I have not seen alot of people mentioning the sweatner packets for your water bottle like the crystal light or other brands. I have been using the walmart brand and it says it is completely calorie free and sugar free but I can't help but wonder if it is slowing down weight loss? Does anyone know anything about these sweatners?

I use Crystal lite once in a great while. Usually only once every one or two weeks. Even though it says calorie free remember that if a food is less that i think 5 cals per serving it can be considered calorie free. I know for my crystal lite i think its 20 cals for 1 packet that goes in water. I dont know if this is really slowing your weight loss or not though. Sorry i wasnt much help

I have crystal light that's only 5 calories per packet. Having said that, they feel a bit too addictive to me, and I get the feeling that too many might bloat you out. So they're a great treat once in a while, but I know I saw 5 cal per serving cranberry juice at Fred Meyer made with splenda, and I know Splenda is supposed to be okay.

For what it is worth, I've been drinking 2-3 Crystal lite everyday for a year, and I've lost 45lbs. As far as I can tell, it isn't hindering my weight loss at all.

Nope. I'm really avoiding artificial sweeteners and sugar. And I like having plain water. Sometimes I add lemon juice or cucumber slices or even a splash of a flavored seltzer (no sweeteners at all in it). Or I have tea. I'm not totally off the diet sodas, but I have maybe one or two a week, and getting better .

My son and I don't, but my fiance likes to use a packet of lemon crystal light and pour ice tea in it, making his own "Arnold Palmer". lol

I just drink it plain. I also drink tea and decaf tea also plain.

You could try to "True Lemon" {or Lime} packets. They have 5-10 calories, but no sweeteners. Personally, I avoid all artificial sweeteners like the plague.

op, can you explain why you think these would hinder weight loss?

considering these are generally used in place of high calorie and empty calorie drinks like soda and juice, i would think they could only help. unless im missing something, i see no reason why these would be bad, and my nutritionist agrees

Cardsfan:

Quote from: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releas...-asl020508.php

Authors Susan Swithers, PhD, and Terry Davidson, PhD, surmised that by breaking the connection between a sweet sensation and high-calorie food, the use of saccharin changes the body’s ability to regulate intake. That change depends on experience. Problems with self-regulation might explain in part why obesity has risen in parallel with the use of artificial sweeteners. It also might explain why, says Swithers, scientific consensus on human use of artificial sweeteners is inconclusive, with various studies finding evidence of weight loss, weight gain or little effect. Because people may have different experiences with artificial and natural sweeteners, human studies that don’t take into account prior consumption may produce a variety of outcomes.

In other words, while there is some scientific evidence that it is counterproductive to weightloss (not to mention the question of whether or not you care to put the chemicals in your body), it is a very individual thing. Some folks avoid it because they have terrible reactions to it or find that it makes them hungrier. Others have maintained for years consuming it every day.

Personally, I feel better with water and seltzer, but do drink diet sodas from time to time. Unfortunately, I have to limit it because if I didn't that would be all I would drink

You crave what you eat, right? Eat sweet things, crave sweet things. I'd use lemon. Even though it's unproven, I hear lemon burns fat and is "good for you."
I'd stay away from the SWEETENER

No, I like just plain water with no ice