Is Your Morning Coffee Sabotaging Your Weight Loss Efforts?
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TubbsMcGee
Posts: 1,058 Member
It’s incredible how weight gain, nutrient deficiency, and increased sugar cravings are associated with caffeine and sugar consumption! As a dietitian, I’m fascinated by what I’ve been compiling in my research, and what’s more, is I’ve noticed a dramatic difference in my mood and satiation through omitting my daily long black and sweet treats (I blame the kids for always having lollies around)!!
Both caffeine and sugar can block your calcium and magnesium receptors, which not only help with nerve function but also help keep cravings in check and tell your body when you’re full and should stop eating! Additionally, studies have shown that sugar is one of the most addictive substances on earth (8 times more than cocaine, actually!), making it even more difficult to nourish our bodies and remain fit and healthy.
I’ve been with MFP for nearly 10 years now in total. For 8 of those years I was eating clean, maintaining a healthy weight, hated coffee, and never had a sweet tooth. When I started culinary school, long gruelling hours made me turn to getting a caffeine fix to combat 20 hour days, and I soon realised that I had to taste test my baked goods before they went out. In a span of 10 months, I became addicted to caffeine and sugar, and stacked on 20kg. I’m now the heaviest I’ve ever been in my life.
I decided last week to cut caffeine cold turkey, and drastically reduce my sugar intake (no refined sugars unless it’s a special occasion, and even limiting fructose found naturally in fruits). I’m already beginning to notice a positive difference in my mood, digestion, energy levels, and desire to want to get healthy again (rather than just lazily accepting that I’m “now this weight”).
So now that I’ve beat my caffeine addiction, HERE’S TO KICKING SUGAR, TOO!!
Both caffeine and sugar can block your calcium and magnesium receptors, which not only help with nerve function but also help keep cravings in check and tell your body when you’re full and should stop eating! Additionally, studies have shown that sugar is one of the most addictive substances on earth (8 times more than cocaine, actually!), making it even more difficult to nourish our bodies and remain fit and healthy.
I’ve been with MFP for nearly 10 years now in total. For 8 of those years I was eating clean, maintaining a healthy weight, hated coffee, and never had a sweet tooth. When I started culinary school, long gruelling hours made me turn to getting a caffeine fix to combat 20 hour days, and I soon realised that I had to taste test my baked goods before they went out. In a span of 10 months, I became addicted to caffeine and sugar, and stacked on 20kg. I’m now the heaviest I’ve ever been in my life.
I decided last week to cut caffeine cold turkey, and drastically reduce my sugar intake (no refined sugars unless it’s a special occasion, and even limiting fructose found naturally in fruits). I’m already beginning to notice a positive difference in my mood, digestion, energy levels, and desire to want to get healthy again (rather than just lazily accepting that I’m “now this weight”).
So now that I’ve beat my caffeine addiction, HERE’S TO KICKING SUGAR, TOO!!
38
Replies
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You're a certified dietician?12
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Nutritionist and nearly finished my masters in dieteticsRuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »You're a certified dietician?
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RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »You're a certified dietician?
That was my thought too.
My morning coffee does not sabotage my weight loss efforts. Neither does my sugar consumption (added or naturally occurring).
Neither prevents me eating a nutrient rich diet, or consuming at least 2-3 times the recommended amounts of vegetables/fruit per day.14 -
It is a very, very bad idea to mess with my morning coffee routine. Ask my colleagues on a day it's been messed up.
Seriously though - I have switched to a sugar substitute tablet instead of 2 tsp of sugar per cup - not because sugar is the devil, but 10 grams of sugar per cup of coffee adds up fast in terms of my daily calorie allotment.8 -
Morning coffee/ caffeine saves lives NUFF SAID!!!!17
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Any sabotage on my weight loss efforts is more than offset by it's contribution to my "Not today, Satan" efforts.15
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Coffee?
YES
But black without sugar and any extras, all rumors that coffee is bad for your is myth.
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TeacupsAndToning wrote: »Can you post studies that show caffeine does what you're stating?
OP, if you're finding this study could you also post the one that shows sugar blocking the CaSR receptor.
My aunt has only one kidney due to cancer so it is one we like to learn about.5 -
No, my morning coffee isn't sabotaging anything. It's under 100 calories and it fits perfectly well into my daily goals.
Here's an anecdote: most of my adult life I've been at least a bit overweight to downright obese. And most of my life I've used artificial sweeteners in my coffee and tried losing weight by going low carb. And failed every time. And then I decided to just eat a bit of everything at a slight calorie deficit, and I started counting calories. I lost close to 50 lbs and I'm successful maintaining my new weight. And for the first time I'm actually using the odd teaspoon of sugar in my coffee. To me, learning that sugar isn't the enemy and how to enjoy it in moderation was key to my success, as I'm a foodie who derives a lot of pleasure from food including desserts.17 -
I think caffeine and even sugar is fine in moderation like everything else. Typically I drink one or two cups of black, caffeinated coffee in the morning and have since I can remember. It used to be the only caffeine I'd drink all day long. I'm not too big on sodas regular or diet. Lately I've been drinking a cup of caffeinated coffee with cashew milk, cocoa, and stevia in the afternoon; usually iced. Alternately I'll have Chai or green tea, also caffeinated. It seems to stretch the gap between meals where I used to over snack and it offers a little pick-me-up. In addition I drink both Sucralose and non-sweetened sparkling waters during the day. I usually have a cup of cocoa with cashew milk & stevia or herbal tea before bed. I don't worry about my 1-4 cups of caffeine a day but don't use sugar any longer because it would really add unnecessary calories to my daily budget. I don't believe sugar is truly addicting since I've found that using stevia or Sucralose satisfies my sweet tooth just fine and I never had withdrawals when I gave sugar up a few years back. Now most of my sugar (under 45 g) comes from fruit.2
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As a nurse who works with drug and alcohol addicted patients for a living, I disagree. Sugar is NOT more addicting than cocaine. I'd like to see your "studies" for nearly everything you said. How big was the sample size? How controlled was the study? How many studies? There are studies that insinuate the opposite of your claims. Also, just because a study indicates it, doesn't make it true.21
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No. I don't put sugar in my coffee anymore, and it's only a tiny bit of calories in the overall scheme of things.1
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I have a cup of coffee or 2 with stevia, and yes half and half cream, I eat clean, I run. Doesnt affect my eating at all. Not really a sweet tooth person anyway. But the point I'm making is I guess it affects people different. If I want to eat something I eat it, if I don't I don't.0
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Is Your Morning Coffee Sabotaging Your Weight Loss Efforts?
Nope.
I lost 55 lbs while continuing to drink 2-3 cups of black coffee in the early part of each day.9 -
yap certainly sugar is not addicting at all.
I do not remember the time I bought simply sugar or eat, of course i got sugar from food fruits etc,
whats more interesting your taste its much better if you drop sugar, for example eating almonds I find them sweet, but the person who's on high sugar dose wont taste it.4 -
TubbsMcGee wrote: »It’s incredible how weight gain, nutrient deficiency, and increased sugar cravings are associated with caffeine and sugar consumption! As a dietitian, I’m fascinated by what I’ve been compiling in my research, and what’s more, is I’ve noticed a dramatic difference in my mood and satiation through omitting my daily long black and sweet treats (I blame the kids for always having lollies around)!!
Both caffeine and sugar can block your calcium and magnesium receptors, which not only help with nerve function but also help keep cravings in check and tell your body when you’re full and should stop eating! Additionally, studies have shown that sugar is one of the most addictive substances on earth (8 times more than cocaine, actually!), making it even more difficult to nourish our bodies and remain fit and healthy.
I’ve been with MFP for nearly 10 years now in total. For 8 of those years I was eating clean, maintaining a healthy weight, hated coffee, and never had a sweet tooth. When I started culinary school, long gruelling hours made me turn to getting a caffeine fix to combat 20 hour days, and I soon realised that I had to taste test my baked goods before they went out. In a span of 10 months, I became addicted to caffeine and sugar, and stacked on 20kg. I’m now the heaviest I’ve ever been in my life.
I decided last week to cut caffeine cold turkey, and drastically reduce my sugar intake (no refined sugars unless it’s a special occasion, and even limiting fructose found naturally in fruits). I’m already beginning to notice a positive difference in my mood, digestion, energy levels, and desire to want to get healthy again (rather than just lazily accepting that I’m “now this weight”).
So now that I’ve beat my caffeine addiction, HERE’S TO KICKING SUGAR, TOO!!
The bold is absurd. Cocaine takes over your receptors, sugar does not. It hasn't been shown to be addictive at all in human models. In rat models, both sugars and fats have been shown to stimulate dopamine. In fact, it's been discussed to death in http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10226257/food-addiction-a-different-perspective/p1
For the second bold, I call shenanigans.
And this is exactly why i drink diet soda instead of coffee.11 -
I have the same morning coffee now that I had before losing/maintaining weight - didn't sabotage my weight loss at all.
Since it is only unsweetened coffee granules, hot water, small amount of skim milk. 20 calories per cup.0 -
Caffeine is mildly addictive - I am aware of that and it doesn't bother me.
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I drink black decaf. I like the taste of GOOD black coffee. If it's not good (I.e. most coffee in cafes in the USA) it tastes gross black. I will maybe once or twice a month have a decaf with cream and sweet (sugar or artificial) at a French restaurant or upscale cafe (not Starbucks) that makes good coffee. I refuse to pay for nasty coffee! I am very sensitive to caffeine and also lactose intolerant so the routine of sweet coffee milkshakes (lattes) would sabotage me.1
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