Yep - sorry Pete - we're ganging up on you... there is no problem with water flavours straight off the bat (at least I've never heard of that before.. I've been gulping them down the whole way, as have most people I know on it).
As for the Marigold - I wouldn't suggest drinking it just yet... purely because you need to get used to the programme (Marigold is 'technically' ok for one cup per day, but isn't a Lighter Life recommendation)...
Give it a few weeks, and if you really can't cope with water, hot black tea and coffee, water flavours... then try Marigold. I've resisted so far, purely because I'm afraid it will trigger a need for more savoury 'food' food... but if you do - remember, it's only one cup per day - you can't just hammer it all day long as it has an element of carb, or something, in it.
Coffee wise, I think you'll be fine - but don't know for sure. I think 'all' coffee has some carbohydrate in it... being a bean derivitive and all that - but it's so miniscule and the caffeine probably counteracts it by speeding your body up.
Ok - the last paragraph is all complete nonsense.. but it kind of makes sense to my warped logic, so there!
A xx