Caffine
Author
Message
kirstyb1
Celebrated Member
Joined: 19 May 2008
Posts: 83
Post: Glasgow
Sun Jun 15, 2008 7: 33 pm    Post subject: Caffine
Right, so i know in the book it says to cut this out completly but i only have one cup a day at the most and its black with 1 sweetner.
So i know it causes raised blood sugar and can make you crave sugar, but if you donr have these side affects is it still a MUST to give it up?
Also i read yet that you counted coffee as 1g of carbs?? [ / icon_surprised. gif] Surely not
kissy face
bluehex
Senior Member
Joined: 03 Dec 2003
Posts: 2663
Setting: Warsaw, Poland
Sun Jun 15, 2008 7: 45 pm    Post subject:
Coffee has zero carbs, so the thing to trouble about is caffeine. Reactions to caffeine are very personal, some people drink pots of it with no effect whatsoever, for others even one cup is too much.
Problem with caffeine, or more specifically coffee, is not just cravings. It is a pretty strong diuretic. Atkins is a very diuretic diet anyway, and coffee may cause you to retain water, which masks weightloss. Caffeine also impacts some metabolic processes.
Dr Atkins says that the very actuality you are " addicted " to something ( regardless whether it ' s coffee or, say, cucumbers ) is in itself the best reason to stop eating it, because you are most probably allergic to that particular food.
I ' m afraid there is no other method for you than trial and error. If you continue to drink your coffee and lose weight - you are one of the lucky individuals who are not affected, or are affected less than others. But if you stall, you should consider coffee as one of the potential culprits.
Tril
Senior Member
Joined: 27 May 2008
Posts: 1325
Location: ( very ) Northeastern USA
Sun Jun 15, 2008 7: 49 pm    Post subject:
Kirsty... I haven ' t given up cafffeine. Here is what Dr. Atkins said about coffee / caffeine:
" Excessive caffeine may cause unstable blood sugar and should be avoided by those who suspec tthey are caffeine dependent. Everone should try to avoid caffeine. Grain beverages ( coffee substitutes ) are not allowed. " pg 127
And this... " Stay out of the java jungle. Excessive caffeine ( found not only in coffee but in tea, chocolate and many soft drinks ) has been shown to cause a hypoglycemic ( low blood sugar ) reaction, which will provoke cravings and cause you to overeat. Omitting caffeine may be a big scarifice for you, but, in my experience, weight loss often starts up again as soon as people remove aspratme and carreine from their regimen. " pg 189
Wait, there ' s more... in regards to lifetime maintenance... " Comsume caffeine and alcohol only in moderation. " pg 222
Finally... in how to jump start your weight loss... " Drink only decaffeinated coffee and tea and use only acceptable sweeteners. " pg 230
No mention whatsoever of counting the miniscule carbs in brewed coffee. Decaffeinated coffee and tea are on the list of acceptable beverages.
As long as you don ' t feel the one cup of black coffee with sweetener is effecting your blood sugar you should be fine. I have two cups and so far, I ' m doing alright with it. Cutting down on the Splenda to 3 packets ( or eqivalent ) a day has been harder for me than cutting down on the coffee! LOL I may have to give up the coffee because of that... unless I can learn to drink it w / o Splenda. [ / icon_evil. gif]