Concerning the drinks, it depends, some artificial sweeteners are ok to an extent while most you essentially are better off with sugar making them useless. I don't remember them all but anything ending in “ol” or acesulfame potassium among others raise insulin like sugar, but if I remember correctly, not enough to benefit post workout essentially making them absolutely useless for this diet.back loading late is the closest to ideal scenario so I think you would still benefit from the diet. Keifer guarantees the book so if you read it and decide it's not for you just give it back and you'll get back your money.I think you should buy the book and go through it I'm pretty sure your questions would be easily and more thoroughly answered in there. Also muscle and fitness did an interview about cbl during weird times of day that might also help.http://www.muscleandfitness.com/search/apachesolr_search/carb%20back%20loadingYou should find alot of your answers in the link and anything you don't you'll deffinately find in the book. Hope this helps 🙂