I wanted to go back to Trim Healthy Mama after my latest birth, but one thing that has always made me a little uncomfortable with the plan was the stevia.
First of all, there’s the taste. It just doesn’t taste like sugar. I don’t care how you salt it, hide it, mix it up, it will never taste like sugar. And most people notice a major icky aftertaste. Yes, you CAN get used to that weird taste (most describe it as “bitter”), but there is something about it that screams Don’t Eat Me!
Because of the taste, I found myself not wanting to eat stevia-laden desserts – they weren’t as satisfying as the ones that contained real sugar, maple syrup, or honey. Because of that, I knew I wouldn’t be able to stick with it – I would eventually cave due to my desire to have something that tasted REAL, and more than likely, OVEREAT the sugary stuff once a morsel crossed my lips.
GET MY FREE NO STEVIA THM SNACK LIST!
Then, there’s the color. My brain had a difficult time wrapping itself around the fact that stevia is a plant and it shouldn’t be white. In my past experiences with stevia, I purchased it through Frontier in bulk packages and it was GREEN – like a plant. It still didn’t taste great, but it looked like a plant. Pouring white powder from a packet that said it was PURE stevia sort of weirded me out. (Yes, I know there is a process the plant goes through in the factory to end up looking like that white powder, but remember, this is my story – I don’t begrudge anyone else for being perfectly fine with whatever color their food may be.)
Then, there was all the conflicting reports of the side effects of eating stevia. Everything from infertility to anxiety and all the rebuttals in between. (sometimes I hate the internet!) Unfortunately, once something gets stuck in my head, I have a hard time getting it out.
And then, I actually experienced my own stevia-related side effects. It took a while for me to realize what was happening, but once I connected it to the stevia, I couldn’t make myself go back. My symptoms were even lower blood pressure than I already have, feeling sick to my stomach and muddled in the head (probably blood sugar issues), and finally, searing abdominal pain that doubled me over day after day. (please note, I was eating stevia several times a day.)
Related post: No Stevia Trim Healthy Mama Menu Plan
So, I stopped doing Trim Healthy Mama. I was convinced I couldn’t do it without the stevia. This is also why I’ve been so quiet about Trim Healthy Mama here on the blog. But, you might have noticed I’ve been quiet about weight loss altogether. The reason was because there was nothing to talk about – I wasn’t losing weight. I stalled 17 pounds over pre-pregnancy weight which happens to be the place I ALWAYS stall at. (Those of you who remember, this is the weight I was when Emily died, and my brain doesn’t like to go below that.)
I tried other diets as well as going to a whole foods diet, but the carbs were killing me. I simply do not know when to quit when it comes to breads and cookies. You can make them super healthy, and I will still eat them all gone.
So, back to me not losing weight…
I knew my body needed the kind of eating THM promotes. I knew I needed the structure and the support THM offers. I knew I needed to separate out my fuel sources because my body doesn’t process them together very well. But, what about the stevia? Could I really do Trim Healthy Mama WITHOUT the stevia?
The answer is YES!
Many people believe THM is ultra-reliant on stevia, and if you don’t like stevia (or xylitol), you can’t do the diet. But, I beg to differ. The biggest reason stevia is included in so many of the recipes you see floating around out there with the THM name slapped on them (including my extremely popular Cookie Dough Dip) is because we like our sweets! We like the idea of eating sweets and losing weight. We like to have cake for breakfast, cake for lunch, and cake for dinner, and the only way to make that work is to stick to a no calorie sweetener in that cake.
But, let’s be honest…that’s NOT what Trim Healthy Mama is really about. In fact, I am living proof that if you don’t practice BALANCE, you will stall out your efforts to lose weight. You can’t eat all S, all E, all FP, or all STEVIA. So, even if you LIKE stevia, it would be a really bad idea to eat it all the time!
There is a lot of information out there on stevia, and it can be overwhelming trying to figure out who is right and who is wrong. My husband and I decided to quit using it (except for very rare occasions), but that doesn’t mean we have all the answers, it simply means WE decided to quit using it. You have to make that decision for yourself based on your own reactions and research. No matter what you do, stevia or not – remember MODERATION and BALANCE. It really isn’t healthy to eat cake 3 times a day, and I’m pretty sure Serene and Pearl never meant for you to do that.
Here is a one week No Stevia Trim Healthy Mama Menu Plan that shows you how to get started eliminating stevia from your THM journey!
Charlotte Moore says
I have read some about this program but was afraid it would be too hard for me to understand it. I really need to lose 25 pounds. It seems whatever I do I can’t lose any more.
Laura says
I can’t wait to see your meal plan! I do THM but I am allergic to Stevia, Xylitol, etc. I’ve tried them all and I can’t tolerate any of them. It does make it very frustrating to follow THM without the sweeteners so I can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with! I love the program, though, and have lost weight so when I need a sweet treat, I just go back to sugar.
Sandy wright says
I am extremely allergic to all those sweeteners too. I get awful headaches and my jaws actually swell like the mumps or something. I get so tired I am almost completely bed ridden. I Crave sweets now and then but it doesn’t need to be real sweet, just a bit. So I wondered if I could follow the plan with a tap here and there of pure maple instead of the recommended sweeteners. I had originally lost 20 lbs on the plan, but was miserably ill often.
Kim says
I’m in the same boat as you ladies! I’m allergic to stevia but honestly all the sweetners just make me feel bad! I do occasionally use honey in a treat but I know it isn’t recommended! I think THM is an awesome eating program but it’s the sweets that always hang me up! Unfortunately I do have quite the sweet tooth! 🙁
Julie says
I am the same way and have steered clear of THM because it used the artificial sweeteners. Now due to health concerns I need to drop weight the right way and was going back to look at the plan. . Thank you!!
Rachael says
Thank you so much for this post! I’m curious to hear more about how you are doing it without stevia. I’m also trying to drop dairy. I’m with you though any other diet style I put weight on. I’ve gained the 10 lbs that I list with it 6 mo ago. Thanks again, look forward to your menu plan!!
Melanie says
Have you thought about using Monk Fruit? I can’t stand the taste of Stevia…at all. When I was trying to lose weight (now pregnant) I started using Monk Fruit in an effort to find a no calorie sweetener that tasted good and it tastes much closer to sugar than anything else I’ve found. I just used it in place of sugar at the same measurement. I even made some gluten-free, sugar-free cookies and they were great! The kids loved them too.
Amy says
My husband has used monk fruit off and on for quite a while. I have never tried it, but might see what I think.
Helena says
I so agree with you. The stevia and other powders never felt right. The taste was horrific IMO. I did THM with honey (raw), but only occasionaly, and would just skip most sweet stuff. I believe in healthy REAL food, and not some strange white powders 🙂
Meg says
So thankful I’m not alone!
Stacy says
I can’t wait to hear more! We’re in the process of moving, but my hubby and I are committed to getting back to THM even in the midst of the upheaval.
Rebecca says
I think there’s information out there (internet and books,etc) that will tell you that ANYTHING you put into your mouth has cancer-causing agents, causes diseases, messes with blood pressure, causes infertility, messes with blood sugar, will hurt the environment, will make your kids autistic, will cause headaches or brain freeze, will make you fat, and everything else you can dream of or even not dream of. It’s a very personal decision how people eat and I believe that anything and everything in moderation. I DO struggle with the moderation, depending on what the food is, like chocolate chip cookies or doughnuts. I just pray that the Lord blesses the food to our bodies, as I prepare it and as I and my family eat it, and that He’ll protect our bodies if I’m causing harm in my ignorant efforts to sustain us. I just don’t have the time to research every morsel that enters my body so I’m trusting Him and asking Him to guide our health. I think a good dose of exercise and sweating also helps with any toxins in our bodies and I think everyone should make time for that, even if it is just 15 or 20 minutes a day. I’ve spent the last month researching curriculum (we felt we needed some changing) and looking for a (new to us) car that we can pay cash for (my husband has been doing a lot of that looking but he’s always showing me what he’s finding) and the time I’ve spent on the internetdoing it makes me want to scream. I just want to eat and not stress about it.
Amy says
It IS absolutely maddening! I pray much the same as you – my God is bigger than all of this! I can only do the best I can and let Him handle the rest. 🙂 Praying you find a curriculum you like and a car that is just the right price!
Mary Etta says
Boy, am I glad you posted this!. I have been wanting to read over and start THM, but I don’t like stevia either for a lot of the same reasons you mentioned. Xylitol isn’t appealing either because we have a dog and it can end his life if he were to get into it somehow. I just keep thinking there is a way I can still use honey or my favorite turbinado sugar. There are 10-15 pesky pounds that I need to lose and keep off, but like you, I do enjoy good cookies and my occasional Starbucks….So, I am really looking forward to you upcoming posts!!!! Thanks Amy!
Jessica says
I was going to say exactly all of these things 🙂 Thanks for saving me the trouble Mary!
Ashley says
Thanks for writing this!! I have also experienced side effects after ingesting Stevia. I have had stomach aches, felt “off” in general, and I also learned that it can be a migraine trigger for migraine sufferers. (this has happened to me) It is in a green, organic smoothie mix I have, and I started to become sick after drinking this until I realized it was snuck in there! It’s in a lot of organic products. I try to avoid it as much as possible now! If I have treat or need a sweetener, I’m more of a raw honey, or organic raw cane sugar gal. Something about Stevia still tastes too close to sweet n low or equal to me.
Steph. says
Hi Amy. Honestly, getting OFF of sugar entirely is the key because then you are truly not interested in eating anything sweet. Sugar (and flour for many people who are overweight) can be addictive-like. But you must STAY off the sugar and commit to staying off with God’s help. This is the only way for me…so I do not eat any desserts anymore, artificially sweetened or otherwise. Just my .02! 🙂 God bless!
Amy says
In addition to this, it’s important to drop your “sweetness factor” as well – not NEEDING the level of sweet so many people have become accustomed to these days.
Michelle says
Stevia would give me instant headaches and yes, the stomach aches as well. Also, Xylitol, Erithritol, and even the Mannitol in the sweet potatoes I use to eat all gives me terrible stomach aches, so you are not alone:)
Jenni says
This has been my main reason for not doing THM – I had a lot of confusion/brain fog, anxiety, etc. when I ate it. Same went for Truvia. But the other thing I have struggled with is the dogmatic tone of the book – it made me feel as if I were going to gain tons of weight if I combined certain foods. It just felt like one more burdensome regulation to deal with in a world of “eat this, don’t eat that.” The reality is, I need carbs, and eating carbs with fat in moderation does not make me gain tons of weight. I have found that once I wean, I steadily begin to drop weight eating a normal diet.
Rachael says
I too have weird after affects when I eat stevia. Chills and headaches as well as itchy spots. I do use it sometimes but find I have these reactions and don’t like the taste at all either! Personally I use honey or maple syrup in moderation. I don’t think that is a bad thing. God made them to be used. And raw honey has alot of other benefits as well. I just limit the use of them.
Have you heard of Coco Monkey sweetner? Andrea Fabry from Mom’s Aware and It Takes Time recommends it. I have not used but want to order some.
Amy says
No, I have not heard of that. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Hillary says
I had terrible gut wrenching side effects from using Stevia so much with THM. I am trying to adapt it without using stevia because I really love the plan. I felt better and lost weight. Thanks for sharing!
Phallin @ Cottage Homestead says
Good stuff, really glad you shared this, anxious to see your menus!!!
Ann says
Oh Amy, im right here with you on the stevia! Im hypoglycemic and even one of the thm approved muffins can throw me off. Ive noticed i still get some of the sluggishness i associate with sugar hangover from stevia. Ive read that some of that can be a trained reaction, my body tastes cake and reacts accordingly i guess. And i havent totally kicked the stevia bucket because i cant drink plain water and its going to take a lot of training to get my taste buds to appreciate un sweetened herb tea.
On another note, ive been using beans as my protein source for e meals as our grocery budget couldnt handle ALL that meat/eggs! I love the education thm gave me, but im adjusting it to suit me and my family and we’re enjoying it and still feeling great! Looking forward to your navigating through this. Thanks for always sharing all these things you do with us.
Jamie says
I”m excited to see your plan also! I’ve looked into THM a few times, but always hated the idea of stevia, and other fake sugars, so I dismissed it. I would Love to be able to lose some weight, and think the THM recipes look great, with the exception of the sweeteners. I’d Love it if you could let me know what you think of honey as a sweetener with this “diet”, as we have honeybees, and will have an abundance of our own honey soon!
Amy says
“Homegrown” honey is the best! How exciting!
Lorie S says
I too am attempting THM without stevia. I look forward to your meal plan post.
My husband and I have allergy issues with stevia so it just is not an option.
Theresa says
I needed to read this so bad. I started THM and spent One morning using stevia in the chocolate muffin in a mug, coffee and yogurt. The results were a gastrointestinal nightmare. I have had a hemorrhoidectomy and any kind of imbalance restricts me to home for obvious reasons. I’ll be waiting on ideas on how to effectively do THM without stevia.
Rachelle says
Amy, I can’t wait to see how you are doing this!! I agree with Stevia!! Our new baby doesn’t seem to nurse as well I have used it. Tends to get gassy to. Look forward to your article 🙂
Becky says
Oh thank you. I hate Stevia. I also cant get past that it can or could cause infertility. So I tried THM but coudnt get past the stevia. Very excited about related upcoming posts on this topic.
Zsuzsanna Anderson says
I am so thankful for this post! For several years now, I have been successfully doing THM minus the recommended sweeteners, as have other relatives and friends of mine. Like you said, moderation when it comes to natural sweeteners is key. With stevia, it is possible to “have your cake and eat it, too” (literally), but the side effects are just not worth it. Un-training our oversweet palates is a much healthier option.
I started a group on FB called “Trim Healthy Mama, whole foods style” where we have almost 4,000 likeminded members. That’s actually where I got the link to your blog post 🙂 You or any of our readers are welcome to join us. It is a wonderful group with lots of helpful information.
Amy says
Thank you! I think that is the one I just joined! Appreciate it!
Sarah says
My understanding of the infertility studies was that it was based on an isolated component of the stevia. It wasn’t the whole food in and of itself, it was an isolated component. So, there’s some fear mongering right there.
Also, the leaves of the stevia plant dry up and then the white powder shows up. (This was Debi Pearl’s explanation of how it works as well as a recipe for making stevia syrup because eating the powder is bitter, yes.
Me, personally, I cannot STAND Stevia. It makes me uncomfortable just how much Stevia is discussed with THM, when I do not think that was the idea behind the book being written. I have the book and I haven’t done much out of it just because of my own personal lack of commitment.
All that to say, THANK YOU for saying what others have not said. Because, you are SO RIGHT!!
And, please also remember. You just had a baby. Take it easy on your body. Your body is naturally storing some weight as a result of breastfeeding, so if you go to losing weight too quickly, your supply could plummet. And, it could take a year. So, remember that the body is smart and knows what to do to keep you healthy and feed your baby. Just be smart about what you’re feeding yourself. 😉
But, I enjoyed what you said SO much. Thank you.
Christine says
The struggle you have to eat stevia because it is white makes no sense. Yes, it is from a plant, but so is sugar. Have you looked into the process it takes to get ‘natural ‘ sugar? I can understand that some people can not u
Amanda says
What are some of the side effects besides stomach pain? Im asking for my mother. She has some health issues going on and Im wondering if they might be related. Is there a reliable website?
Amy says
That’s the trouble – I’m not sure I can recommend ANY website. So many are filled with “opinion” and nothing concrete. Or like me, a personal account, but no real medical evidence to back it up. The most common things listed were: abdominal cramps, constipation, low blood sugar, low blood pressure, itching. The anxiety and miscarriage were anecdotal and only mentioned in forums.
Sarah says
I am watching to see what you have come up with as well :). I was using stevia (growing it at home and making my own tincture from the leaves), then my husband found some scary things about it on the internet. Did you know some women in South America use it as birth control?? Of course, that’s drinking cups and cups of it daily, something I was not doing. Anyway, I won’t use his Splenda because I don’t believe it is any better. And even though I don’t need to LOSE weight right now (31 weeks pregnant with #7), I do have diet controlled gestational diabetes that I don’t want to get out of hand 🙂
Lori Nelson says
I am tracking this like a bear on steak. I have a fifth baby about Aspens age and couldn’t loose the weight or the inches like I did with the others. I bought the THM book a while back but couldn’t understand it all. So about 3 weeks ago I grabbed it again and started to do whatever I do understand and I’ve lost 3 inches around my tummy. I asked a super crunchy friend if the plan was a good plan but she too had strong reservations about the sweeteners. So I’ve been aware and tried to move along the plan without stevia too. Working like a charm! I agree with your post. I don’t like that taste, the color and I prefer honey or organic sugars if I choose to have sweets, which are becoming less and less desired. I’m glad I’m not the only thinking this way. Thank you!
Amy says
There IS a steep learning curve. I am finally starting to understand it after a couple of years off and on. It makes more sense the more you dig and try to understand the basics behind the S and E and FP meals and concepts. Great job!
Sara says
Great post! I too had to give stevia up. I am doing THM without it…and having some success. I will look forward to your new recipes. What I figured out was I am definitely allergic to stevia. I would sneeze and itch all day after having any small amount. This did not develop all at once, but after using it for about 2 years in my tea and water! I later googled it and found that it is related to ragweed or if you allergic to ragweed you will most likely be allergic to stevia.
Cheryl says
Most stevia has warning labels about low blood pressure and low blood sugar. I love my sweet things but I don’t need them to do the THM.
Suzann Smith says
It is so refreshing to see someone talk about eating logically. I get frustrated at diets promising weight loss with no sacrifice. It’s a sign of our culture I’m afraid. Anyway, thanks for sharing.
Gwen says
Thank you for this. I cannot stand the after taste of stevia and thus avoided it. Looking forward to seeing what you do.
Nikki says
THANK YOU! I can’t do the stevia either because of the horrible stomach pains it gives me. I am looking forward to your menu plan!
Christy says
I was just wondering this last night. I am very intrested in how to do this. I am only in the thm consideration stage, but that’s what keeps me from jumping on board. Thank you!
Sarah Fuerstenau says
Hi Amy! My husband and I just started the THM plan for the first time, & I can’t STAND the taste of stevia! Maybe I have had side effects from it too b/c there were a couple of times now that I’ve eaten something with stevia in it & I got a headache & brain fog afterwards. I wondered if it was doing something with my blood sugar, although S & P claim that stevia has glycosides which “help stabilize blood sugar” (p. 184). They also claim “it is a great digestive aid” and that “it lessens bouts of gas and soothes upset stomach”! (p. 184). If that’s the case, why do soooo many women say they have digestive ISSUES after using it???
I have to give them credit for giving a warning that it takes awhile to get used to the taste. However, I cannot get used to the taste or the effects I get after using it. I had some xylitol in the house from making homemade toothpaste, & I have found that I like it a whole lot better (if I grind it into powder form). I make a vanilla cinnamon syrup with it for my coffee, & so far I haven’t noticed any side effects. It still sounds “chemically” to me, & I’ve often wondered if there was some way to still use a “natural” sweetener, like honey, maple syrup, etc. I don’t have a major sweet tooth, but when I get a craving for sweets, I NEED something that is sweet! Not something that tastes artificial! I can’t wait to see what you have to tell us!
God bless!
Shana says
I did THM devoutly for one week. I switched to TruVia, a mix of stevia and other chemicals I cannot pronounce. lol. I ended up with colon spasms that week. :/ You give me hope. I may go back to that balanced THM. Thank you for sharing.
Kelly says
I am anxious to hear all about it. I love THM, but the sweetener issue does hold me back a bit. I do not consume a lot of it, but I do stay away from a lot of the desserts. Thanks so much for sharing!
Laura says
Thank you so much for your post! I too really struggle with similar side effects from Stevia so just gave up on THM. Thanks for the encouraging words that it can be done!!
Dayla Dee says
I totally agree with this post! When I first tried the plan, I was really disappointed because I was on sugar withdrawal and stevia just tasted terrible to me. As time when on, I got used to it a little more and could handle it if I didn’t remember that sugar existed to compare. But no one else ate my desserts and it was very saddening.
I figured I could do THM without the sweets and I did for quite awhile. But then I tried pure erythritol and I really enjoy it! I definitely don’t use it very often as sweeteners are expensive and also, I don’t feel like I need sweets and desserts all the time. But it’s nice to be able to make a cheesecake that my whole family with actually eat and ENJOY. I agree as well on the fact that you can’t just do the plan with one fuel in mind or having sweets all the time. That totally takes away the whole point of the plan, by mixing things up for your body.
Great post!
Janet says
Thanks so much for this post. I really want to follow THM but struggle with all the rules. Plus the stevia was bothering me, as well. I plan to try some of your suggestions and your meal plan. Are you planning to post any more weekly plans? I am hoping so because I need all the help I can get! Plus I am wondering, maybe this is explained somewhere and I missed it…Can you explain why on THM they say no milk but they list tons of dairy products that are made from milk as okay? (Sour cream, cottage cheese, cream cheese, etc.) That totally confuses me!
Amy says
Milk itself is high in sugars. And no plans to post meal plans weekly, but I do hope to add to this over time.
Carrie says
Glad you are against stevia also!!!! Can’t seem to find a plant protein shake that doesn’t have stevia in it.
Want to find one that :
has no whey has no mushrooms has no stevia or xylitol is good tasting by just adding water
is non GMO is organic has non- animal ingredients has a natural vanilla bean flavor
is plant based is not too expensive maybe has palm/coconut sugar as the sweetner is dairy free
Is there such a product out there?
Amy says
Hmmm…not that I know of. I imagine at some point they will start producing one with coconut sugar, but I haven’t seen anything like that as yet.
Amy Jensen says
Arbonne’s vanilla protein powder may be exactly what you need
Asok Asus says
Stevia gave both myself and my wife excruciating headaches immediately after consumption; we tried several forms: highly refined, natural, etc. They all caused the same horrible effect.
Lea says
Hi everyone, maybe I missed it in a comment, but many of these side effects from any low calorie “natural” sweetners are from the fillers. Many brands of stevia for instance have more maltodextrin or inulin than actual stevia. If you look either of those fillers up, you will see what a problem they can carry. I used to HATE stevia, but my faithful MIL kept getting me to try the different kinds and we found NOW brand organic “Better Stevia” has NO fillers and does not cause all the stomach problems and even my husband who hates stevia way more than me, can tolerate. Again, though, there is a balance. I still use raw sugar, maple syrup or honey for sweets, but I usually cut it in half and add some pure stevia and no one can tell.
As another commenter said, just my 2 cents worth….
Amy says
I actually need to do a follow up to this post because you are right! I didn’t know what it might be, but I did realize that when I purchased the THM brand, my stomach issues completely cleared up! I’ll have to do a bit more research about the fillers you mentioned.
Melinda Johnson says
I’m pretty sure I read this when it first was posted, but now that I’m much more serious about trying THM, I bought the Stevia and found out, same as you, that it really affected my stomach. I’m trying xylitol now and it seems to be fine. I don’t use much though, mostly in my coffee and to sweeten up tart berries for my oatmeal. I agree that so many recipes and books focus on sweets, sweets, and more sweets! I’m also gluten free, and I just don’t have the time to make sweets anyway, so except for Christmastime, it’s somewhat easy to stay away from baked goods and not use sugar often. (Chocolate is a totally different story and where I need to stop eating it if I’m going to take this seriously). Anyway, all this to say 1) I agree that Stevia isn’t for everyone and 2) you don’t need baked goods to live! (and I prefer sweets to salty stuff). Can’t wait to keep learning and lose some weight this year. Thanks!
Jill says
Thank you for sharing this. I thought I was going mad. All the principals to the THM made sense to me. But instead of losing weight I have gained 6 pounds in a months time plus I have had horrible cramps, constipation and bloating issues. I have done extreme low carb (keto) diets in the past and have had success but not as sustainable. I was really hoping this would be the balance I needed for my whole family. I thought maybe the stevia was the issue and pulled back using it. I felt better but am still climbing on the scale. I am starting to think it is the grains. So thank you so much for posting this, because I have been searching to find out why I am not “feeling better, more energized and melting my fat away”. I look forward to seeing your menu plan.
heather says
We use my father’s world. We enjoy it.
James Kirkland says
I have been studying and using Stevia since 1989. Some of your comments show a lack of information to being ridiculous. Please understand, Stevia was not allowed on the US market due to Monsanto and their “friends” at the FDA as they didn’t want an all natural competitor to Aspartame. There was only one (1) report that showed a possible infertility issue with stevia that no one was ever able to reproduce. (FYI, I have five children so…) As for the taste, that depends on what type you use and the concentration of the glycosides within the leaf. Stevioside A is the most abundant but has a very bitter taste. Rebaudioside A and B are in much smaller quantities but also have higher sweetening strength with no aftertaste. As for Stevia not tasting like sugar, duh! It’s not sugar. Neither is honey or molasses. All are sweet but with different tastes. Raw, ground stevia leaves are the most natural but it also has the lowest sweetening strength and the strongest taste, as most compare to licorice. Processed Stevia (the white powder) can give a better flavor depending on the plants, and most importantly, the processing technique. Stevia from China is usually the poorest quality with “questionable” growing and processing methods. I prefer to get mine from Brazil (factory called Stevita) which grows organic stevia and they only use a water method to process the steviosides. All this being said, Stevia is not for everyone. My wife loves licorice, I can’t stand it. Oh well. My oldest daughter doesn’t like the taste of Stevia and I have found that about 5% of people that try a good quality Stevia won’t like it. Luckily there are alternatives.
Julie says
I’m day 3 into a fuel cycle b/c of stalled weight loss (I’ve had a harder time losing after the last two babies and frustration led me to THM – I lost 5 pounds initially but stalled for 4 months). I’ve really just avoided sugar but tried stevia for some snacks to get me through. Yuck! I hear people rave about how they can do THM for life, but so many things about it make me sad (food is my love language apparently). I do feel better without many carbs but it takes a lot of mental energy to keep up with the meal types. I’m not sure I have it in me long term.
Amy says
I completely understand. Honestly, I am currently looking for something more long term for myself once baby gets here.
Liz says
I was looking on the internet to see if you can do THM without the stevia and came to your sight. I had to laugh a little cause you sounded like me! I started doing this program about 6 weeks ago with my husband and we have lost a little weight so far. I thought ok I can do desserts now on the weekend but found out we hate the taste of stevia! So I tried truvia and that isn’t much better. I can give up the sweets but I would like to have a brownie once in awhile. The tastes of these sweetners though just have such a bad taste! Thanks for your article! At least I know I’m not the only one out there that can’t stand the taste! I do like the program though a lot better than counting points or calories!
Brenda Basinger says
Hmm, I love their Stevia. It is my favorite! 🙂 I now cannot hardly stand the taste of sugar in my teas and such as they taste way too sweet and kind of gag me. lol That said I have never done their diet plan nor read their books. I just know that I like their Stevia more than all the others I tasted. 🙂
Becca says
Thanks for the info. I can not do sugar substitutes as they give me bad side effects. Was wondering if you could still do THM without the sugar substitute. Good to know someone else is also concerned about sugar substitutes. I like pure! Now have to see if can do THM since also have dairy allergy and trouble with grains other than wheat.
Tiffany G Bayer says
Oh my… your words resounded in me when you said how your weight stalled at the same number since your child died?
I am hit with a sharp reality now that I too have kept the same weight from my stillbirth almost 8 years ago.
THM works for me but ai too do not use Stevia. I did have it, was pregnant and immediately had a super early mc…. nothino proving it, but it did not leave me feeling ok about it.
I have learned to train myself to truly loving the natural sweetness of berries and fruit as its truly God’s Natural candy for our enjoyment. The less I have sugar, the more I actually start tasting things the way they were meant to taste.
I also do enjoy some sweets in the form of home made almond joys or mug cakes made with coconut flour, flax, and egg, baking powder and I just add in raw honey to flavor. YES it’s a form of sugar but I still have been losing weight as I do this sparingly and with a protein source to counter the honey 🙂 then I just get back on track once I have had my craving.
Thanks for this!
Michelle says
Hi
I am so glad I found this post. I feel the same way about using THM sweetners. I was just wondering how you converted the measurements of THM sweeteners to honey, maple syrup or sugar without spiking blood sugar too much. Thanks
Sherri says
I just started THM this week and bought Stevia. Gross! I can’t do it. I’d just rather skip desserts and other sweets. So thanks for this post!
Megan says
I started thm from the get go with coconut sugar. If you count the carbs in your meals, it seems to work just fine! But then again I don’t have a major sweet tooth. A treece or two, some dark chocolate or dry red wine, and I’m good. It’s easier to me to decrease sugar and be strict about fat and carb based meals than deal with disliking stevia.
Amy says
That’s how I felt about it as well. Many of the things people were putting stevia in just didn’t need it. And I DID have a sweet tooth, but it doesn’t take much anymore. 😉
Ashley says
Are you still doing THM?
Amy says
I can’t say that I am doing it 100%, but I do still use a lot of the recipes and principles.
Angela says
Thank you so much for sharing this. I can’t handle stevia or gentle sweet, and really want to do trim healthy mama! I tried it years ago and decided not to do it because of the stevia as well. Thanks again, I am going to try your no stevia plan! 🙂
Melinda says
“ but there is something about it that screams Don’t Eat Me!” — YES! I searched for this and your blog post came up. Thank you for writing it! I plan to roughly follow the THM method. I just want to eat real foods though, not a host of substitutes. And I agree, even in normal recipes with sugar, the added sugar isn’t always even necessary. Do you still follow (even roughly) THM? Thanks again! (It was also cool to see your blog pop up in my search results because I recognize your blog from Lisa’s group!)
Amy says
I don’t really follow THM much anymore but there are still recipes I like from them. I just can’t handle the amount of stevia and other fake sugars used.