I didn't mean eating sugar again... but since the book says your body reacts to even artificial sweeteners by releasing insulin, thus they should be avoided altogether as well, except at the reward meal. Being on Atkins, there IS no reward meal. I was wondering if there's still room for artificial sweeteners if combined with a lc meal? Would the other food "mask" the effect of the sweeteners? They say if you are reluctant to give them up, they ARE affecting you... maybe so, but the thought of NEVER eating something sweet again is dismal at best, and I'm not ready to switch plans just to get something sweet at the reward meal...