I have a question about caffine and one about aspartame. It seems from my sources that caffine can be an issue with low blood sugars causing cravings for sugar if used excessively. What would you call excessive? My other question is regarding aspartame...it is hard to avoid. Does everyone stay away from diet pop? In Canada it is hard to find a diet pop with anything but aspartame. For both of these is it better just to stay away? I appreciate your input ...thx

I drink a couple of cups of coffee (sometimes 3 cups) every day and have since I started Atkins. I love it too much to give it up. A lot of people continue to have their coffee without problems. If you don't want to give it up, see if it bothers you and then stop if it does. It's never bothered me at all.

Same thing with the aspartame. I drink diet drinks cause I love them too. And I eat the sugar free jello, too. They've never been a problem for me either as far as weight loss goes. There's only so much I can give up. LOL!

I guess if I wanted to give them up I could, I just don't want to. And if they affected my weight loss, I would give them up, too. Otherwise, they're stayin'. hehe!

you should definitely stay away from aspartame.. definitely stalls me and makes me gain weight back, plus it makes me feel really bad.. avoid it like the plague

I read that the blood sugar dropping only happens if you aren't habituated to caffeine. I can drink coffee and it kills my appetite, so obviously that isn't happening to me. YMMV.

I don't stay away from aspartame. I think its harmless.

I have one diet coke per day, thats it on the aspartame.