Question:
Drinking coffee
Okay, so a few weeks ago I picked up what I consider a bad habit. I went on vacation and my family drinks coffee every morning, so I joined in on the fun (as I've always enjoyed coffee). Now, I drink it everyday and without it get terrible caffeine headaches. I read my original gastric bypass diet book and it said that it is okay to drink coffee, I was just curious to know if it stunts your weight loss or causes weight gain in others. I always question things because I want to make sure I am losing as much weight as possible. I am 9 months post op and have lost 144 lbs so far, but the last few weeks I have been at a standstill and I am starting to get worried. I currently weigh 219 and my goal of 150 is still 69 lbs away! — Brandy H. (posted on January 12, 2009)
January 11, 2009
I was never a coffee drinker, but I used to drink a lot of soda that had
it. I personally chose to cut out the caffiene when I cut out carbs and all
the other bad stuff--and I actually feel more energy. Plus, caffeine tends
to dehydrate you, and with WLS getting enough water is vital already, so
it's actually at cross-purposes. I recommend cutting it out if you
can--you'll feel better.
— suezahn4me
January 11, 2009
Thanks Sue! I truly think I can cut it out!
— Brandy H.
January 11, 2009
caffine will cut down or stop your weight loss.
— Alvernlaw
January 11, 2009
I'll stop the coffee. Keep Up the Good work on your weight loss . I'm 2
pounds away from my goal.
kmaise1
— kmaise1
January 11, 2009
Love coffee as well and I just went to decaf - tastes just as good and no
harm done. Just my two cents...
— sheri139
January 12, 2009
I just read what everyone wrote...I often wonder where on earth people pull
these answers from...But then again Drinking coffee will probably be one of
those controversial subjects because no one has clear proof of much,
especially the really BAD stuff that people pass on by word of mouth...Once
upon a time caffiene became the enemy with diet fads especially diet pills
containing HIGH doses of caffiene and causing rapid heart rates in people
with heart troubles! Or insulin reactions in obese people with insulin
troubles... It seems everything gets a bad rap when some person with
medical troubles should not be doing something because of medical problems
that they have personally. The whole key is moderation as long as you have
no problems with it...It's got it's flaws, sure. It is classified as a drug
and stimulant...but does that make it bad? It has it's benefits...Coffee is
a zero calorie liquid...SO you CANNOT gain weight from coffee...Add cream
and sugar, THAT WILL make you gain and hinder your weight loss...I drink
one cup a day for the last 4 years outta 5 years po...I whip in two scoops
of vanilla protein with one of those super fast power hand blenders and it
makes a smoothe awesome High protein, sf Vanilla latte with a nice natural
foam on top..and the coffee adds antioxidants! HERE From the Mayo
Clinic...(http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeine/HQ00369)
And here more info although it was aired on CNN in 2002, It's a bit
older...but so many are reluctant to clear coffee as a bad guy. I have Dr
Oz dimiss the bad guy image of coffee on Oprah too, saying this "You
get the health benefits of coffee up through about the first 24 ounces.
It's the biggest source of antioxidants for Americans, and we think it
helps prevent Alzheimer's and Parkinson's as well."...My Nut okays
coffee too...IN MODERATION! One cup! Coffee however will hinder the
absoption of calcium and iron...And calcium hinders iron absorption so all
three of these need to be seperated by two hours of each other! I do not
take any of my vitamin supps near my morning coffee just to be sure.
Here's the CNN
transcript....http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0208/27/lol.04.html....There
are plenty of non medical sites that will tell you stories...That is why I
picked MAyo Clinic whom I personally trust and CNN who investigates
information.
— .Anita R.
January 12, 2009
I was a 4 - 5 cup per day coffee drinker. When I began preparation for my
surgery, my dietician told me to stop drinking caffienated coffee... she
said decaff was fine. She told me that caffienated coffee was a diuretic,
and that it would hinder getting the amount of liquids I would need
post-op. I quit (and it was really hard - I had a headache for a week). I
trust my doctor because he's done over 2000 of these surgeries, and I trust
my dietician because together, they have had such a high rate of success.
I trust my WLS Nutrition classes because they are sponsored by a Bariatric
Center of Excellence, so I've opted to take their advice. I guess you'll
have to make your own decision based on your own research and how you feel
about what your doctor and nutritionist are telling you.
— Erica Alikchihoo
January 12, 2009
I had a different reason for quitting the coffee. I was a POT a day
drinker. I have a history of ulcers and as a RNY patient, I am
pre-disposed to ulcers (I have a higher chance of getting them than others
who have not had my surgery). So, I made the choice to stay away from
caffeine. I have decaf coffee and once in a great while (Like maybe a cup
a week if at all) I might have a SMALL cup of coffee. Not the buckets you
get at the coffee shops. So, here's another reason to get back on track.
I would suggest you do half decaf and half regular coffee for a week or so
to wean yourself off and then go to decaf every other day and so forth.
You won't get headaches that way. Good Luck!
— Shirley D.
January 12, 2009
There is no evidence that coffee hinders weight loss-- sure, you need to
watch the carbs in any cream (which I wonder why anyone uses it as it
contains no caffeine) and sweeteners (even "zero calorie"
artificial sweeteners have trace amounts of carbohydrate that can add up).
If you are drinking so much that it might hinder calcium absorption, the
easy solution is take more calcium. Also, a study last year from the
University of CT found that coffee was no more a diuretic than comparable
amounts of water-- among habitual drinkers of fully-caffeinated coffee-
there was no pronounced diuretic effect. Finally, the struggling economies
of Central America rely upon coffee export and many barristas need your
loyal support to help them get their fourth graduate degree-- so please,
don't undermine Central American fledgling democracies and higher education
by eliminating coffee.
— SteveColarossi
January 12, 2009
My Dr said 1 cup a day is fine. I have been drinking 1 cup a day my whole
life and can't imagine life without my cup in the morning. He also said to
add 1 cup of water to my day since it doesn't count toward my 64 oz of
water per day.No problem, I drink more than that any way living in the
desert.
I am 9 mos post op. I just came off of a 2 mos plateau. I don't think
the coffee had anything to do with it. Its just the way it goes.
— azreggie
January 12, 2009
My Dr said 1 cup a day is fine. I have been drinking 1 cup of coffee a day
my whole life and can't imagine life without my cup in the morning. He
also said to add 1 cup of water to my day since it doesn't count toward my
64 oz of water per day. No problem, I drink more than that any way living
in the desert.
I am 9 mos post op and I just came off of a 2 mos plateau. I don't think
the coffee had anything to do with it. Its just the way it goes.
— azreggie
January 12, 2009
i drank coffee before surgery and today im still drinking coffee.its ok to
drink it.
— deb44m
January 12, 2009
Thank you Anita R!! I was a coffee-drinker before surgery and suffered the
headaches of withdrawal post-op. As soon as my nutritionist said I could
drink coffee again, you can believe I did! I like it and it has no
calories! How many other foods or beverages can make that claim? It makes
me happy and it's a small thing. What's the problem? For me, it's a quality
of life issue. I can give up ANYTHING else. No ice cream? OK! No big juicy
steaks? No problem! No cake, no cookies, no mashed potatoes? I can deal
with it! But I'm keeping my coffee, thankyouverymuch! As for it causing
cravings or whatever, I've never found that to be true. I drink 1 or 2 cups
per day and I try very hard to make sure I'm getting water to offset any
diuretic properties, but since I still suffer from occasional edema, I
don't think it's an issue for me. We grind our own beans and tend to make
a very strong cup o' joe, so I did begin making a 1/2 caf blend of our
favorite varieties. That's my only concession--but I have no problems with
the occasional cup of coffee from Tim Horton's (This is Canada--gotta have
my Timmies!). I even had a skim milk cappuccino at Starbucks last weekend.
I'm still at the beginning of my WLS journey but at just over 2 months I'm
down 60+ lbs so I don't think coffee is causing me any problems.
— Tina G.
January 16, 2009
I have to consume 100 ozs of fluids a day, and I have a big problem with
fluids. I drink a lot of coffee( weak to most) and add half and half. This
is a fluid I keep down, and beleive me, I have tried a lot of different
varities. My doctor said it is ok, and I get in about 80ozs a day from
water and from coffee, plus protein from my half and half...
No headaches either, if i go without coffee.
But there again, each of us are different, and different things I do will
not work for you. It is trial and error...
Hugs
Debi
— daizi55
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