Well I initially stopped drinking coffee b/c it stained my teeth (though my dentist loved all the money she got for whitening them back up lol), had me all jittery and b/c I was drinking so much, it was causing me to have problems sleeping. I kicked it, but I always end up coming back to it and having to quit all over again.

So then I started my green tea kick...I like it but some days I just have to have my coffee. I'm no where near as bad as I used to be. I literally drank it like water. If I got thirsty, I had a cup of coffee...I'd loose count as to how many cups I drank a day or how many pots I or someone else prepared. I've had 4 cups today...and that's pretty darn good, considering.

I understand completely about being well...addicted to coffee... My old "addiction" was McDonalds...I could NOT drive past a MickeyD's without stopping in for a big mac....Now my new "addiction" is Starbucks...I serisouly cannot drive past and not go ooooo Carmel Mocha (Lowfat Milk and No Whipped Cream of course) lol.... well I guess I didn't have a point in there but I think you should just start weening yourself off of it...why exactly does something need to replace this drink with another beverage? Chew gum or just do something to where your not dependent upon the "stimulant" that caffinee gives you. I am rambling on so I will stop but I hope maybe this helped somewhat? I dunno.

coffee is very unhealthy for the simple fact that it destabilizes blood sugar and increases stress hormones

here is a good article with references:

Caffine and Weight Loss / Caffeine Effects on Weight Loss / Caffeine and Diet

more problems:

Caffeine Effects / Effects of Caffeine on Health

Thank you my mom sent me those as well...she wnats me off coffee, however I am pleased ot rport I quit 100% and i am only drinkign tea wiht honey...One cup every morning and jsut here and there when I feel the need for somethign hot and warm...itz been abt 2 weeks

First of all, make sure you get your research from objective sources (NOT anti-caffiene articles on a website promoting caffiene-free coffee!)

Secondly, you can't make a change in your life if you don't have a good "why". So, why do you want to stop drinking coffee? you say you don't want the sugar, but you already use sugar replacements. You say you do want the caffiene...

Personally, I love coffee, I just stopped using sugar and cream and started drinking it black. It's tough at first, but like any taste, your body just needs to get used to it.
Good luck!

I don't know why you'd change to tea....tea has just as much 9sometimes more) caffeine as coffee.

I thought tea had about a third. That's just what I have always heard at least.

whoops, it's about 1/2.
my mistake.

Well, I work at Starbucks so I'm paid to say coffee is good but I know it's not. I don't drink coffee and I never have. I have promised myself to never eat or drink anything from there unless it's water or milk. Anyway, you can always drink decaf if you like the taste.

I went the same way as Ohappydaye - I kicked drinking coffee as a habitual thing, and instead drink green tea, and more water. Thats not to say that I don't drink coffee anymore, because I do. But learning how to moderate and enjoy food and drink more, things change - you learn to enjoy things like a cup of coffee more, rather than just habitually gulping it down umpteen times per day.

Do I think that coffee is bad for you? I think that like alot of things (e.g. soya, dairy products, wine, etc), the jury is out, and its up to the individual to read up various views and make up their minds for themselves.

I stopped coffee for a couple months but found out I missed it too much. Now I drink 1 to 2 cups a day.
The way I stopped the fist time was drinking tons of water. So much so that I did not feell like drinking anything else ever again LOL

I'm planning on setting up a strength training program and I want to really work my flabby post baby belly.

I currently have changed my diet to eliminiate alot of fat and eating more veggies, fruit and have significantly increased my H2o intake.

I have reached my weight goals with the exception of flabby belly and a tiny muffin top when I wear my favorite pants.

My question is that I drink 2 cups of java a day with a touch of regular milk in it and I also have 1 or 2 cups of decaf with the same.

Would this cause more problems with my goals or will it make any difference at all?

(I just cannot give up this 2 cups of caffine a day. I quit smoking 2 years ago. I quit drinking 2 years ago with the exception of an occasional glass of wine. I've changed my diet and mental process BUT I cannot let go of the java)

Just wondering if anyone has any input on this.

Thanks, Sandy [Canadian Gal]

Congrats with your success so far. The 2 cups of java with a splash of milk will not hinder your goals. As long as you stay within your daily calorie range and macro breakdown you will be fine. The muffin and flab you speak of are going to be 90% diet and the rest cardio and strength trainging.

What does your diet look like?

Right now I don't have anything written down but here is a sample of my day:

8:00 2x coffee with dab of milk/lots of water and vitamins

9:00 work out/lots of water

10:30 1 ww toast with sliced tomatoes/yogurt

1:30 chicken pot pie 1/2 serving/kiwi fruit/decaf coffee

4:30 apple

6:30 grilled chicken caesar with bacon bits and croutons/garlic bread

(i do not eat after supper but drink lots of water)

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do you think this is sufficient to lose the baby flabby??