sugar debate...

Can I ask why you think the sugar was slowing your loss? Was it just taking too big of a chunk of your total calories per day or was it something else? Unless you have a medical condition that impacts insulin/etc, within the frame of appropriate calorie and macro goals for your current weight/body comp/activity level and your goal weight/body comp, it really doesn't matter how much sugar you consume. However, if you're consuming too much sugar at the expense of getting enough protein/fat/micronutrients, or it's causing you to exceed your calorie goal, then I can see where you'd want to cut down.

So, basically, what I'm saying is that as long as you're meeting your goals, use as much sugar as you want. If you're not meeting your goals and want to reduce your sugar consumption, then my vote is that, in moderation, some Spenda should be perfectly fine.

First, be gentle with yourself----preemie twins and 3 other kids---that's a lot to juggle.

Here is what I did to cut my lifelong sugar cravings to zero---this worked for me, there will be people on this list who trash the idea---but I tried it out of desperation. Maybe it will work, maybe it won't---but you have nothing to lose by trying.

1) Cut the coffee way back---it jerks up all your adrenals [according to my health professional] and contributes to the "crash and burn" cycle that demands more: coffee, more sugar, more carbs. I didn't think I could cut my black tea habit---but I gradually cut it down to one cup a day and the rest is all sorts of yummy teas without the caf.

2) Try cutting back your carbs [I cut off all grains, which I thought would be a lot harder than it was but after the first day it has been easy and has made a tremendous difference in weight loss but also how I feel]. This is the only thing I've ever done that cut my sugar cravings.

3) Try cutting all added sugar from your diet. Again, there are people on this list who say "a carb is a carb" but that isn't true for me---cutting off added sugars made it possible for me to let sugar go, for the first time in my life and not miss it. Some people can eat a little bit, not me.

4) Sleep my dear, whenever you can.

Good luck. Let us know how you are doing.

I just had a physical last week and my doctor told me no artificial sweeteners. She did say I could use Stevia. I worked hard at losing weight last year, yet only lost 20 the whole year (and I have 100 to lose) She said the diet sodas and the splenda could make it harder, and she told me I'd be better off having no soda, but if I did to drink the regular type.

I did try the stevia, and I like it. I've been using it in my tea, and it doesn't seem to have a bad aftertaste.

The problem with artificial sweeteners is that they won't fix the real problem, which is your sweet tooth. You can train yourself to stop needing everything you drink to be sweet.

I used to add splenda to my coffee. But after getting used to drinking coffee black, I now find sweet coffee disgusting. The sugar masks coffee's real flavor. But those tastes must be acquired.

Sugar has 16 calories per teaspoon. Even even you had 8 cups of coffee a day with one tsp per cup, that's only 128 calories(?)

I don't drink the stuff. But, I work at a place that most people do. I'm willing to bet most people don't just put one tsp of sugar in their cup.

I'm a coffee junkie myself, and I have been trying to cut back on added sugar intake, as well. I have had some success with it, so I will share what I have done in case it can help you.

The following is what I have done and will continue to do:
- For the first month, I cut from 3 sugars per coffee to 2.
- Last month, I cut from 2 sugars per coffee down to 1.
- This month, I am changing from light chocolate soy milk as my creamer to a no sugar added plain soy milk and 1 sugar.
- Next month, I plan to cut to no sugar and stay with the same no sugar added soy milk.

It takes a lot of strength to make big changes with little ones to take care of. Good luck!

Sugar has 16 calories per teaspoon. Even even you had 8 cups of coffee a day with one tsp per cup, that's only 128 calories(?)

I don't drink the stuff. But, I work at a place that most people do. I'm willing to bet most people don't just put one tsp of sugar in their cup.

That's where portion size comes into play-nothing wrong with sugar, but just like anything else you need to measure out portion sizes. I put two tsp of cinnamon sugar on my sweet potato breakfast every morning. I keep a tsp measuring spoon right in the container. It's not that complicated to do

Sugar has 16 calories per teaspoon. Even even you had 8 cups of coffee a day with one tsp per cup, that's only 128 calories(?)

I don't drink the stuff. But, I work at a place that most people do. I'm willing to bet most people don't just put one tsp of sugar in their cup.

I'm willing to bet most of them don't have 8 cups a day, either, so the numbers are probably not that far off, and not all of them will use any sugar in their coffee- I don't.

OP: Why do you think artificial sweeteners will make your body "resist the breakdown of natural sugars"? Foods get broken down by the body into sugars all the time, as part of the digestive process. I don't understand why artificial sweeteners would interfere with this process.

If you're breast feeding the twins (or pumping since they're premature, I don't know if they can latch or whatever) you should put off the aggressive weight loss plans.

I'm becoming concerned about my body resisting the proper breakdown of natural sugars if I continue to use the splenda.

This doesn't even mean anything. It's literally impossible. No such thing happens.

Use the Splenda all you want.

The problem with artificial sweeteners is that they won't fix the real problem, which is your sweet tooth. You can train yourself to stop needing everything you drink to be sweet.

I've found that to be true for myself. I've slowly learned to lower my 'sweet' threshold so that I don't need as much sweetner (be it sugar or artificial).

I used to need several sugars (or artificial sweetners) in my coffee. I've slowly lowered to virtually none or none (depending on the quality of the coffee). As I drink several cups a day, I've found that to be a good place to reduce unnecessary calories.

Have also learned to enjoy unsweet tea, unsweetened almond milk, and unsweetened yogurt. (Never would have put sugar on a sweet potato in the first place . I think they're delicious with just salt and butter).

Reducing sugar doesn't need to be cold turkey, but, if it's a goal, it is possible to slowly lower and learn to enjoy the flavor of the foods with fewer added sugars. (In most recipes you can cut sugar by 1/3 and never even taste the difference).

I am trying to find a better balance to increase my odds of losing the 100lbs I want to this year without makimg drastic changes that will cause depression and eventual rebounding to old habits. .that said...

I have 5 kids, including 3 month old preemie twins. I dont get to sleep very much at all. I live off coffee but the sugar intake was not helping my loss. Im not ready for black but I'm working my way there....meanwhile ive been using splenda but I'm becoming concerned about my body resisting the proper breakdown of natural sugars if I continue to use the splenda. Does anybody have any experience with sugar substitutes slowing weight loss? I realize its a bandaid for my sweet tooth but again I'm taking baby steps. Ive cut back my portions and ive added exercise

I'm doing low carb, cutting out carbs mostly reduces cravings. i've substituted my sugar in teh coffee for half and half and I find it's lovely that way. Sugar substitutes are really no better than sugar. your body sends an insulin response and then finds nothing there after all resulting in more cravings and hunger signals

I am in the same boat as you. I started low-carbing today and the first thing that happens is the hankering for sweets. Not chips or breads or fries, but sweets. I decided to try the Trident flavored gums with Xylitol (sugar alcohol) that low-carbers usually recommend and it helped me get through the day. Tomorrow morning I shall try coffee without sugar and a splash of milk as you mentioned. I wish you tons of luck!

I am in the same boat as you. I started low-carbing today and the first thing that happens is the hankering for sweets. Not chips or breads or fries, but sweets. I decided to try the Trident flavored gums with Xylitol (sugar alcohol) that low-carbers usually recommend and it helped me get through the day. Tomorrow morning I shall try coffee without sugar and a splash of milk as you mentioned. I wish you tons of luck!

I put heavy cream in my coffee.

eat in a calorie deficit ..

if your weight loss has slowed then you are probably eating more or you have not re-adjusted to account for your weight loss…

This, of course, is perfectly true and correct.

Although as an added nuance, if she has 107 pounds to lose (which is what she's showing in her banner), there are elevated chances of her having chronically high insulin (This isn't guarenteed, of course, but with that amount of weight to lose the chances of metabolic syndrome are relatively high as obesity is associated and it may occur as commonly as 1 in 6 people). For an individual with 100+ pounds to lose, it might be worth investigating. Checking fasting blood sugar with a glucometer and then the speed with which it falls after eating could be helpful, though that may be more trouble than someone wants to go to. Hyperpigmentation (darkening) of skin in the underarm area or around one's neck are also indicators, as are "skin tags" { http://www.pre-diabetes.com/medical/definition-skin-tags.html }.) If metabolic syndrome has become involved, then reducing simple-sugar intake could be part of a generally healthful approach. There are several things that can be done: exercise is helpful as is moderating simple sugar intake (reducing calories usually reduces sugar intake, but to a greater or lesser degree depending on exactly which foods someone is eating.)

Additionally, the World Health Organization just issued revised guidelines that 'added sugar' should only comprise 5% of daily calorie intake (The U.S. Center for Disease Control still has it at 10%... but the average American consumes in excess of 13%)