NOTHING sweet!

[dimar97]

I am wondering is there anyone out there who just cannot tolerate anything sweet (by tolerate I'm refering to it not causing major stalling &/or cravings) ??? As far as I know I have not had any real sugar in one month (today as a matter fo fact) But only in the first week of induction did I see any kind of weight loss. I'm staying with in my rungs (2-3 times over the last two weeks I've had a few handfuls of almonds - tom salt thing - but nothing more than that) I make my own treats using recipes from low carb sites, I've ditched the store bought stuff but I still feel like I'm getting no where. And I still feel that craving pretty regulary - esp after dinner. I graze all evening even though I am not hungry. I have been making shakes in the am with splenda and more recently DaVinci vanilla syrup. Just today I added zero carb protein mix as I started dairy this week. I gave up my crystal light and other water additives after alot of writing back and forth and deciding it was holding me back (but I still had a diet pop this afternoon - that will be my last one). When I was eating "regular food" if I started my day with a hershey kiss I was doomed for the rest of the day but if I could resist I would be ok for the whole day. I am wondering if it is the same with splenda and aspartame, for me at least. Is there anyone out there who has experienced this as well? I hate to imagine life with NO sweets but its getting hot here and I am in shorts now - 'nuf said! Is savory the life for me?

[Kawispice]

What works for me is Stevia. I am used to finishing a meal off with a small sweet thing, like the mint they make available in restaurants after a meal. I have a light decaf with table cream (half and half) and a couple of drops of Stevia, the liquid, not the powder, and I am a happy camper. Stevia is 50 times as sweet as sugar and is a supplement on its own, and no carbs in such small quantities.

So while other people are stuffing their mouths with all kinds of fattening desserts, I sip my coffee with cream and Stevia lovingly and happily. Liquid Stevia comes in a very small bottle and it is easy to take with you anywhere.

[Buddyjay]

Your weight loss "slow down" is a very common thing. Many people have written about this. I too did not loose any weight between weeks 3-5.

As far as the sweet problem, I also craved snacks after dinner. In fact between 7pm & 10pm, were the most difficult. I then realized that it was purely habit to snack while watching TV. During the day, I never craved a snack; only at night. I do miss ice cream and popsicles, but the results I am getting are more satisfying.
Stick to what the people on this forum and the DANDR book mention. Only eat the approved snacks. It will take time, but for most people, the sweet snack habit will diminish. Remember, this is a Way Of Eating. You have to change your way of thinking about food.

[Elizellen]

Have you read the sticky thread about the effect artificial sweeteners can have on some people? It might give you some insight into what you are experiencing. One quote from the thread sums it up for me

satisfying their sweet tooth only makes them want more. This can happen with any artificial sweetener.

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...halic+response (Addicted to Sweets? The Cephalic Phase Insulin Response)

Try not using your sweetener for a few days and see how your body responds. I found that after a while of no sweets or artificial sweetener even things like cherry tomatoes tasted sweet to me! Red peppers (bell peppers) stuffed with cream cheese met the 'sweet' test too.

[dimar97]

thank you for that link. Alot of those people comment on the craving cycle but I didn't see if anyone was actually stalling bc of it. I am beyond stalling, I am back up in weight - finally got this am - and inches, I measured myself to be sure. (sig. not up to date) That really sucked! I was totally clean yesterday - probably for the first time since I started this if I am honest with myself. It was hard - I was really thinking about my diet pepsi by mid day but I held out and felt good about it. But I still had the munchies so to speak. I ate only allowable things when that happened - all the while scooping icecream for my kids - but not even one little taste, I swear!!! But I know my calorie and fat is definitely up - is that a big deal? I am hoping now that I am clean and drinking only water that I will see some positive change. I don't know what to do if I don't... I have no idea how to approach the rungs at this point, esp since I've gained. I guess I should hold off on nuts huh? I was really excited about some peanut butter! Of course to add insult my DH (who started a week after me and has cheated 3 times that I know about) is 1 pound from goal.

[julirama723]

I think one reason sweets stall people is not because of something in the sweetener itself, but because it gives cravings and makes the brain say "EAT EAT EAT"! The person ends up eating more of something because it is sweeter, or eats after the sweet treat when they're really not hungry. Now, aspartame and splenda CAN stall people. Anything can stall a person--our bodies all react differently to different foods.

It's important to stop the craving cycle. If sweeteners are getting out of control, go cold turkey. Break the cycle. And like Elizellen says, you will begin to notice the natural sweetness of things.

For me, it's sort of an ongoing thing. I don't think I have huge problems with sweeteners, but I know how addicted to sugar I once was, and I do not want that happening again. In the beginning, I used splenda on an average basis, but felt I was using too much, so I switched to stevia, which I LOVE and still use as my sweetener of preference to this day. It causes no headaches, no cravings, no upset tummy. For a while, a couple of months ago, I started using SF syrups (DaVinci and Torani brands) because I liked the different flavors rather than just "sweetness" and soon I began using them about every other day, which was too much, in my opinion. So once again I quit and am back to stevia. Once in a blue moon, I will use splenda, but I've found that too much splenda gives me a stomach ache--my body has come up with it's own limiting system!

So I'm basically saying that if you're a "sweets" person, it's always something that you need to be aware of. Don't let your guard down and make sure you're honest with yourself.

[indymom]

ive had a total of 3 packets of splenda in the last 7 wks...and each time it made me crave sweets and feel hungrier the rest of the day...also stalled for a few days. Ive given them up. I figure im working too hard to improve myself and dont need to add anything that might make it more difficult. No diet sodas, nothing artificially sweetened.
I think for some of us sensitive people it causes problems...and for others..it doesnt.

[dimar97]

today is day 3 of absolutely nothing sweet, straight water with lemon, herbal tea - no coffee with splenda, no shakes, no home made low carb cheese cakes, nothing. Today feels REALLY HARD. I was pouring my daughter a bowl of Lucky Charms and they looked like the most delicious things in the whole world! and I don't even really like Lucky Charms. Today is ther first day I've felt like giving it all up...Give me strength

[indymom]

You can do it Kristin!!! You are doing great!! Soon u will lose the taste for sweet foods and u will appreciate the natural flavors of your foods. Soon enough u will b able to add berries and those will taste amazing.
I still bake my kids homemade cookies (just because i feel its healthier and less sugar than storebought)..and at first the smell made me swoon..but the longer ive gone the easier it is to pass stuff up. A moment of pleasure isnt worth a lifetime of feeling like crap.

[julirama723]

You can do it! To be completely detoxed from sweeteners is a huge accomplishment! But once you are, you can enjoy the NATURAL sweetness of things, like cream cheese, pumpkin, bell peppers, even string beans!

Stay strong, you CAN do this.