Caffeine or no Caffeine???

robin820
robin820 Posts: 150 Member
in Food and Nutrition
My New years resolution January 2011 was to elminate caffeine in my diet, as far as pop went. Believe it or not I stuck to it. Now going onto year two and sometimes I wonder if doing this My fitness Pal would go a little bit smoother with some extra energy. Right now if I drink a pop it is caffeine free diet coke. Help?
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Replies

  • scweegie
    scweegie Posts: 59
    I quit drinking pop becuase I wouldn't switch to diet, but I love my coffee! I have read studies that suggest a cup of coffee before a workout or run is good becuase of the boost., however it can dehydrate you as well. I think the best is just determine what works for you. Everyone is different.
  • shovav91
    shovav91 Posts: 2,335 Member
    You worked so hard to kick the habit, why get back into it? Your body will start to rely on caffeine again and you will find yourself with no energy unless you get that caffeine kick,
  • seoid
    seoid Posts: 151
    I drink Diet Coke all day long.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    coffee is GREAT diabetes prevention.

    So...caffeine.

    Also, according to the experts decaf coffee processed with water is best (and tastes the same as regular) you have to ask to get the good stuff though!!!!!!!!!!!
  • WhisperALullaby
    WhisperALullaby Posts: 67 Member
    Tea! Tea is awesome for you, though it doesn't have as much caffeine as coffee. And so many varieties to choose from.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I drink caffeinated tea all day long. It didn't hinder my weight loss at all. Caffeine causes a brief burst in your metabolism. I'm not sure how much help that short burst is, but I can't see how it would hurt.

    I believe there are far worse things in soda than caffeine, though.
  • TonyL68
    TonyL68 Posts: 133 Member
    I drink black coffee - I really enjoy a good cup. Interestingly, I drank a lot more before changing my nutrition and eating habits. I was good for 3 cups in the morning and 2 in the afternoon every day, minimum. Now I find I drink 1-2 cups. I just don't feel as tired, so I drink it more for pleasure and less because I "need" it.

    Moderation is usually best IMO.
  • knelson422
    knelson422 Posts: 308 Member
    My New years resolution January 2011 was to elminate caffeine in my diet, as far as pop went. Believe it or not I stuck to it. Now going onto year two and sometimes I wonder if doing this My fitness Pal would go a little bit smoother with some extra energy. Right now if I drink a pop it is caffeine free diet coke. Help?

    How hard was it for you to quit caffeine. I am struggling with that now. It is my pick me up in the afternoon. Nothing else works for me like a diet coke. How long did it take you to not crave it anymore. If you could send me a message back with any tips, that would be great.
    Thanks.

    I went without chocolate for a year, it was a good exercise in self control. Good luck.
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    I don't consume any caffeine. I cut out soda about 4 months ago and I hate coffee and I'm not a huge tea fan. Water is really the only thing I drink except the occasional milk... so no caffeine for me. Caffeine never did anything for me, anyway. It never woke me up or gave me the jitters or anything.
  • michellebd1980
    michellebd1980 Posts: 169
    I definitely drink caffeine... I have to so I can function!
  • poustotah
    poustotah Posts: 1,121 Member
    I can't give up caffeine however, giving up soda is something entirely different. I gave up soda because it has too much sugar and I have convinved myself that the bubbles in it are actually corroding all of my organs and if I continue to drink it, my heart will blow up, my lungs will get eaten away and my brains are going to melt.

    True story. I haven't had a soda in years.

    So I keep my coffee and I love it.
  • Myndi73
    Myndi73 Posts: 270
    Oh, how I miss caffeine!! I would drink 3 24 oz. sugar free rockstars a day. I was definitely addicted. Then, I ended up in the er. I made myself allergic to caffeine. I can't have a drop of caffeine now or I end up in the hospital. It really sucks as I LOVE ice tea. Now it's water, every single day, all day. It really sucks. :sad:
  • pamelad77
    pamelad77 Posts: 292 Member
    I quit drinking diet coke, but there's NO WAY I'm giving up coffee lol
  • dberry01
    dberry01 Posts: 18 Member
    I can't give up my coffee (we own the local cafe) but for every double espresso that I have, I will have 2 glasses of water to compensate for dehydration.
  • Stumoo
    Stumoo Posts: 14
    Well done for quitting caffeine - though in my opinion the only reason to do so is if you had a heavy dependence on it. You say you drink caffeine free pop... do you get caffeine from other sources? Coffee, tea, chocolate, stuff like that? If not, then you're basically existing in a caffeine-free bubble and shouldn't need a drug to pep up your energy levels. If you start using caffeine in that capacity, it will soon lose most of its benefits and you'll be addicted to it again.

    Myself on the other hand, I consume caffeine every day, and never go for a run without having had a cup or two of joe. This is because I can't run with mild caffeine withdrawal, it makes me feel sluggish and irritable.

    For anyone reading this out of curiosity, there's good info about caffeine and fitness here: http://sweatscience.com/?s=caffeine. Basically my understanding is that a moderate intake is beneficial (protects against certain diseases including cancer), though if it's taken in the form of coffee the effects on your exercise speed/endurance are unclear.
  • coxy46
    coxy46 Posts: 23
    In my youth :wink: I was a body builder and we drank lots of black coffee in the diet weeks before contests because it helps speed your metabolism - like a little extra burst - that helped burn calories
  • jojowack
    jojowack Posts: 17 Member
    I've also read in fitness magazines that caffeine can cause a temporary boost in metabolism and energy. I think it also suppresses appetite but also can dehydrate at the same time. As long as I'm not harming my body, I'll do whatever helps me to be more successful in my weight loss goals. Maybe stick to a limit of one drink per day right before you work out?
  • mes1119
    mes1119 Posts: 1,082 Member
    I drink black coffee. Diet sodas are awful for you. They make you crave carbs and sugar. Something in the ingredients also makes your body store more fat.

    I find coffee to help me in my workouts, I work much harder the days I drink it. Plus I've found it helps with occasional bloat do the the effects of the diuretic :)
  • sjtreely
    sjtreely Posts: 1,014 Member
    Life is full of simple pleasures. Caffeine is one of them.

    I enjoy it everyday. And lots of it! I'm doing what works for me.
  • stanvoodoo
    stanvoodoo Posts: 1,023 Member
    No cafeine! Not got for anyone!

    It dehydrates you so you need to drink even more water to flush your system.

    I can tell you getting off of soda really sped up my weight loss and I don't miss it at all anymore. Never in a million years thought I could say that!

    Best of Luck!
  • hollythehutt
    hollythehutt Posts: 49
    I've never really drank very much soda, even as a little kid, but I drink a lot of black coffee and espresso-derived drinks. I find that, paradoxically, *not* drinking coffee for too long gives me headaches, weird vision, and irritability, plus I just love the taste of good coffee, so I don't think I'll be giving that up any time soon.
  • Stumoo
    Stumoo Posts: 14
    I find that, paradoxically, *not* drinking coffee for too long gives me headaches, weird vision, and irritability,

    That's not a paradox. That's classic caffeine withdrawal. But don't worry, your addiction isn't doing you any harm and is probably good for you on balance, contrary to the unsupported assertions of stanvoodoo above.
  • robin820
    robin820 Posts: 150 Member
    I will not lie the first couple weeks was very tough. But well worth it in the end.I had a few bad migraines but I got through it. I do not drink coffee or tea so quitting my caffeine pop was a very big deal. I can have a pop every so often when we go out of pop with caffeine, and I dont have a headache the next day like I used to get without.
    I do notice that I no longer get the bad mirgaines I used to get also. So I think thats worth it all. So i suppose I will just stick to the non caffenated. I just wonder what other people thought about this situation. Thanks >:O)

    I told myself I would no longer bring in caffeinated drinks into the house once my last 12 pack of cans was gone. I went with out pop for a period for about a couple months before I reintroduced the caffeine free in our house. Worked out great!
  • bellavie23
    bellavie23 Posts: 83 Member
    Honestly, I limit myself to maybe 1-2 cups of coke a month, if that, other than that it is just water, however, I don't have an addiction to it, I don't drink coffee, so it makes it easy to have 1 or 2 now and again, I just add the calories in. Dont make yourself suffer, one coke will not harm you, better to have one when you are having a small urge than to get to feeling you need one and having quite a few. Moderation for me.
  • AirCircleI
    AirCircleI Posts: 334 Member
    I quit caffeine for January and when the month ended I didn't go back because I felt so good - loads more energy than I had before. Now, I drink a pint of water when I first wake up instead of coffee, and when I am feeling lethargic, I drink water or rooibos (redbush) tea, which is a nice caffeine free red tea that I have with lemon.
  • Runningirl7284
    Runningirl7284 Posts: 274 Member
    The Women's One a Day multi-vitamin for active has caffeine in it! The same as a cup of coffee! I take it everyday and drink nothing but water.
  • poisongirl6485
    poisongirl6485 Posts: 1,487 Member
    I don't drink pop but I do take caffeine pills (which is the equivalent of about a cup and a half of coffee). Work til 2 in the morning then deal with kids all day and then tell me if you don't need the caffeine.
  • Cupcakehippiemommy
    Cupcakehippiemommy Posts: 457 Member
    I have not had soda in 4 months but I drink maybe 4 to 8 oz of coffee every once in a while if I have a sweet tooth.My hubby usually buys caramel brownie or vanilla hazelnut flavored coffee from a local coffee shop so that plus Splenda or Truvia helps satisfy my sweet tooth :)
  • BobbyDaniel
    BobbyDaniel Posts: 1,459 Member
    Coffee is great...it keeps me from making others' necks go "break"!
  • momof8munchkins
    momof8munchkins Posts: 1,167 Member
    I only drink diet soda every now and then but I am a soild 2 cup of coffee a day gal.. I stopped for a while and started having horrible migraines.. so caffeine for me!

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