giving up artificial sweetners

[Jean@125]

Anyone else have to give up splenda and the like?
I have been struggling with hunger and cravings since forever. After lots of reading and paying attention to my body's signals I have noticed that I feel hungry and never really kill cravings while using splenda.
I am on day 2 w/o any AS in my coffee or diet pepsi (never had much of these anyway) but I could almost feel the insulin release after drinking one even if it was with a fatty meal.
Don't want to get too excited yet but I can tell I feel more satiated without the stuff. Also I am drinking water to thirst and not guzzling it this seems to be more satiating to me versus drinking large amounts.
Anyone else found that A/S were holding you back? Jeanie

[ftblmom32]

I seem to be the weird one, but I drink diet pepsi at least once a day, and it doesn't affect me. Though I make sure I drink lots of water also. Sometimes when i drink more water, the diet pepsi doesn't taste all that good to me!! I will probably give it up eventually, not because of cravings, but because I am liking it less and less. It doesn't cause craving for me though.

And I have totally stayed away from making LC desserts, because I will just eat the whole thing. Sweets are my weakness. Well, that and Sesame Chicken.

[BrianSCohen]

For the last two months or so I have tried. I had stopped using the vast majority of added sweeteners years ago. What remained was a few packets of splenda every day on my token oatmeal in the morning and in my water. About two months ago I started efforts to eliminate all sweeteners except stevia and selected sugar alcohols (basically Xylitol and Erythritol). My findings to date are mixed.

I did not notice any changes in health

I had not weight change

I did not notice any changes in sweet cravings (but I did not have those before)

I found it quite easy to simply replace my use of splenda with stevia, and I will continue that

I discovered I have utterly failed to eliminate these undesired sweeteners because of my use of processed foods

It is the last one which is my biggest failing. I can't even fully eliminate HFCS and the idea of getting rid of all artificial sweeteners just seems insurmountable. There are products that I use every day that I have not been successful in obtaining replacements for. For instance, my low carb protein shake, guess what? Splenda. Are there any options out there? Apparently not, just those with sugar or artificial sweeteners. I could buy my own base ingredients and make my own, but I have limits.

In the end, I think I will just declare the experiment a partial success. I'll continue using only Stevia, Xylitol and Erythritol anywhere I can, but I will just have to accept a certain amount of artificial sweetener.

[moonius]

My weight loss had stalled in October so I joined a 30 day sweet free challenge and subsequently lost 10 pounds. The hardest part was breaking the habit because my wife keeps sugar free stuff around all the time. Once the habit was broken I found that I could continue my life without AS. Thanksgiving Day I ate some sugar free dessert and the next day began my second sweet free challenge. Since then I have lost another 11 pounds. I plan to eat some SF dessert on Christmas Day and then go sweet free until my birthday on January 27. Many people continue to lose with AS, but obviously for me, just the taste of sweet causes an insulin reaction in my body and hinders the fat burning process. I have decided to only eat sf treats on special occasions. Do whatever works for your body because we're all very different.

[steady]

I gave up all AS, SA, and even the more natural ones like stevia. The way I see it...there is no harm in giving them up...only good can come of it. So I say go for it!

I will say sugar subs are a trigger for me...much more so than real sugar. Getting rid of sugar and sugar subs was probably my biggest diet/health accomplishment. There is no turning back to sugar!

[Jean@125]

Originally Posted by steady

I gave up all AS, SA, and even the more natural ones like stevia. The way I see it...there is no harm in giving them up...only good can come of it. So I say go for it!

I will say sugar subs are a trigger for me...much more so than real sugar. Getting rid of sugar and sugar subs was probably my biggest diet/health accomplishment. There is no turning back to sugar!

Do you feel your hunger/cravings are under control since giving them up?
I want to be able to eat a meal and not be looking for "sweet" afterward.
Thanks Jeanie

[Leo41]

For me, artificial sweeteners help my weight loss. When I was working (retired for 2 years), I drank a lot of Diet Coke during the day, and it helped me restrict my eating by eliminating the mindless nibbling that went on in my office. Later, I swore off aspertame, but continued to drink diet sodas with Splenda. I rarely drink soda in the winter, but I have a serious sweet tooth, and I satisfy that with the Walden Farms zero calorie, zero carb jellies that I get from Netrition. Just a tsp. on a bran cracker with a cup of hot tea is so satisfying!

That said, I never have AS in anything else--desserts, candy, etc. All of those things can be a problem for me, and I avoid them completely. But just the little sweetness in a diet soda or some jelly really helps me stay on track.

[steady]

Originally Posted by Jean@125

Do you feel your hunger/cravings are under control since giving them up?
I want to be able to eat a meal and not be looking for "sweet" afterward.
Thanks Jeanie

Craving for sweets and LC "junk" foods are definitely under control...I don't have any...none what so ever! This is coming from a former sweet addict.

I still have cravings for nuts and cheese, but that is a different story....

[Jean@125]

Originally Posted by steady

Craving for sweets and LC "junk" foods are definitely under control...I don't have any...none what so ever! This is coming from a former sweet addict.

I still have cravings for nuts and cheese, but that is a different story....

Thanks! That is where I want to be. How long do you think it took for the cravings to stop? Jeanie

[steady]

About two weeks, maybe a month-- I made sure those weeks had no social occasions or holidays...so I could "focus". Post New Years seems to be a good time to "focus" since there aren't as many occasions. I also made sure I stuck strictly to eating a vast variety of vegetables and meat...so I was not feeling deprived actually I like the new variety I added. After that, I just lost my interest in sweets and learned to live without dessert by drinking a cup of tea/coffee while everyone else chomped away at dessert.

Now you got me thinking the strict vegetable and meat eating might help me come clean of those dairy and nut cravings....I was so into trying new vegetables and preparing meats in new ways...I didn't miss what I was cutting out.

[LJB]

23 Sweet-Free Days and counting....

[LJB]

Originally Posted by steady

Craving for sweets and LC "junk" foods are definitely under control...I don't have any...none what so ever! This is coming from a former sweet addict.

I still have cravings for nuts and cheese, but that is a different story....

Yup, I want those!

[myhnabird]

[/QUOTE]
It is the last one which is my biggest failing. I can't even fully eliminate HFCS and the idea of getting rid of all artificial sweeteners just seems insurmountable. There are products that I use every day that I have not been successful in obtaining replacements for. For instance, my low carb protein shake, guess what? Splenda. Are there any options out there? Apparently not, just those with sugar or artificial sweeteners. I could buy my own base ingredients and make my own, but I have limits.
[/QUOTE]

Brian, my protein powder (Sisu) is stevia-sweetened and I believe Jay Robb's is as well.
Good luck!
Mary

[Jean@125]

Originally Posted by steady

About two weeks, maybe a month-- I made sure those weeks had no social occasions or holidays...so I could "focus". Post New Years seems to be a good time to "focus" since there aren't as many occasions. I also made sure I stuck strictly to eating a vast variety of vegetables and meat...so I was not feeling deprived actually I like the new variety I added. After that, I just lost my interest in sweets and learned to live without dessert by drinking a cup of tea/coffee while everyone else chomped away at dessert.

Now you got me thinking the strict vegetable and meat eating might help me come clean of those dairy and nut cravings....I was so into trying new vegetables and preparing meats in new ways...I didn't miss what I was cutting out.

I am going to give the no splenda thing at least a month. Today is day 3 and I can tell the cravy/bingy feelings have lessened considerably.
After all my attempts at low carbing and falling off I think the splenda and other sugar alcohols has been the culprit. Thanks for sharing Jeanie

[steady]

Originally Posted by Jean@125

I am going to give the no splenda thing at least a month. Today is day 3 and I can tell the cravy/bingy feelings have lessened considerably.
After all my attempts at low carbing and falling off I think the splenda and other sugar alcohols has been the culprit. Thanks for sharing Jeanie

Jeanie...I know you can do it and you will be glad you did. Day 3 is always the hardest day for me...so after that you should be sailing pretty smooth.

I can make desserts with sugar for others and not feel the urge to sample it. Yesterday, there was warm homemade apple pie ala mode for Christmas Eve dessert...I did feel deprived at all. I sipped on nice glass of a crisp appley Reisling.

[JerseyGirl1969]

if you go off sweeteners, how do you enjoy coffee or tea?

[moonius]

Originally Posted by JerseyGirl1969

if you go off sweeteners, how do you enjoy coffee or tea?

Jersey Girl, I enjoy my coffee black and strong (just like me) and drink my tea unsweetened (sometimes with a little lemon)!

[wifezilla]

I enjoy my coffee black and strong (just like me)

LOL

I gave up sweeteners for a month. I noticed no difference in mood, weight loss or health. So now I use them whenever I want.

[polarbear]

Warning: Threadjack
Mary (Myhnabird) - what kind of kitty is that in your avitar? He's adorable.Those ears!!

[Cie]

Originally Posted by wifezilla

LOL

I gave up sweeteners for a month. I noticed no difference in mood, weight loss or health. So now I use them whenever I want.

Same here. I guess proof that we are all different.

[LJB]

I've gone without splenda or sugar in my coffee or tea for so long, I hardly miss them at all!

[lisabinil]

Originally Posted by wifezilla

LOL

I gave up sweeteners for a month. I noticed no difference in mood, weight loss or health. So now I use them whenever I want.

Me too-just finished this experiment.

[wifezilla]

I strongly recommend trying it to anyone. You might get results like mine and Lisa's, or you might find out the sweeteners were triggering migraines or giving you weird food cravings. If you CAN continue without, it will also save you money. Go for it

[KlingonBabe]

I use a small amount of Splenda every day in my coffee or tea, and perhaps 1-2 servings of a SF dessert per week, if that. I once tried giving up sweets altogether, and switching to herbal teas that could be drunk without sweetening... I ended up diving head first into a box of cookies, because I was feeling deprived.

YMMV

[retroworx]

Originally Posted by BrianSCohen

For instance, my low carb protein shake, guess what? Splenda. Are there any options out there? Apparently not, just those with sugar or artificial sweeteners. I could buy my own base ingredients and make my own, but I have limits.

Brian:

As someone else in the thread mentioned, Jay Robb has whey protein powders that are Stevia sweetened and are quite good. They are available at The Vitamin Shoppe and from Jay Robb directly online. More expensive than most, but with "purer" ingredients overall.

HTH,

[smudgepot]

As of right now, I am trying to get myself off aspartame. I have come to notice that it seems to trigger my sweet cravings and I think I may actually be addicted to it. I definitely "NEED" it in the afternoons when my energy is low.

Any ideas on whether to simply go cold turkey or resort to other AS (such as sucrose) while weaning off aspartame?

[KlingonBabe]

Originally Posted by smudgepot

As of right now, I am trying to get myself off aspartame. I have come to notice that it seems to trigger my sweet cravings and I think I may actually be addicted to it. I definitely "NEED" it in the afternoons when my energy is low.

Any ideas on whether to simply go cold turkey or resort to other AS (such as sucrose) while weaning off aspartame?

What are you having with Aspartame in it? Is it a diet soda?

[OceanDreaming]

I gave up Splenda for four days a couple of weeks ago. Maybe if I increase that by one day each time someday I might get off the stuff....

[Jean@125]

Originally Posted by smudgepot

As of right now, I am trying to get myself off aspartame. I have come to notice that it seems to trigger my sweet cravings and I think I may actually be addicted to it. I definitely "NEED" it in the afternoons when my energy is low.

Any ideas on whether to simply go cold turkey or resort to other AS (such as sucrose) while weaning off aspartame?

I went cold turkey (on day 5 with no splenda or aspartame) it hasn't been easy but I felt it would be the best way for me. I have heard others say they weaned themselves down over time.

[Minnas]

Originally Posted by KlingonBabe

What are you having with Aspartame in it? Is it a diet soda?

That's my question too. If it's diet soda can you get Diet Coke with Splenda or Diet Rite? If it's crystal light try buying unsweetened Kool-aid and sweetening with Splenda. Whatever you do get off the aspartame! That stuff is just bad news.

I am trying to cut down so I am adding just enough sweetener to my coffee and tea to make it drinkable with no discernable sweetness to it. I am going to try this for a while and see what happens then I'll lose the AS all together if need be.

I do think it's an important point that AS and the treats made with it can be lifesavers, literally, and I think it's a very few who should say they are completely done with them at least for the first year or two. Even if I give them up I will never say never but I am like that will all foods. I will always have AS of some sort in my house just in case of emergencies. I know myself well enough to know that would just be plain stupid.