I'm trying my best to give up Diet Cokes and do without artificial sweetener as much as possible. Progress is coming along without much pain or bewilderment.

Instead of just guzzling 2-3-4 DCs per day, I only use them as a very occasional treat. Since I like my coffee black, that's not an issue. Iced tea, however, is another thing. I'm drinking iced tea...unsweetened! I have to do some self-talk with each gulp. After 40something years of sweetened tea whether it was sugar or AS, it was sweetened. I'll get over it. The thing is, I'm doing it and it's not so bad after all, it's different. Hot tea is no problem w/o AS.

I'm amazed that by eliminating AS from my diet, I'm conquering the nagging craving for sweets and carbs. Very nice. Always heard it that it could help, but to be honest, I dismissed it. I think I'm sold.

It all started really as a gesture to show my appreciation to DS1. Being in the sciences, he has been on a quest for a few years to convince me that AS are altered chemicals and giving them up would in some way, possibly help improve the symptoms of my R.A. Not to mention all the chemicals in the diet soda. Time will tell about that, in the meantime, I'm reaping another reward I really never expected. I'd like to give him credit and say thanks.

It's really not an easy thing, giving up AS when you embrace a LC lifestyle. There are many great SF products out there that make giving up sugar much easier. Each person has to arrive at their own conclusion of what works or not. Around here we call that YMMV (your mileage may vary). Occasionally I will indulge in something with AS as a planned cheat, instead of having a sugary snack. I think it will work really well this way. I'll post as I go along how it's going for me.

This is good news! I put a lot of splenda in my coffee before giving up the drink completely. I was crazy mad craving Oreo cookies for a week. DH said that the combination of my splenda, coffee and vanilla soy milk I was putting in must have reminded me of it. Know what else is weird? There has been cake in this house since I believe Monday and I haven't eaten any of it. The final piece was eaten today and usually I give in to temptation. Hmmm.....you may be onto something.

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You're exactly the opposite to me, I have to have my hot tea sweet, but iced tea can be unsweetened and I'm fine with it. It's really hard to take unsweet hot tea, except for some herbal teas. I have switched completely to liquid Splenda, to get rid of the carbs from the powdered, but I really would like to get away from sweeteners on a daily basis. Keep us posted on how it's going.

Have a good weekend.

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Nita

sistaSue,
check your email

Hope you are having a wunnerful day!!! It's cold here, but I suspect just about everywhere is cold, to some degree! Well, maybe except southern Florida or CA?
Anyhooo....have a good one my dear.

over and out for now!

sss

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Shelley
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Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

mornin' SistaSue!
Just visiting some journals for a few minutes before I start on some chores!

What's on your weekend agenda? West and we-laxation, I hope!(said in my best BugsBunny voice!)

I've got one more load of laundry to do, (unless I change the linens today)
then I may try to do some sewing. Also hoping to get in a good fitness walk.

Have a good one, dearsista!
(((sistahugs)))
sss

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Shelley
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Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

Susie - Good going with the a.s.! I gave up diet sodas a few years ago and never missed them. Like you i do have the very rare diet soda, usually at a restaurant. Have a good weekend!

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Heather, I agree! I think using so much AS absolutely turned on my sugar and carb cravings. Happy to hear your report, we may be on to something.

Nita, that's funny! I think I tolerate the hot tea w/o AS because I drink my coffee black...for the most part.

SistaShell, you're on board with cutting back on AS. I know that switching to black coffee is a big thing! I you sista, that takes a lot of determination. Do you use stevia?

Down another .5 this morning, that makes 13 since Jan. 1st. I need to scoot, be back later.

Happy Saturday!

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Ozzie's Place

Some dear friends invited me out for supper tonight, I accepted. They wanted to go to a local steakhouse. I had the homemade vegetable soup and salad bar. Their salad bar is extravagant and I enjoyed it. I was able to hold off on getting any of the dessert items. I really enjoyed the time we spent together.

Have several little projects I need to complete tomorrow. It's always easier working through them in your mind, than when time comes to actually get down to business.

SistaShell, I'm sure you're all snug in your flannel pjs. I'm getting ready to be snug in mine.

Nightie-nite.

nite-nite, sistaSue!

let's do coffee in the morning!

(((sistahugs)))
sss

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Shelley
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Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

Sista, I'm here with my first cuppa.

I'm actually going to go read the Sunday paper with DH, I tend to catch up on my computer stuff while he reads. I'll be back later.

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Ozzie's Place

sistaSue,
sorry I missed ya! Kassie had me up around 0654-ish...yanno, when a baby is hungry...LOL.
Soooooo, I had my coffee here around 0700.

Off to do some chores...and most important, a power walk!
I totally blew off going grocery shopping this morning...

I'm sure I'll be back later this afternoon...

(((sistahugs)))
sss

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Shelley
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Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

hey sista,
I forgot to ask you...
did you know Dixie enlarged the profile picture image space??
We can now put a profile pic of 350X350 pixels. (see mine!)
I imagine I'll be dinking with it all the time...hehe!

(((hugs)))
me

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Shelley
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Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

Good Morning Susie! I wasn't aware of the profile picture size increase. Another cute kitty picture!! Have a good week!

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Hi, Susie. How's it going with giving up on the AS?

Hope your week is a good one.

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Nita

This has been a busy past two days. Nice to open my journal a see that I've had visitors!

Sista, check out my profile page! I added a picture of our little angel, Modie. I just love this shot of him, it was within a few months of his death. Our family still misses him so very, very much. Good thing we have little Ozzie to love on. Thanks for the head's up on that.

Rob, you need to upload a picture into your profile of the furkids. Did you get your sausage making finished? Have you ever considered making your own ground chuck? Would be nice for it to come from one cow instead of 200-300 different ones from around the world.

Nita, the no AS project is coming along really well. And, this one is huge...I hardly EVER drink a CF Diet Coke and I love those things. Drinking water, tea and coffee. Gonna try and bump up my green tea drinking.

I'm hardly craving sweets at all, although DH loves to have a SF Popsicle in the evening at times. Sooo, I do have that treat with him, I want to back off that just because I'm trying to eliminate the processed things from my WOE. I really do see a direct correlation between my wanting carbs & sweet treats with consuming the AS. I have to also watch two other trigger foods....nuts & cheese. Surprised? Probably not, since so many of us have problems with those two foods, too.

I've been really busy yesterday and today. Went to visit with some family on Sunday. This morning at 730AM, I had to have Ozzie at the groomer, so my day got an early start. Since we have a business membership at Sam's which allows you to shop at 700AM, and it's close by the groomer, I picked up some things we were needing. I found some beautiful center-cut bone-in pork chops and extra lean ground beef. Both were at prices that beat the regular groceries stores by a long shot.

Next, it was on to the touchless car wash, which my DH does NOT like, but hey, the truck had salt and bird droppings on it. Couldn't stand that! When he found out he was actually in favor of it this time. Too darned cold to stand with a bucket and hose.

Been working in the house all morning and decided to sit down for a break. The RA has been kind to me today, so I'm taking advantage of it. I'm sure I'll run out of steam before long, so I'd better not sit too long.

Until next time...