Let's talk diet, the good, the bad and the ugly

[Thandie]

I can't say it follows for me at all that artificial sweetnerer elicits a sugar craving, and further, I don't see why the logic wouldn't apply to stevia if this was true.

I'm doubting too the supposed insulin response of artificial sweetners. Many comp dieters use them (eg Layne Norton says they are a good appetite suppressant on a cut), and moreover, if they had an insulin response, why not use it PWO for a "free" insulin response.

I guess its individiual. In addition, I'd used a calorie tracker so I'd know if I was eating in excess. If you feel or perform better without them, obviously scrap them.

If I have cravings, it will normally be for savoury (large indian dishes, pizza) or nuts. If its sweet its normally fruit related too (mangoes) which isn't too bad anyway. Would have actual sugary foods maybe once per 3 months (apart from fruit and milk sugar, the latter which I do get a lot of)

Splenda is an artificial sweetener and Stevia is natural.

 

[Tatyana]

It does make me wonder if those who are having difficulty with binge eating are also taking in a lot of diet products with artificial sweetners.

I still have some liquid Stevia, and some compressed tablets, I prefer the refined powder.


Has anyone tried the unrefined powder, I believe it is green.


So does anyone have trouble with binge (emotional) eating?

I think that this is one of the most common issues most women have with dieting.

 

[Thandie]

It does make me wonder if those who are having difficulty with binge eating are also taking in a lot of diet products with artificial sweetners.

I still have some liquid Stevia, and some compressed tablets, I prefer the refined powder.


Has anyone tried the unrefined powder, I believe it is green.


So does anyone have trouble with binge (emotional) eating?

I think that this is one of the most common issues most women have with dieting.

I use the powder, which is white. Unless is different in other countries.
I don't have binging episodes. But, although I've always loved sugar, it was not allowed in my household as a child. I wonder if that has anything to do with me not binging. Any candy or even sodas were not allowed except on holidays. I'll remember to thank my Mother for that..

If this can answer your question. In my 20's, I used to eat pasta twice a day with hardly any protein. I was depressed most of the time and crave lots of sugar and looked dreadful (skinny/fat). When I changed my diet to what it is today. All the cravings, bloatness, depression and look whent away. It took me a year to realize it was all my diet.

 

[Tatyana]

Stevia comes either more refined (white) or unprocessed (green),and they have different flavours to them as well (or at least that is what I have been told).

 

[desmond]

Splenda is an artificial sweetener and Stevia is natural.

Of course I'm aware of this distinction, but the rationale for "splenda=sugar cravings" is that a sweet taste and 0 calories tricks the body into thinking its getting something calorific, and then when it realises its not, it craves sugar. The is premised on splenda being non-calorific as opposed to unnatural, and therefore would apply to stevia IMHO.

 

[ironwings]

I must have the bad tasting kind ;-) I can't stand stevia or splenda. I have completely ruled out sugar (fake or real) with the exception of crystal light sometimes in water (heavily diluted) and at times I add sugar free instant pudding in my shakes. But, I've never really had a sweet tooth - I too did not eat candy or baked goods as a child and I could care less for chocolate. I guess I'm lucky in that way. I'd much rather have a warm baked roll! Ewww...just as bad!

 

[SouthernLord]

I must have the bad tasting kind ;-) I can't stand stevia or splenda. I have completely ruled out sugar (fake or real) with the exception of crystal light sometimes in water (heavily diluted) and at times I add sugar free instant pudding in my shakes. But, I've never really had a sweet tooth - I too did not eat candy or baked goods as a child and I could care less for chocolate. I guess I'm lucky in that way. I'd much rather have a warm baked roll! Ewww...just as bad!

I have winged myself completely off of crystal lite in my water. I carry a gallon jug around daily to make sure I get all my water. For the last few weeks I have been adding 2 or 3 decaff lemon green tea bags to my jug. This flavors the water up quite nicely. I am getting my gallon a day plus all the benefits of green tea supplementation.

 

[SouthernLord]

This is a great thread.

I have really experimented this past year trying to find a diet that suits me best.

The good....

I think that I have found the perfect diet for myself. I have been eating very low CHO, high fat and high Pro with carbs consumed only pre and post workout. I am still eating low cho, high fat, and high pro, but I have added oats and berries back to my breakfast. These carbs first thing in the morning seem to make a huge difference in my daily performance.

The bad and the ugly......

Well, I am extremely disciplined when it comes to cheating and missing meals. I can not remember the last time I have missed a planned meal and cheating is minimal. I will be cheating on the upcoming holidays though. I might even indulge in a little wine.

The only real fault in my dieting is that I do not count calories at all. Currently my goals are LBM gain so as long as I hit my pro requirements everything else is gto. I eat almost the same things daily so I have a good idea of where my daily calorie totals are.

 

[desmond]

Strangely, I'm not a huge believer in macros.

I always do P>30%, but find that in terms of body composition and training, there is little difference (for lean bulking) providing C>30%, and fat>20%. Never have tried very low carb or fat. But I do count cals. I do eat strictly though. My entire diet (well except for odd cheat) is: salmon, kangaroo, lean beef, chicken, eggs, fish oil, flaxseeds, (some but not many) nuts, milk, butternut squash, oats, sweet potato, and fibrous veggies. I do occasionally eat fruit too, but nutritionally, its not necessary (IMO) given my veggie content, and I almost always naturally meet all RDI's (except sometimes vit E)

I do seem to feel and grow better on a lot of milk however (about 1-1.5 litres per day), and well try to eat as perfectly as possible except for about once per fornight dinners out. I also try to get a 1/1-1/2 omega 3/6 ratio. These are the two only idiosyncrancies of my diet.

THE BAD:
Well I suffer from chronic headaches, occasionally get depressed by them, and will go extreme binges as a result at times. I'm suffer who can really eat any quantity of food - 2 pizzas easily. Strangely, cereal with fruit is a common binge. Having said that, the binges have never been sufficiently frequent to ruin my bf in a longlasting way.

 

[Black Boxster]

this is a great thread.....

Tatyana, Mrs. BB and I have both recently started the Anabolic Diet after doing alot of research on both this forum, and many others...are you still following it??? I've noticed in previous threads that you were not a fan of low carb diets.From my understanding, most people fail at this diet because they just give up too quickly...or run out of energy and say screw it..

I was doing the typical bodybuiding diet since March...Chicken Brown rice, yam, salads, tuna..almost no fat....It worked ok when I was really Obese ( I was at 41% BF!) but now that I'm in the 22-23% range I hit a wall.... I increased cardio to 6 days a week and still little difference in my BF loss. The only really successful diet my wife was on was the Atkins diet...she lost a considerable amount of weight several years ago going low carb....

I'm hoping the AD helps get me leaner...my goal...for now is the 8-9% BF range....Thandie is yelling at me for eating Bacon!...God I'm loving eating bacon!