Help Aspartame weight-gain

[skyblueokr]

Hi everyone,
This my 12th day of induction. I was doing so well initially, then about the 7th day I started drinking sugar free cool aide and sugar free hawaiian punch, the ones in the pouches that you pour into a bottle. I started having sugar fee jello to, about 1 every couple days, but I was drinking about a bottle of the sugar free stuff daily and noticed towards the end of last week that my ketostix were getting lighter, then yesterday, I had about 2 of the hawaiian punch packets and last night my stick was no longer pink at all. Today I decided I would stop taking aspartame products and have had none all day. It is now 3 pm central time and I am still not in ketosis and I weighed myself this morning and I am up 2 pounds!!!! I am so frustrated.

Has anyone evr experienced this and how long does it take to get back to ketosis and fat burning? I though I would be right back in after the aspartame cleared my system but I am scared. Please help. I feel really lousy compared to the first week. I don't know if all this is the aspartame. Thank you

[djb]

Re: Help Aspartame weight-gain

how much water you drinking?

[ADreamComeTrue]

Re: Help Aspartame weight-gain

Hi skyblueokr!
I want to congratulate you on your loss first! Way to go!!
Well, I don't know if you have read the book but Dr. Atkins only recommends Splenda. I wouldn't rely so much on the ketostix, some get negative results and they are still in ketosis:

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-low-carb-dieting-faqs/82407-article-ketostix-color.html

Also, I believe that 1 packet of sweetener (Splenda is recommended) is supposed to be limited to 3 packets per day.
And, I don't know if you are drinking your water daily (water is the only thing that counts as water in Atkins) but that is very important also.
I am on Induction also and I wouldn't drink sugar free stuff (not saying I haven't, just saying I wouldn't again), only water, but that is just me because I am trying to "train" my body to crave water instead of diet cokes. And not only that but I crave sweets more when I drink things that "taste" like sweets.
If it is a MUST for you to drink sugr free things then I would recommend getting something with Splenda in it and limiting (watch very closely) your intake and don't go over your 3 packets allowed per day.
Another thing, is watch out for your salt intake, sometimes that could make you gain water weight which could cause your scale to go up also. And are you exercising a lot?..somtimes that could be the cause of the scale to go up, but not because your not losing fat, your gaining muscle.
I'm no expert at all this yet, just trying to help.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you figure out what's going on.

-Christie

[Georgiana]

Re: Help Aspartame weight-gain

I started drinking sugar free cool aide and sugar free hawaiian punch, the ones in the pouches that you pour into a bottle. I started having sugar fee jello to

Stop eating that junk. Eat whole foods instead.

It is now 3 pm central time and I am still not in ketosis

Ketostix are not reliable. You could be in ketosis without changing the color.

You should still give up junk though!

I am scared

Scared about what?

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Help Aspartame weight-gain

>>then about the 7th day I started drinking sugar free cool aide and sugar free hawaiian punch, the ones in the pouches that you pour into a bottle. I started having sugar fee jello to,>>

Stop buying and using the stuff.

[JulieB]

Re: Help Aspartame weight-gain

Aspertame has been known to stall weight loss, but I am a bit surprised that it (may have) kicked you out of ketosis. Could you post a menu of everything you've been eating/drinking for review? Make sure you include quantities.

If you haven't read the book, please check out the sticky posts at the top of the induction forum...Atkins works best when followed "by the book".

[skyblueokr]

Re: Help Aspartame weight-gain

Christie, thank you for the information. I should have stuck with the splenda. I have also been drinking less water since I started to drink the sugar free stuff, I don't know if that's it but I know I am out of ketosis because I can always tell when I am in due to the taste in my mouth and the way I feel. Thanks so much for the response

[skyblueokr]

Re: Help Aspartame weight-gain

hi,
Well, I have to admit the past 3 days or so, my water intake has been less than 64 ounces. Can this affect it as well? how?

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Help Aspartame weight-gain

>>I have also been drinking less water since I started to drink the sugar free stuff,>>

Then it's really time to get rid of the "sugar free stuff".

If you drink all your water (and I would suggest around 140 ounces), that will do your body good!

>>Can this affect it as well? how?>>

Yes, it certainly can affect "it". If by "it" you mean losing ... your body will retain water. That why we should drink more than what we need ... so the body gets rid of the water!

[djb]

Re: Help Aspartame weight-gain

up the water intake mate

[ADreamComeTrue]

Re: Help Aspartame weight-gain

Your welcome!
I would also suggest to up your water intake (more water = more "junk" and other bad things flushed out of your system). I am not exactly sure about why it can affect your weight by not getting enough but I do know that it is kinda like "cleaning" the inside of your body out, which is always a good thing.
So just up the water, I know it can be difficult at first, but I'm sure if you stick with it you will get used to it.
Best of Luck with all of your goals!!

-Christie

[skyblueokr]

Re: Help Aspartame weight-gain

Thank you everyone. But, do you know how long it will take to get back in to Ketosis? I didn't think it would take more than some hours since I wasn't eating more carbs than required....any suggestions on this?

@Julie,
Yesterday this is what I ate:
Breakfast--3 eggs, 1/4 medium tomatoe, some onions and a cup of spinach all fried together in olive oil

Snack--pickle (5 carbs),

Lunch/Dinner---about 5 or 6 big chicken wings, fried and 2 packets crystal light

Also, I don't mean to be graphic, but I haven't "gone" in about 3 days....., forgot about that

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Help Aspartame weight-gain

>>do you know how long it will take to get back in to Ketosis?>>

You don't know that you're not.

>>-pickle (5 carbs),>>

What kind of pickle? That's a lot of carbs for one pickle.

>>I haven't "gone" in about 3 days...>>

Not surprising. You're not eating enough food, you're not drinking enough water.

Your body is holding on to everything you're giving it (famine mode has likely kicked in).

Undereating rarely works with Atkins.

[ADreamComeTrue]

Re: Help Aspartame weight-gain

Try to get some more veggies on the "Salad Vegetables list".
I eat a salad everyday for lunch or dinner.
Also, I belive it take 3 days to get into ketosis, but you may still be it ketosis.
Edit: Make sure you check the ingredients list for sugar or other ingredients that are not allowed.
I have actually made the mistake myself, just looking at the 0 carbs when sugar is "hidden" in there. So that means there are hidden carbs too. Hope this helps!! Oh yeah, I use the usda site to found out all the "hidden" carbs in all my foods (like eggs, and others allowed) here is the site:

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/

It gives you the decimal points so that you know exactly.
-Christie

[skyblueokr]

Re: Help Aspartame weight-gain

Atkinsgal,
It was a claussen kosher dill pickle. As far as the eating, I get hungry about 3 to 4 hours after I eat. I usually eat a lot, yesterday I just didn't eat so much because I wasn't starving. I don't want to gorge myself because I don't think that is the goal of this diet. As far as Ketosis, I usually know when I am in ketosis due to the way my body feels and mouth tastes. This is my second time (first time when I was 20 about 7 years ago).