Hi Everyone,

I just thought I'd share my revelation with all of you since I am so gung-ho about it right now and I want to spread the light!!

I have decided to not pay attention to calories, fat, or anything but WHOLESOME NUTRITION. This all came about last week when I dumped crystal light powder into a big nalgene bottle and drank the whole thing while I was at work. It started with a stomach ache and moved to acid reflux, gas, and just a feeling of disgust. I know it was the chemicals in that junk. I've wrestled with fake sugar and processed food for a long time (I know it's bad, but it's low calorie so I ignore that fact), but I've finally realized just HOW bad it is.

I have not been drinking diet sodas, I have not been eating sugarfree candies...I have basically just been focusing more on whole grains and healthy foods and I already notice a difference. I don't get stomach aches as often, I feel healthier and I just love the fact that I am not putting those chemicals in my body.

That being said, I still use splenda in my coffee, but that is the only excpetion!

Has anyone else had similar experiences with fake sugar and decided to eliminate it? What have you noticed?

LS

Sugar substitutes have always caused me to have digestive problems. Mostly stomach cramps, but sometimes worse. Hubby gets the same reactions.

If you're looking for an alternative to both sugar and sugar substitutes, then try stevia. Stevia is completely natural and has no calories. Its extremely sweet, so you need to use very little. I was kinda shocked at the price for a jar of it at the healthfood store (about $10), but realized that a little goes a very long way and that one jar has lasted 6 months.

If you're looking for a flavoring for your water, try fresh lemon juice. Or, if you want something sweeter, Celestial Seasonings has a bunch of water flavorings out now that are all natural and sweetened with stevia. The blueberry green tea is my fave, but the tangerine is pretty good too.

I find that my sweet tooth gets really stimulated by diet sodas. I try to avoid processed foods and soda and junky sweets, but occasionally (especially if my stomch is upset) I WANT a diet coke or sprite. It usually settles my stomach oddly enough, but it makes me want sugar.
I find splenda tough to digest as well, and I drink my coffee black. It's delicious once you're used to it, I can really taste the flavor of the coffee.
My goals are to eat mostly whole foods and less stuff out of a box or can. Though I do love cereal, I just make sure it is whole grain. The less ingredients, the better.
LS...what about the frozen yogurt? I have read your posts off and on and I know that you love it, but isn't that stuff chemical laden? Just curious what your thoughts are on that, no judgements.

Frozen yogurt is a tough one. I don't really know if the kind I eat is chemical laden or natural. There are some kinds that are natural (like the kind I had tonight) and they have more of a natural yogurt taste and actually have live cultures in them! Those are the best for you, of course, but sometimes you really want the CHOCOLATEY more desserty flavors.

The carbolite and low sugar frozen yogurts have chemicals in them, but I don't believe the full sugar kind does. Golden Spoon - one of the full sugar kinds of soft serve frozen yogurt is made from: Grade A Pasturized Cultured Skim Milk, milk solids, Lacto Acidophilus, Lacto Bulgaricus, Lacto Thermophilus, natural flavorings, fructose and/or sugar, alginate, guar gum, locust bean gum, carrageenan, and corn sweetener. All natural, I guess!

What are your thoughts on full fat versus fat free/lowfat?

Has anyone else had similar experiences with fake sugar? What have you noticed?

I posted earlier that sorbitol (fake sugar in many diet gums and candies) gave me very serious and long term diahrea. However, I've been consuming Nutrisweet in gum, coffee and diet soda for years and never had a problem with it.

full fat vs. fat free...well, I avoid fat free things b/c they are usually full of chemicals. That said, I do eat fat free yogurt (the greek kind with no additives) and I am ok with fat free dairy that comes from skim milk. Well, actually, I am lactose intolerant, so I don't eat it, but I think it is healthy. As far as fat free cookies and bread and processed packaged foods...yuck. Why bother? I'd rather get a little more fat and eat real foods, and my weight is fine.
So my opinion is, if you care about watching/lowering your consumption of chemicals and things you can't pronounce, always look at labels and make choices based on the nutrition the food will provide you, not the caloric or fat content.