Caffeinated

[Franklin Lee]

Uggh I hate to even ask - because: its been asked before, and everyone has a different opinion! But here goes

What about Caffeine?

[Whatsername]

Its one of those things that you should try to do without.

That said, I am addicted to my coffee and while I have cut back alot, I can't give it up. I drink 2 cups a day (1 morning, 1 afternoon) with 1 splenda packet and unfortunately lots of cream. But I try to take that all into consideration with the rest of my menu. I do not find that this stalls me. I did Atkins before in '03 and the same was true for me then.

If you find that you aren't losing or you stall, you might want to consider the caffeine though.

Just my experience.

[Elizellen]

Here is Dr Atkins take on it

10. Avoid coffee, tea and soft drinks that contain caffeine. Excessive caffeine has been shown to cause low blood sugar, which can make you crave sugar.

[J.R.]

It's best if you can do without caffeine. I drink coffee, but I went through most of the 2-week induction without it. Like Whatsername, I have cut back a lot on pre-atkins level of coffee. I never drink it with sugar, so no issue with Splenda. I have been drinking coffee black and have just started added a very small amount of cream.

I'm getting away with it. You should go through induction without it so if you choose to experiment with coffee later, you can tell if it's stalling you or not (assuming no other dietary changes post-2-week-induction). Since you've read the other threads, you know lots of people can't get away with consuming caffeine. Basically, use at your own risk, knowing it is discouraged.

[msanjelpie]

Caffeine causes a raise in blood sugar when you first drink it. An hour or two later the blood sugar plummets. If you have blood sugar issues this can cause you to become very hungry. If you don't have blood sugar issues than you won't notice the hunger. In that case I would say caffeine doesn't effect the diet for you... If you notice the hunger, I would avoid caffeine.

I have to avoid caffeine because I would have diet soda with dinner and then several hours after dinner I would become voraciously hungry like I could eat a horse hungry... it was horrible...

it depends on YOUR body... caffeine does not cause stalls (unless you give in to the hunger and binge)

[MsUnderstood0000]

I find the opposite with coffee in the morning. It can replace breakfast and I do not eat till noon. Takes away all my hunger so I have to watch and make sure I eat with it. I can sip one cup of coffee all morning and not think about food at all, which is not good.

[phil h]

I drink black coffee and have had zero problems with it.No carb cravings and weight loss has been outstanding.

[liv]

Originally Posted by MsUnderstood0000

I find the opposite with coffee in the morning. It can replace breakfast and I do not eat till noon. Takes away all my hunger so I have to watch and make sure I eat with it. I can sip one cup of coffee all morning and not think about food at all, which is not good.

Don't do that. It is not good to go without food. Eat your breakfast and eat a good one. Probably the most important Atkins meal of your day.

For me coffee and decaf stimulate my appetite. I drink some decaf but I have to be very careful.

[JohnSantos]

Originally Posted by Franklin Lee

What about Caffeine?

Freeing myself from that crap was one of the milestones of my life. And this is from a 2-liter a day Diet Coke drinker...

Amazon.com: Caffeine Blues: Wake Up to the Hidden Dangers of America's #1 Drug: Stephen Cherniske: Books

Amazon.com: The Truth About Caffeine : How Companies That Promote It Deceive Us and What We Can Do About It: Marina Kushner: Books

IMHO of course.

[Whatsername]

Originally Posted by Elizellen

Here is Dr Atkins take on it

Thanks for that reminder. I actually have that quote highlighted in my book.