3 Ways Sugar-Free Sweeteners Stall Weight Loss (2024)

Sweeteners like stevia, erythritol and monk-fruit extract can be of use when you are trying to break your sugar-habit, but can they actually slow down weight loss?

Here are 3 ways sugar-free sweeteners can stall weight loss, and slow down fat-burning. It doesn't mean you should never use them, just be aware of the possibility in case your fat-burning stalls.

Research:

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Ken D Berry, MD, is a Family Physician with 20 years of clinical practice.
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[johnhibbard]

I stopped using all sweeteners 5 weeks ago. I don't know how my insulin is but my blood sugar has dropped to the 85-95 range from 110-120 range. I also stopped drinking anything but water. no coffee, no tea, no vinegar water and of course no sodas of any kind. In the last six days (May 1 to May 6) I have lost 7.9 lbs. Water helps me through fasting. I started keto 14 months ago. I was 71 years old and I will soon be 73. I started out at 384 lbs and as of the is morning I weighed 270.6 lbs. That's a loss of 113.4 lbs. I was in stage 3B kidney failure and in January of this year I was 1 point away from being back in stage one. My triglycerides dropped 69 points. My A1C was at 7.9 and is now at 5.7 ( I get that checked again in July) The only issue I am having is the loose skin. Keto and intermittent fasting has done more for me than every other weight plan I have ever use and honestly it has been quite easy for me to follow. Not being hungry all the time helps to control bad eating habits.

[lisaanderson]

“You ain’t gonna burn no fat”. Love me some Southern talk.

[sheliafryou]

I just wanted to thank you for doing your keto videos. I have been doing keto for 13 months & lost 129 lbs. I still have 99 to go but through your advice & family & friends encouragement I have been able to finally lose weight. I will not go back to that horrific 404 lbs!

[adorableadornments]

I had no idea the keto approved sweeteners would do this. Now I know why my cravings are back and I am gaining weight.

[barbara]

I always feel that the sweeteners keeps me staying the course rather than making me fall off the wagon.

[justkirianna]

I had a sneaking suspicion since this time around I’m not losing weight versus the first time I lost 13 pounds in a week. The difference- stevia

[kathrynfayemontjoyharvey]

Now I know why my weight loss has stalled because I was depending on artificial sweeteners for my coffee, artificial sweeteners for my dessert... now I have nothing sweet!! what a bummer!!!

[CatCambak]

Monk fruit sweetener (the kind without sugar) AND caffeine kept me 10lbs heavier. Once I quit I dropped 10lbs without trying! Before that I was doing everything like adjusting keto, fasting, working out, my weight wouldn’t budge.

[JK-nkcp]

Thanks, Doc! I definitely believe this is true. I can't even do keto treats because I then crave more and more sweets and carbs. My ankles also start to hold fluid more, etc. 😕

[gratefulketo]

I am giggling as I read the comments and then check your replies. We are all hoping our sweetener ( or the way we are using it ) will be an exception! Your reply is always the same...” If your weight loss stalls then hold the sweetener”...Simple yet powerful message!

[kimmcclearn]

I used to tell my husband that if I walked past a bakery that I would gain weight! Now I know why and that it is true!

[mcooper]

After about a two year stable stall with only 12 lbs to my goal weight, while eating strict keto the whole time, I knocked off all diet soda and sweeteners on April 1. Today, May 1, I am down 10 pounds. I also tracked my food intake more strictly, but I am convinced the no sweeteners got me over the hump. I am finally getting used to unsweetened tea and BPC but it was tough at first.

[saram]

My goodness, this explains my weight gain, the only thing added to my diet was erythritol ☹️
Well, back to the basics!

[amypolzella]

All the ppl NOT stalling telling us they have no issue 🤦 Then this isn't for

[needsagiggle]

Dear Dr Berry, Would you consider filming everything you consume for a week and putting it on a video? I would really like to see what you eat and when you eat it. I first started low carb (SANE) about a year ago. Then I reduced the carbs further and increased the fats and protein. It's had wonderful effects. My aching joints are gone, and I've lost about 25lbs (mostly belly fat!) and my doctor stopped threatening me with medication for Type II diabetes. However I still have more than 200lbs to lose, and I have stalled. Hearing that I am not allowed sweeteners (and in other of your videos that I have to limit or even cut out nuts) makes me kinda sad. So, rather than focusing on the negative and what I can't have, I would like to focus on what I CAN have. I am hoping that by seeing what you eat, it would help me feel more positive and get some good ideas.

[ven]

When your in maintenance after dropping 150lbs, weight stalls are a wonderful thing. Fake sugars sure make maintenance a heck of a lot easier.

[supernova]

Not to mention the fraudulent food companies will say Splenda on the bag but when you look closely the main ingredient is maltodextrin.😡

[amberbrehaut]

There is definitely something to this, I stalled for weeks then i cut out sweetners and within 2 days i started loosing again. Haven't had an issue since!

[louweezyanna]

I am a disabled army vet with an initial blood sugar of 648 and A1C = 15.3 Dr. Berry has helped me baffle my Dr.'s, in less than six months. Following Dr. Berry's meal suggestions (grasss fed beef, bacon, low to no artificial sweetners) I lost 53 lbs in 6 months and I was able to get off of insulin shots and two metformin a day. My Dr and her nurse are still stunned at how quickly my numbers returned to normal. I added exercise and strength building workouts but stalled around the13 month mark. I began to crave keto snacks and the swelling in my ankles returned. I learned soy, maltodextrin, palm oil, sunflower oil and safflower oils were not good for me, they increased inflamation in my body. I stopped buying products containing the inflammatory oils and artificial sweetners and I am back on track. I spoke with my V.A. nurse today and she commended me on (lab/blood sugar tests) numbers that are out of the prediabetic and diabetic range! :) A1c = 4.6 and blood sugar is between 98 and 128 with spikes up to 144 after an occasional "cheat meal." Listen to Dr. Berry and make sure you take your Vitamin D and B12 (watch his video for the B12 he recommends from Amazon.) I bought the B12 and my energy level increased and returned to normal. My Dr. told me my levels were so good that I could stop taking the vitamin D and B12 for a while. One question Dr. Berry- I saw a video saying diabetics should take benfotiamine... do you recommend it? Thanks!

[JoeMac]

I'll update this post as I go to hopefully motivate people.

Current situation: 185lbs, male, 38yo. I used to weigh 168 and was an avid runner only 3 years ago. I no longer run. I feel terrible. 3 years ago I went from an all water diet (I don't drink alcohol or caffeine) started drinking diet soda (caffeine free). Within a year, it became 100% of my liquid consumption. Seriously, for the last 2 years have barely had straight water. I drink at least a 2L of Diet Squirt every day, sometimes more.

I've tried carnivore several times and lose about 5lbs upfront but I stall and then go back to sweets. I'm sure the Diet Squirt is the reason.

I've been getting headaches regularly and I have never suffered from headaches in my life. I've developed tinnitus in the last couple years and it's become unbearable. Last night I could barely sleep and had to play a podcast really loud in order to drown out the ringing. I'm also getting nerve pain in my hand out of nowhere.

Today is day 1 of giving up artificial sweeteners and my beloved diet Squirt. I'll be doing straight water, and keto. For the next month and seeing what changes.

I'll update about my weight, my nerve pain, and my tinnitus to add to everyone's anecdotal evidence.

Wish me luck!