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Sugar-free foods and weight loss
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?
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:
- Keep a food diary for at least three days. Monitor what and how much food you eat. Record what, if any, events trigger overeating or bingeing. Pretty soon you'll have a clear picture of your nutritional style and habits.
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