Coffee - is TOUGH.  It is not so much the caffeine I want, but the ritual of leaving the office and going for a walk to get the coffee.  Or waking up on the weekends and making it in the french press.

I've given coffee up several times in my life and I've decided that I'm not going to give it up completely,  just cut back.  I just LOVE the flavor!

I used to be a coffee junkie.  I drank it and loved it.  I was a Starbucks freak.  Soy or black of course.  However not having I felt awful, with a headache nausea, basically a hangover with no coffee.  I realized I was addicted and read the Skinny Bitch where they suggest forgoing the coffee.  I had tried before with no success but since there are studies that suggest breast cancer is linked with coffee consumption for women.  Okay no lumpy breast for me and I wanted to feel good so I took the plunge.  Maybe you could try walking to go get hot tea.  There are lots of decaf and green teas that are delicious.  Also you will want to wean yourself if you are really addicted because headaches usually go along with it.  I will admit to the occasional Soy Chai Latte from Starbucks.  I have one when I want dessert and we are in town.  Its like once every couple months.
I tried once with loose tea leaves using my french press and it worked really well.  I made a spiced chai tea with my french press.  I hope this helps and don't give up on cutting back your coffee.  Start small and slowly go to just tea.
Good Luck!

I would love the pancake recipe that would be great! I have so much tea at home...I normally drink a cup at nite before bed...so I will start trying to make the switch tomorrow. Man I love a latte. Maybe that will be my treat to myself on those days that I just might go crazy..lol.

I love tea too...I can never bring myself to pay for tea at a coffee shop though, it is so cheap to make at home.  I probably just need to suck it up :)

I don't get the headaches though when I stop which is nice.

I emailed them to you I hope you get it.

I did thanks! I can't wait to try them. Today was a pretty good day for the first one being vegan in a while. I am so hungry though..lol. Might just be cause I'm bored :) I need to add some healthy fats into my diet as well. So how is your day going?

goal: become healthier, give up energy drinks/coffee, be able to have more energy to devote to superhero purposes (spreading awareness and helping others). I currently work graveyard shifts so it's difficult for me to get a fire under my ass during daylight hours to reach my highest potential. :( 

Okay so far my daily update is:  I taught Yoga/Pilates class this morning.
I had Ezekiel toast with homemade apple butter,green jasmine tea.
Lunch I had leftover morrocan couscous and pumpkin seeds with water.
I made my kids vegan cranberry muffins and of course the chef has to taste it.  I don't feel guilty because I made it with whole wheat flour, maple syrup.  So it was healthy. I am not hungry today so much.  I try to drink lots of water between meals to curb my appetite. 
I want to make a delicious healthy dinner and walk for 30 minutes or do cardio whatever I feel like at the time.   
So thats my update.

I can't decide if I should make Tabouleh tonight with my soup or Alicia's quinoa reicipe.  I need to make one recipe from the book tonight well maybe two since I am eating out Japanese tomorrow with my hubby. 

Oh any suggestions on substuting a potato in soup recipe for something else.  Its a Kale green garlic soup with onion veg broth and it yucko white potatoes.  What can I subsititue??

Okay I just left the soup without a substitute and it was a huge hit.  My meat eating family liked it.  My husband the hunter was so happy with it that now he wants it for Thanksgiving and also the Cuban Style Sweet Potatoes.
The recipe is from Colleen Patrick-Goudreau of compassionate cooks.  She has authored two books, the joy of vegan baking( I love that one) and the vegan table which I don't own.  The recipe is called Garlic Greens soup.  Its so good and I used Curly Kale which I have never had before and it was so yummy. 

My last udate for the night!  I managed to do Turbo Kickboxing before dinner and then i had a Vegan recipe.  The Garlic Greens Soup.  I made Alicia's favorite cupcakes for my kids.  They smell so good! And I have managed to drink 60oz today.  So for the day I did good on my goals how about you guys!

Its Tuesday a new day!   I was good this morning!  I had my green jasmine tea and  a Superhero breakfast.  I had Alicia's soft porridge minus the umeboshi plum since I have gotten mine yet.  It was delicious and filling.  Yumm!   Okay I had a small cup of OJ but with all the colds being traded back and forth I need a boost of C.   I will say I had a cupcake last night.  Alicia's favorite cupcake but I just put a little icing on it and I was so proud of myself I didn't go and sneak another one.  Yeah me I normally want to eat like 3.  I was so good.  So if you are allowing yourself a treat try this one its so good.  I am teaching beginners Yoga this morning and also Turbo Kick so I will definitely get my exercise for the day!!!

I'd love to join this group as well. I have been a vegetarian flirt for awhile. I don't eat red meat or pork products and eat chicken, fish, turkey or eggs only with one meal a day. I started yesterday cutting out meat altogether, although I might take the suggestion in the Flirt section and alternate fish one day with vegan protein the next until i get the hang of it. I want to cut out dairy, and switched to Soy milk over the weekend and bought some vegan cheese last night. I also cut out coffee and am sipping some tea right now. My biggest challenges are going to be eating out, as its part of my job as a fundraiser to take people out to lunch and dinner. I did the best I could yesterday at an Italian restaurant for lunch. I ate Pasta e Fugili soup (pretty sure it was made with chicken broth and it has some cheese grated on top) and a garden salad.  I am pretty active, I enjoy walking, swimming and yoga and i actually really enjoy going to the gym and working out on the elliptical and lifting weights. Despite how active I am though, I easily gain weight and have a really hard time losing it. I also get frequent headaches
My goals are:
to lose 15 pounds without counting calories
to have more energy for my day
to make a difference in the environment
to eat more whole foods and less processed foods.
to have less headaches and body aches (i am only 30!)
This morning I had whole wheat toast with natural peanut butter and a half a banana sliced on top. Thats been my standard breakfast for a couple of years now, good thing it turns out to be vegan. : )

Good luck and welcome!   Eating out is challenging but  can be done. Bring some snack food with you if there is not as much as you hoped for you to eat and drink lots of water.  It works for me with my meateating  community!