[BugsJustFindMe]

> Most artificial sweeteners have metabolic side effects, and lead to weight gain.

So does sugar. Everything ever credibly published on the effects of artificial sweeteners say four things:

1) everything else held equal, artificial sweeteners unequivocally reduce weight gain vs consuming equivalent sugar because sugar is 100% empty calories

2) some artificial sweeteners (e.g. sucralose) may increase appetite vs equivalent sugar, causing you to possibly eat more depending on which ones you consume

3) various artificial sweeteners may have non-weight-related negative effects on the body related to cardiovascular health, gut health, and so on

4) sugar definitely has a whole bunch of non-weight-related negative effects on the body related to cardiovascular health, gut health, and so on

[wun0ne]

Sugar is not just empty calories. Your muscles need glycogen, which is produced from carbohydrates—including sugar—to function.

Simple sugars are particularly effective at restoring glycogen stores after intense cardiovascular workouts.

[BugsJustFindMe]

It seems you may not know what the phrase "empty calories" means, so, let me help: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empty_calories

Lumping simple sugar in with complex carbohydrates as equally beneficial because they're both carbohydrate molecules is horrendous prevarication. And bringing up "intense workouts" at all, which I'm sure you very well know is demographically an extreme outlier scenario, in a conversation about weight gain, is the most hilarious kind of derailment.