Oh Coffee, You Horrid B****.

labyrinthrunner

So, this time I have decided to make a complete lifestyle change instead of trying to diet. Its going pretty well. I'm using portion control, healthier choices and frequent snacks to make better choices in the nutritional aspect of my life. But its coffee. It gets me every damn time. The problem is, I don't and cannot drink it black. I feel like I need it, want it, have to have it to stay awake in my morning classes. But again, my idea of a coffee is a cinnamon dolce latte from starbucks. Did I mention Venti?

Give up the coffee, you say. Try tea instead, you say. But, this is a lifestyle CHANGE. What if I don't want to live in a world where I can't have my latte in the morning? What then? Can I just drink it and exercise extra hard later? Am I shooting myself in the foot? I have already made it as healthy as I can. I get it made with nonfat milk, hold the whip. I'm not going sugar free. If I'm drinking it, I'm drinking it. I did stop asking for extra syrup though. Today I drank one and a half. But then, I also went and did an hour on the elliptical. Thoughts?

nz_deevaa

I make room for at least one latte a day.

If you can't make it fit, try a smaller coffee?

grlloyd1

Have you tried just black coffee? That's one of the first things I did was take out all the sugar and milk I was drinking in coffee!

Sarauk2sf

If its something you do not want to give up permanently, don't give it up at all. Just make sure it fits into your calorie goals and macros. The milk in the latte, assuming you are using cows milk is a nice source of protein.

RainHoward

That's not coffee you're drinking. What you are drinking is a big cup of calories, carbs and fat. Evil thing to do to those poor coffee beans.

Have you ever tried the flavored varieties of coffee? Black (as coffee is meant to be) many of them have very sweet flavors.

vodkoffee

Torani makes syrups sweetened with splenda. I put just a dash in my coffee and it's really good.

My fiance has the exact same problem as you do. Venti cinnamon dolce lattes. Something like 300+ calories and 55 carbs. I've ordered some Torani syrups he may like, but they haven't arrived yet. The "skinny" cinnamon dolce he got tonight tasted like crap.

Feel free to add me and we can share stories of our Starbucks trials and tribulations.

labyrinthrunner

Like which? Can you suggest one? If its flavored, does it have calories? Black coffee always tastes bitter to me. I like the way it tastes with all the yummy calories though...

Spartan_Maker

Why not have your coffee with a tablespoon of Stevia and a 1/2 ounce of milk? That's what I do; plus, I drink another 20 ounces of milk throughout the day too.

luvmydog2

cant stomach tea...at all ...but brought a Nespresso Coffee machine .....Make my own latte s with skim milk ....works for me !

rachmaree

Give up coffee!? cra-zy! I would try to slowly cut back on the milk, then switch to low fat, and plan to fit it in your daily calorie allowance. I used to drink coffee with milk, but these days love it black and rarely have coffee with milk.

RainHoward

Like which? Can you suggest one? If its flavored, does it have calories? Black coffee always tastes bitter to me. I like the way it tastes with all the yummy calories though...

I buy whole bean coffee of different varieties depending on where I'm at. Most good grocery stores carry it. Flavor choice really depends on what you like. If you go with an organic variety they tend to be less bitter. I like the different chocolate blends. And they have the same calories as any other cup of coffee.

roguestates

If you're totally unwilling to give up your "coffee" -- then go for a Tall instead of a Venti. You can still have your treat, but this size will be easier to fit into your calorie allotment.


edit: once you reduce your sugar intake, you might find these drinks more unpleasant. I don't do well with added sugars in anything anymore.

antonyheaven

Sounds like consistent feedback here. It really does sound like you're holding onto milk and sugar rather than coffee. Don't stress it. Your tastebuds will change over time. You're already cutting out various bits and pieces. Presumably you'll cut out or reduce the size when you're ready.

As I write this I'm drinking black coffee and eating a crisp sweet apple. Whatever you choose to consume, enjoy it

JIGGLYbellyPUFF

Nothing wrong with coffee with (not whole) milk and 3 splendas. I have that both on my running and non running mornings. Seriously, make your own rather than buying.

labyrinthrunner

Gosh. But, If I make my own, I will have like $40 a week that I will have no idea what to do with... :-).

Honestly though, I might look into that. I have no idea how to make espresso, but, I'm looking.

ang3h

I have coffee every morning. I add a splash of almond or coconut milk and two tablespoons of one of the sugar-free Torani syrups (I have 8 flavors so far lol), throw that in the blender with some ice and make a frappuccino out of it. The only calories in it are from the little bit of milk but almond and coconut milk are so low calorie anyway it doesn't really add up much.

There are low calorie ways to make coffee and still keep it interesting I look forward to my coffee every morning!

blackcoffeeandcherrypie

I used to have 3 sugars in my large costa latte - maybe 2 or 3 times a day.

Honestly, since I gave up sugar, I don't miss the taste of it at all - you get used to it in about 1-2 weeks.

All things in moderation - you don't have to give up your coffees, you just have to make them a bit healthier, and then you can have the best of all worlds.

If it's really too bad to go without sugar, maybe try sweetener?

honeythatsokay

I feel your pain! I used to be ADDICTED to Starbucks, seriously liquid heaven. A few years ago I realized that I couldn't support a $5+ habit a day on coffee as a grad student and started to brew my own coffee, but still using flavored syrups at home. Then I learned you can buy most syrups from Starbucks! I was thrilled - toffee nut was my favorite and I kept it stocked in my fridge for well over a year while severely cutting down on my Starbucks spending habits. A $8 bottle would last months, even if I had three big cups a day.

About six months ago something weird happened, though. I couldn't concentrate worth a damn, I seriously felt I was developing ADD at the age of 27. I thought I was going crazy and I was having major difficulties working on my thesis. I decided to go through all the labels on everything I ate regularly. I try to eat only organic and clean, but every now and then some nasty chemicals sneak in but I've developed such a sensitivity to them I can usually spot them, and eliminate them. I finally got around to checking the Starbucks syrup label (I had been so excited that it didn't contain corn syrup for the longest time) only to learn it contains sodium benzoate, which is linked to hyperactivity!

I poured out the toffee nut syrup bottle a few months ago and I have only gone back to Starbucks twice since then. Both times were a disappointment. Too sweet and chemically tasting, I did not enjoy it. My concentration is slowly coming back to normal and I definitely feel less crazy and scatter-minded.

That's my Starbucks tale of woe, but my wallet and my sanity are a lot better for it!

jayb0ne

Coffee on it's own is calorie free (although diuretic). Switch your sugar out for sweetener and drink an Americano with skimmed or semi skimmed milk instead of latte. About 20 calories a cup with 25ml of milk I think. Just drink plenty of water to get around the dehydration effect.

pinkraynedropjacki

Coffee is actually GOOD for you. Don't put it down. I drink several each day & not black either. It actually pumps up your heart a little & that in turn makes you burn a little more. Don't diss coffee, just dont have it sugar loaded.

bap2011

I am a tea drinker not a coffee drinker, but I feel for you. The coffee you describe is not coffee, it's liquid dessert

As a new diabetic, I have had to give up frivolous sugar by necessity. Really, once you get used to living without sugar, sugar is way too sweet. My sweeteners of choice that really taste good to me are Truvia (granular) and NuNaturals Stevia (drops). Seriously my kids try to sneak the Truvia because it tastes like cotton candy.

For my "milk", I use unsweetened vanilla coconut milk. Very low in calories and good for you. And did I mention YUMMY.

And, if you must keep the coffee, experiment with high quality stuff. Really, the sugar and the milk are masking the bitterness - get a higher quality coffee and you won't feel you need to mask the bitterness as much. No idea what to tell you for coffee since I'm a tea girl... I don't do Lipton any more it tastes like crap to me. I am mostly a Republic of Tea girl, with decadent flavors like Strawberry Chocolate (put in that truvia and van/coconut milk and it is an awesome way to have chocolate without killing your diet!)

Yours truly, the tea snob.

EDesq

Make Room for what you Can Not or Will Not do without. Whether it is Coffee, Exercise or the occasional potato chip or soda; I learned looong ago that I would not give up My Mug of Coffee Daily. And I am glad I kept it, since then I have learned of the many benefits of Coffee. It COST Me 90-100 Calories per day, but it is worth the cost. I simply give up that extra slice of bread or tbls of salad dressing, and actually the Coffee is a better choice!

georgie181

don't stress too much atm because you have only just started your journey to lifestyle change and that is not easy, it takes time to cut the crap out. I didn't think I would ever be able to cut out white bread, I have completely now and I actually don't even like it anymore....keep your starbucks temporarily, cut it down to a small, then reduce the sugar, then replace the sugar with sweetener and so on. I drink coffee only in the mornings with a little milk and sweetener. but I want to try a week withhout it next week, I am going to replace my coffee with green tea. I am nervous lol!!!!!

kyle4jem

. But again, my idea of a coffee is a cinnamon dolce latte from starbucks. Did I mention Venti?

That's not really coffee, it's a dessert beverage and it's probably the creamy milk and the sweet flavourings that you crave rather than the coffee content.

Perhaps you can make room for one a week as a treat?

But if you like coffee... and I do, especially in the morning... then a little milk and a sweetener will take away the bitter taste.

I like my coffee black with 2 sweeteners :drinker:

BTW... coffee itself is no more of a diuretic than H₂O.

jerber160

i love pizza, but sometimes i'm satisfied with a pizza rollup made with egg roll wrappers. same toppings and same taste except for the thick crust and that suits me fine. when I want PIZZA though, I eat pizza, just not every time and I eat less of it than I used to. no more finishing a large pepperoni and sausage at one sitting. that's what I learned at mfp. never deprive yourself, but find a suitable substitute a lot of the time. good luck

cramernh

I have a restaurant grade coffee machine at home. It is set to have a perfectly hot pot every morning when I wake up at 4am.

When I get to work, we have a large scale restaurant-grade coffee machine capable of perking up three pots of coffee to sit on their own happy burner to keep hot.

Coming in to work at 6am and being the first person in gives me great pleasure in perking the first three pots of coffee..

No one.. and I mean NO one, not even my doctor, MFP or some tea-nazi-radical is going to convert me and change my undying love for a big cup of coffee...

It is your friend...lol


...in all seriousness though, I drink my coffee with light cream only... My doctors have no problem with it - it has never affected my cholesterol (I have awesome numbers)... if my only vice is going to be the real stuff in coffee, then so be it.... 8-)

y0mbo

Darker roasted beans tend to be more bitter, so look for a lighter roast.

Try Highlander Grogg (a flavor, not a brand). It's has a great buttery flavor to it.

Otherwise Hazelnut flavored beans are really good as well.

I also recommend the Torani SF syrups. Also switch to skim for the milk.

bpotts44

Some milk in the coffee will be alot like a latte.

Lyssa62

I came out of the womb drinking my coffee black. I have fits when I see people putting crap in their coffee. I am a black 2 pot a day drinker.

raverhayley

i think you should still have it but have low fat milk and sweetener instead of syrup or sugar. if you dont allow a couple of treats in your day to day life you will end up binging eventually!

Amy911Gray

This is your new lifestyle. My new lifestyle has brownies, cake and ice cream.

Fit your coffee in somehow, you could switch to sugar free syrup and get used to it--takes about 2 weeks. You could also make other little changes in your diet to compensate for the coffee.