Coffee and weight loss? Cottage Cheese?

StephStepByStep
StephStepByStep Posts: 131 Member
edited December 2024 in Food and Nutrition
First off, I'm pretty new to the site, I've been using the moble app a little, but this is my first time on the website and I am excited to see how much I can learn on here!

I know, like many people, I am a coffee addict....but off course not just black unflavored coffee....caramel swirl ice coffee from Dunkin Donuts or anything from Starbucks. Now, I also know that drinking these coffees won't help in the weight loss proccess so I have given up on coffee (4th day without coffee now) and I'm missing it terribly since I would buy one just about everyday.

So my question is, should I continue to not drink coffee or is there a heathlier, low calorie, non-artificial sweetener way to drink coffee without it tasting bitter?

Another question I have is about cottage cheese. I was thinking about buying non-fat cottage cheese and eating it with fruit for my lunches, but I'm not entirely sure if cottage cheese is healthy and will aid in my weight loss?

Thanks in advance for all help :)

Replies

  • bathsheba_c
    bathsheba_c Posts: 1,873 Member
    I've basically found that the coffee drinks sold by the major companies have far more sugar than they actually need. You can do it healthier by getting unsweetened iced coffee with low-fat milk, and then just adding a packet or two of sugar. Even if you did, like, four packets of sugar, it would still be lower-calorie than the other stuff.

    Cottage cheese is healthy. Feel free to eat it.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Cottage cheese is fantastic - high protein and realatively low in calories for a cheese.

    I wouldn't worry too much about going for the low-fat option, though - it probably has added sugar to make up for that. Read the labels on a few varieties and see which one suits you best.

    Coffee wise - can you go for a skinny version? Have a look at Starbucks website for the range of calories.
  • deadbeatsummer
    deadbeatsummer Posts: 537 Member
    i love sweet coffees too - generally i go for a skinny latte (100 cals in pret a manger) and just put 2 tsp of sugar in it - i hate the taste of sweetners and it's only 30 cals - so if its just one a day its not so bad.

    ocassionally ill treat myself to a skinny vanilla latte in starbucks which is less than 200.

    x
  • beattie1
    beattie1 Posts: 1,012 Member
    Drink your coffee black, or black with a splash of skimmed milk?
  • AussieRachG
    AussieRachG Posts: 43 Member
    Mmmm... I love cottage cheese. Every brand tastes different and has a different consistency - so have fun trying them all out and seeing which one you love the best!
  • deannakittygirl
    deannakittygirl Posts: 228 Member
    I make my own version of an iced latte. I experimented till I got proportions I could live with only cause I cant afford the lots o bucks daily. I use strong brewed coffee chilled with 2% milk over ice or 4 shots of espresso in place of regular coffee when I want a bit stronger drink. no sugar for me, I do this at least 3 times per week.
  • JennieAL
    JennieAL Posts: 1,726 Member
    Full fat cottage cheese, ftw! It's great with fruit or by itself.

    Black coffee with half & half or milk is what I drink daily. If you like sugar, just a little sugar isn't going to make or break your calorie deficit that day. Or you can always use stevia or Splenda... And some of those zero cal syrups for coffee.
  • stuffinmuffin
    stuffinmuffin Posts: 985 Member
    You don't have deprive yourself on MFP. Eat or drink whatever you like within your calories and exercise calories.
    I find that if you start depriving yourself of things you really like then you are more likely to not continue this programme or adapt it to become a permanent lifestyle change. I did however learn that healthier food tended to be lower calorie and I naturally eat more of that 'type' of food because then I get more (always greedy... ; )

    If you like your coffee. have it! Try lower calorie alternatives, Include it into your diary, exercise for it...whatever you prefer. I love coffee and enjoy milky coffee with sweeteners through the day (infact I have one on the go right now!).

    I found that MFP was a learning experience and that it had me trying all new types of food (cottage cheese included) and had me scruplessly ready every last detail on the back of packets in the supermarkets....now I feel like an informed eater and can make the best choices for my health and maintenance weight. xx
  • Cait_Sidhe
    Cait_Sidhe Posts: 3,150 Member
    Coffee with splenda and almond milk= 5 calories/cup
    It's not as creamy, but I'm used to it and it really doesn't taste bad.
    Lately though, I've been drinking my coffee with 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder and splenda. Super yummy and creamy. The protein powder I use is 100 cals/scoop.

    And cottage cheese is fine. I hate the taste of it, but I discovered if I mix it into my oatmeal, I don't notice it at all and I get extra protein.
  • marie_1565
    marie_1565 Posts: 30 Member
    I am a major coffee addict and found that the best way to keep the calories and sugar manageable was to make my own. Options hot chocolate powder is really low cal (38-40 cal per serving) and come in tons of flavors. They have enough flavor that I usually use one serving of cocoa per 3 cups of coffee. They even come in single serving sachets so you can keep them in your purse for work or when you're at a coffee shop.
  • muadeeb
    muadeeb Posts: 91
    Coffee all by itself has no calories and actually has been proven to be a natural helper for burning calories. Its what you put into the coffee that can make it unhealthier.....i personelly stay away from the coffee shops. Coffee is alot cheaper when you make it yourself, lol. but as it has been said, keep within your calorie goals and youll do just fine.
  • madamepsychosis
    madamepsychosis Posts: 472 Member
    I'm a fiend for black coffee but as a treat, I do enjoy a hazlenut latte from Starbucks every now and again. However, unless you specify otherwise, they automatically put whole milk in it, which really adds to the calorie amount (and which I think is gross anyway, it's like drinking cream!). Ask for it with soya or skim milk instead. It's also worth asking if they have sugar free syrup for flavoured coffees too, I know Starbucks usually do.

    Also, cottage cheese is delicious, healthy and goes with so many things. Go nuts!
  • Flafster
    Flafster Posts: 106 Member
    I found it helped if I thought of filter coffee / espresso as coffee and those tall sugary, milky drinks with cream as desserts.

    Grande caramel macchiato? 190-270 calories. That's the same as my whole breakfast. So yes, sometimes I'd have it but that'd be it until lunch. I could have a croissant and an espresso for the same calories.
  • russellma
    russellma Posts: 284 Member
    As someone else said, you can have whatever you want, as long as you make room for it in your daily calories/macros.

    I used to love vending machine cappuccino, but cut waayyy back due to the empty calories. However, I still have my coffee everyday. I add brown sugar, cocoa powder and milk to make sort of a mocha latte. In the summer, I used shaved iced, instant coffee granules, brown sugar and milk to make an iced frappe. Now I don't even like the cappuccino straight from the machine. If I do get one, I mix it with regular coffee to take away some of the sweetness.

    Cottage cheese is great for weight loss (at least for me!). It's a really good source of protein, fairly low calorie, and can go with just about anything. It's my go-to when I'm low on protein, and it can be anything from a dessert to a salad! It does have some sodium in it, if you care about that.

    ETA: As far as non-fat vs. cottage cheese with fat.... I generally use 1% or 4%. Fat is not bad, and it helps to let your brain know that you're full and turns off the hunger center. Instead of non-fat, I would buy some with at least a little bit of fat! Good luck!
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