Hooked on Diet Soda!

mrsjennifermaffei
mrsjennifermaffei Posts: 469
edited October 3 in Health and Weight Loss
I've got my crystal light packets that I normally drink throughout the day, I will drink 1 or 2 32oz containers of water during the day, but when the night hits and I get food cravings...I go for a diet soda since it curbs cravings and is 0 calories.

Is having diet soda, once per day....or even 2, going to slow or hurt my work out if it doesnt have any calories?
I know water is my best bet but I want to know from people who have experience with diet sodas. Thanks!

Replies

  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Drink what you want. Diet soda, regular soda, juice, beer, wine, coffee, tea, it's all liquid, it all hydrates you, and your body for the most part doesn't care about the particulars.
  • djkshdfd
    djkshdfd Posts: 443 Member
    The aspartame in diet soda used to cause headaches and shortness of breath for me. But the symptoms vary for people, some don't notice anything. But yes, it will provide some hydration, along with chemicals you really don't want. The research will make you never want a diet soda again.

    If it works for you now to curb cravings then it may be an okay solution for you now but maybe try to rule it out in the long term.
  • cocolo89
    cocolo89 Posts: 1,169 Member
    i've been drinking diet soda since i have started this weight loss journey and was able to lose 40lbs without giving it up :)) I feel like the days i don't drink diet soda, i overeat. For example, this morning i didn't have any diet soda to drink because i was out of it, and i ate 800cal by lunch time!! once i went out and got the diet soda, i barley ate and wasn't all the hungry anymore. SO in conclusion, diet soda actually helps me lose weight. LOL
  • bump, I'm also curious about this. I've heard about the negative consequences of artificial sweeteners and was never a big soda drinker, but for some reason I've been craving it like mad for weeks.
  • Shannonigans84
    Shannonigans84 Posts: 693 Member
    I just switched from drinking 1 liter of diet Pepsi a day to only having it on special occasions. It didn't hinder my loss but it left me very bloated. If you enjoy it don't give it up :-)
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    The aspartame in diet soda used to cause headaches and shortness of breath for me. But the symptoms vary for people, some don't notice anything. But yes, it will provide some hydration, along with chemicals you really don't want. The research will make you never want a diet soda again.

    If it works for you now to curb cravings then it may be an okay solution for you now but maybe try to rule it out in the long term.

    Actual research doesn't reveal anything outlandish about aspartame. Now, fear mongering research with an agenda and a bunch of horrifying false claims, that's a different story.

    Aspartame can lead to different reactions in different people, then again, some people can eat barrels of peanuts, and others can die just from someone else eating a single peanut within 20 feet of them.
  • VemmaMom
    VemmaMom Posts: 82 Member
    Hi! Well here is the real deal. I gotta tell you first tho that I was a diet coke junkie myself and would probably still be if it wasnt so bad for you. Diet soda is one of the worst things one can put in your body. Even tho its zero cals its full of crap and actually causes belly fat. It also makes you bloat and retain water. I think one is not that big of a deal but Id keep it as lil as possible if y ou can. Im glad I quit it but at same time I miss it still. Id drink maybe 2 a day but would open like 3 or 4 and not drink them all LOL>>>>good luck
  • neuro316
    neuro316 Posts: 42 Member
    One or two cans of diet soda a day is not going to make a big difference, to either your overall health or your weight loss. If you're really worried you could "wash it down" with a glass of water, but I don't think that's necessary. Even a can of regular soda wouldn't be the end of the world (though actually I prefer diet since I find regular soda too sweet and syrupy).
  • Liquid741
    Liquid741 Posts: 292 Member
    havent given up my diet mt dew and wont...my weight is still coming off, but i also drink more water then 99% of users here. around 4gal per day.
  • mistryB
    mistryB Posts: 4 Member
    I used to drink diet sodas all the time, and it never prevented me from losing weight. However, I have been trying to cut caffeine out and I have started drinking carbonated water. I have found that it fills me up just like soda and curbs cravings. If the diet soda is working for you, I wouldn't worry too much about it (its not like you are drinking it all day!)
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Hi! Well here is the real deal. I gotta tell you first tho that I was a diet coke junkie myself and would probably still be if it wasnt so bad for you. Diet soda is one of the worst things one can put in your body. Even tho its zero cals its full of crap and actually causes belly fat. It also makes you bloat and retain water. I think one is not that big of a deal but Id keep it as lil as possible if y ou can. Im glad I quit it but at same time I miss it still. Id drink maybe 2 a day but would open like 3 or 4 and not drink them all LOL>>>>good luck

    None of that is actually scientifically proven to be true. Diet soda does NOT cause belly fat, you need calories to create fat. It also doesn't cause water retention.
  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    Diet Coke is one of my only vices. I probably drink 2 a day, and have for years. It has never hindered anything.
  • alyssamiller77
    alyssamiller77 Posts: 891 Member
    Hi! Well here is the real deal. I gotta tell you first tho that I was a diet coke junkie myself and would probably still be if it wasnt so bad for you. Diet soda is one of the worst things one can put in your body. Even tho its zero cals its full of crap and actually causes belly fat. It also makes you bloat and retain water. I think one is not that big of a deal but Id keep it as lil as possible if y ou can. Im glad I quit it but at same time I miss it still. Id drink maybe 2 a day but would open like 3 or 4 and not drink them all LOL>>>>good luck

    I challenge you to come up with a single *clinical* study, report, trial or article that actually supports any of these claims.
  • maura5880
    maura5880 Posts: 346 Member
    I love Diet Pepsi, and I don't think I'll ever give it up. Yes, it has artificial sweeteners, but SO many things do. And it has a lil sodium, but barely enough to talk about. No calories, a little caffeine to start the day, I see nada wrong with it.
  • havent given up my diet mt dew and wont...my weight is still coming off, but i also drink more water then 99% of users here. around 4gal per day.

    Holy geez!!! 4 gallons of water per day??!! That's crazy! You must be floating! lol
    I drink 5 litres of water, and I thought that was a lot.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Diet soda will not inhibit weight loss. If it keeps you from eating something sweet, it may help.
  • I love my coke 0 and I haven't given it up. I still have lost 57 lbs.
  • I was never a big pop drinker, however since all I drink now is water, I thought an occasional diet 7up with dinner would be nice. However, I found that I was bloated afterwards. That still doesn't stop me though, lol. I still enjoy it sometimes.
  • BaliRun
    BaliRun Posts: 114 Member
    After learning that diet soda was the cause of my migraines and vertigo I had to find a replacement and I had to find it quick!!! Now I have a new addiction "LaCroix" Sparkling water. it is calorie, sodium and sweetener free. It comes in different flavors and the carbonation (at least for me) makes it feel like you are drinking soda!!! I am in love with this stuff. I buy in bulk at Costco.


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    ps: if you watch the documentary "sweet misery" you will never have artificial sweeteners again : (
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Just out of curiosity, exactly how are they flavored if they are sweetener and calorie free?

    Also, sweet misery is a heavily biased documentary with an anti-sweetener agenda that is full of misinformation and even some complete lies.
  • Maggie_Pie1
    Maggie_Pie1 Posts: 322 Member
    I lost 80 lbs and drank diet soda every day. I do also drink a lot of water, but I didn't give up diet soda.

    One of the arguments I remember reading against it was that the artificial sweeteners in diet soda makes you crave sweets and therefore eat more sweets. That wasn't true at all for me. I gave up SUGAR, and that made my sweet tooth go away, but I never gave up diet soda.

    Anyway - don't sweat it. Diet soda isn't any worse for you than coffee with artificial sweenteners.
  • havent given up my diet mt dew and wont...my weight is still coming off, but i also drink more water then 99% of users here. around 4gal per day.

    Holy geez!!! 4 gallons of water per day??!! That's crazy! You must be floating! lol
    I drink 5 litres of water, and I thought that was a lot.

    I drink between 32oz and 64oz per day although I wish I was drinking around 96oz per day but I pee every hour as it is, every 30mins would drive me insane lol.
  • BaliRun
    BaliRun Posts: 114 Member
    Just out of curiosity, exactly how are they flavored if they are sweetener and calorie free?

    Also, sweet misery is a heavily biased documentary with an anti-sweetener agenda that is full of misinformation and even some complete lies.


    It has natural flavors and they are very mild, sometimes you can barely taste the difference. But they are still great!!!

    As far as sweet misery.... I know it is out there and out dated... I will look for some of the other research I have read that supports this and post.... Most importantly I know from my own experience... My migraines and vertigo were so bad I was missing work and missing out on life. I was drinking about 4 diet sodas a day and adding splenda on everything. when My doctor told me this could be the cause I quickly stopped. I haven't had a migraine in over two years (since I stopped drinking diet soda). Other people might not be effected but as for me I am a true believe that artificial sweeteners are toxic. you don't have to agree.
  • djkshdfd
    djkshdfd Posts: 443 Member
    The aspartame in diet soda used to cause headaches and shortness of breath for me. But the symptoms vary for people, some don't notice anything. But yes, it will provide some hydration, along with chemicals you really don't want. The research will make you never want a diet soda again.

    If it works for you now to curb cravings then it may be an okay solution for you now but maybe try to rule it out in the long term.

    Actual research doesn't reveal anything outlandish about aspartame. Now, fear mongering research with an agenda and a bunch of horrifying false claims, that's a different story.

    Aspartame can lead to different reactions in different people, then again, some people can eat barrels of peanuts, and others can die just from someone else eating a single peanut within 20 feet of them.

    Actually, if you do a search on Pubmed or BioOne there are plenty of great articles done with aspartame. You are entitled to your opinion though. :)
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    There have been several thousands of studies done on aspartame over the past 50 years. It's considered safe for consumption by over 100 different national governments. It's no worse than any other food item. It's made from 2 amino acids, one of which the human body naturally produces, the other which is an essential amino acid, phenylalanine, which can be a bad thing for people with PKU. Of course, cheese, soy, milk, fish, meat, and eggs can all be equally bad for people with PKU.
  • Joisgettingfit
    Joisgettingfit Posts: 160 Member
    As long as you're not drinking more than 2 litres a day you'll be fine. However diet fizzy drinks/ soda do contain calories it's not that many though think it's like 2/3 per 500ml bottle depending on the drink. The reason it's labeled as 0 calories is because in the USA any product under 5 calories is allowed to be labeled as 0 calories.
  • I love those sparkling water drinks too- you can by them by the liter bottle in walmart or in the Dollar General, and they are like 2 for the price of 1 soda. Walmart has TONS of flavors- my two favorite are lemon, and Pineapple coconut (the pinapple coconut one tastes just like a virgin pina colada!)
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,993 Member
    I've got my crystal light packets that I normally drink throughout the day, I will drink 1 or 2 32oz containers of water during the day, but when the night hits and I get food cravings...I go for a diet soda since it curbs cravings and is 0 calories.

    Is having diet soda, once per day....or even 2, going to slow or hurt my work out if it doesnt have any calories?
    I know water is my best bet but I want to know from people who have experience with diet sodas. Thanks!
    Hasn't stopped me for over 28 years.
  • Lyadeia
    Lyadeia Posts: 4,603 Member
    I don't think that diet sodas will stop weight loss at all. I won't drink them for 2 reasons, those being the chemicals that affect other parts of your body (my dad's neurosurgeon told him to specifically stop drinking diet sodas after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease because the chemicals can negatively influence cognition) and they taste like crap. If I have a soda, I go for the gold and take my chances with real sugar. I just eat slightly less that day to work in the 200 calories from the Mello Yello.
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