is into the energy drinks.  I worry about this mainly because we have such a family history of heart rhythm problems.  I tell  him, over and over, to watch how many he's drinking, be careful about using them with other drinks/foods that might have caffeine or stimulant effects, etc.  So far, his heart hasn't exploded, either.  Ofcourse, being a 20 year old male, he's not had a problem with weight gain...the metabolism at that age is wondrous.

I like my caffeine.  Truly, and I don't say this to be funny, its a drug that works very well for me personally.  I don't like calories, however, so all of mine comes from Diet Coke.  I didn't like to drink diet back when I was pregnant all those years ago...at the time, they were warning against using nutra sweet while pregnant.  I did use caffeine, however...and it posed no particular problem.  Heck, after developing gestational diabetes in the second half of most of my pregnancies, I even drank diet.  My kids were all fine.  They had normal birthweights, in fact, most were on the large side.  They weren't jittery, or collicky.  I did, however, find that I needed to cut back on the caffeine a bit while nursing...or, at least time my in-take.  It would sometimes make my babies a bit hyper and cause them to not sleep as well.

I'm a former caffeine fiend myself - 8 to 12 large mugs of coffee a day at my peak in my mid 20's - so I've been there.  When the doctor ordered me off the coffee it was really rough.  But looking at these drinks as a "free lunch" to get your caffeine while losing weight may be misguided.  

Diet drinks do not help you lose or maintain weight.  It seems obvious that substituting 0 calories for 200 calories is a no brainer, yet it just flat out does not work.  I don't know why this gets no press; the research community has been puzzling over it for a long time.  But there is now increasing data implicating artificial sweeteners, including early evidence (in animals) that artificial sweeteners actually reduce the rate at which the body burns calories.  You know how some people can eat all they want without gaining, while others try very hard and can't lose a pound?  Well, the people who try very hard are also the ones consuming artificial sweeteners.

That said, I don't see anything wrong with high caffeine drinks.  I'd probably choose the version with real sugar and compensate elsewhere in my diet but that's just my reading of preliminary literature - there isn't nearly enough data to actually make that recommendation.  The most I can say for sure is that there's presumably no advantage to the diet versions.

You probably want to start gradually cutting back though, since the link between high caffeine and miscarriage risk looks robust.  Moderate caffeine is ok.  When I went cold turkey on doctor's orders it was horrible, and I went right back to high levels a couple of years later.  But when I weaned myself gradually my body never missed it.

and over the past 1.5 years, i have gotten used to the taste of red bull. i may drink it late at night while i am at a gig, it is midnight, and i don't go on until  3am or something ridiculous.

i do not like to drink it with alcohol. it is too much for my system. and i never have more than two in one day, never right in a row.

i find that my body benefits from the over 100% of vitamins b6 and b12, as well as the niacin. some people cannot tolerate that much niacin. makes them flush.

all this said, i am still a coffee girl. i make a couple shots in the morning here at home, then usually get four shots over ice to sip on throughout the day. this sounds like a ton, i know. a lot less than i used to drink, having been a barista for years. and actually less caffeine than the same amount of brewed coffee, as espresso has less caffeine than regular drip.

i like my energy bitter, hah!

I order a case of the 20 ounce resealable cans from the manufacturer every month, and drink about one a day.  I'm sure they'll declared rockstar illegal before long.

I'm a coffee girl for sure.  Love it.  Half a cup in the morning, half a cup at 1 pm. Would never substitute it.

It looks like this stuff only has 80 mg of caffeine per 8 oz, while a normal cup of coffee (not Starbucks) has 120 or so.  Can't imagine why they would ban it, although those vitamin amounts look crazy to me.

are kind of a scam.

Biochemically speaking, carbs provide energy in the diet. You're going for the sugar-free one, so there's no energy in there.

What you are getting are stimulants. Most of what's in those is also elsewhere (eg caffeine) or unproven (many of the ingredients).

The biggest scam to me is the price. One energy drink is a whole lot more than a cup of coffee, or even a (bigger) can of Coca Cola (which compared to a sugared energy drink, actually gives you more carbs for the price).

If you like the taste and think it gives you a boost, go ahead. But chances are, you could get the same boost from coffee, tea, or just plain soda.

And the Mayo clinic is right. You'll be stimulated, but you won't really be energetic from an energy drink.

-Cheryl

I realized that I was becoming more dependant on coffee in the mornings and that I wasn't really feeling good, just awake.  

After experimenting some, I discovered that I feel better, and have more energy if I drink less coffee and eat more protein in the mornings.  

I love my morning coffee, but stay away for the rest of the day.  I have colleagues that swear by Rockstar, and claim that regular consumption eliminates the need for sweaters.  

--R

I think energy drinks taste like {BLEEP}... Rockstar is owned by talk-show jerk Michael Savage's relatives (son and/or wife). No way in he'll I would want them to get any of my money!!!

I find walking outside and running down to the corner for a cup of decaf (yes, decaf -- I can't drink caffeine in the afternoon) helps wake me up.

The only thing I love more is white wine.

Does anyone else have the Ralph's World cd with the song about coffee on it? "M-O-M-M-Y needs C-O-F-F-E-E, D-A-D-D-Y needs C-O-F-F-E-E. I need a latte, a cappucino, and tonight I think I'll have a little vino."

I did give up caffeine altogether when I was trying to get pregnant and during preganancy and nursing. Hated every minute of it.

I've never tried these drinks though. Like others here, I get my caffeine purely through coffee, two cups a day with an occasional third one snuck in there when I get desperate. It really is my boost of choice at the moment, so rest assured Melissa that you aren't alone.

However, I do find that staying hydrated and doing yoga a few times a week keeps me energized (along with the coffee) during the really dreadful stretches when I'm not getting enough sleep. Like all of my life I guess.

It's a rarity to be a tea addict on this side of the Atlantic, but I love English Breakfast (Peet's caf and decaf, thanks).

I do have diet Coke too but have not made the leap to energy drinks.  Too scary for me.  I remember when Jolt came out - remember that? - that was the first of them that I know of.

so I am most certainly NOT a coffee drinker.  Like KC, I am also caffeine sensitive and can't have anything after 4 in the afternoon or I won't be able to sleep.

I do, however, love caffeine drinks - they're a little slice of happy for me if I have one during the day. I like colas and hot or iced tea with lots of sugar.  As far as I know, I have never tried an energy drink.

Sometimes I don't feel like a "real" adult because I don't drink coffee or wine.