the more I read the more afraid I become

**liv** · September 21, 2009, 03:35 PM

Re: the more I read the more afraid I become

So you want an out? Or someone to say it will be OK?

There probably will be people posting here and tell you they can do this or that and still lose weight (and they can) but can you? That is what it boils down to. Atkins did think unstable bloodsugar may come from over use of caffeine and recommended we try to avoid it. So any way you can lower your dosage gradually? I did that. I survived.

**kailuagirl** · September 21, 2009, 04:29 PM

Re: the more I read the more afraid I become

No, I dont want an out. And I hardly think that one cup of coffee a day is overuse, but it seems like everything I read says you can have this but not that, and I dont see the major difference, and somethings seem worse, like the chemicals overall (ie. diet coke vs naturally pressed coffee)... I was just looking for other advice. An option other than not drinking any coffee, lol. Sorry if that question seemed to offend you...

**Sherri** · September 21, 2009, 04:41 PM

Re: the more I read the more afraid I become

First, WELCOME and Aloha!
I know quite a few here that like their cup of coffee in the morning. I for one do, but it's decaf. Took me forever to switch but I finally did. Though when I first began Atkins five years ago I enjoyed a cup of caffeine (tea) in the morning.
It does come down to the individual. If drinking caffeine doesn't bring on hunger, cravings or weightloss stalls. Then have your cup. Just try to limit it to one.
On the vodka, waiting for rung 5 is best. One thing to keep in mind that when drinking alcohol, your body stops burning fat and starts burning the alcohol. It may cause you to have a weightloss stall.
Sincerely, Sherri

**liv** · September 21, 2009, 04:45 PM

Re: the more I read the more afraid I become

Believe me I am not offended. I must have expressed myself poorly. It happens. Sorry

OK other advice... my best advice
1. follow the rules of induction to a T. They were designed to help the maximum of losers and they almost always work if we follow them
2. Always read the list of ingredients on a label and avoid illegal stuff
3. Sugar-free does not mean Atkins legal. Read ingredients and be very weary of artificial sweeteners.
5. Avoid frankenfoods (shakes and bars)
6. Drink pure water all the time

**PeteinVA** · September 21, 2009, 04:45 PM

Re: the more I read the more afraid I become

I was drinking 2 or 3 mugs a day with sweet & low and when I started Atkins within a week had it to one mug, black. I feel the same way about coffee (and vodka!) you do. I think once you're in ketosis on Atkins the craving for both lessens.

I've done okay overall in the six weeks since I'm on Atkins. I don't know if I would have done "better" with no coffee at all but I'm not complainin'.

Good luck to you on your start with induction!

**barrnone** · September 21, 2009, 04:53 PM

Re: the more I read the more afraid I become

I also cut back, about 1/2 of what I was originally drinking. Plus I drink half-calf.

**kailuagirl** · September 21, 2009, 05:55 PM

Re: the more I read the more afraid I become

lol. The vodka is not a priority. I blame it for the weight game!!

its the coffee. For some reason when I wake up at 4:30 a.m. it taste better than toothpaste, lol. hopefully if I brew less or buy decaf and do a half and half that will work. Thanks for the tip!

**barrnone** · September 21, 2009, 05:57 PM

Re: the more I read the more afraid I become

I think most of us thought that 'there is no way I can go without....' - but then are surprised by being able to break these habits. Good luck

**ErinB** · September 21, 2009, 06:06 PM

Re: the more I read the more afraid I become

Fifteen months I have been trying to shed all that hypo(thyroid) weight. Until I came here and gradually learned what I was doing wrong and tweaked things around until I am finally pretty much squared away ... I think ... my losses were very painfully slow. I'm glad I'm finally learning, but I certainly wish now I had just done it this way from the beginning:

Originally posted by liv View Post

OK other advice... my best advice
1. follow the rules of induction to a T. They were designed to help the maximum of losers and they almost always work if we follow them
2. Always read the list of ingredients on a label and avoid illegal stuff
3. Sugar-free does not mean Atkins legal. Read ingredients and be very weary of artificial sweeteners.
5. Avoid frankenfoods (shakes and bars)
6. Drink pure water all the time

I would most likely have completed the weight loss by now and been solidly into maintenance.

What liv says may not be what we want to hear, but it is what works.

P. S. I used to drink either a pot of coffee every morning (if home) or two 20 oz. Starbuck's Americanas every morning (at work). I was seriously into coffee. Finally toughed it out and gave up the coffee, which I don't miss at all now, and started drinking caffeinated tea. Some of us just do not learn easily.

Now it is decaf and/or green tea and (mostly) water. It didn't kill me after all. I feel better and I am beginning to lose faster.

**DarlingBri** · September 21, 2009, 06:33 PM

Re: the more I read the more afraid I become

I drank 6 cups of coffee a day when I started - and yes, French press coffee at that.

When I went into Induction on Atkins, I dropped it to 1 cup on Day 1. It was fine - much better than I thought. With steady bloody sugars, I actually do not get the sudden energy drops that made the other 5 cups a necessary part of life. (Steady blood sugar has changed my life more than weight loss ever will.)

Tonight (I'm about to go to bed) is the end of a 36-hour, no sleep work day for me, and I stretched to... two cups.

Having said that, I'm having a very slow Induction, which I am personally fine with. However, if I can't lose at the rate of even 1 pound per week coming out of Induction, then I will look at cutting coffee. It's starting to seem like a slightly less painful prospect, but I don't think that if I had not given myself permission to drink one cup a day, I would even have started Atkins.

**imagood1** · September 21, 2009, 06:48 PM

Re: the more I read the more afraid I become

Welcome to the Atkins Board.

You've already heard many people on the coffee issue -- I started decaf 3 years ago when my husband came out of triple bypass surgery -- when it's something that needs to be done it's easier -- whatever decision you make is yours. As far as the sugar free werthers if you follow the plan the way it's written, they aren't allowed. If you need something to make your breath better brush and use mouthwash often or chew on parsley - it's a natural breath freshener (yes I do this -- several times a day).

Make sure you drink a minimum of 64 ounces of pure water (nothing added) - it will help keep your breath fresher, exercise starting today and taking a multi-vitamin. If you haven't already, read the 2002 Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution (DANDR).

Eat the foods on the acceptable food list and find delicious recipes here: just make sure you use Induction Recipes to begin with.

http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/menus.html (Linda’s)
(Never ending induction recipes)(Never ending induction recipes)(Never ending induction recipes)(Never ending induction recipes)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/58513-never-ending-induction-recipes.html (Induction recipes)
(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)(Induction Recipe Basics--More recipes added)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-diet-14-day-induction/6807-induction-recipe-basics-more-recipes-added.html (Induction Recipe Basics)

If you need anything we’re here to help you!! Good luck to you!

**pinkfeathers** · September 21, 2009, 07:44 PM

Re: the more I read the more afraid I become

I would like to say the opposite. I drink coffee. Sometimes 2-3 a day. It's not affecting weight loss for me. I also have cream and sweet n low in my coffee. Sometimes I'll even have a soda. Very rarely. I have done atkins effectively before and did the same then, too. I guess all people are different but I have no problems drinking coffee. I say drink it.

**Michigal74** · September 22, 2009, 06:48 AM

Re: the more I read the more afraid I become

I had to have my coffee. This was a big enough change as is was for me, and I wasn't willing to give that up. I have one cup in the morning with a bit of cream.

Maybe I'd be losing more if I didn't have it (obviously I'm not losing gobs of weight like some people). But 2-3 lbs per week is nothing to sneeze at. It was a price I was willing to pay.

Some say do it strictly. Some say drink decaf. I say that there are some things I'm not willing to compromise on, and my coffee was one of them. I am doing everything else by the book. In the end, it's still a huge change from my old eating habits.

Good luck!

**Brook** · September 22, 2009, 07:00 AM

Re: the more I read the more afraid I become

Originally posted by pinkfeathers View Post

I would like to say the opposite. I drink coffee. Sometimes 2-3 a day. It's not affecting weight loss for me. I also have cream and sweet n low in my coffee. Sometimes I'll even have a soda. Very rarely. I have done atkins effectively before and did the same then, too. I guess all people are different but I have no problems drinking coffee. I say drink it.

To be fair, you can't say it's not affecting loss if you haven't gone without it to see if there is a difference. What is fair to say is that you're satisfied with your progress and see no need to give it up.

I do drink coffee. I didn't when I first started this and had about 100lbs to lose, but I do drink it through induction when I do it now. I do count the carbs (1 gram per 8 ounces). - And I do recommend a clean induction, especially the first time through it. I'm a firm believer you can't know what your body is capable of if you don't give it a full go.

I wish you success

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