Is coffee OK to drink?
At just 14 monthsold, our daughter Ella isn’t always the best at sleeping … almost always sleeping through the night, these days, but occasionally (read: LAST NIGHT) she decided she should wake up at 3 AM and not want to sleep for the next hour before we had to get up for Mohr Results Boot Camp
Sometimes leaving me and Kara woozy … tired doesn’t even scratch the surface.
But we of course need to still function during the day — at 5:30 AM during adventure boot camp and throughout the day.
As I sat drinking a few cups of green tea this morning, Kara drinking her coffee, I thought about one of the most common questions we get — "is it OK to drink coffee?" For some it’s a savior — what I call a "liquid nap." But is this drug (yes, caffeine is a drug) a true necessity? It surely can help keep you alert (particularly with a non sleeping baby at home).
I have to be honest, I would never in a million years get between a person and their coffee. Of course not everyone is a coffee drinker, but for some it’s a staple.
So if you’re trying to lose weight and you’re paying attention to your calories and all of your food where does coffee fit in? I have to be honest, I’m fine with you drinking coffee … it’s not coffee itself that’s the "issue" it’s everything most put in it.
Sugar, cream, half and half, or that horrendous artificial, imitation, fat free creamer junk.
Those things all add up — 100 calories here, 100 calories there — and you’re left wondering why you can’t reach your fat loss goals.
A regular cup of black coffee — no calories — no worries. In fact, there are some very unique health benefits to drinking coffee — in fact, one study recently came out suggesting a couple cups per day can help post menopausal women keep their memory sharp as a tac! It’s also a powerful source of antioxidants.
However, on the downside, a coffee shop latte can pack a wholloping 400-500 calories!
Talk about sabotaging your fat loss efforts! Particularly when coupled with a scone, muffin, or whatever else you may pick up on the way to the office.
The bottom line is you need to know how many calories you’re truly taking in and how they all fit in your daily routine. Drink an extra 100 calories each day (which would be just a bit of whole milk and 1 tsp of sugar in a coffee) and you’ll pack on 10 extra lbs at the end of the year. Couple this with other added calories and that weight can come on pretty quickly.
And if you were to rationalize that you’re going to exercise to "balance" out those added calories, remember that walking or running 1 mile burns just 100 calories.
Therefore, drink a latte and run 5 miles — you’ve essentially stayed the same.
Not that I’m saying walking or running is the best way to burn fat, but you get the point.
Moral of the story? You need to account for the calories you put in your body … all the calories you put in your body.
3 Things will help you do this:
- Eat attentively – don’t eat or drink when distracted. That means NOT in front of the TV, while reading, or in front of your computer. Doing any of those means you’ll eat more calories, without even "knowing" it.
- Avoid the extra BLT’s — bites, licks, and tastes — tasting while cooking, finishing off your kids’ drinks or foods, or eating before putting food away (you know, when there’s leftover dinner and you take a few bites before you put it away)
- Write down what you eat and drink – this increases your awareness and will help you lose fat.
Oh yeah, and coffee is OK — just watch those added calories.
August 5th, 2009 at 7:01 am
I love green tea and drink 2-4 cups of it daily. Thanks for the reminder about the “BLT’s”, as I sometimes forget that just because you take a quick bite of something here and there doesn’t mean that those calories magically disappear. Keeping a food log really works for me, as it holds me accountable for what I am choosing to eat and drink and is a visible reminder of what I actually am eating and drinking vs. what I remember eating and drinking. Sometimes, there is a discrepancy between the two:) Keep up the great work, and get some rest when you can!
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Chris and Kara Mohr Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 11:37 am
I’m with ya’, Kristi — green tea is incredible (and so is black and white). There is data out of Japan that showed a correlation among those who drank tea (up to 10 cups daily) and lower body fat. Now, that’s a pretty hefty amount of tea daily, but there’s some solid data that lower “doses” may enhance fat loss too. We’ll be covering that topic in the near future.
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August 5th, 2009 at 7:05 am
Hi Chris and Kara! Boy, do I feel your pain about babies and lack of sleep! Neither of my kids were good sleepers as babies, and I nursed and worked full time. Upon reflection, I don’t see how I did it, I was a total Zombie! Must admit I used carbs & caffeine to just keep my brain functioning, I was desperate!
Anyway, you think people were fanatical about organic food, your are SO right, just try to get between me and my coffee! I only drink 1 large cup in the morning, but I enjoy it, tastes good, wakes me up. I have tried to give it up, but then decided “why?”. You are right, though, just watch all the “junk” you can add.
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August 5th, 2009 at 7:22 am
I am so glad to hear (or read) you say that! I drink coffee every single morning of my life! I have since I was 15 (I was bussed a long way to school) and although I have tried to quit, never could. Then I had my 3rd child and know all too well what you mean about little to no sleep! I am more aware of what I put in it these days though. I am careful to only use splenda to sweeten and skim milk for cream and still drink as little as possible, just enough to get me going as I am the worst morning person ever (as my husband will gladly tell anyone who will listen)!
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August 5th, 2009 at 7:56 am
Very true- so many people “love” their coffee in the morning…but what they really love is dessert for breakfast!
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August 5th, 2009 at 8:03 am
Chris thanks for the great post. This is essentially what I tell my clients too, and it seems to resonate pretty well. A little caffeine won’t hurt you, just watch the junk that you add into it!
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August 5th, 2009 at 8:14 am
Take out after it, Chris! People need to know how harmful it is–and how dependent they are on it. “I can’t do anything in the morning before my coffee” is the cry of dependence. Headaches and body aches during withdrawal–come on! That’s clearly a sign that coffee is not good for you.
Does nobody realize that it disturbs sleep–even if you sleep after drinking it during the day–and that long-term sleep disruption is fatal? This stuff is bad. It tastes good–but it’s bad!
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Chris and Kara Mohr Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 11:35 am
You have some valid points in here — coffee (or, more specifically, caffeine) is a drug. It is addictive and if you’re addicted, you’ll surely have withdrawals if trying to eliminate caffeine. Because it does increase mental alertness, it is recommended that you limit caffeine around bed time, so it doesn’t affect sleep cycles. And what’s very important to remember is that most people need more sleep, not more caffeine to give them a “jumpstart.” Thanks for the post.
Chris
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August 5th, 2009 at 8:21 am
I adore coffee! Over the years, I’ve learned to enjoy black coffee. One of my friends owns a coffee shop, and has “coffee tastings” occasionally. Tastings are a fun way to enjoy different blends and coffee beans from all over the world. Thanks for the “wake up call”, Mohr Results!
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August 5th, 2009 at 10:46 am
I was voted most likely to overdose on coffee when I was in school. I love my Tim Horton’s extra large double. That being said I just finished four weeks of soccer 24/7 drinking at least 2-3 of those a day. I would say that I put on at lest five pounds of fat in that time.
Now that I have a better schedule I have been coffee free for almost a week and my waisteline is little smaller.
I have substituted my coffee with a red delicious apple and green or black tea.
What a difference in how I feel.
Great article -thanks
Mike
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August 5th, 2009 at 11:20 am
Can you recommend a good brand of green tea. It seems I am always tired and would love something new to try and get me rolling!
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Chris and Kara Mohr Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Hi Diane — great question!! I personally love loose leaf teas, to get the true flavors and quality of the variety that’s available … but understand getting them is not always as convenient as a grocery store.
With that said, Lipton makes a variety of very good, inexpensive teas. If you can find Mighty Leaf, they’re also very, as they include the whole tea leaf in the bag vs. the “crushed” leaves that are more common with commercial teas.
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August 5th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Do you think people drink too much coffee, though? You say “it’s OK” but how much is too much? What about the daily trips to Starbucks. Can someone get too much caffeine?
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Chris and Kara Mohr Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
I think people rely on coffee too much — if you enjoy coffee, great. Like me — I love the concept of coffee, with the paper in the morning in our sun room. But I don’t like black coffee, so I normally opt for tea. If it’s the ONLY thing that gets you out of bed in the morning, go to bed earlier and get more rest. I do think people can get too much caffeine; some of the large coffee shop drinks pack a wholloping 300+ mg of caffeine. Add in an energy drink or two, soda, and you’re tipping the scales towards the “too much” caffeine in my opinion.
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August 5th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
I always smile when I hear people claim they need their morning coffee to wake up, or refuse a coffee after supper because it’ll keep them up.
I can have Greek or Turkish coffee at 8 pm and be sound asleep by 9 and sleep through the night, no problem at all (incidentally, before anyone shouts that I must be in my 20s, I’m 50).
Drinking coffee for me, is just a social thing, or a “cozy-cup” in front of a fire or TV, but although I’ve managed to eliminate even Stevia, if I don’t have cream I won’t drink the stuff. It just doesn’t taste good
and since it doesn’t “do anything” for me, why force down a black coffee?
I do limit my consumption to 1 cup a day, two on weekends; more because caffeine after all IS a drug than anything. I know that I can have so much cream and still be ok as far as fat loss, that’s never an issue.
However, Starbucks and other coffee places? No thanks. Even their “light” coffees are stacked with calories and presweetened with who knows what.
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August 8th, 2009 at 7:36 am
Hi Chris, Kara, and baby Ella
Yes, of course I love my coffee. Actually so much that I just invested in a nice little coffee maker (Keurig). I am in love with this machine. But, my question is: I drink about 8-12 oz about 2-3 x per day with 1-2 tbs of skim milk and 3 equals. Which I personally believe this is acceptable. But, would love to hear your look on this? Am I sabotaging my weight loss when I do this everyday?
Thanks for the blog, I look forward to reading something new every Saturday Morning while I drink my coffee!!
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Chris and Kara Mohr Reply:
August 11th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Hey Teresa — you’re absolutely not sabotaging your weight loss efforts. Keep up the incredible work!
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January 11th, 2010 at 12:31 am
Great reading.. Very good information here
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August 20th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
I have to laugh when people tell me they cannot funtion without their coffee in the morning. I used to drink a lot of coffee, always with fat free milk and equal. One day my heart started beating double and triple time, I went to the doctors, everything checked out okay but I was told that caffeine and smoking (yes, I smoked), stress, alcohol, allergies and super cold weather could cause this. I was in a very stressful relationship, I had my coffee and cigarettes. I lived in Wyoming (we know how cold it gets in Wyoming) on a cattle ranch and cowboyed (cowgirled) for a living. I am also allergic to many things including horse hair, hay, etc….everything on a ranch. Here is what I did. I could not and would not do anything about my job, I loved it, I just dealt with my allergies and the cold weather. What I did do is, that very same day that I went to the doctors I quit smoking cold turkey and quit my caffeine drinks cold turkey. It took me a week of being in a bad mood about not being able to smoke but after that week, I felt incredible. I did switch to caffeine free coffee, tea and soda’s. I totally quit smoking and quit caffeine (23 years ago) because I really believe that I was determined enough to do it. You have to WANT to quit to be able to quit. I think a lot of people that can’t quit, just don’t have the motivation to quit. It can be done, I am living proof. And I am so thankful that I did. Like I said, I feel incredible and I cannot tolerate any smoking around me at all and I am much healthier for it. If you really want to quit, you can. Oh yeah, I also did something about my stressful relationship. I’m in a great one now.
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August 20th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Great simple post, we have 2 under 2 so green teas & a strong long black is staple in my daily diet.
Thanks for the great practical tips,
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