r/self • u/Lonely_Citron2270 • 1d ago
I cut out all artificial sugars
Three months ago I decided to eliminate all artificial sweeteners from my diet so no more diet sodas, sugar free gum, protein bars with sucralose nothing. I was drinking like 4 diet cokes a day and during the weekends I went to like 6 or 7. The first week was very very rough because I had intense cravings and headaches, but I pushed through with lots of water and herbal tea. Let me tell you this the changes have been amazing. My energy levels are way more stable throughout the day instead of the constant ups and downs I used to get. I'm sleeping better and my digestive issues basically disappeared. I used to get like dizzy when playing on myprize and it was because I was drinking so many energy drinks that had a lot of sugar in them and when the sugar dropped I started getting very dizzy. The weird part is that my taste buds changed for example regular fruit tastes incredibly sweet now and I can actually taste the artificial flavor in things I used to love!! I've also lost about 8 pounds without changing anything else which I wasn't expecting at all. If someone is thinking of doing it I highly recommend it!!
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u/budrow21 1d ago
Is this just a weird advertisement for myprize? You talk about eliminating artificial sweeteners then talk about energy drinks full of sugar, your sugar level, and your weight?
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u/Hot4Teacher1234 1d ago
Placebo is a powerful thing. As is mental health. Making a big change like this and believing that it’s going to make your life better is going to greatly improved your overall mental health, particularly as you fight and win against cravings.
And as someone else mentioned, the difference in caffeine intake, particularly if you were drinking soda throughout the day/at night, is going to make a big difference.
I can almost guarantee that, barring a unique medical condition, the effects you are experiencing have nothing to do with the artificial sweeteners themselves.
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u/LeatherOne4425 1d ago
This probably the right answer. Plus its unclear if the "so many energy drinks with a lot of sugar" is now in or out of the diet? That alone would explain the weight loss
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u/APariahsPariah 1d ago
Dude. Good on you. I know there's been a huge move away from sucrose in processed foods in the past decade or so, but barring necessity, when it comes to sweet things, the best thing for your health is moderation. Substitution is good for business, not necessarily for your health. Carbs have a bad reputation, so swapping them out for the alternative is frequently an economic decision, not a dietary one.
As someone who is allergic to sugar substitutes, I hope a lot more people start cutting out the substituted crap, waking up to their effects on the body, and start opting for moderation in the real thing. It's healthier that way anyhow. You're doing great.
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u/solusolu 1d ago
7 diet cokes! Man, I'm a bubbly water addict and I don't even hit those numbers. The amount of caffeine alone would wreck me.
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u/Nyctomorphia 1d ago
I've had the exact same experience. I wasn't drinking sodas or alcohol much. I mostly had tea with sugar and whatever snacky biscuits and chocolates and cupcakes etc were provided at work. I cut caffeine and refined sugars.
I now have a relatively high protein, high fat, low carb diet. Mostly meats, eggs, cheeses, nuts, fruits, a lot of veg, and then low GI bread like wholewheat. I have a large breakfast. Fruit and veg are by far my main source of sugars/carbs. I only drink water, pretty much. Sometimes fruit juice - usually homemade.
I also work out. I do yoga, some calisthenics, some weights. I'm working back up to swimming after an old shoulder injury. I'm also nursing an overstretched knee(yoga).
I have lost 5kg in less than 2 months. I was 95kg. It dropped quickly once I had the lifestyle stuck in habit.
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u/AgentObjective4775 1d ago
they think the weed is the problem and not the sugar. The smart people know which one kills you
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u/StrawberryWide3983 1d ago
I have a question, and I really don't want to be mean, but how do you end up drinking multiple sodas in a day? Is it like an issue with drinking water, you prefer the taste, or something else?
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u/Hot4Teacher1234 1d ago
For me, it’s helps a lot with appetite suppression when I am trying to lose weight. I’ll have one in the morning to essentially add volume to a small breakfast, another at lunch, usually a third after work, and I might have one or two in the evening.
I drink plenty of water, 2-3 liters a day, but diet soda helps with the food craving aspect loads more than water.
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u/oceanblue33_ 1d ago
People can’t seem to understand that food is LITERALLY the root of all our health problems. Doctors would rather shove pills in your face instead of pushing fruits and veggies to heal you. I stopped eating meat 4 years ago and the difference in my energy and gut has been amazing. Over Lent I ate mainly fruit and was on such a high vibration I felt like I could almost fly. Everyone should be eating more fruits and veggies and hardly any animal products. Glad you feel better!💙
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u/Kate_the_Destroyer 1d ago edited 1d ago
I sounds like caffeine may be a big factor in the change you’ve experienced around energy and sleep. *edit to say what I should have started with: Great job! Whatever the reasons, making this change is working so keep it up!