Ok I know coffee with cream and sugar is not a zone friendly thing to have at all but...it is the one big thing i find i cannot seem to live without. if i had 2 cups with cream and sugar but followed the rest of the day perfectly zoned, would this make a huge difference in my weight loss? i mean if it only altered it by say, losing 1 pound instead of 2 pounds a week, i could live with that...can anyone tell me if it will have a huge effect on weight loss or just minimal?
i am going crazy for my sweet creamy coffee and cannot even get my eyes open my energy is so low from the lack of it! and with 2 small children i so need the pick me up!! :)
i won't have it if anyone things it would stop any weight loss no matter how much i am zoning perfectly but if i won't interfere or only mildly interfere i want to have my creamy sweet coffee!!!! :)

It would not allow your insulin to lower, and if you do it every day, you'd essentially be preventing yourself from ever entering the Zone. If you're not in the Zone, you won't be losing stored fat (no wt loss).

so even if i follow the zone the entire rest of the day, it would all be for nothing with just 2 cups of coffee with cream and sugar? so it would stop all weight loss from happening, just those 2 cups?

You will only experience fat loss in the Zone by keepign yoru insulin within a certain level. It takes the average person 4 days of eating only Zone balanced meals and snacks to lower insulin into the Zone in the first place. Beginning your day with 2 cups of coffee with sugar will not allow your to enter the Zone.

so if i have coffee with cream and sugar in the morning and then follow the rest of the day in the zone with all meals and snacks, i am just wasting my time? it just seems crazy that those 2 cups could destroy an entire days meal structure...i thought maybe it would mean i wouldn't lose weight as fast but by having those 2 cups, there is no point in even following the zone? it just almost doesn't make sense...
it is like, if someone is not eating fried foods in order to lose weight, things won't change that much for them if they have 10 french fries as a treat?
so how fast should i see a weight loss from eating only zone meals and snacks?
i really really need the coffee, i cannot keep my eyes open, i am dragged out with tiredness....my kids get me up 4 times in the night so i am lacking in sleep so the coffee thing is soooo important...i just am struggling here to understand how it could keep me from losing any weight if i am perfect with the rest of the zone?

It wouldn't be a waste of time to eat healthy Zone balanced meals and snacks, whether or not you lose weight.

This coffee and sugar discussion will make more sense once you understand the role insulin plays in stored fat loss. Insulin determines whether or not stored fat will be released from the cells to be burned for energy. If insulin is above a certain level, the stored fat remains locked in the cells. Beginning each day with two cups of coffee with sugar will most likely not allow your insulin to lower enough to lose the stored fat. You can read more about it in any of the Zone books.

If you keep your insulin within Zone levels you will lose about 1 to 1.5 lbs excess stored fat a week.

i feel i have to have my coffee...i am starting to think it is zone or coffee and i sooo want to lose weight but i am useless to my family with zero energy. it sucks that by just adding coffee i am going to lose out on any weight loss from the zone....it seems so unfair that just a little cream and sugar will not let you lose any weight! and the only reason i would do the zone all day is for weight loss so if by having coffee i can't lose any weight then i honestly see the whole effort of the zone kind of useless. i just want to lose weight, but i have to still have energy or i can't be a good mother! :(
this just is really bringing me down. :(

Perhaps someone here in the Forums who's a former coffee drinker and can tell you their experiences.

You'll gain a lot more energy from being in the Zone then you'll get from 2 morning cups of coffee. Barry usually suggests weaning of caffeine by slowly switching to decaf. See this info:

http://www.drsears.com/askdrsearsde...earsID=244

As for the sugar, switch to an artificial sweetener for now or try this techinque:

http://www.drsears.com/askdrsearsde...arsID=1387

As you become used to the real flavors of foods when you drop sugar from your diet, you may even develop a taste for it black.

Here are other bits of info from Barry which may help:

http://www.drsears.com/askdrsearsde...earsID=630" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.drsears.com/askdrsearsde...earsID=630

http://www.drsears.com/askdrsearsde...earsID=630" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.drsears.com/askdrsearsde...earsID=630

http://www.drsears.com/askdrsearsde...arsID=2623

can i have it black and not affect my zone? i would hate to lose my sweetness but if black won't affect weight loss i could definately try that....?

Read the info found at the addreses in my post above. It will help to answer your qns.

ok i went through them and feel better now for sure...i can handle giving up everything except coffee! :)
thanks alot for that info!
and...will i see a weight loss from zoning if i dont exercise at all? i want to exercise but it is so hard to find the time with the kids to deal with....i have a 3 and a half yr old boy and a 10 month old baby....does not leave me much time for anything! :)

You're welcome. I can't assure you that you'll lose weight without exercising. Where there's a will , there's a way, as the saying goes. You can always stick the kids in a front or back pack and/or a stroller and take a walk. It's a good way for all of you to get a little fresh air, and to get them used to exercise as being a fun everyday activity. My two oldest kids (all are grown now, 30, 28, and 21) are 2 yrs apart in age, so I've been where you are and understand well their demands on your time. Enjoy this stage! They grow up so fast! And, BTW, their demands on your time never end, they just take on different forms! :)

I wanted to give you some suggestions about your coffee. First, are you drinking any of it decaffeinated? That's real important, because the caffeine definitely affects your success with the Zone. So, try to make your coffee with half decaf and see what that does for you. When I was younger, I drank all my coffee with caffeine, but then I had the shakes so bad that I realized I couldn't handle all of the extra artificial boost. And that's what it is, artificial. Now, I drink coffee 3/4 decaf and a l/4 regular. Even that will affect your zoning, so just understand that. Secondly, I'd suggest slowly weaning yourself off of the creamer and sugar. Speaking from experience myself,limit the creamer and use Splenda and then slowly wean this out. You are a young mother and it's tough to think about yourself with everyone else to think about too. Plan your meals and snacks. Drink water. Trust me, the Zone works.

i would never drink decaf because there would be no point! i only drink it for the kick it gives me, the energy. :)
i don't even like it that much, it just became a habit and without it i seriously cannot function....and right now with small baby and active toddler i do need all the help i can get. i have tried going without and i am a zombie. i even had to get my husband home from work to help me because i was soooo dragged out without the coffee!
i thought the huge amount of veggies on the zone would give me energy but without the coffee, i have zero zip. and i have been off coffee for 2 weeks now and it is not getting any better,
i wake around 4 times in the night to nurse the baby (she is a little piglet and insists on sleeping with me so she wants to snack constantly! arrgh!) so my sleep is pretty bad....if i slept better then the coffee wouldn't be so needed probably.
ok so a friend suggested i get a fat free creamer, i found one that has 7 g carbs and 5 g sugar. is there any way to work that into at least 1 cup of coffee to go along with breakfast?
right now my bfast is: 9 almonds, 1/3 cup oatmeal, 1/3 cup applesauce and 3/4 cup cottage cheese. how could i add coffee with that creamer (and no extra sugar) to my bfast to stay in the zone? or could i snack zone the coffee?
a common snack right now is: 3 almonds, 1/3 cup applesauce and 1 oz skim milk mozza cheese.
let me know Sue or Deborah! thank you for all the support! xoxo

Hi Gill...why not just use a few pks of splenda and 5%cream? I don't think that would do any harm. Linda

i really don't like splenda or any of those fake sugars...the fat free cream is a bit sweet (vanilla) so i really don't need any other sugars with it...i just would love it if someone could let me know if i can work the coffee with this non fat cream into my breakfast zone....:)

Why don't you email dr.sears? and find out stright from the horses mouth. Let us know what he says. Linda

i might do that, yes! good idea...in the meantime do you (or anyone) know the formula i need to use to work that non fat creamer and coffee into the zone? would it count as 1 carb block and 1 fat block maybe?

use stevia, Gill. it is not artificial, and it's like 100 times sweeter than sugar; as long as you use the right amount, it doesn't taste like splenda and aspartame - that stuff will probably wreck your kidneys anyway. here's the brand i buy:

http://www.sweetleaf.com/

it's kind of costly, but it helps keep me in shape, in the zone, and sane.

those non-fat creamers also have so much garbage in them that you should try skim-milk instead - that's perfectly zoned w/o the fat: 8 fl oz is 1p/1c; you know the fat choices:

http://www.drsears.com/foodblockguide.page

i have been able to eat right for a few years by replacing things; i replace coffee with hot chocolate that has very little caffeine and that i sweeten with stevia. my whole zone breakfast gives me the boost required:

http://www.alobravo.com/2007/07/30/...-everyday/

of course not everybody has 24 minutes to prepare a nutritious breakfast; but any zone breakfast should do the trick.

if you simply can't stop coffee - i actually do lattes on the weekends - you may want to get a little more athletic; about 20 minutes of windsprints 3 times a week will turn lard into water, with little need for dieting at all; read reason 26:

http://www.alobravo.com/2007/06/12/...ys-be-fat/

it cites an article that breaks down how wind sprints can almost make you immune to fat.. lol; no one's immune to fat, but it really does help a lot.

i haven't gotten a bed-ridden fever or sickness in 3 years, and i have been able to keep my body fat percentage very low by eating right and compensating for the times that i do get out of the zone with exercise and yoga. i do honor and respect people like sue and everybody else in this forum that could stick to the zone every minute of everyday, and i know it can be done because i've done it for months non-stop. i do it mon-fri.

do what you can, and study all aspects of nutrition to get a eating regimen and exercise routine that works for you. imho you will always need both.

btw: call me crazy but two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in eight fluid ounces of water sweetened with stevia and 2/3 teaspoons of baking soda is an excellent pick me up with no insulin response; zone favorable and power packed;

out, neal.

Just wanted to mention to Gill that maybe the caffeine you consume adds to the baby waking up so often during the night. By 10 months it doesn't seem that a baby should be waking up so much at night,if at all. I used to drink coffee by the pot, but was the one thing I couldn't tolerate when I was pregnant. If you could get through 3 or 4 days of caffeine withdrawl, you could do without it altogether.

A coffee without cream and sugar tastes much better than with. Just add a little bit of milk or drink it black. I would never believe a person who says two cup of coffe a day are harmful.

If I don't drink a cup of black coffee in the morning I usually have a terrible headache during the whole day, but I just limited it to one cup :)

I'm trying to kick the coffee habit as well. I normally go anywhere from 3-4 cups a day. WAAAAY too much, I know. I'm planning on weaning myself down, today so far I've only had one cup. Coffee is such a social habit at work though...I'm thinking I'm going to have to just get decaf and hope for a placebo effect. :)

I will admit, before I was a zoner, I was totally addicted to caffeine. I HAD to have my coffee in the morning.

That was one of the first things I changed as I adapted to the new lifestyle. And, I just did it...no weaning, etc. I just decided one day that I could no longer be addicted to coffee.

Yes, I suffered the usual headache, but after a week or so, I was perfectly fine, and I am no longer in need of caffeine. I still drink decaf coffee, though. I like a warm mug of a nice warm drink in the morning. I prefer coffee (decaf), but I will also go for tea if I am in the mood (also decaf).

Good job on kicking the coffee habit!

As I read through the thread, I also think that the original writer of this thread could benefit from the additional energy that the Zone provides, which really negates the need for an additional kick of caffeine.

I've been reading the above posts and I too am new to the zone. Day 2 to be exact. I did it years ago and had wonderful results and felt the greatest energy ever. As far as coffee goes, can some have decaf coffee with regular cream? or how about decaf coffee with fat free french vanilla creamer? I need an easy way to think of this. I don't use sugar. I've been drinking regular Dunkin Donuts coffee with cream, but after reading the above posts I'm going to switch to decaf. Does anyone have some answers for me? Thanks

Well, a couple of things on that...

Cream is a poor choice for fat, and the powdered creamers are not much better, as they have either hydrogenated fat and/or corn syrup solids.  Not that great for the Zone. 

Your question is timely because I was just reading somewhere that a good suggestion is to switch from cream to whole milk to lighten your coffee.  Yes, whole milk is still not a good fat, but you will get much less of it as you add it to your coffee. 

You said you don't use sugar, but for others who may be reading, a good sweetener to use is either splenda or stevia.

I gave up coffee about a month before I started the Zone. It wasn't easy; but, fair or not, I could tell it was putting my system out of balance (what Zoners would call, out of the zone). Some people can tolerate caffeine. If you can't function without coffee, then something is out of balance and I'd say it's a good idea to find out what balance feels like.

Consider reading Adrenal Fatigue. It might help you understand why you need caffeine so much.
Adrenal-Fatigue-Century-Stress-Syndrome

The way I weaned myself off of coffee was to reduce my daily dose to 3/4 for a few days, then 1/2, then 1/4, and then off. It took another month to feel really good without it, but it was worth it because now I wake up with energy.

OK, no coffee no me in the Zone good bye

Can you do de-cafe?

I have done de-cafe years ago, Swiss Water Method. I suspect that this caffine restriction also applies to tea. I tried the links previously posted, no connection...3years old. I've read the Omega Zone and some of the inflamation book....I had not seen anything about caffine in either book. If I had I probably would not have registered with this site. But I'm here, maybe an accommidation can be made. So if you would, please tell me about the caffine restriction and/or where I can read more about it (website preferably). Caffine/coffee is a much discussed subject, some say it is good for you, others say it is not good....I believe it is not harmful and that it is a healthfull beverage. But I would like to hear what you have to say. Thanks.

Caffeine is not allowed if you strictly follow the zone, that does not mean that you could not have your 1 or 2 cups of coffee ea day. I, myself, do not drink any caffeine, not because of Zone, I have never drank coffee or caffeine drinks, and I do not like coffee. BUT, many here still do drink their coffee and Zone all of their foods. I agree, there are many conflicting studies touting both the benefits and harm of coffee, no definitive answer.

David check out this link in reference to caffeine http://www.drsears.com/SearchResult...h=Caffeine

Here's another link I found.  http://www.drsears.com/tabId/399/it...carbo.aspx


____________________________________________

sue
Consultant of Zone Labs
Certified Zone Affiliate

Lost 100 lbs 15 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil.   ZoneFast 1-2-3 is the best!

View my Zone Fast 1-2-3 meal photos here:
http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/...3%20Meals/

View my classic Zone meal photos here:
http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/...4/?start=0

Sorry off topic.
But went thumbing through Sue's photobucket... and OMG! 1st: What an album. 2nd: Thanks for the dedicated time. 3rd: I can see that you will eat just about anything. I consider myself a healthy consumer--BUT--I wouldn't touch half those dishes. I am SO envious!
I am on my first day. Spent time (lots of time) yesterday creating excel worksheets to keep me organized. Joined this site, and am trying to "gear myself up". It seems so difficult/overwhelming at this point. And yes, I was wanting to grab that cup of coffee this morning In regards to beverages; I am not a soda drinker, not "addicted" to coffee, but I am to milk. In my Zone research, I have not seen anything in regards to berverages? Is our only [Zone correct] choice water?
How did I happen on the Zone. I was disgnosed with fibromyalgia. Was told from dr. to start yoga, swimming, bike riding, etc. Side effects from the FMS meds are "horrible" (quote) & refused to put me on them. Fine by me--as I am not a pill taker. In my FMS research, found out I could also change my diet to help. One of the worst things for a FMS sufferer is MILK! I am ok with water--BUT was wondering if there is anything else out there? ...in a couple pics [Sue], you had a dark drink--what was that?
Also, I am having a hard time with all these meals and food to consume. I have been a once a day eater. This is really a lot for me. Any tips on a small portion meal (3 blocks) so that I won't feel like I am chowing down a horse?

Thanks Wendy.  There are a few things I won't eat. 

Water is what I usually drink.   The dark drink is water with a small splash of pomegranate juice.

The 3-block meals/1-block snacks plan is a suggestion the suits many people's needs, but there are other alternatives.  You might want to try more frequent 2 block meals throughout the day (5 2-block meals and a 1 block snack would give you 11 blocks).  Meals of Zone foods would be perfect (a turkey sandwich, a roll or a toasted bagel with olive oil for dipping, granola, etc.).

____________________________________________

sue
Consultant of Zone Labs
Certified Zone Affiliate

Lost 100 lbs 15 yrs ago, off BP meds, thanks to the Zone diet and Zone fish oil.   ZoneFast 1-2-3 is the best!

View my Zone Fast 1-2-3 meal photos here:
http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/...3%20Meals/

View my classic Zone meal photos here:
http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/...4/?start=0 

I drink flavored seltzers

Reading through your post, you could easily add milk to your zone meal plan, provided that it doesn't adversely affect your personal results.

1 cup of Milk is a balanced protein/carb zone block.  If you drink skim milk, then you would need to add fat (you could eat 6 almonds).  If you drink milk with some fat, then you may not need to add the additional fat to it.

You could add a cup of milk to your meals, and that would decrease the overall volume of them, and then hopefully you won't feel like you are chowing down that horse!

That said, I went back to your post and saw that you posted about how milk is not good for Fibromyalgia patients, so perhaps you don't want to go down that road.  So, if soy milk is acceptable you could switch to that, instead.  Myself, I am not a proponent of soy products at all, but there are some folks here who support using soy milk. 

Other beverages, I drink sparkling water, tea (iced and hot).  I enjoy a soda now and then, but I don't make it a habit.  I also really enjoy coffee, and decaf is acceptable in the Zone. 

Thanks girls. What about Almond milk? Any info?
And Sue, I did switch to a 2,2,2,3,2 instead of 3,3,1,3,1. It makes more sense for me. One of my fav lunch's is a 4 piece shrimp cocktail (2P), with fruit on the side (2C) and a nut of some sort (2F). The veggies are scaring the heck of me--just SO much to inhale! Seems to me everyone talks in the forums of turning to the 1/2 apple all the time. Seems unfortunate to the vegetables And boy oh boy, I want to keep eating the cashews/macadamia's once I get that taste in my mouth. So I have been eating those first, to not have that lasting flavor. Breakfast was difficult, until I found the egg whites and canadian bacon/sausage & again with fruit on the side. I ♥ bagels and smoked salmon--but according to my calculation I could only have half a bagel with 3oz of salmon & half a tomato & cream cheese. That was A LOT of salmon on one half of bagel--even for me! I was forcing that breakfast down one morning. Seems to be getting easier to eat so often. I have noticed by dinner I am feeling DONE eating. Either tired of planning my blocks and/or tired of eating. I just don't feel like eating?
I did get some decaf tea and coffee--although, have to factor into blocks because I can't drink them plain. I like the sweetness.

Almond milk may differ from one brand to the other, so be careful to read labels.  The best option is to choose one that is unsweetened, otherwise you may end up with some unfavorable carb.

I am familiar with Blue Diamond brand, and basically for an 8 oz serving, you are getting 3g fat, 2g carb with 1g fiber for a net of 1g carb, and 1g protein. 

I would consider it a zone-favorable drink, as it does not appear to be something that would have any significant impact on insulin.  With the nutritional breakdown as it is, I count it as a fat.

Thanks C.
The way I was reading mine I was thinking the same thing. The reading is SO confusing to me though.

Well what I do is....breakfast....2 egg beaters (1/2 cup) (2 Protien blocks); 1 tsp olive oil (3 fat blocks) or you can have your 9 almonds; 1/4 cup of cottage cheese (1 Protien Block); SO....now for the carbs.... maybe you can have 1/2 cup of coffee and cream but NO SUGAR. Try weaning yourself off the sugar first and having less coffee. You can buy almond milk to flavor your coffee. mmmm. I have learned to drink coffee or tea without sugar and I am so used to it...i won't even go near the stuff unless i'm having something sweet. Also, for me, I like to buy the instant coffee so I control how strong i want to make it or you don't have to (just throwing out ideas) ...and this gives me a pick me up too. Not like a full cup but it wakes my senses up. So because with caffiene your insulin spikes..why not treat coffee as part of your carb intake ? SO less coffee and maybe have a low glycemic carb like throwing 1 block piece of fruit with it. This is how I would approach the carb / coffee idea. Sugar only raises your insulin as much as the coffee would. If you can't live without the sugar, go for splenda or something...but even substitute sugars are bad for you...so ...ya just can't win. For mid snack if you need it...a little more coffee (1/4 or 1/2 cup) with your protien and fat...or do the same for lunch..see my pattern? I think this would work the best...you just have to get used to the idea (1/4 to 1/2 cup coffee, low fat or cream but no sugar....cream/almond milk is like blocking the insulin from rising too quickly...that's how i think of it). Hope this helps.