Ex diet soda drinkers...

Runningirl7284

I did not start to lose any weight until I cut out all the Sodas, sweet teas and crystal light. Only water for me now! It has really helped my weight loss!

Hoppymom

I used to drink 4-5 Diet Cokes a day. I quit the day I decided to get healthy. Not lose weight, get healthy. There is nothing healthy about pop. I never looked back. People drink it around me from time to time and I have not probelm with it. I never thought that I could do it. I sleep better (more deeply) and the pain in my muscles is now from hard cardio and strength training not form Aspertame in my system. I will never drink it again and I won't miss it. My daughters both quit drinking it 6 and 7 years ago and are much happier that they stopped.

marylouise123

I used to drink a 2 liter or more a day of diet caffiene free pepsi.. I am down to maybe 2 glasses a day.. I have noticed it has helped with my hunger.. I drink a little in the am & then switch to water for the whole day (drink about 6-8 cups) & then have a glass of my diet pepsi in the evening.. I won't ever give it up completely.. I like the taste & since no calories & I drink in moderation I am fine with that.. I guess its whatever works for every individual person.. Good luck everyone with your journey's..

Eranajb

This has been an interesting thread to read. I switched to diet soda thinking it was a better choice ...I love cola. Just the sound of the bottle opening makes my mouth water. but then I found that my asthma was out of control. I already watch what additives my kids eat, esp msg and preservatives. what I didnt know was that preservatives set off my asthma and combined with artificial sweetners ( any) and I could hardly breathe!

I also notoced a significant mood swing after drinking cola, any - very irritable and grumpy.

I figure through my own experience I was reacting to sugar overload.

I rarely have any soda now. If i do it would be full sugar variety, but only Schweppes lemonade is preservative free.

In NZ and aussie there is an interesting book
- fed up with food additives- which shows what effect additives and preservatives can have. Not everyone reacts, but it sure is interesting reading. There is a website too, I think it is Fedup.com

jody0726

I got serious and began a life change 4 weeks ago. A few days before that I had cut out all soda. I didn't ever drink diet, but I did drink roughly 64 ounces of regular pop a day. At first, I used "Mio" (a flavoring sold that can be added to water) to help get the water down. I HATED the taste of WATER. However, I also began exercising around the same time so I was thirsty as well. Now, it's been roughly a month and I'm down 18 pounds and I actually enjoy drinking water.

Have I lost because of soda pop's empty calories? Or because of the exercise? Or because I'm tracking calories?

Yes.

I'm sure everyone's body is different, especially in reference to drinking soda pop.

clover5

I few years ago I found myself dring 2 or 3 32 ounce cups of diet pop each and every day. Like you I had heard random theroies about diet pop causing weight gain, fooling your body into releasing insulin, bloat, and people dixolving nails in diet cola, and what it might be doing to me. I decided to give up diet pop for lent (6 or 7 weeks). I'm not particularly religious, but used the opportunity for my own well being and as a test. I substituted milk, water, lemonade (real sugar), iced tea (straight - no sweetener or sugar).

I did NOT lose OR gain weight as a result of eliminating diet pop from my diet.

I did notice other changes. I no longer needed 3 refills on my drink in restaurants. I didn't have to make as many trips to the restroom. I wasn't thirsty all the time, in other words, I was better hydrated even though I drank less fluid.

I do drink diet pop now, but I have never returned to the huge amount I drank before. One is enough. Tea, water, milk, juice and even coffee have been shown to have beneficial effects, when taken moderately. I have never seen an article about the healthy benefits of diet pop. The only thing diet pop has going for it is no calories.

doublezizzle

Ugh. I feel your pain. I am a recovering Diet Coke addict. You think bc it has zero calories it's good for you. Not. I don't think there's anything wrong with indulging with a soda now and then, but it's not something that should be part of your daily diet.

I don't know if I can attribute my weight loss to cutting out diet soda by itself. But i'll tell you one thing - it makes you drink a hell of a lot more water. Which does improve weight loss, makes your skin look better, and doesn't erode your tooth enamel.

There have been quite a few studies that attribute belly fat with aspartame and overall weight gain over time:
http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/diet-soda-may-be-making-you-fat-2504019.html

Just because something is zero calories doesn't mean it's good for you. Just try and see how long you can go without a soda. You might surprise yourself!

maidentl

Soda, diet or not, has a lot of sodium, which retains water as well.

No, it doesn't. This 20 oz bottle I am drinking has 70 mg.

if you throw back several a day and pair it with a salty meal, it adds up. Sodium also exacerbates thirst

Not to be rude, but what's your point? I don't throw back several a day and the salty meal would still be salty regardless of the small amount of sodium in the soda I drank with it.

I love how when people are being rude, they say "not to be rude"
My point is do what you want, just most people are not aware of what they are doing to themselves. Not necessarily people on here, I am just saying education is a good idea about foods and beverages. I am not trying to diss anyone's choices, I am just saying sodium in diet soda can add up especially when people are not paying attention. Also, I never said that this makes diet soda a "high sodium" food. Sheesh.

I wasn't being rude. I genuinely wanted to figure out what you were trying to say. But since YOU were rude, allow me to spell it out for you. You made no sense.

takingnameskickingbutt

I used to be a diet drinkaholic. I still have one or two a month, but now its mostly water all the time! I sometimes have an iced cold vitamin water zero for a sweet treat. Water helps to lose. Like I drink 200 ounces (or more :blushing: ) a day!

Luckldy31

I went from 3 or 4 cans a day to 0... and I've actually gained weight... I drink water...like 100oz per day... and am still gaining... very annoyed by this... because I would understand if I went from drinking a 0 cal drink to like juice or milk that has like 100 cals per serving...but I went to water... Maybe my body is protesting because it wants the DC back... not sure, but since I am already past the headache stage, I'm not going to ever go back to diet coke! It was totally a one-sided relationship!

Mommawarrior

When I don't drink soda, my weight loss is quicker and maintained. When I put soda back in different cravings come back. It is crazy, I can't explain it, I just know it is true. I have been through periods of drinking 4 to 5 diet cokes a day and periods of just maybe 1 a day and periods of no soda period. It is always the no soda periods that I feel the best, eat the healthiest and am in a steady good mood.

dollienj

I cut it out completely the first month. I don't know if it's helped with the weight loss (I think my nutrition and exercise overhaul has really done more for that), but I believe that when I had soda during my work day (probably had 1-2 20 oz. bottles a day, almost every day), I felt the urge to snack more, usually salty snacks.

I have a Diet Coke on occasion now. I actually -enjoy- the taste of the soda again when I have one.

Darrknys

I like to drink Sparkling Lemon Lime water. I've come to love it more than diet soda. When I do have diet soda I can taste the fake sugars and it's kinda gross. Plus I can use my flavored water to make whiskey sevens when I want one every so often and feel less guilty about it.

Sunscreenandsweat

Oh yeah when I quit drinking it I lost a lot of weight fast. The sodium artificial sweeteners and chemicals are so bad for you.
I gave it up cold turkey and I was grouchy and had bad headaches at first but I feel a lot better in general.

kayleesays

I stopped drinking soda at the beginning of using MFP, and that included diet soda. Artificial sweeteners (aspartame in particular) make me so sick! They give me migraines and make me incredibly irritable. So I'm off both. It's just easier to get hooked on 100% juice or water, that way few to none of my daily calories come from drinks. After a month of cutting it out, I have almost no craving for soda at all whereas before, I would down 1-2 cold Dr. Peppers and Mountain Dews in a heartbeat.

fittocycle

The major reason I gave up drinking soft drinks is because of health concerns. Soft drinks (diet or otherwise) *can* contribute to osteoporosis and kidney issues. I'm sure it's not a problem for everyone but it was a concern for me, especially since I'm short and have a small build. :ohwell:

Gwenski

Hmm.. why not try it for a few days and see how you feel. If you find it really helps you not be tempted to eat, then I doubt 1 or 2 a day will make a huge difference,. I stopped drinking all beverages with food (and I only drank 1 diet coke a day with supper)..so, it naturally happened that I didn't bother with diet coke again.. it sits in the fridge.. 9 weeks later, flat as anything!
I have seriously found such a satisfied full feeling between meals simply by not drinking with meals.. I wait an hour, and then back to good old water...
If you experiment, do come back and tell us what you find.

tibbitts10

I have been trying to cut calories and lose weight for a while and I exercise about 5 days a week. I only lost weight in the past 6 weeks and only after cutting out diet Coke and Crystal Lite. By eliminating them, I don't have cravings for chips, fast food, and other processed foods. I do have a diet coke every week or so, but I notice on those days I also make other poor food choices. I am convinced that it is related. Since the change I have lost 14 pounds.

shellgirl144

I stopped drinking all carbonated beverages in May 2007. I did not notice any weight loss.

Captain_Tightpants

I drink too much diet soda. I try to stay away from those sweetened with aspartame and go for the sucrose sweetened ones instead. But yeah, it's a habit I've yet to get out of. It doesn't seem to be adversely affecting my weight loss though.

meggiewes

I found that soda made me thirsty and I would mistake that thirst for hunger. Then I would eat more. It was a viscous cycle. Now I only have soda every once in a while (read mostly on holidays) and only one at a time. I am really trying to drink more water now and I normally have tea.

Edited because I can't spell...

Kimmy2676

I stopped drinking the ones with aspartame because I had more headaches when I drank those regularly. I now drink only diet rite. And for those with the sodium argument, diet rite does not have any sodium. It also is without the caffeine... if that is of concern. I say if you aren't ready to give them up... don't for now, but later on you may feel ready.

honeydoozy

I can't seem to tolerate artificial sweeteners at all. Aspartame seems to cause crazy migraines, and to be honest... I really don't like the taste of any zero-calorie sweetener. At all.

There's *no* nutritive value in diet soft drinks. They don't taste *that* great, unless you like that sort of chemical taste. I DO strongly believe that aspartame has addictive properties that, someday, will be well known.

But all that aside, there's something else that just keeps nagging at me. I have lost several friends/family this past year, to a few different kinds of cancer. The *ONE* thing, that every single one of them had in common, was their love (obsession?) with diet soft drinks (particularly diet Coke). Coincidence? Maybe. But that kind of loss (over and over) plants all kinds of seeds of doubt/concern over the "safety" of the stuff. :huh:

Bpothik13

I generally have one diet soda per day; I started drinking flavored seltzer water to help keep that down to one soda per day. Although it is somewhat of an acquired taste, I like the fizz and the light flavor that is a bit like soda--not to mention that it helps on my water itake. Canada Dry has some pretty good flavors, as well.

croofner01

The main thing I noticed when I quit drinking it was that instead of craving greasy fast foods I actually started craving healthy foods. But everyone is so different so maybe it's just me. Good luck :0)

marcenepea

I think you have nothing to worry about if you are drinking 1-2 cans per day, as long as you are enjoying them, and as long as you are not one of the people who react adversly to the addititives

I have cut out diet soda's at this point, and I think it is helping me reduce the cravings, but I was drinking 8 cans per day, and doing it between meals, and always had a strong urge to eat afterwards (yes I became one of those dreaded people who ate a chocolate bar with a diet soda!).

I am thinking of starting drinking them again, though as a substitute for beer (which is my major source of empty calories) and only with a meal.

I gave them up as well, but I did notice I drink more beer now. I might also try an occasional diet soda instead of a beer or drink and see how that goes. Alot less calories thats for sure, and if its only occasionally it might work. Thanks for the idea

weaverfit

I generally have one diet soda per day; I started drinking flavored seltzer water to help keep that down to one soda per day. Although it is somewhat of an acquired taste, I like the fizz and the light flavor that is a bit like soda--not to mention that it helps on my water itake. Canada Dry has some pretty good flavors, as well.

I'm 34 days "clean" from Diet Coke now and have started drinking flavored sparkling mineral water. It's a huge help in the adjustment phase.

PeaceCorpsKat

I used to drink a lot of diet sodas and lots of sweetners. I never touch them anymore. I think it's a crutch. I have lost over 100 pounds before and gained it right back. The sweetners are like cheating.

I think I need to find the discipline to get rid of the bad stuff, and that includes the artificially sweetened drinks. If you don't you are just faking it. When you start to make wise decisions about the things you consume it starts to work.

nickyrobinson

I drink about 1 can of diet dr pepper a day, plus all my water.

I stopped drinking it for 2 weeks - no difference to how I felt, how much weight I lost, or anything. Except, I missed drinking it. So I went back. Still no difference.

Shrug.

c_gilmore

Hi everyone, my name is Crystal and I'm a dietcokeaholic. When I started MFP at the beginning of January, I drank a whopping 9-12 cans a day. I weaned myself down and now enjoy a diet coke about once a week. I now drink 8-12 glasses of water a day instead. I didn't necessarily notice a change one way or another in the weight loss, but my wallet is alot heavier now :-)