Regarding sweetners, you really just have to test yourself, everyone's body responds differently! If you had good luck with aspartame previously, chances are good you will have good luck this time, but you just never know. Your body is definitely going through some weird stuff on this diet, so it may respond differently than before! I really enjoy Celestial Season's teas (even though you said you don't like tea, I don't know if you've tried the fruit teas, if you make iced tea, they are not really 'tea' like, and you can add Stevia if you like sweet I don't ), there are LOTS of stevia flavors, Stevita from Amazon is what I bought. I have a lot of flavors, but found that I haven't craved "sweet" often, so haven't used them much... I know they are there if I need them!!! lol You could also try this little gadget, it carbonates ANYTHING, I repeat, ANYTHING!!! lol http://www.fizzgiz.com/ (It's NOT like Pepsi carbonation, but it is 'bubbly', and fun!!!)