So let's talk artificial sweeteners....

I have a pretty serious sugar addiction and am finding if I allow even a small amount in that it triggers really severe cravings and head hunger and life becomes a huge battle.  So I have used some artificial sweeteners even though I historically tried to stay away from them.  I have been using a flavor additive in my water called True Lemon Lemonade.  They also have some other flavors and it is sweetened with Stevia.  My sugar cravings began to seriously increase over the time I was using these and I don't know if it is just coincidence (my stress level has been through the roof lately) or if there is a connection between the artificial sweetener and increased sugar cravings.  I'm wondering if anyone else has had this experience.  I have stopped using the lemonade packets and have gone to plain water and the sugar cravings have decreased significantly but still wondering if I'm just crazy or if there could be a correlation here. 

IMO - there is. And different people respond to different triggers. 

Pure stevia extract - does not bother me too much. (no dextrose in in or other carbs) - 

Truvia - a combination of things with stevia - no go, 

Splenda - I get rashes and headaches plu I get horrible cravings

diet soda - cravings and bladder irritation

saccharine - limited qty - I tolerate quite well.. 

aspartame - ( crystal light, diet soda - ) cravings and headache...

I have never had reactions to artificial sweeteners like headaches etc, but I do know that since I stopped using the lemonade packets I have felt like a light switch flipped and I've been able to control my eating better with fewer cravings.  And I was finding that it wasn't just sugar.  I was having a lot of carb cravings.  That seems to be better too since I stopped using it.  You know, this whole obesity/food thing just sucks sometimes.  It's like you think you have a handle on things and then Nope! go back and regroup. 

Most of the true lemon mixes have real sugar in them. Read the label.  It is one gram....but that still may cause cravings. I know that truvia or dextrose + stvia mix is not good for me. But the liquid organic stevia is just fine. But My friend can't tolerate that Either...

I have heard of research that suggested artificial sweeteners can have these kinds of effects, but I don't know the details. You are certainly not crazy. You know yourself best, so if something isn't helping you reach your goals, you are better off without it.

I try not to use sugar at all, but when I use a sweetner it's Truvia or Stevia.  I believe there is research re: cravings and body reaction to sugar that indicates artifical sweetner has an effect on our metabolisms.

If you use sugar, it's going to increase your insulin production, which makes you hungrier, just like our bodies react to "white foods" or refined carbs such as bread, rice, potatoes or pastas.  That is a problem for me, also, so I really try to avoid these foods.

It's all individual, so keep trying, keep observing your own reactions, learn to trust and validate your own life and body reactions.  Remember:  YMMV means Your Mileage May Vary.  What works for one person may not be good for another, and vice-versa.  

(Using the flavors in plain water made me so gaseous and horrible I almost fell over.  I know the dog wouldn't come near me!)

Lol.  That made me laugh.  Yeah probably a good idea to stay away from them. 

Put real lemon in your water and watch your cravings disappear and you will be so much healthier for it.  Organic lemons are you best choice.  Good Luck.

True Lemon also makes Lemon, Orange, and Lime juice crystallized juice powders that are just the juice and no sweetener. I use those in water.  I like to flavor my water and was off artificial sweeetner for like 5 years before surgery because they absolutely made no difference in my weight. Using artificial really bugs me even stevia.... but I do it, can't sweat the small stuff. Last month I started using Diet V8 Splash to mix with my water and I lost very little weight. I always dilute it but, my weight slowed down. Coincidence? maybe but I stopped it this month and am doing better. I find liquid stevia better than the powder. I buy Skinny girl brand, they have it at target and other places. There is also a powdered stevia/monkfruit mix that I find better than most. It is from the makers of Equal and just says "Naturals" on the box.

I've been using the True Lemon and True Lime crystallized juice since I stopped the other.  I don't know if it's coincidence or not but I lost three pounds last week which I haven't done in weeks.  My weight loss has been stalled for weeks.  Will be interesting to see how it does going forward.  I haven't had artificial sweeteners in almost two weeks except for what is in the protein powder I am using.  I'm trying to just drink water and the other night I had black coffee and actually enjoyed it which is HUGE for me.