck's....

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

NewLIFEstyle4ME

I do not drink coffee, never have but drank loads of diet pepsi or coke. Probably around 100 oz a day. Never drank water- ever. I thought that if it had no calories it was fine. On a bet with my finacee' I stopped cold turkey in Oct 2011 like you. My energy went up, my belly bloating went down and my cravings for fast food/junk food decreased a lot. I was amazed. I drink only water now, nothing with artificial sweetners. Its amazing what we convince ourselves is ok then when we make a change our bodies react and shock us.
Good Post

Absolutely fabulously interesting post...THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING!!!!! :flowerforyou:

ElHombre23

I have mine every day 2 to 3 times a day skim milk two splenda...If I dont get my coffee look out its not pretty for the humans around me as I seek and destroy any all objects...

lucysmommy

thats interesting - drink about 4/5 mugs a day with skimmed milk - i have tried to give it up once before but became very lethargic - wonder if i go for it again if my weight to come off a bit quicker

jdavis193

It is probably the creamer that you are putting in it to make your bf go up. Several health sites states to have a cup of coffee. I drink one cup sometimes every morning but just use stevia.

jhremix

i drink my coffee black. and only like 1 a day if any. does that effect my weight loss at all?

Squidgeypaws007

This is really weird....I really don't like coffee, but on months where I've had one cup in the morning (black, no sugar) I've noticed a higher weight loss than on months where I've not drunk any....

Maybe because I've never really drunk coffee before? Hmmm. Odd!!

mummum2

I drink one cup of black coffee with 2 spoons of cane sugar every morning, will not be giving this up!

callmeBAM

Sounds like a very scientific experiment... :indifferent:

pgp90xer

I use to drink coffee with 2 creams and 2 sugars for a long time and slowly I have cut back to one cream and now use 1 sweetener. Since really watching what I eat I have cut out all Sodas and since I don't drink beer or wine I think having a coffee or two a day is justified as a nice reward!

scmcgee

I, too, gave up coffee in February. Just stopped cold turkey. I haven't gone back to drinking it but I can tell you I am losing more weight then when I was continue to drink 2-3 cups a day. Now, i just drink water or tea. No sodas for me either.

myfitnessnmhoy

Sounds like a very scientific experiment... :indifferent:

If it helps someone do their own experiment to figure out what works and what doesn't for themselves, does it need to be a controlled study?

Anecdotal evidence is anecdotal. But it's still better than no evidence at all.

LeilaFace

Glad you found what's working for you...

I refuse to give up my coffee. Sorry, it has cancer-fighting qualities and I need all the help I can get. I only drink one cup every few days and when I decided to get my health in check I knew that if I went all extreme and cut out the things I love then I wouldn't stick with my health plan I'm tired of watching my weigh yo-yo so I need to do what I think is best for me... so everything in moderation.

myfitnessnmhoy

I refuse to give up my coffee. Sorry, it has cancer-fighting qualities and I need all the help I can get. I only drink one cup every few days and when I decided to get my health in check I knew that if I went all extreme and cut out the things I love then I wouldn't stick with my health plan I'm tired of watching my weigh yo-yo so I need to do what I think is best for me... so everything in moderation.

This is what the journey is all about. Figuring out what is, and is not, compatible with your weight loss AND your long-term lifestyle. I'm with you, the coffee is staying in my long-term lifestyle therefore it stays in my weight-loss lifestyle.

But it's very interesting to see the results from people who have chosen a different path.