Sweeteners. I cannot get splenda here in Holland. What should I be looking for in sweeteners? I'm using Candarel. Do I avoid sucralose? Asparatame? I can order some Stevia on line, but store bought sweeteners can someone give me some tips. Thanks Carol

I use net carbs, taking fiber from the carbohydrates since fiber isnt absorbed and won't spike up our blood glucose.

In other words, say the Total Carbohydrates count is 6g and the Dietary Fiber is 1g, the net carbs would be 5g making it a non-restricted item.

Keep in mind those items should still have low calories and if it has a lot of sugars or sucralose in it, they can cause cravings if using them often.

I am still confused. So if anything less dan 6g if carbs how mucb fats & sugar shoult it have to be unrestricted? I got a lot of diff answers to tjis
Some said carbs has to be below 8g,some 7g to be unrestricted. But then there are other factors to cobsider as well such as fats & sugar. Can someone pls enlighten as as to how to determine if an item is restricted or not? How many calories, carbs, fats, & sugardoes it have to be unrestricted??????

You are making this far more complicated than it needs to be. When I switched from IP foods to alternatives I just went to the spreadsheets. The one Cassie attached on post #88 on this thread gives you all the information you need. I just looked at an IP product I liked then looked at an alternative of the same type. I compared the numbers for calories, fat, carbs and protein. If those numbers were close ordered that alternative.

On the IP foods there are items at 9 carbs which are not restricted so I took that as the cut off number for non restricted.
My weight loss continued the same as it was on IP so the comparisons must have been accurate.

Whoops, just realized WUV is right about some of the oatmeal. I had been using the Proti-thin maple oatmeal which I think is 7 carbs so not restricted. But I just realized the latest ones I got are maple brown sugar oatmeal and are 10 carbs and so are restricted.

Also a question. On that spreedsheet it shows the IP wildberry yogurt is restricted but only has 5 carbs and the rest of the numbers are quite low. It it really a restricted?

Pat

Thanks, I thought that must have been an error on the spreadsheet. It had really low numbers all round except for good protein.

I've only been doing the Alternatives and weighed in another 5.6 lighter today.:D

One of the things that I've noticed over the years is that it doesn't matter what the sweetener is, whether it's sugar or a sugar substitute is that my cravings for sweet things increase the more I have. So I make an effort to limit any sweet tasting item on a regular basis. Just like I've learned to take my coffee or tea without sweetener.

I've also had a problem with stevia and splenda in that it gives me nasty gas, so I've had a few coke zero's and it hasn't affected my weight loss. I only drink a 1 or 2 a week so I feel it's not such a big deal for me.

Plus, I've ordered a bunch of Proti-diet items for the first time and I'm looking forward to trying them.

Congratulations! I also noticed that my cravings increase with artificial sweetners. I was using Mio a lot and found it increased my cravings. I eliminated it and the cravings stopped for the most part. They revisit during TOM, but that's it.

I definitely agree! I have been using the compare sheet I downloaded when you posted it on another thread, and am averaging about 5 pounds a week-not going to question:D

Proti-Diet Maple Brown Sugar oatmeal has 6 carbs, 100 cal. Nice!

Some items don't give the amount of sugar alcohol they contain. That scares me a little and I have avoided ordering those items. What is the cut off for sugar alcohol in bars or other items?

If you go onto the Nashua Nutrition website, you can look at any of the foods, get the nutritional info inc ingredients list. I'm also being careful about sugars.

Alternatives are not only about finding ways to save money, but also to have a variety of food that IP offers while getting the same results. Knowing the logic behind identifying restrictive or not will not only give you an array of food option but also gives you the knowledge for a long term success by being able to determine what you can have .The spreadsheet is in no doubt a wonderful tool, that is not a question at all. With this, has anyone tried these?

http://www.dietdirect.com/weight-los...-meals-18.html