New addictions...

I have what we might want to call a sweet tooth problem. When I went on this venture for a healthier lifestyle, since I can't stand the dreaded "D" word diet. The clinic I am with basically removes everything from your diet and gives you only protein, vegetables and fruit. I have been on it since November 1st and have been doing well, they tell me I am their star pupil. Well, I went through Christmas and other holidays just fine without sweets, breads, pastas, starchy vegetable, basically anything tasty. :) I keep wanting something sweet and the sugar free jello just ain't cuttin' it! I am an admitted chocoholic and caramel addict. So I asked them what do I do when I am PMSing or just having one of those I need something sweet days. They said I can have sugar free candy (not chocolate), sugar free Popsicles...etc. Now granted I am not an advocate for sugar free products, I am more of a vegetarian, natural foods or organic person. I do not use Splenda or any other sweetners, but at this point I will take a knee to benefit my sweet tooth and give in. I found Sugar Free Brach's Cinnamon Disks and Sugar Free Nips Caramel (the caramels are 60 calories for 2 large piece), so delicious. I have to take it easy on the sugar free candy though. Not sure if any of you have taken the time to read labels but it says clearly on the back of the bags of sugar free candy, May Cause a Laxative Like Effect, now for those of us losing weight that is great. My problem was watching a movie with my hubbie and not knowing the bag said this and having half bag of Werther's Sugar Free candy and having to leave (OK run) to the restroom half way through the movie. AJ wanted to know what was wrong I explained I didn't feel well but could stay for the movie. On the way home he was looking at the back of the bag and informed me what it said. OK so lesson learned.
A little tip though that I have learned is that Splenda, Equal, Sweet and Low...... are not good for you at all. When Splenda came out I was on Weight Watchers and was using it religiously as a replacement for sugar. I couldn't figure out why I was getting Urinary Track infections every other month. I did some research and found that Splenda causes Kidney damage, Liver problems, bloating, gas, rashes and there are many other issues people have with it. In France Splenda was not allowed to use their commercials because: "We want to ensure fair competition through accurate advertising so that consumers can make informed decisions about the products they're buying (…) Splenda is a synthetic compound - created in a lab and manufactured in a chemical plant - and is no more natural than any other low-calorie sweetener." So Mama Smith was talking one day about Stevia and how she grows it. It is the best stuff ever and it sweetens like sugar but has zero calories, low on the glycemic index and is all natural. Publix has started to carry it, all health food stores do and you can grow it like an herb at your home. Pull off 1 leaf add it to tea and it is sweet, you can chew it right off the bush and it is sweet like sugar. You only have to use half of what you would use in sugar. The health food stores have it in powdered form, with no additives. The best tasting one is by NuNaturals NuStevia. Sorry for such a long blog entry but I thought I would pass it along.

By the way my new addiction is smaller clothes and SHOES! LOVE SHOES!!!! :)