Quote Originally Posted by mtbdarby View Post
Wow Solveig, did we grow up in the same house? I have come to learn that it is now my "comfort food" this sweet/dessert thang that I automatically turn to when stressed or bored. I tend to drink a diet coke to control my sugar cravings, but have found if I eliminate both sugar and the dc, I feel loads better. Tough part is actually doing it, and I now it's time again. That first week sucks but I need to start. I've eaten all the chocolate in my house and the dc is down to just a couple - I'm ready!
mtbdarby, I found that Diet Coke was worse for me than sugar. I originally thought it was the caffeine and switched to caffeine free but that was just as bad. I cut it out completely as I decided I didn't want to take in any more fake sugar in my diet and have felt loads better. I've had no diet coke for 5 months and have basically avoided all artificial sweeteners as much as possible. It actually didn't involve that much change to my diet but I stopped a couple of things: sugar free gum, sugar free squash for flavouring water in Camelbak, change of recovery drink to one that doesn't use aspartame or any artificial ingredients. I also read labels more closely now and don't buy anything with either Aspartame or AceK.

If I have a craving for sweets and/or fizz (which I do at the moment as I'm PMSing I'll have a little full fat coke if I have to give in to the craving, it ticks lots of boxes for me, none particularly healthy though ). My appetite is more stable now, as are my moods and energy levels. I have real sugar occasionally but often find things like milk chocolate, cakes etc too sweet. My caffeine tolerance has completely disappeared though, one small cup of freshly brewed coffee is really amusing for me I whizz around the place (too much makes me crash badly later though).