What do you guys think. I mean are these things really that bad that they can actually stall a persons weightloss?

I know that Atkins say's that we should not have caffeine but is that because of the health issues or the fact that we get an insulin spike from the caffeine.

Can anyone explain to me how and why caffeine does that ?

What are the artificial sweetners supose to do the impairs the weightloss.

You know you would think that I should know the answers to these question. I've been doing this on and off for how long?

IF and this is a BIG IF I deceide to kick my caffeine habit I would love to have a buddy to do it with. DH has never been a coffee drinker so he just doesn't get it.

Anyone game to do this with me. I really do need the support because when I do this I know my head will feel like a watermelon !!! And I'll act like a......

Although they say it is the caffeine that causes it all, I really do believe it's the sweetners we use. Sweteners and sugar chemically act the same in the body--your body can't tell the difference since they both taste sweet. So every time you have a diet soda or something with sweetner, you body is getting the message "sweet" and your insulin and LH levels spike, putting you in a stall if you use them many times a day.

I know for me, this is very true and I use artificial sweetners very rarely or when there is nothing else.

Now, we all know you can't go through life with out it completely, I have developed a taste for Stevia--a plant based sweetner that is usually sold in health food stores and is packaged the same as regular sweetners are. Stevia is 300 times sweeter than sugar without the sugar spikes or chemical reactions. It is usually sold cut with chicory root to act as a filler because it is so powerful and you need so little. I use a brand called Touch of Nature--I take a few packs in my purse and if I go out for coffee, I have it with me. I have also bought it in bulk to do my cooking with--made a lovely cheesecake with it once and it was divine! I find that not using regualr sweeteners or sugar, I have less headaches, jitters, or heart palpitations which so many people have associated with coffee.

Hope this helps you in some way

So does that mean that my Splenda and Aspertame cause insulin spikes because my body thinks sweet and reacts likes it's sugar....HHHHMMM!

I guess that would make sence. Ever since I've come back to low carbing I've been downing the diet soda like there's no tomorrow. I use to drink it and have one or two a day. Now it's more like 6-8. I know that's too much and I like water and drink some but not nearly enough like I know I should.

That stinkin' sweetner and it's in the diet Mt. Dew that I'm so fond of!!! That should be no surprise. I'll confess that I bought a 24 pack of Dew on Sunday and I drank the last one today. Now, I cant blame DH or the kids because they aren't allowed to touch them.....they are MINE and they know that. Not to mention the pot of coffee that I drink everyday.

Pass the water!!!!!