CLARIFICATION>>>

When I said I was quitting Diet Pepsi what I really meant was I am choosing not to use Aspartame/Saccharine/Splenda/Methanol based products. This includes just about anything that is "Sugar free". This is not a choice I have made lightly or easily. I have read about Aspartame poisoning and all of the horrific side effects but truthfully...I DON'T HAVE THOSE SYMPTOMS. I have been walking around thinking it doesn't affect me. The thing that really got me going on this was money but after hearing an account of a friend of mine who was literally addicted to Diet drinks, OF ANY KIND, he mentioned it was the Phenylalanine...not the aspartame. Any product with Aspartame has Phenylalanine in it ..BTW. Unfortunately, the biggest challenge for me here is my TRIDENT gum. I chew it like mad! I hate bad breath...makes me want to puke when I smell another persons sicko bad breath when they are talking to me . I have become rather paranoid that I always have bad breath...HENCE the Trident gum chewing habit. This will be the largest challenge of them all for me. Since I don't eat sugar that means NO GUM AT ALL!!!! UGH! It makes me clench my teeth at night anyway so I must quit. I am more determined than ever with this new undertaking. I ate about 500 calories more than I should have the first couple of days without Aspartame but I feel better now. I sure have been downing the water like a camel though...good good good!

Fighting my way through the many changes( this latest one is a biggie) in my life has given me knew perspective on what is real, what is essential and what I CAN LIVE WITHOUT!

I am all or nothing...don't give me an inch I will take a mile. I have to do it or die trying! And I WILL DO IT!

Not eating processed sugar, honey, anything with sugar calories (except natural fruit and lactose sugars like from plain yogurt) has totally change the cravings that I have.It has lowered the Candida or yeast overgrowth I surely had before this change. I don't really ever feel like eating. This is a challenge when I am faced with trials and the hard stuff in life. This is when I pace the floor because I , Naturally, want to "medicate" with food. Comfort food...who the heck thought that up was brilliant( food companies maybe?) Food should never be a comfort for us. It is necessary for us to survive but much like the lifestyles we have enjoyed of over indulgence in this great country of ours...our eating habits are shameful and way too over indulgent, generally speaking of course. Fast food restaurant on every street corner...quick easy to fix meals of little or no nutritional value in our grocery stores. We live the life of laziness and luxury in America when it comes to feeding ourselves. Every get together and every church function revolves around food. Not just regular good for you food but HELLO " refreshments" what the heck is that? How is a plate of sugar refreshing? It is NOT!

Alternative: Exercise...when upset, frustrated, lonely, sad.. you name it. Do some crunches and push ups..that'll get the heart ticking and POOF! There go the cravings! The need to comfort with food..GONE! Maybe it sounds extreme? No? Well let me tell ya...it works and ANYONE, and I mean ANYONE can do it if I can, me the weakest link here...living this life.

Check out these sites about Aspartame poisoning and Phenylalanine.

Good luck to all of you in your endeavors and thank you for all the wonderful support!

To note, as well, since losing 51 pounds my menstrual cycle has become much easier and lighter! HUGE BONUS FOR ME!