A Faker Appearance
Hey everyone! How’s your day going??
Thank you so much for making my first OpenSky promo a success! If you haven’t gotten your glorious foam roller yet, you have until tomorrow at midnight to get the $16 deal.
Today has flown away from me! I can’t even say anything crazy has happened, but before I knew it, it’s 5pm. Wowzers.
Some of today’s eats:
Butternut squash fries and salad
Gum.
That’s right guys, I brought the faker back for this week.
As in, fake sugar.
You all know that I prefer to chew mint leaves instead of gum, which has been pretty bueno since I gave up gum quite a while ago. I love Spry (which they have at Whole Foods and it’s sweetened with Xylitol), but since it’s not sold in Valdizzy, I roll with mint leaves.
I’m not sure if it’s the “giving up sweets for Lent” thing or that I’m a little stressball lately, but this week I really wanted some *real* gum. So Stride it was…and it was delicious.
I have mixed feelings about gum:
-I used the chew a pack a day (Orbit was the choice) and it really helped me during my weight loss journey. If I wanted to chew on something instead of snacking out of boredom, I had gum.
-While it tastes great, many sugar-free gums have aspartame which has led to the development of cancer in laboratory rats.
-Sugar-free gum can make you bloated and also sends false signals to our brain. Our brain expects calories when we eat sweet foods, and when we don’t receive them we can often end up searching for calories in other sources, like a bag of chips
-Chewing gum can also stimulate brain function and increase concentration (maybe this is one of the reasons why I did well in school??)
-I really think that there are worse things that we could be doing to our bodies than chewing gum
So as ya’ll know, I prefer real foods instead of fakers and have really re-vamped my diet in the past couple of years to get rid of processed and artificial foods. I used to be the fat-free, sugar-free, low-carb QUEEN. I’m very happy to have taken off my crown for that one 😉
Do you chew gum?? Do you love it? Hate it? Are you a gum-aholic like I used to be???
Mint leaves really do make an awesome substitute, but like I said, I think that there are far worse things than chewing gum in the world.
I’m off to meet the girls <3
xoxo,
Gina
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I can’t live without gum. Without it, I would be so bored at work I would prob pull out all my hair! I go through a pack every two days or so. I’ve never put much thought behind it though
I chew gum but not excessively. 1-2 pieces per day. A lot of times I just chew it to get whatever stanky flavah is in my mouth i.e. onions, garlic etc. I usually break a piece into halves so I can get the same effect with 1/2 the fake sugar. AND half a piece is easier on my teeth 🙂
i LOVE gum, and it definitely helps with the weight loss journey, but there are times where i just have to chug water since gum really irritates my TMJ. i still love it though and sometimes just suck on it (that’s what she said…teehee) so it’s soft 🙂
I love gum (Extra polar ice is my drug of choice) but I keep it to a max of 1 stick a day, sometimes not even that. I find that when I’m wanting to chew gum, it’s usually because I’m hungry (like if I have been eating lots of carbs and not enough substance) so I usually chomp on carrot sticks or snap peas instead. Actually EATING is just so much more satisfying and I’m also getting some extra nutrients & fiber. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a stick of gum every day though. Moderation is the key in everything!
I’m not a gum-o-holic, but I do chew sugar free gum while I exercise. I agree, there are far worse things we can put in our body than gum…like the diet pepsi I’m drinking while I type this. Ha!
I think I MIGHT Be one of the ONLY people in the entire developed world that has a hatred for gum, sooooo fierce that just smelling others chewing it makes me cranky. 😛 I don’t like the smell of it, the sound of people chewing it (major pet peeve) or the sight of people chawing away at a piece of gum. If someone’s next to me on the bus, chewing gum – I might even move. I know, complete ridiculousness. I’m aware. 😉
I’m not sure what it is. Texture, taste…whatever it is, the THOUGHT of gum makes me wretch. I prefer a mint (VerMints) to get rid of bad breath. If my BF chews it at work, and I can smell it on his breath I won’t go within 3 feet of him.
Isn’t that COMPLETELY bizarre? Spearmint, is also by FAR the most offensive gum flavour to me. It’s unfortunate that everyone LOVES to chew it around me, and it’s in everything from toothpaste to tea.
oh my goodness i was about to post a comment just like this! hahah i hate gum! it grosses me out so baddd. people look at me like i have a third eye when they offer me a piece of gum and im like NO NO NO
Haha! Stella thanks for making me feel like I’m not alone in this world! I get the same looks, as I say no and wince as they start to chew! lol
I hate gum too!
haha! I wouldn’t say I hate gum with a fiery passion, but I have almost dropped a class in college b/c there were gum chewers in there. By that I mean people that popped gum loudly and cracked gum. Ugh! It is one of my pet peeves for sure. I promise I’m not crazy! *deep breaths*
I love gum and chewed Trident for years, but now I buy the all natural sugar free gum at Whole Foods (I forget the name, but it’s not Spry). I always feel the need to be chewing on something!
I used to chew gum ALL the time. I’m recovering from an injury and I’m not supposed to have aspartame right now. This basically means I don’t chew gum any more. I don’t miss it as much as I expected to. I think I’ll give your mint leaves a try!
I chew gum on occasion, i don’t prefer it. It doesn’t distract me from wanting to eat so i dont use it for weightloss or anything.
Hi Gina! Thanks so much for this information. I had no idea that sugar free gum was so harmful. Are there any other brands of gum that you know of besides Spry that are okay to chew on a daily basis? I would love to make the switch…but it seems like there is aspartame in almost everything nowadays.
peelu also makes a decent xylitol gum. i prefer the texture and taste of spry though
I chew probably 3-5 pieces per day. It really does help while you are studying! 🙂
I used to chew gum all the time. Now I hardly ever do, unless my breath is completely rank of course. haha
I’m actually trying to moderate my gum chewing habit right now. I used to chew a pack or two per day, but now a pack can last me out 3 days. Most of the time I’m okay, but when I get stressed I literally binge on gum (like a whole pack in 4 minutes). I’ll have to try the mint leaf thing though, good tip!
By the way, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your workouts!
thanks allyson, i’m so glad you like them!
I used to go through SO MUCH gum it was ridiculous. Back then, I used gum as a replacement for food (not mindless snacking, but food I SHOULD have been eating), so it’s no wonder I chewed so much and so often.
Now, I have it every once in a while, but the artificial sweeteners have scared me off some. Plus, it sometimes hurts my belly.
I stopped chewing gum about 2 months ago, partially because of stomach issues and partially just because I don’t want any more artificial sweetener. (I’ve already given up Diet Coke and Splenda, so why bother with artificial gum?) I do miss it sometimes, but I love knowing I’m not dealing with fake sugar anymore!
so funny that you are posting on this right now, because i am currently having a serious conflict with how much gum i chew. i spend so much time making sure what i put in my body is healthy (i eat a lot of leafy greens, i eat mostly organic produce, i limit my consumption of animal products, i don’t use fake sugars, i limit white sugar and white flower, i limit my consumption of soy derivatives, i avoid processed foods, etc, etc) and when i looked at the back of my gum box the other day, my jaw just dropped at the sight of “aspartame” and “soy lecithin”! i can’t say that i was completely ignorant the the existence of fake sugars in “sugar-free” gum, it just made me feel different about it when i read it on the packaging. i chew 2 pieces a day MINIMUM and you’re right, there are worse things we could be putting in to our bodies, but if i am spending so much time and energy eliminating fake sugars and soy derivatives from other places in my diet–and trashing it all by chew gum, what am i thinking! not to mention, that i’m also producing an necessary amount of waste from wrappers and ABC gum. but, the problem is that i think i am addicted. it helps me concentrate at work, it helps keep me from mindless snacking, just like you mentioned. thus, my conflict.
i appreciate the recommendation of Spry and good old mint leaves. i am definitely going to give that a try! especially since i only have one more pack of gum from costco left–and i DON’T want to buy any more!
awesome comment, girl.
it’s really much easier to cut back than i thought it would be, especially with spry and mint
I used to be a pack-a-day chewer, too. But then I started clenching and grinding my teeth and now chewing too much gum makes my jaw too tired. Or maybe it was the years of chewing a pack a day that did that. Hmm…
I actually don’t like gum! It makes my jaw hurt after like five minutes….I’m a wimp 😉
I never chew gum mostly because it hurts my jaw when I do
I don’t chew gum anymore, but boy did I used to! For me, chewing gum was a major part of my disordered eating tendencies. When I wanted (and needed) to eat food, but didn’t want to because I was trying so hard to lose weight, I’d chew gum instead. Ummmmmm, yeah, gum is not a substitute for real food (at least not when you’re actually feeling physical hunger!).
I used to chew a couple pieces after every meal! I quit last August though and haven’t looked back – I don’t actually miss it! Instead, after a meal, I’ll drink tea or ice chips. I’ll have to try chewing mint leaves, though!
OMG I have a serious gum addiction. But I’ve definitely noticed it makes me VERY bloated and I seem to crave other foods later on. It does help suppress my appetite for the time being if I’m starving. I can easily go through almost a pack a day if I’m constantly chewing it. Especially because I always need a freshly flavored piece!
i used to be the EXACT same way
Mint leaves instead of gum? Now that is hardcore. Yes, I chew gum…I just popped a piece in my mouth! It really helps when I want to divert cravings. I think I’ll try to kick the Diet Coke habit before I even THINK about not chewing gum!
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I LOVE to chew gum! But it hurts my jaw so bad! I usually have a 1-2 pack obsession then am in pain for the rest of the week. I stop then start back up!
I chew a lot of gum- probably a pack every 2-3 days. Partly for breath control (for the sake of my patients) and partly for something to knaw on. I figure it’s okay as I otherwise eat healthy and rarely have foods containing aspartame.
I almost never chew gum since changing my diet to be more natural– I realized that gum really did make me feel bloated and snacky!
My high school English teacher always passed out peppermint gum before exams! She had read those studies that said it helped concentration, too! 😉
Wow, I agree with Lauren Christine! I am trying to cut back on gum due to my stomach issues. Its the only artificial sweetner I eat and I hate that. Thanks for the mint leaf suggestion. I now buy regular altoids and that does the trick.
I chew gum every once in a while, as needed, which is once every few months.
I used to chew a lot of gum (seriously, I’d just pop them all day) and it always made me HUNGRY! I’ve never heard of chewing mint leaves, but it makes sense
I don’t normally chew gum, but once in a while if my breath is rancid and there is no toothbrush in site, I pop a piece. I think that there are worst things I could worry about it. But, I agree that the less fake stuff we put in our bodies the better! Have fun with the girls!
Arghgh…I’m a gum-aholic!!! I’m trying to quit, but it’s so hard.
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/02/whole-foods-365-organic-made-in-china-an-abc-expose/
check this article out about 365 brand at whole foods!!
WHAT?!?!? ahhhhh! reading now
I used to chew a ton of gum, but I realized the fake sugars were doing a number on my tummy. If a chew a piece for more than ten minutes or so, I get a terrible stomach ache.
I chew gum but not as much as I used, I have really been trying to cut back. I find that gum keeps me from snacking, but I have also noticed that it gets me bloated, so No bueno.
Gum is necessary if you want to avoid coffee breath at work. I can’t imagine walking around chewing on a mint leaf in front of my coworkers, so fake ingredients it is.
ahah yes, i do get weird looks sometimes 🙂
i’m definitely a gum chewer! it used to annoy me when the biggest loser would suggest chewing gum instead of snacking, but i realized that it actually works. i always want a sweet treat after dinner, and when i pop some gum it really does help me to resist dessert!
It’s horrible stuff in my opinion. Not good for those with digestion issues. Also most of them are full of chemicals. I’ve tried natural versions but didn’t do anything for me. I think I am way over artificial products. Nasty stuff. Rather have a glass of water.
amen chica
Hey chica, I thought most gums are sweetened with sucralose rather than aspartame??
are they? i always notice the aspartame first
I think it depends on the brand. I read the original research paper and if you look at the concentrations of aspartame used, it’s a TON. Like a million times more than would be used if a person was constantly chewing gum all day, every day. I totally agree that scaling back is a great idea (I am also a former gum-a-holic) but I think a piece every now and then is no prob in the cancer dept 😉
All I’ve read about sugar substitutes and lab rats say it’s amounts that would be pretty much impossible for a human to ingest, too.
I don’t chew gum mainly because I think they’re mostly sweetened by sugar alcohols now. Anything ending in ‘itol’ is one. They taste great but they give people gas and diarrhea and other stomach issues. I find chewing a little unattractive, too, and I also have TMJ pain if I’m not careful. So I stick to my Splenda and Diet Pepsi addictions. Eh, I don’t need to be perfect!
i totally just ordered one of those rollers 🙂
whoo hoo! thank you!
oh and i officially LOVE open sky because i made an error with my order and they returned my email within 5 minutes of me emailing them. such nice people!!
they have excellent customer service 🙂
Gum hates my belly! I have IBS and sugar alcohols turn me into a balloon. I carry a toothbrush everywhere.
Study about to be published showing increased lymphoma in lab rats…. um yeah….Reason 1974980 to give up Diet Coke for good.
I used to chew gum religiously. Not as a method of weight loss or anything like that but when I was in high school, I went through packs and packs of it. I used to also get migraines though…almost daily and I chalked them up to REALLY bad headaches until university, when I switched doctors. I mentioned these frequent severe headaches and long story short, my migraine triggers include aspartame and MSG. I no longer chew any kind of gum really. I used to chew Bubblicious but they recently introduced aspartame. I’m kind of skeeved out by Xylitol…like what the heck is it, anyway? I’ve tried a couple different kinds with Xylitol but I still miss Dentyne. I don’t think the type I used to chew is even available anymore but I still remember what the pack used to look like.
I’m a gumaholic in class… probably because I just get so dang bored! Hope you had a good night girly:)
I don’t chew gum for two reasons
1) I always bite a hole in my cheek
2) It makes me hungry
I usesd to eat Altoids like no other-pack a day. Gross, I know. It was weird. But no more, and no gum either.
love gum! bad habit though – i feel like it might increase bloat in my tummy/cause pain sometimes and increase my sweets cravings. however it also helps me concentrate in super stressful times and avoid binges
HEY!! ive been reading your blog for a while now and just wanted to let you know its awesome!!!
Just remembered that you are a Twilight Fan. Will you be buying the dvd tomorrow. If you are, I’m curious as to where you will be buying since New Moon dvd features are different from store to store. Target willbe having a 3 dvd exclusive set. Walmart will be having a 2 disk dvd set with exclusive Eclipse Features.
why would they do that to us??? haha!
i’ll probably get it at targizzle since i try to avoid wizzle when i can
Ahh what a shame.. I love my gum!
Plus I hate it when people have bad breath so I guess I don’t want to be a hypocrit ahah?
xoxo
Vera