People in the UK, what do you do about tea???

[SarahJC]

Hi, I'm new to the board but not completely brand new to the diet. I did it for a bit last year and got great results. Gave up for a variety of reasons but always regretted it so today I start again.

What really got to me before was having to miss out on my tea (the reason I ask for people in the UK is that I think they will appreciate the significance of a cup of PG Tips better than most! I don't mean to exclude anyone).

I have tried black tea, green tea, black coffee, coffee with cream, all of which I detest. I just want a cup of normal builder's tea at least in the mornings to give me the strength to switch the shower on. There has got to be a way round this so I wondered if anyone with more knowledge had any tips.

Thanks
Sarah :angelanim

[Richt]

Sorry Sarah, I can't be any help.

I drink nothing but water. Fortunately I have never been a hot drink drinker so dont miss anything. I think common herbal teas are the best things for us Atkineers to drink, if you have to drink tea that is...........

Rich

[SarahJC]

Re: tea

Hi Rich

I do kind of have to drink tea. It's the only thing I could never give up permanently, carbs and sugar is a cinch in comparison!

OK, so it does look it's herbal or nothing?

[Richt]

Try and cut the caffeine out for the first two weeks of induction at least. That's the important stage of the Atkins diet as its there to retrain your body to break its addiction to Carbs.

Once you are throught the induction stage you MAY be able to re-introduce tea.

Try to drink nothing but water for the first couple of weeks and see how you get on. Warning though - you will get major withdrawal symptoms over the first 2-3 days but that is a standard reaction.

As I say its all about re-training your body. Do you have a copy of the Book (Orange Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution)? If not be sure to buy it as you will be able to get all of the info from that. Its currently retailing at £8.99

Rich

[SarahJC]

I do have a copy of the book and read it from cover to cover last year. I've been dipping in again this week.

OK, well it goes without saying that during induction I will stick utterly and completely to the rules as I realise that it's not the time to experiment. It worked well for me when I did it and I felt so good in myself. Here's hoping.

[Richt]

At least you know how well it works if you stick to it.

Good luck
Rich

[Labarum]

I was a great tea drinker and never touched coffee.

I would drink lots of weak milky tea with no sugar, but I could get through quite a bit of milk in a day.

Milk in forbidden on induction so I tried diluted cream - yuk - tasted like tea with coffee creamer.

Fruit infusions I have always thought disgusting, so those I have not even tried, but lots of tothers I have.

The first acceptable brew I found was Fennel Tea - but I needed two bags per cup. I tried Mint, Camomile and Green teas.

My current favourites are Twinings camomile and spearmint, and Jacksons Green Tea with Mint.

It was a while before I discovered that Green Teas should NOT be made with boiling water - you must let the water cool for three minutes before making green tea - otherwise the tea is very bitter.

Try and re-educate your taste. Green Tea is supposed to have antitoxin properties and contains higher concentrations of the chemicals found in red wine that some say makes it good for heart.

Or when you are through induction used decafe tea with milk set against your carb count. I always put milk in my scrambled egg to fluff it up.

I used to drink a lot of diet cola, and thought caffein had no effect - believe me it does - I drink caffein free cola at home but will have an ordinary diet cola if out - I know about it if I have more than one. It does not result in cravings, but I can feel "razzed up".

And let me reinforce wat has already been said drink WATER WATER WATER

[SarahJC]

Re: tea

Hi Labarum

Thanks very much for that info, that's really helpful. I'll have a look at the teas that you suggested. I can cope during the day but I really need a hot drink in the mornings.

What I also have trouble with, although I know this isn't the right board, is knowing what is banned because of the effect on weightloss, or what is banned due to the need to re-educate yourself, if you see what I mean.

For example, milk presumably is outlawed purely because of the carb content and not because it's a horrendous thing to put into your body. Therefore it's ok to reintroduce it in small amounts after induction say?

There is an awful lot to take in on this eating plan but I am convinced that it's worth it, so I do appreciate the help.

Sarah

[sadie147]

Hi Sarah, if you can get used to green tea... it does have some great properties, including (reported in studies, see below) inhibiting weight loss! I am not in the UK but can appreciate your delimmea as my family is brittish and consume tea by the gallon! I can't even imagine asking them to give it up :yikes

http://www.japanesegreenteaonline.com/weightloss.htm

[dreamof145]

Sarah,

There is no way you can possibly enjoy your TEA more than I enjoyed my COFFEE. I was totally addicted, and it wasn't just a cup in the morning to get me going, it was several cups in morning, cups all afternoon and several cups at night up until I went to bed. I love coffee. I have drank coffee since I was a small kid and up till six months ago.

BUT, DR. A said it will deter you from losing the weight...and my priority is to lose this weight once and for all. If I have to give up my coffee to do that, then that is what I must do. I think about it all the time and wish I could have a cup. That is going to be my reward to myself when the scale finally says 145, I am making a pot of coffee to celebrate.

Good luck to you!!

[Baz]

Sarah

Hi from another Brit.

I haven't managed to give up the tea either. I can't function in the morning without it. I have cut down drastically though.

I used to have 2 cups of tea before I left home and then at least another 3 or 4 before lunch. Then I would switch to coffee in the afternoon (3 or 4 cups). So now I am down to 2 cups of tea in the morning - I had bad headaches for the first week or so (caffeine withdrawal) but these have stopped now.

If you can cut down then its an improvement and I feel that 2 cups won't hurt me too much. I just drink water for the rest of the day.

Good Luck!!

[shergar]

Another ex-tea addicted Londoner signing in!

For the past 14 years my breakfast was a cup of tea with half a dozen maryland cookies, after lunch i would have a cup of tea with a crunchie bar.

I've actually started drinking hot water with a slice of lemon throughout the day. It's hot and wet. Now i don't feel right until i've had my cup of hot lemon slice water when i get into work.

Herbal teas are revolting. However every now and then i drink twining's camomile,honey and vanilla tea. It's the only herbal tea that tastes almost as good as it smells!

Hope that helps

[Chris]

Well, I'm a Yank, and I drink much more tea iced than hot -- but, I'm like Sarah. Gotta have my tea!

I usually use Lipton's decaf tea, which I find to be just fine. I'm not into herbals and flavored teas, though I've recently discovered Bigelows "Constant Comment" in a decaf version, and I'm crazy about that. It's the one kind of tea that I drink hot without milk. Here in the U.S., we're lucky enough to have "Carb Countdown" dairy beverage, which tastes almost exactly like milk. So, it works great in hot tea. I have to agree, cream just doesn't have the right taste.

By the way, all "real" teas -- black, oolong, green, and white -- are high in antioxidants. It's not just the green variety.