What diet are you on, Paige?? If I may ask. I've been so bad lately and I need to lose at least 30 lbs by whenever, lol. I don't really have a goal for when I need to lose it but I just wanna lose it. Maybe if I spent less time on here and more time doing something, lol. Nah, that aint happening!! But anywho, what have you been doing for your diet?? Just curious to see what works for others. Thanks!!

That's great!! We were trying something kind of like that. We had to eat mainly meat for the first couple days-no, it wasn't the Atkins diet. Then all we could eat was natural stuff, like we could only drink oj if it was w/out preservatives and added sugars, which was fine because I don't like many oj's with all that gunk in them anyway. We could only eat certain types of fruits, oranges and grapefruits being the best-i think they have less sugar. And we had to use low-sodium salt-BLEH!! We weren't supposed to have more than 1/4 tsp every day, NO WAY!!! I love my salt!! So that lasted not very long, lol. We were on that diet for maybe 2 weeks and Brad got frustrated b/c he hadn't lost much weight in that 2 weeks. Well duh!! He was eating at like 8:00PM and the diet rules said nothing after 5:30pm. I truly believe eating after 6 will cause weight gain, or at least inhibit weight loss. And I try to drink plenty of water. 1 gallon a day is my goal every day. Don't always make it, but come close at least. I really need to lose weight so maybe I'll try what you're doing. I think I could live with that, since I just ate a whole bunch of cinnamon rolls in the last few days

Here is an example of what a days worth of eating is for me. This was yesterdays menu.

Breakfast**** one cup of honey nut cheerios and 8 oz. of 2% milk. (I can't drink skim milk.YUCK!!)

Lunch**** One cup of plain rice with a low fat vegtable egg roll. And a diet Dr. Pepper.

Dinner**** 2 oz. of spaghetti noodles, 1/2 cup of spaghetti sauce, and 4 oz. of really lean hamburger meat. And a small salad with low fat dressing. And a glass of iced tea.

Snack**** grapes

And throughout the day I drink water. And yes, I do measure out everything I eat. I have learned only eating the serving size helps out tons. And I am really not hungry between meals.

So far I can recommend Stevia herb for 0 calorie sweetening. Anything else apparently poisons you. Trader joe has %100 pure for $10. a bottle. I make lemonade with it...The bottle is the size of a salt shaker, and should last me a year. I estimate that I kncked 28,000 calories a month out of my diet, starting just this week...

You should hate sweet in low or splenda, they are poisons. Try stevia, you will not get the sugar high you are used to feeling, that takes a little getting used to, but you may get rid of enough useless calories to afford yourself more of those pancakes

I researched it, Zoe. It was not my opinion. It is NOT sugar. Google and surf on it. It is clorinated sucrose, similiar to pesticides...google and surf-don't take any single opinion on it.
I just found this on the Lab board...thought it was interesting. End of the article recommends Stevia herb.
Black as night
Cherish the memories...

Black as night's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 5,609

FYI. Warnings about ASPARTAME...
Subject: Aspartame-worth reading

During a lecture, Dr. Roberts said:

"If you are using ASPARTAME (NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc.) and you
suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting pains, numbness in your
legs, cramps, vertigo, dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, joint pain,
depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision, or memory
loss, you probably have ASPARTAME DISEASE!"

Here is his story:

In October of 2001, my sister started getting very sick, she had stomach
spasms, she was having a hard time getting around, and to walk was a major
chore. It took everything she had just to get out of bed; she was in so
much pain.

By March 2002, she had undergone biopsies, and was on 24 various
prescription medications. The doctors could not figure out what was wrong
with her. She was in so much pain, and so sick, she knew she was dying. She
put her house, bank accounts, life insurance etc. in her oldest daughters
name, and made sure her younger children were to be with her oldest
daughter.

She wanted her last hooray, so she planned a trip to FL (basically in a
wheelchair) for March 22nd. On March 19th I called her to ask her how one
of her tests went, and she said they didn't find anything on the test, but
they believe she had MS.

I thought, oh, my...then I recalled an article a friend of mine emailed to
me...and I asked her... Do you drink diet pop? She told me yes, as a matter
of fact she was getting ready to crack one open that moment... I told her
not to open it, and stop drinking the diet pop...and I emailed her the
following article.

She called me within 32 hours after our phone conversation and told me she
stopped drinking the diet pop, and she can walk...she went up the stairs,
and the muscle spasms went away. She said she didn't feel 100% better, but
sure felt a lot better. She told me she was going to her doctors with this
article and would call me back when she got home. She called me, and her
doctor was amazed, he is going to call all of his MS patients to find out
if they consumed artificial sweetener.

In a nutshell, she was being poisoned by the aspartame in the diet soda,
dying a slow death. When she got to FL March 22nd, all she had to take was
one pill, and that was a pill for poisoning...she is well on her way to
recovery and she is walking! No wheelchair!

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE SAVED HER LIFE!

If it says "SUGAR FREE," on the label, DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!

I have spent several days lecturing at the WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE
on "ASPARTAME" marketed as 'NutraSweet', 'Equal', and 'Spoonful'. In the
keynote address by the EPA, it was announced that in the United States in
2001 there is an epidemic of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus and that
it was hard to understand what toxin was causing this to be rampant.

I stood up and said that I was there to lecture on exactly that subject

I will explain why Aspartame is so dangerous:

When the temperature of this sweetener exceeds 86 degrees F, the wood
alcohol in ASPARTAME converts to formaldehyde and then to formic acid,
which in turn causes metabolic acidosis. (Formic acid is the poison found
in the sting of fire ants.)

The methanol toxicity mimics, among other conditions, multiple sclerosis.
People were being diagnosed with having multiple sclerosis in error. The
multiple sclerosis is not a death sentence, whereas methanol toxicity is!

Systemic lupus has become almost as rampant as multiple sclerosis,
especially with Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi drinkers.

The victim usually does not know that the aspartame is the culprit. He or
she continues its use, aggravating the lupus to such a degree that it may
become life-threatening.

We have seen patients with systemic lupus become asymptomatic (lose all
symptoms) once they stopped drinking Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi.

In the case of those diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, - - - (when in
reality, the disease is methanol toxicity), most of the symptoms disappear.
We've seen many cases where vision returned and hearing improved markedly.

This also applies to cases of tinnitus.

During a lecture, I said: "If you are using ASPARTAME (NutraSweet, Equal,
Spoonful, etc.) and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting
pains, numbness in your legs, cramps, vertigo, dizziness, headaches,
tinnitus, joint pain, depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred
vision, or memory loss, you probably have ASPARTAME DISEASE!"

People were jumping up during the lecture saying, "I've got some of these
symptoms: Is it reversible?"

Yes! Not drinking diet sodas and keeping an eye out for aspartame on food
labels, yes!

We have a very serious problem.

A stranger came up to Dr. Espisto (one of my speakers) and me and said:
"Could you tell me why so many people seem to be coming down with MS?"
During a visit to a hospice, a nurse said that six of her friends, who were
heavy Diet Coke addicts, had all been diagnosed with MS. This is beyond
coincidence!

Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi etc. IS NOT A DIET PRODUCT!

The Congressional Record states that it makes you crave carbohydrates and
will make you FAT. The formaldehyde stores in the fat cells, particularly
in the hips and thighs. Once off these products with no significant
increase in exercise, Dr. Roberts in his lecture stated that he had
patients who lost an average of 19 pounds over a trial period. Aspartame
is especially dangerous for diabetics. We found that physicians would
believe that they have a patient with retinopathy, when in fact the
symptoms are caused by aspartame. The aspartame drives the blood sugar out
of control. Thus diabetics may suffer acute memory loss due to the fact
that aspartic acid and phenylalanine are neurotoxic without the other amino
acids found in protein. Thus it passes the blood brain barrier and
deteriorates the neurons of the brain, causing in diabetics (as well as in
patients not suffering from diabetes) various kinds of brain damage i.e,
seizures, depression, manic depression, panic attacks!

(The Aspartame in thousands of pallets of diet Coke and diet Pepsi consumed
by men and women fighting in the Gulf War, may be partially to blame for
the well-known Gulf War Syndrome.)

Dr. Roberts warns that Aspartame can cause birth defects i.e., mental
retardation if taken at the time of conception and early pregnancy.
Children are especially at risk for neurological disorders and should NOT
be given NutraSweet.

I can relate different case histories of children having mal seizures and
other disturbances being on NutraSweet. Unfortunately it is not always easy
to convince a mother that aspartame is to blame for her child's illness
Only by trial and success will she be able to warn other mothers to take
their children's health in their own hands.

Stevia, a sweet herb, NOT A MANUFACTURED ADDITIVE, which helps in the
metabolism of sugar (which would be ideal for diabetics) has now been
approved as a dietary supplement by the FDA.

For years the FDA had outlawed this sweet food because of their loyalty to
MONSANTO.

References Books on this subject are available:

EXCITOTOXINS: THE TASTE THAT KILLS - written by Dr. Russell Blayblock

(Health Press 1-800-643-2665), and, DEFENSE AGAINST ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE -
written by Dr. H. J. Roberts, also a diabetic specialist.

These two doctors will be posting a position paper with some case histories
on the deadly effects of Aspartame on the Internet.

According to the Conference of the American College of Physicians "we are
talking about a plague of neurological diseases caused by deadly poison"

Here is the problem:

There were Congressional Hearings when aspartame was included in 100
different products. Since this initial hearing, there have been two
subsequent hearings, but to no avail. Nothing has been done. The drug and
chemical lobbies have very deep pockets.

Now there are over 5,000 products containing this chemical, and the PATENT
HAS EXPIRED!

I assure you, MONSANTO, the creator of Aspartame knows how deadly it is
They fund among others, the American Diabetes Association, the American
Dietetic Association, the Conference of the American College of Physicians.

This has been exposed in the New York Times to no avail.

These Associations can't criticize any additives or convey their link to
Monsanto because they take money from the food industry and have to endorse
their products.

Senator Howard Hetzenbaum wrote a bill that would have warned all infants,
pregnant mothers and children of the dangers of aspartame. The bill would
have also instituted independent studies on the problems existing in the
population (seizures, changes in brain chemistry, changes neurological and
behavioural; symptoms).
__________________
Note: I hate to pop anyone's bubble but ya gotta know that the industry's exist on profit, not your health. A lot of things are marketed that are bad for you. Don't be a willing victim. That Splenda is in such big demand they actually have run out of it!

Since no one seems inclined to Google, as I suggested, I copied one column here for you but there are dozens available. By the way Whole Foods Market chain does not carry products containing Splenda, or sucralose...HELLO!

The Potential Dangers of Sucralose

There's a new artificial sweetener on the block and it is already in a wide range of products (CLICK HERE to see list), some even sold in health food stores and manufactured by nutritionally-oriented companies. But is it proven safe? Does it provide any benefit to the public? Does it help with weight loss? Are there any long term human studies? Has it been shown to be safe for the environment? The answer to all of these questions is unfortunately a resounding NO.

The artificial sweetener sucralose, which is sold under the name Splenda™, is one of the up-and-coming "next generation" of high-intensity sugar substitutes. It is non-caloric and about 600 times sweeter than sucrose (white table sugar), although it can vary from 320 tp 1,000 times sweeter, depending on the food application. The white crystalline powder tastes like a lot like sugar, but is more intense in its sweetness.

How it is Manufactured

Sucralose is produced by chlorinating sugar (sucrose). This involves chemically changing the structure of the sugar molecules by substituting three chlorine atoms for three hydroxyl groups.

History

Sucralose was discovered in 1976 by researchers working under the auspices of Tate & Lyle Ltd., a large British sugar refiner. In 1980, Tate & Lyle arranged with Johnson & Johnson, the world's largest health care company, to develop sucralose. Johnson & Johnson formed McNeil Speciality Products Company in 1980 to commercialize sucralose.


In 1991, Canada became the first nation to approve the use of sucralose.


In April, 1998 the US Food and Drug Administration granted approval for sucralose to be used in a variety of food products (CLICK HERE for complete list of products using sucralose). Diet RC cola was the first US product with sucralose, introduced in May 1998.


Sucralose is not yet approved for use in most European countries, where it is still under review.

Safety Concerns

Few human studies of safety have been published on sucralose. One small study of diabetic patients using the sweetener showed a statistically significant increase in glycosylated hemoglobin (Hba1C), which is a marker of long-term blood glucose levels and is used to assess glycemic control in diabetic patients. According to the FDA, "increases in glycosolation in hemoglobin imply lessening of control of diabetes.

Research in animals has shown that sucralose can cause many problems in rats, mice, and rabbits, such as:



* Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40% shrinkage)
* Enlarged liver and kidneys.
* Atrophy of lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus
* Increased cecal weight
* Reduced growth rate
* Decreased red blood cell count
* Hyperplasia of the pelvis
* Extension of the pregnancy period
* Aborted pregnancy
* Decreased fetal body weights and placental weights
* Diarrhea

According to one source (Sucralose Toxicity Information Center), concerning the significant reduction in size of the thymus gland, "the manufacturer claimed that the sucralose was unpleasant for the rodents to eat in large doses and that starvation caused the shruken thymus glands.



[Toxicologist Judith] Bellin reviewed studies on rats starved under experimental conditions, and concluded that their growth rate could be reduced by as much as a third without the thymus losing a significant amount of weight (less than 7 percent). The changes were much more marked in rats fed on sucralose. While the animals' growth rate was reduced by between 7 and 20 percent, their thymuses shrank by as much as 40 percent. (New Scientist 23 Nov 1991, pg 13)"

A compound chemically related to sucrose, 6-chloro-deoxyglucose, is known to have anti-fertility and neurotoxic effects, although animal studies of sucralose have not shown these effects.

According to the FDA's "Final Rule" report, "Sucralose was weakly mutagenic in a mouse lymphoma mutation assay." The FDA aslo reported many other tests as having "inconclusive" results.

Just how few studies currently exist on sucralose is an issue. Endurance News provides the following table illustrating this fact:
Sweetener

# of Studies*
Saccharin

2374
Aspartame

598
Cyclamates

459
Acesulfame-K

28
Sucralose

19

*Number of studies determined by MEDLINE search.

In terms of safety, it is not just the original substance (sucralose) that one needs to worry about. As the FDA notes, "Because sucralose may hydrolyze in some food products...the resulting hydrolysis products may also be ingested by the consumer."

Is There Any Long-Term Human Research?

None. According to the Medical Letter on Drugs & Therapeutics, "Its long-term safety is unknown." According to the Sucralose Toxicity Information Center, the "Manufacturer's '100's of studies' (some of which show hazards) were clearly inadequate and do not demonstrate safety in long-term use."

Is Sucralose Absorbed or Metabolized?

Despite the manufacturer's claims to the contrary, sucralose is significantly absorbed and metabolized by the body. According to the FDA's "Final Rule" report, 11% to 27% of sucralose is absorbed in humans, and the rest is excreted unchanged in feces. According to the Japanese Food Sanitation Council, as much as 40% of ingested sucralose is absorbed.

Plasma sucralose has been reported to have a half-life of anywhere from 2 to 5 hours in most studies, although the half-life in rabbits was found to be much longer at about 36 hours.

About 20% to 30% of absorbed sucralose is metabolized. Both the metabolites and unchanged absorbed sucralose are excreted in urine. The absorbed sucralose has been found to concentrate in the liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract. According to The Sucralose Toxicity Information Center, sucralose is broken down "into small amounts of 1,6-dichlorofructose, a chemical which has not been adequtely tested in humans."

Chlorinated Pesticides


According to Consumers Research Magazine "Some concern was raised about sucralose being a chlorinated molecule. Some chlorinated molecules serve as the basis for pesticides such as D.D.T., and accumulate in body fat. However, Johnson & Johnson emphasized that sucralose passes through the body unabsorbed."


Of course, this assertion about not being absorbed is complete nonsense. As shown above, a substantial amount of sucralose is absorbed, so the argument is not valid.


According to the HAD, "The manufacturer claims that the chlorine added to sucralose is similar to the chlorine atom in the salt (NaCl) molecule. That is not the case. Sucralose may be more like ingesting tiny amounts of chlorinated pesticides, but we will never know without long-term, independent human research."

Contaminants

The FDA acknowledges that sucralose "is produced at an approximate purity of 98%." While that may sound pretty pure, just what is in that other 2%? It turns out that the final sucralose product contains small amounts of potentially dangerous substances such as:



* Heavy Metals (e.g., Lead)
* Arsenic
* Triphenilphosphine Oxide
* Methanol
* Chlorinated Disaccharides
* Chlorinated Monosaccharide

Although manufacturing guidelines do specify limits on these substances there is no guarantee that such limits will always be met.

Environmental Concerns

Despite the fact that a portion of sucralose is metabolized into some chemicals of questionable safety, a majory of the consumed sucralose is excreted unchanged in the feces and urine. While that may be good for the person using the product, it may not be so great for the environment.

Although sucralose is being flushed down toilets wherever sucralose is approved for sale, what happens to it next is simply a matter for speculation. I know of no studies showing what happens to the chemical when the raw sewage is treated and then released back into the environment.



* Does it remain stabile or react with other substances to form new compounds?
* Is the sucralose or any resulting chemicals safe for the environment?
* How will this chemical affect aquatic life such as fish, as well as other animals?
* Will sucralose begin to appear in our water supplies, just as some drugs are beginning to be found.



Of course, we will likely not know the answers to these questions for many years, if at all. One of the main reasons for this is that the FDA did not require an Environmental Impact Statement for sucralose, because in their words, "the action will not have a significant impact on the human environment."

One study did find that sucralose is metabolized by microrganisms in both the water and soil (Labare 94). However, the ecological impact of this new chemical being introduced into the environment is unknown.

Is There a Benefit for Consumers?

According to Consumers' Research Magazine, sucralose provides some benefits for the corporations making and using it, but not for consumers. They state:


But are such foods truly beneficial and desirable? Diabetics, weight watchers, and the general public might make better food choices by selecting basic, rather than highly processed foods; for example, apples, rather than turnovers; or plain, rather than sweetened, dairy foods.

They note that non-caloric artificial sweeteners are not replacing, but rather supplementing conventional sweeteners. They note that as of 1990 Americans were consuming an average of 20 pounds (sugar sweetness equivalency) of artificial sweeteners, and as consumption of sugar-substitutes has risen so too has consumption of sugar.

Does Sucralose Help with Weight Loss?

According to Consumers' Research Magazine "There is no clear-cut evidence that sugar substitutes are useful in weight reduction. On the contrary, there is some evidence that these substances may stimulate appetite."

Where is Sucralose Found?

In the United States, the FDA has granted approval for the use of sucralose in 15 food and beverage categories: (For a complete list of products containing sucralose CLICK HERE)



* Baked goods and baking mixes

* Chewing gum

* Confections and frostings

* Fats and oils (salad dressings)

* Fruit and water ices

* Jams and jellies

* Processed fruits and fruit juices

* Sweet sauces, toppings and syrups

* Beverages and beverage bases

* Coffee and tea

* Dairy product analogs

* Frozen dairy desserts and mixes


* Gelatins, puddings and fillings


* Milk products

* Sugar substitutes


For a complete list of products containing sucralose CLICK HERE

Comparison to Other Sweeteners


Its promoters cite several benefits over other sweeteners, such as:




* Unlike saccharin, sucralose leaves no bitter aftertaste.



* Unlike other artificial sweeteners, it remains stable at high temperatures.



* Unlike sugar, it does not raise blood glucose levels

As a comparison to sucralose's 600-fold sweetness increase over sugar, consider the other artificial sweeteners on the market:




* Saccharin (Sweet-and -Low) - 300 to 500 times sweeter



* Aspartame (NutraSweet and Equal) - 150 to 200 times sweeter




* Acesulfame K (Sunette) - 200 times sweeter.

Big Business

A 1998 report in Chemical Week states that the high-intensity sweetener market is about $1.5-billion/year. About 70%-80% of that market is made up of soft drink sweeteners, of which aspartame has a near monopoly. They note that although sucralose is 50% sweeter than aspartame, it will be difficult to persuade many soft drink producers to give up NutraSweet (aspartame) since it is widely accepted by consumers.

Is Anyone Monitoring Post-Approval Reactions?

Apparently not. With no established system for monitoring and tracking post-approval adverse effects, how can it ever be established whether large-scale and long-term consumption of sucralose is safe?

Technical Information

Sucralose is made from sucrose by substituting three chlorine atoms for three hydroxyl groups to yield 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxy-BETA-D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranoside. This is accomplished in a five-step process.

Prolonged storage, particularly at high temperatures and low pH, causes the sucralose to break down into 4-chloro-4-deoxy-galactose (4CG) and 1,6-dichloro-1,6-dideoxyfructose (1,6 DCF),

The Chemical Abstracts Service Registry number (CAS Reg. No.) for sucralose is 56038-13-2.

Should Sucralose be Avoided?

The Holistic Medicine Web Page cites the following reasons to avoid sucralose:

* Pre-approval tests indicated potential toxicity of sucralose.

* There are no *independent* controlled human studies on sucralose (similar to 15 years ago for aspartame).




* There are no long-term (12-24 months) human studies of sucralose's effects.

* There is no monitoring of health effects. It took government agencies decades to agree that there were countless thousands of deaths from tobacco. Why? Simply because there had been no monitoring or epidemiological studies. Without such monitoring and studies, huge effects can easily go unnoticed.

Do Products with Sucralose Carry Any Warning Labels Or Information Statements?


No. The regulatory agencies and scientific review bodies that have endorsed the safety of sucralose have not required any warning information to be placed on the labels of products sweetened with sucralose.

Conclusions

The Sucralose Toxicity Information Center concludes that:

While it is unlikely that sucralose is as toxic as the poisoning people are experiencing from Monsanato's aspartame, it is clear from the hazards seen in pre-approval research and from its chemical structure that years or decades of use may contribute to serious chronic immunological or neurological disorders.



The Consumer's Research Magazine concludes that:


As Americans continue to choose ever-increasing amounts of such foods and beverages, sweeteners may soar to higher consumption levels. The long-range health effects from such escalation need careful evaluation. Do additional approved sweetening agents truly contribute to good health? Do they really meet special dietary needs? Or, do they merely further encourage poor dietary choices?

Didn't mean it as a huffy post, the scientist guy was long winded, is all.
I used the stuff for a week. I felt weird from it, several kinds of weird-out of sorts. I wanted it because it made the Lemonade less calories, didn't taste too good and the sweet flavor stayed in my mouth for days[I don't like sweet taste, but lemons are too tart to drink otherwise]. That was Tropicana light...now Vons had this same label in 3 different formulas, after not being able to find the one with the least calories, the one w/Splenda, I decided to look up Vons web-site, Tropicana's, and see why there were so many recipes for the same label. THEN, when I further decided to see what it may be doing to me, I have never used diet sweetners in my life, I considered them too dangerous[no cancer for these boobs, thanks]. Well, this wonderous new stuff turned out to be so iffy, that Whole Foods, stocked as well as any supermarket, won't carry it. That was the last straw, for me. A week off the stuff all the weird twinges and aches, and feelings went bye-bye. I found Stevia at Trader Joe's and am now making my own lemonade[talk about quality control]. The only calories are from the lemons, my 3rd gallon, made last night, came out perfect...tasted good...I must admit that the body rather expects a sugar buzz, and it is similiar to drinking a non-alcoholic beer, in that respect.
Having experienced it's use, and researched open mindedly [ I was hoping I could use it, remember, I did not find out about stevia until I found out Splenda is a poison] I just thought I should share my results. The surfing, the 2nd time took me a while this morning also. There are a lot of pro/con. If I had any doubt about it, I would not bother.
I think that it is more likely that people will read it from here, than go looking for it themself. I was aiming the comment at Zoe, actually, Mollie...she said yadayada then zipped off, and I would rather she knows what's in those cans some people swill

Sorry, Kitty. I thought you were talking about me. WOOPS!! Well, I'm glad you weren't. :) I was rather shocked to hear about that though. I have no idea where to get that Stevia or whatever around here. I live in a very small town/area. Wonder if I could find it at GNC or someplace like that?? We use Splenda, bought some in Jan. and still have over 1/2 left. We don't use it very often, Brad will put like 3 tsp on his cereal each morning, I use only what it says to use-1tsp. I only use it maybe once a week. IF that. So, I think we'll finish out this bag, and go find something else, or just use sugar, lol.