I’ve heard that people say that drinking coffee is a great dieting tool. This surprises me since we’ve all seen the calories branded on the walls of our beloved Starbucks. So why do women think that by skipping meals and sipping a latte they’ll lose 15 pounds? They point to the magic “M” word: metabolism. Well, sorry, ladies, I’m here to tell you that our dear friend called caffeine will not help you speed up your metabolism. You’ll have to go back to the gene pool to alter that.
Yes, drinking a cup of coffee might suppress your appetite, the same way that drinking a can of (every woman’s best friend) Diet Coke will, because it fills you up for the time being. But that doesn’t mean that you aren’t going to be hungry an hour later or that it’s OK to substitute every meal with a tall mocha no foam. Caffeine spikes and crashes your metabolism, making you crave sweets. Plus, loading your body with tons of coffee is going to have an awful effect on you. You’ll be jittery, you’ll lose sleep, your heart rate and blood pressure will go up. Is that the healthy diet you had in mind?
I’m in no way saying that you have to nix your morning cup of joe. I drink my grande decaf sugar free vanilla soy latte and love every second of it. You all know I want what I want. (Also, you all know that me + caffeine = an even bigger lunatic ranting and raving in the streets of NY.)
Know what you’re doing. Your diet is a bank account, so consume how you wish, but if you drink one of those foamy coffee drinks as a sweet treat, you may be better off with a small dessert or a small hot chocolate. The calories may end up being less.
It’s your choice. Just know the facts.
Got any dieting myths you want to crack? I’m here to help.
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You are right, Bethenny, a real, balanced meal (or mini-meal) always beats a sugary, caffeine-filled coffee beverage. I drink about a half-cup of black coffee in the morning, in addition to a healthy breakfast, and I find that the combo gives a nice kick-start to my morning workout. I definitely wouldn’t drink coffee instead of eating, though!
awesome info, bethenney. also…too much caffeine can also lead to PVC’s in your heart (premature ventricular contractions), which basically causes your heart to skip a beat, and not pump out as much blood to the rest of your body. blood carries oxygen to your entire body, so less blood flow means less oxygen flow to your muscles, brain, heart, kidneys, etc.
I’m loving skinnygirl dish & your yoga dvd! I’ve made so many recipes out of it I can’t keep count and every one is delish, so thank you! My question is about citrus. Can adding lemon to your water really help you burn more calories?
What do you think of the Special K diet? It’s worked for my friends but it doesn’t seem to have a lot of “balance” like a bank account should.
Probably am too old to be on your site, however, I just love you!……I was drinking coffee as a diet tool for many years. Your advice is sound and true. From one who stopped my metabolism from functioning, which made my liver push out sugar to compensate for my not eating, then my insulin overproduced to keep the sugar down, what a mess I made of my body as it finally said NO MORE! It is under control now and have lost 40 lbs. Much more to go. I am still 50 lbs more than I ever was 9 months pregnant. (that was in the 60′s, 70′s). (So I just have to lose the weight of a 10 year old now.) I wish you and your family much joy and happiness in your life. You will be a great Mom cause you know what NOT to do. The cycle can always be broken. Just takes commitment not quality time, just commitment.
I drink way too much coffee. And there was a time when I kind of excused it because it did act like an appetite suppressant. But now? I’ve gained way too much weight and my craving for sweets is re-dic-u-lous. I never connected it to the caffeine thing. But I’ve been feeling the need to cut back or cut it out. After reading this, I think I’ll try…
Hey! have a question RE: Vitamins. What are your thoughts? Do you take a daily supplement?
Hey Bethenny,
I’m 19 years old and never let my self join the “coffee club,” it’s just not my thing. After reading this excerpt I guess that’s something to be thankful for. Anywho, I was just wondering what your take on protein bars is? I usually grab them to eat in the morning on my way to school because they’re quick and easy on the go and seem to really stick with me for a while. I always do organic, whether it be Cliff or Kashi, just depending on whats on sale that week. But when I flip over the label and see how much sugar is in them, it makes me feel like it may not be the best choice. Would love to hear your take on this!
I guess I wasn’t using it as a diet tool, but that 1 cup of nice warm black coffee in the morning helps me to stave off hunger until I can decide what I really want, instead of just going crazy because I’m starving.
Bethenny,
Please bear with me; this comment does involve coffee. I thought you might get a chuckle out of my experience at Barnes & Noble buying Skinnygirl Dish! I absolutely hate going to the Info Desk to get help finding a book, so I tried to find it on my own. I found Naturally Thin in the Weight Loss section, but no sign of Skinnygirl Dish. So I used the “self-serve” kiosk where you can search for a book in their computer system. It showed that Skinnygirl Dish was in stock, located in the Cookbooks / Weight Loss section. Alrighty then, I found that section on the map and here I go. But no Skinnygirl Dish to be found in the Cookbook / Weight Loss section!
So I broke down and asked for help — actual human help. I told her what I was looking for and she checked the computer. She asked, “Do you mean Skinny Bitch or Skinny Italian?” (I think the spelling threw her off — it’s all one word.) I laughed and assured her that there’s a Skinnygirl Dish book. So she found it, and off we went to find it — her leading the way and me following like a little duckling. She went over the Cookbook / Weight Loss section, where I’d already scoured, but I thought maybe she has a magic way of finding it. Nope, no luck. She thought it might be on a special display of cookbooks, so we walked around the store looking at the displays. She checked the computer again, and said they’d just gotten them in, so it might still be in the back. She went back there and told me to browse around and she’d find me (she might have been tired of having me as her shadow). Lo and behold, she reappeared with a stack of brand new Skinnygirl Dish books! I took one, and noticed that she was putting the others out on display, so I might have helped your book sales that day.
Last but not least, I stopped at Starbucks and got a Grande Mocha Frappacino with a Reeses Peanut Butter cookie for a side, because what better way to read a new healthy cookbook than eating more of the bad stuff you know you shouldn’t eat?! And see, my comment does tie in with this topic.
P.S. I’m loving Skinnygirl Dish!
One thing about caffeine, coffee in particular, is that it is very acidic to the body. Our body’s work best in a state of alkalinity. There is a great book I read many years ago called ‘Alkalize of Die’.
This acidity leads to Candida (overgrowth of normal yeast in the body) that can then lead to literally a million other problems like migraines, ringing in the ears, infections, constantly craving sugar and the list goes on.
Consuming sugar is also a main contributor to Candida, so especially sugar-laden drinks from places like Starbucks are filled with them. I like my Caramel light frappuccino but I limit myself to one per month, that is the only coffee I consume all month and I look forward to it on a hot day here in FL. I always use the regular formula, no sugar substitues-those chemical filled artificial sweeteners (including splenda which is sugar and a chlorine molecule-so NOT healthy) and especially AVOID aspartame and the like. They have been proven to actually cause you to crave sugar even more.
Great advice Bethenny on the caffeine! I limit my tea and dark chocolate intake too, using them as treats. Herbal tea is lovely-no caffeine! All in all, caffeine in small doses is alright like you mentioned, just not several cups per day. I have a family member who used to drink 8 cups per day-yowsa!
bethenny et. al…
no one should ever think there is a quick fix to weight loss. if you are going to stick to coffee…try decaf and use skim milk. many of the coffee houses will make the coffee drinks you love with skim and decaf. enjoy!
and b – love that you are out there encouraging a healthy lifestyle! i am close to your age and look forward to starting a family one of these days. need to lose my # so I can start that family! love your recipes! you make it look easy.
I love your site and your products. I drink a half of a pot of coffee a day, the first cup has sugar, and fat free half and half and the rest of the coffee just gets added black as the morning progresses. I used to not eat until 2pm, now you have helped me change that. I am in the middle of reading Dish and I am adopting the bank account method. I meet my new nutritionist on friday (because I cannot loose this baby weight) and I am bringing the book.
I gave up caffeine about four months ago and have felt so much better – I still drink coffee but it’s decaf and only about 1 or 2 cups in the morning… I do have a decaf tea in the afternoon but that is it… I gave up soda’s three months ago — that has been harder than giving up the caffeine… but I feel better… thanks for this post – as always – you’re the voice of reason!
I have just discovered your site, and am excited to try the recipes and cocktails! I am already planning to have the ladies all over for a Skinny Girl night in(drinks and recipes!).