Stay away from Aspartame! ugh! on the rare occasion that i want sweet, i use Splenda (sucralose) which is derived from sugar. It is what Atkins recommends. I have been on the regime since 14 February, and feel terrific. O' course, i am losing weight far more slowly than my spouse, but give my age and female sex......am grateful for the loss i have. And have found since losing weight, my depression is far easier to control. What i like about Atkins is i'm never hungry. It's much easier to lose weight when one is not starved.