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Be good to yourself with Tetley green tea

Sugar-free foods and weight loss

by Liz Neporent and Gina Allchin

question
I'm a careful calorie counter with a tendency to go overboard on the days that I cheat. I have a weakness for sweet things like ice cream and chocolate, but I think I may have found a low-fat pudding - sorbet made with artificial sweetener. Besides the sorbet, I eat about 1,000-1,200 calories a day. Is it OK to binge on foods that are artificially sweetened?

answer
You are not alone in your love for sweet things. Most people who go to dietitians want counseling on how to improve their will power or, like you, they want to find out what low-calorie items they can binge on. They feel guilty about their 'cheat days' but thank their lucky stars for low-calorie food substitutes.

What suggestions are they given, you might ask? Firstly, your urge to finish off every sugary thing in sight may mean you're not eating enough calories or protein throughout the day. Feeling a binge coming on may be the result of giving your body less energy than it needs for survival or not balancing your calorie intake over breakfast, lunch and dinner.

In your case, we suspect the former. Stress may also play a part for some individuals, but we don't get the sense that this is a significant factor for you.

As long as you are maintaining your weight, your calorie intake is probably fine. Aim for less than 2,000 calories a day and try to do some kind of activity or workout for 30 minutes daily. As far as the artificial sweetener, it can help as part of a calorie-controlled diet. Here are some other suggestions for dealing with your sugar cravings:

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