I'm addicted and I need help...

I use 1/2 decaf and 1/2 caffeinated. I too have to have my cream and sugar. I use Coffee Mate Sugar Free French Vanilla (15 calories per 1 tablespoon) and I stopped real sugar and use Stevia (really sweet and 0 calories).

ndj1979 wrote: »

Hornsby wrote: »

ndj1979 wrote: »

OK I give up ...OP is addicted to coffee and should check herself into a 12 step program immediately.

Also, we can now use the word "addiction" to describe every behavior that one has a problem .and use it as a crutch for every single problem.

So now a product that causes a chemical dependency (caffeine) ='s every behavior? MFP and their extremes...

Come on, dude.

come on man ...you know that like 50% of the threads on here are "help I am addicted to sugar, coke, caffeine, sweets, food, etc ,etc...."

I am just saying that it is becoming a crutch to avoid other issues..

oh look the add at the bottom of the page says "speak to a live counselor" even the ad banner folks are picking up on these threads..LOL

This isn't a sugar thread though. This is a coffee thread. Caffeine is a mildly addictive stimulant and I would guess affects different people different ways. Is the OP addicted? Hell, I don't know, but regardless, trying to derail the thread on the merits of addiction of caffeine has nothing to do with what the OP asked.

Caffeine is addictive in that it creates a physical dependency. I drop it every once in a while just to make sure I'm not drinking because I need it, but because I love it (which I do). It's not a particularly hard addiction to break, IMO, because it is pretty much just a physical dependency (and the withdrawal symptoms are annoying, not dangerous), and not habit based. I suspect the habit part of drinking coffee could be perfectly substituted with decaf for most, as that's about a ritual and so on, not the mental effect (i.e., not getting high or dealing with emotions or whatever).

(Also the robbing people at gunpoint thing has more to do with whether your drug of choice is illegal and whether it's likely to screw up your life so much that you won't have the means to acquire it. Coffee probably furthers my work ambitions rather than interfering with them and plus I get it free while I'm at work. No need to resort to a life of crime to finance it!)

But to the OP's actual post, I don't think she's trying to cut coffee or caffeine (although I might be misreading), but trying to cut down on the calories from the cream and sugar. If so, I still think weaning away from them is the way to go, and also not worrying too much about a little bit of each (just add up and log the calories).

I highly recommend learning to love black coffee, however. It's so good.

gia07 wrote: »

Did I miss something? Isn't OP looking for alternatives for calories from the sugar in creamers and the actual sugar one needs in the coffee for taste?

How did this turn into addiction issues such as drugs and alcohol and withdrawal syndrome?

Much trolling, and a lot of anger for coffee and creamer and sugar

I read it as the OP has to have coffee and with cream and sugar (like I do). OP said the sugar could be replaced with Truvia but wanted creamer ideas?

Because certain topics tend to bring out a lot of nitpicking.

Did anyone look at the OP's food diary? She doesn't even log the coffee, and I could only find one day of logged foods. I'm not thinking this is really a serious "problem", especially since she's willing to devote 210 calories to syrup on pancakes.

Kind of a silly post, but the thread title grabbed us all of course.

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Just make room for it in your daily calories. As long as you don't dump the whole bottle in, you'll be okay. If it's something you just have to have, then make room for it.

I use vanilla almond milk, which is super low calorie, and splenda, which maybe isn't so good for you, but neither is sugar

Can we not argue about semantics and about words used in forums? Pretty sure that's not what the post was aiming towards.

Once you go black...you know the rest.

I didn't read all of the responses, but this is what I do... for each cup (mug) of coffee is put in 2 TBS of 2% milk and then 1 serving (1 tbs) of Fat Free Vanilla Cream. The cream is only 25 calories. I'm not tracking sugar, so I don't know how much sugar that is...

I use fat free half and half with sugar free vanilla torani syrup. Amazing!

MrM27 wrote: »

Ethereal_Whisper wrote: »

ndj1979 wrote: »

raisealittlehell wrote: »

ndj1979 wrote: »

OP - if you did not get your coffee fix …would you pick up a gun and rob the nearest convenience store for money/coffee to fulfill your "caffeine" fix; or would you go rummage through a dumpster for coffee grounds? If not, then you are not addicted and just need to learn self control.

How is addiction measured by the propensity to commit a crime? Addiction is defined as "the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming."

So yes, someone could have a caffeine addiction without it just being a lack of "self control". Without it they can have withdrawal symptoms "headaches, nausea, shakes, etc" as you would if you were addicted to a controlled/illegal substance. Does that mean they are going to go rob a convenience store? No. Just because someone is addicted to drugs doesn't mean that they go a hold up stores or panhandle for money. Do people do that? Absolutely, but not everyone with an addiction is a criminal.

Perhaps instead of belittling someone and saying its just "self control" look at the actual facts. Caffeine is classified as being addictive just like drugs or alcohol. Someone people can cut it out cold turkey, others need a more gradual process. Everyone struggles with something, and we all have a lack of willpower at times. However, it is not for you or I to judge her or put her down. A little encouragement can go a long way.

Furthermore I think she was using the word "addiction" in a very loose sense and not clinically speaking.

OP- try doing one less spoonful then you normally do and see how that goes. If it fits into your calories for the day, and its something you enjoy then I wouldn't worry about it. We all have our vices.

I am pointing out the fallacy of using the word "addiction" for self control issues...

last time I checked, people were not checking themselves into rehab centers because they were addicted to caffeine...

and do I really have to list every action that a potential addict would take to point out the idiocy of saying that one is addicted to coffee...I mean I can start listing them if you really want...I was just using two quick ones...

OP - have you ever taken 500.00 out of the ATM at 4am in the morning to fulfill your coffee addiction? < is that better?

I'm addicted to caffeine.

I overdosed on caffeine last year, but i've never taken 500 dollars out of my bank to get it. Does this mean i'm not addicted?

Overdose on caffeine? How did you manage to do that? Pills? What happened?

Pills, yeah. Ended up taking in 1200mg of caffeine at one time, and that was probably the scariest night of my life. Was under stress and made a bad decision.

Thankfully i've cut down my caffeine intake to about 200mg daily(so roughly 2 cups of coffee worth)

I use protein powder for my sweetener and creamer. I fill a shaker cup 7/8 full with black coffee and then add one scoop of muscle milk pro 50 vanilla or chocolate. I really like the flavor that it adds and it helps to hit the protein macro. Depending on the flavor, it is around 155 cals a scoop with 25 grams of protein.