[Chompers]

After several days of binging on sugar & whatever else, & feeling worse & worse about myself, I managed one day without sweets. I had already eaten everything & my desire to not leave the house was stronger than my need to eat the demon sugar. When I realized it the next day, I decided to parlay that into another day & then another. I think it has been 5dys now & my eating in general has improved & I am feeling better, so yay! Of course then yesterday someone was talking about McD's Shamrock shakes... but I'm broke anyway & have decided to make a sugar free version when I get paid again.

I haven't made any food rules. If I want sugar I can have it. Food rules always backfire on me. I am just not having any now.

I also went a few days without caffeine, but then had two 16oz Coke Zeros today & I swear now I would do unspeakable acts, anything short of leaving the house in this weather, to get another one!

[growlycat]

If I had to give up diet coke i'd die.

But there are so many studies linking it to obesity, diabetes etc. Some of these are inconclusive, some confusing. (Do diet coke drinkers tend to have metabolic problems anyways? So maybe it isn't the drink itself, just that people are "self-selecting" because they drink what they think will be safe given their tendencies?)

[Sabrina]

Glad it is going better Chompers. Way to go.

I drink Tab which is a cola type soda which is sugar and caffeine free. Caffeine just doesn't bother me one way or another and I can just as easily do without it.

[hamster-bamster]

Over the years my need for sweetness has grown; I no longer can have tea that is not sweet. I tried Truvia and it tastes weird, but Xylitol tastes just the same as sugar, in other words, is wonderful, and,

- has 40% fewer calories than sugar
- is completely sugar free
- is proven good for the teeth (against cavities)
- is great for diabetics
- has a low glycemic index, ie does not cause insulin surges

I buy 3lb bags from a company called EPIC and this way, in bulk, it is inexpensive. But they have some trials sizes for sure.

It does not solve the soda problem, but it does solve the tea/coffee problem. I am so glad I have discovered it, it really feels great to pour it into a cup every morning knowing that you will get the sweetness and at the same time the benefit for your teeth! I highly recommend it to everyone struggling with the sugar issue.