Question:
Coffee ok at 2 1/2 months out??
I began drinking 1 cup of coffee a day with splenda and cream. Occasionally, I will have a non-fat sugar free latte. Is coffee o.k?? I have heard differant opinions on this. Thanks for any info. — Melissa B. (posted on June 22, 2003)
June 22, 2003
I've been drinking coffee since two days after my surgery. I have cut way
back as caffeine depletes calcium. I would also stay away from cream
unless you're doing Atkins or a like plan.
— susanje
June 22, 2003
i have been drinking since 2 weeks out. my dr said ok as long as its
decaffinated- caffiene reaks havock on us! it slows our metabloism down
& dehydrates us... so that we would need to get in even more water!
— heather S.
June 22, 2003
Hiya...I've drank coffee since 6 weeks post op..just didn't want any before
that. I drink LOTS of coffee...over a pot a day. It's the real stuff...no
decaf. I use sf vanilla syrup, and vanilla soy milk and splenda in my
coffee. I order soy latte's with sugar free vanilla AND whipped cream at
Starbuck. I've lost 140 pounds and feel GREAT! Coffee is my passion...I
never touch sugar of any kind (other than the cane juice (sugar) in vanilla
soy milk)...I don't drink soda..and I fight the evil carb demons...but
dammit..I will NOT give up my coffee!!! So...you have some coffee..enjoy
it!! Life is sweet =) ((((hugs)))) and smiles =)))
— DebPKansas
June 22, 2003
It's as if Deb read my mind. I too am a huge coffee addict-- I drink it
black with one equal and have about 5 cups a day. So far, 225 pounds in
about 8 mos. so it hasn't seemed to hinder my weight loss.
— SteveColarossi
June 22, 2003
I have ben drinking about one cup of regular coffee since about 2 months
out after RNY. It does not seem to make any difference as far as
"wrecking havoc" on my system. As long as you drink enough water
or other fluids that your urine is pale yellow to nearly colorless, you
will not be dehydrated by it! I also drink my coffee with Splenda and
cream. I had surgery to be healthier and lose weight, but I don't think
having a cup of coffee - which I really enjoy - is going to ruin my chances
of success. I'm off most of my prescription meds and exercise, drink
plenty. Have a hot steamin' cuppa Joe and enjoy it!
— koogy
June 22, 2003
I suppose that we are all different but coffee had an immediate effect on
my weight loss and I became dehydrated within a week or so of resuming the
coffee. I love my coffee and now I have one cup of decaf in the morning but
that is it. I believe that if you are handling coffee well then you are
probably drinking a lot of other fluids as well. I have a hard time getting
enough fluids in and when I started with the coffee it replaced a lot of
the other fluids that I needed. I seem to be on the verge of dehydration
all the time and my best weight loss happens when I am fully hydrated all
the time! Also the caffeine affected me so much more than it did preop and
made me very jittery!
— Carol S.
June 23, 2003
Someone posted that caffeine slows down the metabolism. That isn't true. It
does just the opposite. Yes, you do have to drink more water so you do not
get de-hydrated but to me, drinking "real" coffee is worth it!
— Phyllis H.
June 23, 2003
Caffine makes you hungry. Period. Caffine can stimulate your metabolism,
but it isn't worth it in the long run for good health. I will have an
occasional cup of decaf (once or twice a month, at most), but discovered
the caffine headaches and the let down after the rush is just not worth it.
It is simply up to you and what you want to drink. Is it healthy? Only you
can answer that for your own body. We are all different.
— Sharon M. B.
June 23, 2003
I have been drinking decaf now since I had my first apt with my surgeon
back in late January. You may say ewwwwww yuck decaf, but I did it slowly,
1/2 reg & 1/2 decaf then slowly adding more decaf 'til it was all decaf
in my cup. I actually prefer decaf to regular now. I find regular too
strong. I considered myself to be a regular coffee "snob", but
not anymore. I was told by my doctor's nutritionist that caffine dehydrates
the body of its natural fluids and it depletes the body of calcium and the
B vitamins.
— ChristineB
June 23, 2003
Hi! I couldn't help but post a response to this question. We all have our
passions in life. And for some people, coffee is there passion. I have a
low fat cookbook I have been reading through lately. I came across the
following recipe yesterday and posted it on the Texas message board. I
thought some of you might like it too. So here goes!
This recipe came from a cookbook I have. It does have powdered surgar in
it...But it is such a small amout it says it doesn't even count as a
serving. This recipe is for one serving. It is called "Legal
Latte"...1 cup skim milk, 1 cup prepared coffee, 1 teaspoon vanilla
extract, 1 teaspoon powdered surgar.....Warm the skim milk, coffee, and
vanilla in a microwave for 3 minutes on medium high power or low heat on
the stove. Do not boil. Add sugar and serve....Nutrition Info: Calories:
113, Protein: 8 g., Carbs: 16 g., Total Fat: 1 g., Sodium: 133g. This one
seems a little high in carbs, but I thought for those of us who enjoy a cup
of coffee every now and again we could make it special. I found this is a
low fat cookbook. Let me know if anyone tries it..... Maria~San Antonio, TX
— Maria S
June 23, 2003
Hey, Sharon - I'd be interested to know where you got the info that
caffeine causes hunger. I'm curious because it seems to be the opposite for
me. A cup of coffee and I'm good until lunch (unless I remind myself to
have my mid-morning "eats" - cheese or yogurt or something).
Carbs do it for me - any carbs before noon and I can become an eating
machine. Thanks -
Sue
— koogy
June 23, 2003
For what it's worth, I've also heard that caffeine is an appetite stimulant
(I can't recall where I've read it, but I know I have see that assertion in
print a number of times; plus, I recall being "taught" that at
Weight Watchers). Having said that, I truly believe this is one of those
things that varies from person to person. I know carbs can trigger the
appetite of a madwoman in me, but I've never noticed that with caffeine
(though I don't drink much caffeine because of the diueretic effects, plus
it makes me jumpy).
— Suzy C.
June 23, 2003
I am 14 months out, and have been a coffee "freak" for the last
15 years. That has NOT changed since my WLS. I drink about 1 pot/day, about
1/2 decaf. But I do not beat myself up over the caffeine.
And all this time I have not regained an appetite. I think that is an
individual thing.
I have given up pasta, ice cream, candy, pizza... but I will not give up
coffee as long as it is not hurting me!
— kultgirl
June 23, 2003
I did a quick search on the internet and could not find anyplace that says
caffeine is an appetite stimulant! In fact, there are several OTC items
that are marketed as "appetite depressants" or diet drugs, that
include caffeine. One site, connected with a hospital and university, even
stated that the diuretic effect of a cup of regular coffee are offset by
the fluid with which it is made! This site stated that moderate caffeine
intake (at 300mg!) is not harmful. (One cup of coffee has anywhere from 40
to 120 mg of caffeine.) Just thought it was interesting. (Did a simple
searchs on "caffeine" and "appetite stimulants.")
— koogy
June 23, 2003
Since surgery I have been able to wean myself of all but one cup of coffee
a day-have to have that morning cup, and usually don't even finish that.
The main concern for me is the calcium being leeched by the caffeine much
more so than the dehydration. I wouldn't be too concerned with just one
cup a day as long as your keeping up with the calcium supplements, add some
extra water, and get that bone scan annually.
— Cindy R.
June 23, 2003
Thanks for doing that search Susan... I too could not find anything saying
that caffeine increases appetite (certainly has the opposite effect on me)
nor could I find any information about caffiene CAUSING dehydration. I
know that I must drink 100 ounces of water a day to feel good...and I do
it! I also drink a pot of REGULAR coffee a day...and a diet snapple peach
ice tea and sometimes even a little crystal lite. Obviously..lol..no
dehydration problems with me!! If you don't drink your water...and you
drink tons of coffee or tea....perhaps your problem is not the
caffiene...but the fact that you don't drink water. So if anyone has any
resources stating that caffiene stimulates appetite or cause dehydration, I
would be interested in reading the info..not that it will change my coffee
consumption...LOL
— DebPKansas
Click Here to Return