the more I read the more afraid I become

[kailuagirl]

No Caffeine? How real is this. I drink a cup of strong (french pressed) coffee every morning. No need for cream, as I often drink it black anyway.

I am 5'7" - 165 lbs and I need to lose about 25 lbs. I am an avid worker-outer, but I have insulin resistant PCOS and an unusually slow metabolic rate (I am a fitness professional and my PCP has confirmed this, but instead of the pills I want to do it with food changes)

I do drink VODKA. Thats been a problem for me in everyway, so this is nice to say to myself, nope! Cant have a vodka rocks (never mixed it with any sugary stuff but alas, I know its a no-no). But no coffee in the morning?

I really hope its consumption wont hinder my progress. I dont do artificial sweeteners but I did buy some zero net carb werthers in case I got stink breath (I am face to face with ppl all day) but now I see that miight be an issue, so I may just stick with peppermint oil...

anyway, any advice (that doesnt include no coffee) will help!

thanks gang

[liv]

So you want an out? Or someone to say it will be OK?
There probably will be people posting here and tell you they can do this or that and still lose weight (and they can) but can you? That is what it boils down to. Atkins did think unstable bloodsugar may come from over use of caffeine and recommended we try to avoid it. So any way you can lower your dosage gradually? I did that. I survived.

[kailuagirl]

No, I dont want an out. And I hardly think that one cup of coffee a day is overuse, but it seems like everything I read says you can have this but not that, and I dont see the major difference, and somethings seem worse, like the chemicals overall (ie. diet coke vs naturally pressed coffee)... I was just looking for other advice. An option other than not drinking any coffee, lol. Sorry if that question seemed to offend you...

[Sherri]

First, WELCOME and Aloha!
I know quite a few here that like their cup of coffee in the morning. I for one do, but it's decaf. Took me forever to switch but I finally did. Though when I first began Atkins five years ago I enjoyed a cup of caffeine (tea) in the morning.
It does come down to the individual. If drinking caffeine doesn't bring on hunger, cravings or weightloss stalls. Then have your cup. Just try to limit it to one.
On the vodka, waiting for rung 5 is best. One thing to keep in mind that when drinking alcohol, your body stops burning fat and starts burning the alcohol. It may cause you to have a weightloss stall.
Sincerely, Sherri

[liv]

Believe me I am not offended. I must have expressed myself poorly. It happens. Sorry

OK other advice... my best advice
1. follow the rules of induction to a T. They were designed to help the maximum of losers and they almost always work if we follow them
2. Always read the list of ingredients on a label and avoid illegal stuff
3. Sugar-free does not mean Atkins legal. Read ingredients and be very weary of artificial sweeteners.
5. Avoid frankenfoods (shakes and bars)
6. Drink pure water all the time

[PeteinVA]

I was drinking 2 or 3 mugs a day with sweet & low and when I started Atkins within a week had it to one mug, black. I feel the same way about coffee (and vodka!) you do. I think once you're in ketosis on Atkins the craving for both lessens.

I've done okay overall in the six weeks since I'm on Atkins. I don't know if I would have done "better" with no coffee at all but I'm not complainin'.

Good luck to you on your start with induction!

[barrnone]

I also cut back, about 1/2 of what I was originally drinking. Plus I drink half-calf.

[kailuagirl]

lol. The vodka is not a priority. I blame it for the weight game!!

its the coffee. For some reason when I wake up at 4:30 a.m. it taste better than toothpaste, lol. hopefully if I brew less or buy decaf and do a half and half that will work. Thanks for the tip!

[barrnone]

I think most of us thought that 'there is no way I can go without....' - but then are surprised by being able to break these habits. Good luck

[ErinB]

Fifteen months I have been trying to shed all that hypo(thyroid) weight. Until I came here and gradually learned what I was doing wrong and tweaked things around until I am finally pretty much squared away ... I think ... my losses were very painfully slow. I'm glad I'm finally learning, but I certainly wish now I had just done it this way from the beginning:

Originally Posted by liv

OK other advice... my best advice
1. follow the rules of induction to a T. They were designed to help the maximum of losers and they almost always work if we follow them
2. Always read the list of ingredients on a label and avoid illegal stuff
3. Sugar-free does not mean Atkins legal. Read ingredients and be very weary of artificial sweeteners.
5. Avoid frankenfoods (shakes and bars)
6. Drink pure water all the time

I would most likely have completed the weight loss by now and been solidly into maintenance.

What liv says may not be what we want to hear, but it is what works.

P. S. I used to drink either a pot of coffee every morning (if home) or two 20 oz. Starbuck's Americanas every morning (at work). I was seriously into coffee. Finally toughed it out and gave up the coffee, which I don't miss at all now, and started drinking caffeinated tea. Some of us just do not learn easily.

Now it is decaf and/or green tea and (mostly) water. It didn't kill me after all. I feel better and I am beginning to lose faster.