Could I be the freak who actually gains weight from caffeine?

I know that I haven't posted for ages. It's not too big of a deal since this blog is basically by me and for me. However, if anyone in the blogosphere has been waiting with bated breaths, the moment of a new posting has arrived.

I think most people just do Instagram or Tumblr now for postings about themselves. Images and memes. Pure laziness.

I'm writing this just two days after the July 4th weekend. I imbibed, I indulged, and now I feel regret. If one person could consume an exorbitant amount of pistachio "themed" ambrosia, then that one person is me. I also ate my body weight worth of tortilla chips. Then, there were also the usual summer bbq offenders: burgers, other non-tortilla chips, beers, and desserts. I also have a newfound enjoyment of deviled eggs. Oh, that delightful mayo.

Okay, so today's weight on the scale was 171. I am so frustrated (as usual) with my weight. With the exception of the gluttony displayed this weekend, I have been very "good" since school has let out. I've also done 5 miles+ on my fitbit for 15 consecutive days. I'm doing everything right, but that number is not budging.

I know that lots of people use coffee as a meal replacement, or simply to give themselves energy when they're feeling lackluster because of cutting calories. Many articles tout the benefits of coffee. The one flaw in coffee drinking is connected to those who use tons of cream and sugar. While I sometimes use half-and-half, my coffee is mild and dark, rather than light and sweet.

I got to thinking though---could there be detrimental things about coffee? I know that you can find any statistic that you want to, but I decided to Google "coffee and weight gain." I found quite a few articles that showed the relation between difficulty with weight loss and caffeine. This one is written in a straightforward way and is from a "decent" source: http://www.livestrong.com/article/500213-can-excess-caffeine-cause-weight-gain/.

Basically, large caffeine intake increases your body's cortisol levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone directly connected to weight gain.

I got to thinking about my weight loss journey. It was easy for me to drop eight pounds for my wedding. After the wedding, I worked with a personal trainer and got my weight down a tad bit more. Then, during the summer after we got married, the numbers on the scale kept climbing. I was eating healthy foods and going to the gym. I've been stuck in the 160s for years. I even mentioned my "plateau" in the posting from January.

Something else happened the summer after we got married. We began drinking coffee. I've basically been struggling with the same number on the scale for six years. I've also been drinking coffee for six years. I generally have two cups in the morning, but if we have it at work, I'll have it too. Sometimes, around 3:30, I'll get coffee before I go to the gym.

Summer is the perfect time for me to try this "experiment." If I have headaches or feel sluggish, i can deal with the effects in a setting where I do not have to be instructing twelve year olds.

I'm going to give the caffeine elimination a try. If this actually works, I'm going to punch myself in the face for drinking coffee all of these years.

New Year

I haven't posted in eons. I've probably gained tons of weight, stopped going to the gym, and just become a human sloth, right? 

Nope. 

I am the anomaly of the diet and fitness world. I consistently eat well (treats here and there, of course, but they are all accounted for on myfitnesspal app) and exercise 3-4 times a week. However, I still manage to stay at a standstill on the scale. 

I've gotten over it. When I talk to friends, I sometimes get, "Oh, well, you're probably gaining muscle. It weighs more than fat." Nope, I'm a realist. I do use the weight machines on a regular basis, but there has not been much change in my muscles or tone. 

I'm pear-shaped and chubby and that's how I'll most likely stay. 

The lowest weight I've ever been in recent years was back in 2008. I was 152 on my wedding day. I didn't starve and I didn't go crazy at the gym, and overall I only lost 8 pounds for the wedding. I had people telling me I looked like I was 125 pounds....um....yeah, I was that in like 3rd grade. 

I am at a plateau now, but the plateau will soon be changing....