Kickin the Goods

[Lex]

While prepping, what have been your experiences with Splenda, diet sodas, ICBINB spray, Crystal Lite, Molly McButter Cheese Srpinkles, etc.?

I won't use anything that my trainer hasn't specifically approved. That being said, I'm curious to know if some of you experience more bloat with these products? Totally cut them out during prep? Don't notice a difference with or without them?

Since this is my first prep, I'm trying to decide if I should start weening myself off of these products so I'm not in total shock when they're taken away.

Your thoughts? Your experiences?

[SBT]

Well I know for myself at my first show I cut a lot of that stuff out at about 4-6 weeks out, but the second time around I left them in right up to about 2 weeks out. I looked better at my second show, but then again I used a whole different dieting approach for both shows as well.

I always try to ween away from it anyways though, and I still found I was hardly using any of it for the most of the off season even :rolleyes:

[Shelly]

I Use splenda and crystal lite all the way up pretty much to a few days before.

my body doesnt really react to anyof them negtively!

[sdahlum]

I'm only doing my first prep, too, but I've been definitely using PLENTY of Crystal Light, some diet soda and some splenda. I don't use butter anyway, so that's not an issue for me. But I'm sure I wouldn't drink the amount of water that I need if I didn't add the CL to it (there are 10 cals in each 'on the go' pack, so I do keep track). I drink diet soda occassionally to help me feel full, but if I stay on top of the water (or CL!) intake, I can't ususally fit it in. I'm sure as time gets closer, I'll cut out the soda, though, because of bloat.

I'm interested to hear what other, more experienced, competitors have to say about this . . .

[Patricia Dees]

I try to limit the sweetener packets to about 4 a day....and I leave those and crystal lite in until the final two weeks. I do find carbonated bevs bloat me more and when I cut them completely and drink H2o only there is a marked difference. But, there is NO WAY I could give up coffee n splenda until I HAD to.

[dvsness]

I don't drink diet soda or Crystal Lite much anyway, in season or off. My protein powder has sucralose and that has never bothered me, though I will stop adding sweetner to my coffee about 4 weeks out.

[frannyfran]

I used splenda and Crystal light up until I think the week before my show...but I'd have to double to check. I don't think I had a negative reaction to them but I've never done it w/out them either.

Maybe at 4 weeks out I'll cut out the splenda but man I would be very hard pressed to give up the crystal light.....

I basically always ask the coaches though and if they said it's ok then I go with that!!

[Badgergrl]

I don't use any of that stuff during prep. I know everyone is different in how it affects them, but I really feel that it inhibits my fat loss, and it definitely makes me retain water.
I stay away from anything artificial for the most part during the off season as well- of course a cheat is a cheat!
My body is just really sensitive to artificial sweeteners, even splenda, which most people say they are fine with. I get headaches, gas, and fatique from them. Sometimes you don't notice how sensitive you are to something until you totally remove it from your diet and see how much better off you are.

[KP DIVA]

I'd have to agree with you on the statement of not knowing how sensitive you are until you remove it completely. About 5 weeks ago I was craving something sweet and ate 2 boxes of sugar free mentos...I was bloated and felt pregnant for about 5 hrs!!! With that experience I got to thinking how much my intake of aritificial sweetners really effect me. So, 3 weeks ago I completely cut out my coffee. I had a habit of having a 20 oz. cup w. approx. 10 splenda and I did that maybe 2-3x a week, w/ sugar free creamer. Even during my last prep, I never got off the coffee completely, cut the creamer and switched to Stevia...thought I wasnt' sensitive at all.

This prep I decided to just get off the sweetners all togehter...BUT, I was craving a diet soda this evening. W/in 2 hrs. I've go'n from a flat tummy to look'n 3 months pregnant!! It's going on 5 hrs. and I'm still in pain!!!

I don't use any of that stuff during prep. I know everyone is different in how it affects them, but I really feel that it inhibits my fat loss, and it definitely makes me retain water.
I stay away from anything artificial for the most part during the off season as well- of course a cheat is a cheat!
My body is just really sensitive to artificial sweeteners, even splenda, which most people say they are fine with. I get headaches, gas, and fatique from them. Sometimes you don't notice how sensitive you are to something until you totally remove it from your diet and see how much better off you are.

[Suzanne]

For me i have found zero change once i pull them out. When i pulled them out in entirety at a week out and 2 weeks out (diff shows) I did not drop an ounce of water. So I don't believe they cause me to retain water.

I know other people that when they cut diet soda drop 5 lbs so I believe we are each different.

For sanity sake even if crystal lite, splenda, icbnb etc cause a few lbs water but makes your prep 1000 times easier then why worry :) When you pull them the last week or 2 or whatever each trainer decides and do final week manipulations the water will come off.

[Shelly]

BASED ON EVERYONES RESPONSES... I THINK EVERYONE JUST REACTS DIFFERENTLY...

SOME GET AFFECTED...OTHERS NOT SO MUCH!

[Betsy]

I use splenda and CL until the week before-- and then I hardly cut out the CL as much as I say i do! LoL and I cut back on the splenda.. but I need my DAILY coffee w/ it.. or else i DO NOT function.. Id say to be safe use it until a few weeks out.. And I dont drink soda EVER! Idont likey!

[JenFerFigure]

I don't take any sweetners at all, and diet soda I do take. I feel it has medicinal value as its saved me from the mental institution. LOL No, seriously I do drink diet soda but it does bloat me and I am trying to kick that "good".

[Nickyfregs]

the butter spray is dangerous if you read the label only 1.25 sprays yields zero calories. Then if you look at the ingredients you see alot of shit thats not good. And most of us sure as hell use more then 1.25 spritzes (is that a word?).

I never used diet soda until this past year's prep and it saved my ass when I was dying. The flavored diet pepsi's are good and the food store here has some diet chocolate soda that tastes ridiculous when you are dying.

[JenFerFigure]

the butter spray is dangerous if you read the label only 1.25 sprays yields zero calories. Then if you look at the ingredients you see alot of shit thats not good. And most of us sure as hell use more then 1.25 spritzes (is that a word?).

I never used diet soda until this past year's prep and it saved my ass when I was dying. The flavored diet pepsi's are good and the food store here has some diet chocolate soda that tastes ridiculous when you are dying.

Yeah seriously Nick. I have an insane sweet tooth and diet soda is my best friend in the whole world. Right now, I've cut that out completely though ...until Saturday night that is. haha

errrr did you say CHOCOLATE diet soda? holy smokes...im searchin' for that one!

[Shelly]

Yeah seriously Nick. I have an insane sweet tooth and diet soda is my best friend in the whole world. Right now, I've cut that out completely though ...until Saturday night that is. haha

errrr did you say CHOCOLATE diet soda? holy smokes...im searchin' for that one!

yesss they have it in shoprite...its some ghetto brand but its damn good :p

[JenFerFigure]

yesss they have it in shoprite...its some ghetto brand but its damn good :p

GHETTO BRAND?! HA!!!
That is funnnnyyyyyy. I might just be on the lookout! Chocolate is one of my vices!

[Nickyfregs]

GHETTO BRAND?! HA!!!
That is funnnnyyyyyy. I might just be on the lookout! Chocolate is one of my vices!

Jen it looks like this:

[bree marsh]

at the beginning of my prep, i said i wouldn't do any sweetners, but did not stick with it! i have one packet of spenda a day now! no diet sodas, crystal light, or spray butter, don't do them off season either. i am a little afraid of sweetners, not much good research on them, recently heard that splenda builds up in your liver and other organs! but am getting to the point in my dieting when i start really craving things, so it helps me fight them off!

[JenFerFigure]

Jen it looks like this:

Yeapppppppp that'd be ghetto can but that don't mean it ain't goodddddd!!!

I'll be on the look out -- next week I think I will allow myself to scan the goods at the supermarket at little more freely. It'll be interesting. I have like no peripheral vision at the food market lately...i go get predetermined foods and walk out...err RUN OUT. lol

[Shelly]

Yeapppppppp that'd be ghetto can but that don't mean it ain't goodddddd!!!

I'll be on the look out -- next week I think I will allow myself to scan the goods at the supermarket at little more freely. It'll be interesting. I have like no peripheral vision at the food market lately...i go get predetermined foods and walk out...err RUN OUT. lol

LMAO who says ghetto soda cant do the trick! ;)


and Nick I can't believe you found a pic of it :p

[SBT]

LMAO who says ghetto soda cant do the trick! ;)


and Nick I can't believe you found a pic of it :p

You know where to get the choco mint gum now too ;)

That will also save your @$$ when dieting I bet :p

[Shelly]

You know where to get the choco mint gum now too ;)

That will also save your @$$ when dieting I bet :p

OMG I AM CHEWING AT AS WE SPEAK THANKS TO YOU :kiss:

[SBT]

:hug:

[Amity]

I'm noticing that I'm not loosing bf as I have previously when I did not use any sweeteners at all. I think it is time I drop everything and see some change.