Bad habit: Drinking your calories

I have kept my milk and sugar in my morning coffee but my breakfast is generally low calorie enough that it's not a big deal. Fancy coffees are for when I'm eating at maintenance and I really don't miss them.

Not a big drinker to begin with so it wasn't an effort to just not have the odd glass of wine, that said, if I do drink I know I can have a whole bottle of red for 500 calories which seems pretty reasonable to me!

As for soft drinks, again I was never big drinker of them anyway, I tend to drink cordial which has minimal calories anyway. And I found out apple Tango is pretty low calorie for soda so if I get the rare soda urge that's what I tend to go for.

Liquid calories can be a minefield though for those who love to drink tasty drinks.

I definitely wouldn't be able to do this if I were still drinking regular soda and light/sweet coffee on a regular basis. I trained myself to drink coffee black (I like it more as a drug than a beverage anyway), and to be ok with artificial sweeteners in diet soda. I'm not big on alcohol, but when I do drink these days, it's shots of pisco chased with cherry coke zero.

I never was a big drinker, so it was never really an issue that added to my being morbidly obese.
I know that for me, chewing my calories is way more satisfying than drinking (anything other than water).
I have been doing this for almost 4 years now, and a little over 2 years on maintenance, so I know what works for me.

Slightly off-topic but can someone tell me what creamer is? We don't have it in the uk (that I know of) but I see it mentioned all the time on here. Is it cream? Is it milk?

RollTideTri wrote: »

katiebean wrote: »

Slightly off-topic but can someone tell me what creamer is? We don't have it in the uk (that I know of) but I see it mentioned all the time on here. Is it cream? Is it milk?

Basically it's something you put in your coffee to make it "creamy" but it's not cream or milk, it's usually a non-dairy product. The liquid looks like cream and is refrigerated. It can also be powdered. Comes in all kinds of flavors. Vanilla, Hazelnut, etc.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/American-Coffee-Mate-Hazelnut-Creamer/dp/B008T9S75O

Thanks!

I drink my coffee black or with just a splash of 1%. I don't drink sodas anymore really, except for when I'm camping or something like that...a good sarsaparilla while camping is a long tradition in my family as my dad didn't drink beer but he drank root beer...and sarsaparilla was the best. I do drink alcohol, but only on the weekend and I don't enjoy as much craft brew as I used to. The only weight issues I've seen after a weekend of a few beverages is a little water retention which I don't particularly worry about. I used to drink a couple pints of milk per day, and don't really do that anymore either...I enjoy a glass of milk maybe once or twice per month.

cwolfman13 wrote: »

I drink my coffee black or with just a splash of 1%. I don't drink sodas anymore really, except for when I'm camping or something like that...a good sarsaparilla while camping is a long tradition in my family as my dad didn't drink beer but he drank root beer...and sarsaparilla was the best. I do drink alcohol, but only on the weekend and I don't enjoy as much craft brew as I used to. The only weight issues I've seen after a weekend of a few beverages is a little water retention which I don't particularly worry about. I used to drink a couple pints of milk per day, and don't really do that anymore either...I enjoy a glass of milk maybe once or twice per month.

ohhhh ... milk. I love milk. I think of it as a solid food though - so I do drink a glass a few times a week. (I could gulp it like water.) I am careful with my portion and really appreciate it now -

Drinking doesn't satiate like eating does. It's more satisfying to your mind for you o drink the milk, eat the banana, etc; than drink it. Also, I would rather eat a "cheeseburger" than drink a Pepsi, wine, beer or cocktail.

I went into my usual campus coffee shop today and they asked if I'd had a busy day as they usually see me earlier. Drinking calories, guilty as charged!

I have switched to diet coke as it tastes the same to me but has nowhere near as many calories, the same with Fanta. My usual hot chocolate has been switched out for the soya version. I initially picked soya milk over full fat dairy for the lower calories but found it actually tastes better! I went for a smaller size and that got me from 422 calories per cup down to 160 which is a HUGE difference, especially as I have a few per day.

I've also developed a liking for one of their coffees too, which is only 90 cals. Still a few but it used to be 422 per drink. I'm aiming to only have one hot chocolate and one coffee per day then work from there.

422 calories per cup, several times a day.....no wonder I'm overweight.

sbrooks0387 wrote: »

when i decided to really get serious this year, i stopped drinking everything but almond milk and water. I love love love chocolate milk but have not had a taste in almost two months. this month I have had some diet soda, just so i don't feel deprived. i would much rather eat my calories than drink them. i do not drink coffee to start with, so i do not know that struggle.

Have you looked into cashew milk? We drink cashew milk and there is a chocolate version, though I've never checked the calories in it.

I did the same as far as my coffee goes. I would use the french vanilla creamer and it would cost me over 100 calories...I've since purchased the sugar free and I use one stevia to sweeten it. helps me out that way to keep my coffee and not the calories. as far as alcohol...I gained most of my weight bc of this. I've since tried to make that a treat and limit it to a few a week or only for special celebrations. I also will try and stick to wine only; especially reds. Less sugar and so it's less calories. Idk if you like wine but if you do it's an option

I'm a wine drinker and decided to give it up for February. I've lost weight for the first time and I truly believe it is the wine because I never ate that bad. I am losing slowly though so I need to step up exercise. I am worried about February ending so I might stick with the Jo drinking for awhile

karmelpopcorn wrote: »

In addition to drinking water most of the time, I also drink coffee and sometimes an alcoholic beverage or two.

I am really just astounded at how easy it is to exceed your allotment with liquid calories.

After a weekend of having a few cocktails my weight goes up.

The Coffee Mate I put in my coffee every morning adds up to 120 calories. I could eat another egg if I could give it up! And probably half a piece of toast.

Words of encouragement? Clearly the pattern of drinking your calories is a significant contributor to weight problems in this country!

Black coffee is 0 cals - add skim milk for 30 cals and a little Stevia for a low call option. Alcohol is my weakness. I opt for high alc content and low cal options - so I avoid beers/frozen drinks/etc.

I drank calories every day while losing 30 lbs of excess weight. Wine, almond/soy milk, V8 mostly. The one consumed most often was wine. I have a glass or two with dinner most every night.

Need2Exerc1se wrote: »

I drank calories every day while losing 30 lbs of excess weight. Wine, almond/soy milk, V8 mostly. The one consumed most often was wine. I have a glass or two with dinner most every night.

This is me. I had wine whilst losing. I have had wine since. That said, after 14 years maintaining, there is menopausal creep, and I suspect I'll have to give up the beloved wine to make the scale go down the 5 vanity pounds.