Artificial sweeteners

[lisagus19]

The thing I am most concerned about is having to consume artificial sweeteners. I don't want to use them. They are poison in your body. I actually get sick from aspartame. I can tolerate small amounts of sucralose. I just want to know if anyone else has issues with these sweeteners and if they are able to avoid them after surgery. It seems like everything that's low calorie has it in it,even the protein powders and drinks. I want to be able to eat healthy and lose weight without using artificial sweeteners.

[momsturnnow]

I have problems with artificial sweeteners too. I use unjury chicken broth and unjury unflavored protein powder. The fake stuff causes me a lot of gi distress.I drink gatorade or brew some decaf tea with just enough sugar to take the edge off. I'm doing what works for me and my Dr is ok with it as long as I don't go overboard. I'm five weeks post op and down 53 lbs since pre op diet.

[MADR]

I try to avoid them too, but when it comes to my protein powders and bars I deal with them for the sake of getting in the protein. I haven't been eating sweets, so I haven't had to worry about them there. I have found "crystal lite" like products that are sweetened with Stevia, and Vitamin Water Zero is sweetened with Stevia also.

[Marvinator]

I cant do them either. Only non sugar sweeteners I can tolerate are stevia and agave.

[KebfromCincy]

I have had no problems whatsoever with artificial sweeteners. I mainly use them in iced or hot tea that I drink. Water is my other go to drink. Stevia, in my opinion, tastes terrible the first time down and the aftertaste is even worse. I have also tried something called Nectresse which is made from monk fruit. I only use it on cereal if I happen to eat it in the morning. I have one sister in law who claims that aspertame gives her a headache. OK fine, but I have another sister in law that claims an "allergy" to all artificial sweeteners. Well, she is a diabetic and just wants an excuse to eat things with sugar in them. I have a feeling that will cause her more problems in the future. If artificial sweeteners were poison, there would be so many dead people in the streets that you wouldn't be able to walk or drive. Do what you want as far as artificial sweeteners go. It is your body. Good luck with your journey.

[Truffles]

I'm the same as Keb. I use Splenda (Sucralose).

Poison? That's quite a strong word. Even plain old water is toxic if consumed in enough quantity. The so-called studies that said they were harmful were de-bunked. Kind of along the same lines as that quack that started the whole anti-vax movement.

Obviously, you have made up your mind. I wish you luck.

[leesooim]

Unless you give up sweet things altogether, if you're trying not to have any real sugar at all yet still want sweet stuff, you won't be able to avoid non-sugar sweeteners, be it Stevia, agave (still has calories), aspartame, saccharine or sucralose. Sad, but true.

Honestly though, if not having anything sweet ever beyond a piece of fruit is something you can do, you will be better off for it. While it's not impossible to eat healthy AND still have sweet things without anything artificial/alternative whatsoever, it certainly is more difficult. Do whatever you feel is best for you. I personally am an aspartame queen when given a choice, and most products I buy have either that or lo han guo or sucralose in them anyway.

[lisagus19]

Thanks everyone for your input on the subject. I guess I will just try to find the products without aspartame as it makes me so sick. I've tried stevia but don't care for it. I will just have to find products with sucralose and try to limit my intake. To truly eat healthy is almost impossible and very expensive.

[raku]

Oh and the unflavored / unsweetened is really unsweetened .. and you can choose no sweetner in any of the flavors. So you could use what ever type you like. The new monk fruit one is ok and can just add it at home when you mix your shakes. Also can mix unflavored into most foods too =)
so:
True nutrition
27.3 g whey protien isolate
11-12$ per lb



My first post didn't post....anyhow....

Search for natural protein powder...there are several choices, not all have stevia.

Protein factory and true nutrition let you select the protein type, the flavor, sweetener (or no sweetener). You could just add something at home if you needed like monk fruit or aguave.

Some natural protein powders are very expensive, these two were pretty reasonable. I use true nutrition, ( I like the cold filtered whey isolate) the powders taste great and mix well...not gritty and no sour milk smell. I used premium chocolate and vanilla with stevia ( no after taste). And I also use the unflavored / unsweetened so I can mix it in anything.... they all smell creamy and not sour or medicinal.

You don't have to settle. And I agree....chemical sugars are not a good choice.

[Truffles]

To truly eat healthy is almost impossible and very expensive.

Lisa, I mean this in the sincerest way but you might want to examine your outlook. It comes across as very defeatist and that worries me for your sake, and for your success.

I found the hardest part of my WLS journey was the mental aspect. Losing weight very rapidly really messes with your head.

If you are starting this journey already defeated, it will be a difficult road for you. You might want to consider postponing the surgery a few months or so until you can tackle the mental beast that has you so resigned to failure before you have even started.

I hope you take this post in the spirit in which it was intended, as an offer of support.

[raku]

Truffles, your post wasnt even to me and it did not come across as supportive. You first began by discrediting the choice of not wanting artificial sugars... and then couldn't help but bash a little more at what you pervieved as a defeated attitude. And then topped all that off with " maybe you postpone. " Seriously? As if your interpretation of some random text statement gives you a liscense to make life choices for another human being. As if.....


I was happy to find an active forum.... was.

LISA - good luck on your journey =) everyone has to find their way and you will find yours. I hope you find a group of supportive people. I hope my post hes helped you know you don't need to compromise! You can do this! Don't let anyone negative or controlling bully you on an Internet forum.....LoL =)

[Marvinator]

Raku, this is a good forum. Truffles is normally pretty supportive and probably meant to be here as well. We're all flawed and sometimes our opinions are not going to be well accepted by everyone. I dont interpret Lisa's concerns as defeatist but rather legitimate concerns. Others may see it differently. We are here to be supportive but also to bring realistic expectations when necessary, because there are times when that is the best support you can give. Thats what she tried to do. You think otherwise. Thats cool. Everyone here should respect that everyone here sees things differently. I hope that you continue to use the forum. It really is a pretty decent community. Of which Truffles and many others play a significant part in. Please dont let one post that rubbed you the wrong way to color your perception of the entire site. There is no perfect forum. But there are good ones and thats what this one is.

[Marvinator]

And Lisa yes it is difficult to eat perfectly. Thats true whether you have a sleeve or not. I have found my grocery bill is lower since the sleeve. And I eat pretty healthy stuff. If you dont like stevia but havent tried truvia, which is primarily stevia, I suggest giving that a try. Truvia uses an extract of the stevia leaf which comes from the part that has the least bitter aftertaste. I dont like most stevia products but can tolerate them. Truvia I actually like a lot.

[wrightstuff12]

Actually, there are many studies that fake sugar are neurotoxins. I have neuropathic pain & I have been advised by a Neurologist to avoid them. I don't like the taste, either. I would rather have unsweetened.

[MADR]

Also I. Regards to the price of food. You will find healthy recipes that can make 10-20 servings for us sleevers, and you can freeze them. If you divide the total cost by the number of servings, you'll find how inexpensively you're actually eating.