I am a coffee addict, and I don't recommend it. But my husband had to give up diet soda (he had weight loss surgery, and you have to give up carbonation for life) and he not gets his caffeine from those calorie-free water flavorings. He uses Mio, but there are other brands. The kinds labeled "Energy" have caffeine, and you just add a few drops to your water and it tastes sweet and gives you a zing.

Coffee has calories from the oils in the beans.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you all so much. Here's a quick follow-up question. Some of the replies talked about how your body doesn't always know whether it's hungry or thirsty.

My questions was slightly different. I find that, even when I'm not hungry, if I'm feeling tired, I will grab a snack thinking it will give me an energy boost. I'm looking for an energy boost that is low in calories, and coffee seems to work for so many people I know. (I'm going to try tea too.) Thx!

You'd be better off jogging up a flight of stairs or something.

Green tea. research shows promotes weight loss.

Don't start drinking coffee!! That's like saying 'smokers lose weight, I think I'll start smoking.' Come on! Start drinking water with lemon or lime. Or tea!

OP here. Thank you all so much. Here's a quick follow-up question. Some of the replies talked about how your body doesn't always know whether it's hungry or thirsty.

My questions was slightly different. I find that, even when I'm not hungry, if I'm feeling tired, I will grab a snack thinking it will give me an energy boost. I'm looking for an energy boost that is low in calories, and coffee seems to work for so many people I know. (I'm going to try tea too.) Thx!

Keeping your stomach full with liquids will help fill you up. It can be coffee (although not the calorie-laden fancy coffee drinks), tea, herbal tea, etc. I found hot liquids worked better.

Coffee will make you poo more

Anonymous wrote:

In general I would just start drinking more water. Your body caun't always tell if its hungry or Thursday. When you first feel hungry, have water or tea and see how you feel in 15 minutes. Good luck!

this is a funny autocorrect. Your body may feel naturally more hungry on Thursdays? In anticipation of the weekend?

OP, be careful with coffee. I try to avoid it just because I like an even keel rather than the highs and lows of caffeine. Also I get severe withdrawal symptoms. If I slip into a routine of drinking coffee every day for 3-4 days, on the first day I don't have it I get a terrible headache. And it's gotten worse over time - the past couple times it was more like a migraine and I got pretty nauseated. So if you're not "on" coffee already, I wouldn't recommend starting...

I second tea, try herbal ones that are great without sugar.
If you're not used to coffee you may find yourself compensation for the bitterness with cream and sugar defeating the weigh loss point.
Helbals that I like: acai berry, raspberry, cherry and blueberry. Green tea is also good if you like the taste but you have to find one you like.

In general I would just start drinking more water. Your body caun't always tell if its hungry or Thursday. When you first feel hungry, have water or tea and see how you feel in 15 minutes. Good luck!

why not tea?

I'm trying to lose about 20 pounds. I've observed about myself that, when I'm tired, I sometimes snack to try to boost my energy. I'm thinking of trying to start drinking coffee to use as an energy boost (as an alternative to a snack).

I haven't tried coffee in many years (I'm now 41 years old), but when I tried it long ago, I didn't like the taste. I've noticed that, when I walk past a Starbucks, all the patrons look so thin. And my friends (most of whom seem like they're are at a good weight) all seem to love coffee.

Can someone suggest a praticular coffee type that would appeal to a new coffee drinker? Or any alternatives to coffee that would be low-cal like coffee but perhaps taste better? (I used to drink Diet Coke, but I found that the carbonation gave me a bit of a stomach ache over time.)

Thank you for any ideas you may have.