Are you a Starbucks frequenter? Or do you always go gaga over gourmet coffee?

I don’t go to Starbucks every so often because it’s too costly and I got accustomed to relishing my Mom’s home-made coffee. Ok, actually, it’s just instant coffee that she concocts with a secret proportion of sugar and coffee especially for me.

And I can gulp coffee like there’s no tomorrow everyday especially during crunch time with my home based gigs. However, on average, I drink three cups of coffee everyday. This I’m sure has contributed to my gaining of extra weight every now and then, most particularly during cramming days when I’m left with nothing but computer work and not much bodily activity that would allow me to sweat out.

So yeah, if you’d ask if coffee has anything to do with one’s gaining weight, YES! The sugar on coffee is the very reason behind why coffee can make you fat according to experts.

If you’d like to avoid making your favorite beverage contribute to your bulging waistline, cut back on sugar on your coffee.

However, there are also some studies showing that even coffee without sugar can still make you fat. Why? Coffee has an ingredient called caffeine that’s known to stimulate but also triggers the appetite. Uh-oh.

So what’s the real deal with coffee and weight management? Moderation, like for anything that we consume, is still the key. Understanding your body’s reaction to coffee will also help in gauging whether coffee will make or break your weight loss regimen.

Do you feel hungry right after a cup of coffee? Although there are many people who feels energized after a cup of java, there are people who feel sleepy after a dose of caffeine, which includes my Mom! Before sleeping, it has become her routine to drink black coffee to make her doze a lot deeper. Or maybe that’s just psychological conditioning? I’m not really sure.

But my point is know how your body processes caffeine to see if it will help you lose weight or not.

Also, try if the advice on drinking coffee about 30 minutes before exercise will work for you. Sounds like you’re making yourself a guinea pig? It’s one way to check. But it’s still your call.

You can also consult with a health care provider or weight loss expert to know more about coffee and weight loss.

Other interesting reads about weight loss and coffee here and here.

Here’s an old discussion about whether coffee can make you gain weight or not.

[image from espresso-etc.com]