Went to get my first fill yesterday and my doctor said "NO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS!" i.e. Crystal Lite.. or anything with aspartame in it. It makes your brain crave more food.

Has anyone heard of this before?

Wish he would have told me this before.. considering the fact that I drink alot of Crystal Lite. :tongue2:

I have heard of it, but I think it's only for certain people. I drink artifical sweetners all the time.

If he's a stickler, I wonder if he would approve Stevia (I think that's the name). It a new zero cal sweetner that is made from sugar. Wouldn't help you with Crystal Light, but you could do cool aid with it maybe.

When I hit a plateau about 5 months out, I was speaking to a nurse at my surgeon's office and she suggested cutting out all crystal lite and artificial sweeteners and replace with water--I've never had a plateau like that since, and I drink at least 64 oz a day. Every once in a while I'll crave something other than water and I'll have a crystal lite or iced tea, but that's 1-2 glasses a week. Other than that, I drink my protein shakes with 1% milk and water only.

I do use artificial sweetners but I think there is something more in Crystal Lite. I would love for people to comment on this. Other sweetners don't seem to bother me but that Crystal Lite has stopped me many times.

Just a personal observation.

Suzanne G.. Thanks for the tip on Stevia.. I just googled it and sounds like a great, all natural alternative.

Loving this site. You guys are all fantastic! :tongue2:

Hello starting-overin AZ, I was banded on 08-12-09, My doctor states that the sweetners causes you to become hungry. That is the reason for not wanting you, to use any kind of sweetners or sugar. I also asked about SoBe Lifewater, it has zero calories and zero sugar, but is naturally sweetened. My doctor said no to this also.

Yes, I have heard of this. In fact, the Adkins diet forbids aspartame. If it doesn't make you crave food then I'm sure you can still have it in moderation.

I have heard of it, but I think it's only for certain people. I drink artifical sweetners all the time.

If he's a stickler, I wonder if he would approve Stevia (I think that's the name). It a new zero cal sweetner that is made from sugar. Wouldn't help you with Crystal Light, but you could do cool aid with it maybe.

Stevia is awesome and actually an herb....so it isn't processed weirdly like some artificial sweeteners can be. I think those other types of sweeteners (like aspartame) are listed neurotoxins (like MSG). ewwwww. I don't want to use artificial anything and have been really nervous about that part of this journey. I am so glad to see people finding other alternatives and doctors finally recognizing that those "other" sweeteners arent' all they are cracked up to be. :tongue2:

When I hit a plateau about 5 months out, I was speaking to a nurse at my surgeon's office and she suggested cutting out all crystal lite and artificial sweeteners and replace with water--I've never had a plateau like that since, and I drink at least 64 oz a day. Every once in a while I'll crave something other than Water and I'll have a crystal lite or iced tea, but that's 1-2 glasses a week. Other than that, I drink my Protein shakes with 1% milk and water only.

I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to reply to my thread!

This information is extremely important to know when your trying to lose weight. Who would have ever known, that these chemicals can actually hinder weight loss. Just knowing that you began losing again once you quit using artificial sweetners, is reason enough for me stop now!

This is exactly why this froum is such a fantastic tool when you are going through this journey. I am learning so much thanks to Lap Band Talk! Thanks again!

My nutritionist says crystal light is just fine.

There are a lot of opinions out there on artificial sweetners, our society is full of how chemical additives to food are doing all kinds of horrible things to our health. The whole organic kick for example.

I don't think I could keep my calorie count down with the artificial sweetners and I haven't been told to avoid them.

I don't want to suggest to you not to listen to your doctor, but maybe you could do a test period without and if you really miss it, see what difference it makes when you start again. Do your own study.

Something you should know about aspertame is that, when improperly stored, it definitely is bad for you. When it reaches 80F, aspertame changes its chemistry and converts/produces a compound which is known to be a human carcinogen. There has been some inquiry as to whether improperly stored diet coke may have been a part of the problem of gulf war syndrome. Aspartame in the desert... good chance it got too hot. Don't leave your crystal light in the car in the summer!

The nurse-practitioner at my surgeon's office told me that there is conflicting research on the effects of artificial sweetners. She did not tell me to avoid them, but she said that if I hit a plateau, I should lay off of them for a while and see if I can't break through the plateau. In general, I avoid them b/c I don't tolerate them well and I hate the aftertaste, but I have also avoided them as I don't want to hit a plateau.