Is drinking too much coffee bad for my weight loss goals?

I'm addicted to coffee. Yesterday I had 60 ounces of the stuff throughout the day. No cream, no sugar; just a wee bit of skim milk, a whole lot of water, and the coffee from the filter.

Can I be hampering my progress by drinking this much coffee? I don't drink that much coffee daily though, I was simply super tired yesterday and needed it to keep me alert. Normally, I'll have about 40 ounces of coffee a day.

 

Thanks.

I don't think coffee hinders a weight loss plan, it hasn't mine, but everyone is different. 

 

I am a coffee-holic, so is my Fiance.  When I first started my diet, there were things I simply gave up and coffee was one of them.  I drink coffee now, but I used to drink it with a lot of fat-free half and half and splenda.  Since I am trying to get of all the "fake" foods in our diets, the half and half and splenda had to go.  Plus, my future sister-in-law had some serious urinary problems, which they are thinking came as a result of using too much splenda, that sealed the deal about my not using it again.

 

I tried drinking coffee black, but for some reason I just couldn't.  But, get this, I drink espresso black, about 2.25 ounces, with less than a teaspoon of raw sugar (16 calories) and that satisfies me.  I have probably about 4 espressos a day, our coffee machine makes everything with the push of a button, espresso, cappuccino, latte, regular coffee, etc., so it's at my disposal.  Two or three of those espresso's are straight up and then I dump one shot (no sugar) into my Evopro Chocolate Protein shake, it makes it taste like a mocha frappuccino. 

As long as you're not putting tons of cream and sugar in AND still getting plenty of water in, I don't think coffee should be a problem. 

 

Good luck!

 

Robbyn

 

I drink a cup of coffee most mornings, with splenda and skim milk, and it hasn't been a problem for my weight loss. At large quantities, coffee is going to dehydrate you and possibly cause sleeping problems, both of which can hinder weight loss. I don't know if 40 or 60 oz is too much, but it's probably better than getting your caffeine from soda (diet or regular).

it is GOOD for your weight loss! and tasty.

I used to have my morning coffee, and a couple of months ago I started having an afternoon pot as well (about 5:30) in order to stay awake.  Well I stopped having to do this about a week ago.  I don't know exactly what to attribute my new found energy to, but I have a couple of ideas.   I am in my second week at the gym now.  I go 5 nights a week to do about 45 - 55 min on the treadmill (about3-4 miles).  So I can imagine that this would have helped.  Also what lined up exactly to the day of me needing less coffee was that I really upped my water intake.  Like 4 liters a day to my best estimate.  I pee a ton more and more often, but I do like my energy level so I'm gonna keep doing what I'm doing.  So I would suggest just upping your water intake.

Actually, in larger quantities caffeine can stimulate cravings (especially for sweet) and possibly lead you to eating more than you would have.  It's also a diuretic, which isn't good in excess.  It's really fine, unless you're consuming a lot.  Make sure you drink a lot of water!

Coffee for me is an appetite suppressant and drinking a lot in the morning makes me want to skip breakfast. It also is a diuretic. I sip maybe a half cup when I get up, eat breakfast and then work out. I let myself drink afterwards. By this time, I'm very energized and have had a lot of water so I end up not really drinking much coffee. It's more of a treat on my days off now.

Just so you know, I've been addicted to caffeine since I was a young child and have abstained only once in my life. (pregnancy 9 years ago) For me, it's less about abstaining but doing the good things first. I don't feel like I'm depriving myself doing it this way. I use real sugar too, 2 tsp turbinado sugar.

At one point I was drinking three cups of coffee a day. That included, a teaspoon of sugar, a tsp of honey and International delight creamer. 

I am down to one cup a day, with only a half pack of Sweet Leaf Stevia.  Its an all natural no calories sweetner.  I still have the IDC, but  I am going to cut that for Organic Half and Half this week. I do not like plain milk in my coffee, and if I want flavor I'll use a quater teaspoon of honey.

I have also decided that more water is better than other beverages.  Beverages account for lots of empty calories that aren't filling and just turn into fat stores if they aren't burned.

If you need a caffeine boost throughout the day use herbal teas with caffeine instead. These are usually really good without any added sweetener as well.

 

Denise

I have recently cut back my coffee intake to just one small or 1/2 of a small coffee in the morning and have found that I am less hungry throughout the day.  For me, it seems to cause cravings for sweets and food in general.  You might just cut back for a few days and see how it affects your own appetite.  It sounds like it is a stimulate for some and an appetite suppressant for others!

Yep I love Tim Horton's coffee.

I drink about 2 x-large a day with just a drop of skim milk.  But I've started a bad habit....I drink one before going to the gym in the morning....I find it gives me extra energy and I can work out longer. 

YUMMMMMMMMMMM

~H~

In my opinion, coffee is bad, because it makes you have highs and then brings you down. In stead of looking at coffee as a way to gain energy for the day or help your metabolism, if you exercise, you'll find the same results but BETTER!! Drink water instead. If you really have a problem with being alert, there are tons of natural vitamins you can take that will give you more energy, or hey, there is always herbal teas!! MMM MMM MMM 

I used to drink black coffee when i started dieting but found that i hated the crash that hit me afterwards when i switched later in the day to skim milk or juice. I don't think you're hampering yourself too badly but the caffeine is acting like a sort of fake energy. the day you decide you don't want coffee in the morning, maybe you're in the mood for something else, your energy levels will just go haywire. I usually stick with herbal tea with a touch of honey or V8 juice, not the veggie kind the fruit juice, V8 Splash. It has a low amount of calories and keeps me running throughout the morning and i don't crash later. Most importantly listen to your body, if you think you're doing fine then you more than likely are.

My coffee cup is a 20 ounce one and I have 4 or 5 of these daily, usually black.  It doesn't cause me to have any cravings, it does suppress my appetite, and I don't crash afterwards.  I don't drink it for energy, but for the taste and I only drink freshly ground beans that I buy fresh from a local roaster.  Anything else tastes like mud to me.

I have 3 or 4 cups of coffee per day.  That is a whole lot less than what I use to have.  I do about 8 oz per cup, and have the International Delight Creamer with it only.  I agree with a lot of you, it does supress my appetite, but as some of you have posted as well, I don't crash after wards either.  Heck I dont' even know if it gives me a boost of energy anymore, I just love the taste.....LOL. 

As far as your question, I don't think it hampers any weight loss.  I have been at the calorie counting, watching what I eat, and exercising for almost 2 months now, and I've lost 14 1/2 lbs.  And the whole time enjoying my coffee

i do not think it is bad at all to drink soffee before exercise. it has been proven that the coffeine does, in some people, enhance their performance. unless you drink 15 cups a day i guess you will be fine.

i think americans have a different view of what amount of coffee is ok than we europeans:-) i always think that as the french and italian are generally very healthy and drink lots of coffee, it could not be that bad, also havent seen any scientific info that it is dangerous (unless you have high blood pressure and drink 10 espressos:)

I drink my coffee the same way as you!  Just a little low fat milk and I'm a happy camper.

I'll confess. I'm a coffeeholic!!!

As long as you are counting your milk into your logs I can't see it hurting.  I hope not as I can't give the stuff up either.

The only think I have heard is for some people it increases their cravings for certain types of food or appetites so you may want to keep an eye on that.