I am desparately trying to get away from artificial sweetners but my days are long and misserable without my gum and caffinated beverages. Has anyone found any products they like that don't have a ton of carbs and sugar and corn syrup and horrible gunk?

Diet Coke made with Splenda, while not great for you, is much better for you than Diet Coke made with Aspartame. Anything with aspartame is poison for your body.

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/

On the occasions I have something carbonated, I like to take a 0 sodium carbonated water, add a splash of lime, a splash of lemon and a wheylow packet, mix and voila, homemade and healthy sprite/7-up alternative.

http://www.wheylow.com/

Gums...again, you can probably find chewing gums made with splenda instead of aspartame, but I recommend visiting a whole foods/organic foods grocer and looking for SteviaDent (or order online!). While it also contains trace amounts of maltitol, xylitol & glycerin, at least it is made with Stevia and not an artificial sweetener. It also contains no petroleum or artifical ingredients.

Hopefully someone out there has knowledge I don't about gums made without sugar alcohols and can help you find something without even sugar alcohols in it.

Diet Rite sodas are sweetened with Splenda instead of aspartame, as well as some "off" brands of diet root beer that I've seen.

Adding some DaVinci sugar free syrups to plain club soda makes a delicious drink. My favorite is raspberry with a splash of vanilla.