Diet Soda vs. Flavored Waters?

colobon

If I give up my one-two Diet Cokes a day and replace them with zero calorie flavored water will that help? Is it just the artificial sweeteners that are bad for weight control? If so I'm thinking this strategy would be useless. Anyone know if this has been studied or has tried it?

RobynC_88

I'm trying to cut down on Diet Coke, too, but it's so good.

From what I've heard, it's more so that artificial sweeteners trigger your sweet tooth rather than satisfying it and hinder weight loss (not familiar with the research on that though).

If you want to cut down on artificial sweeteners, have you considered just filling your water bottle with tap water and adding a lemon slice (2 cals) or a couple of cucumber slices (1 cal each)? It might not satisfy your sweet tooth, but it's less boring than plain water. The cucumber won't affect the taste very much, but it is very refreshing.

kbmnurse

Soda is toxic. Stop drinking the crap. It rots your bones.

MrDude_1

Every year water kills more people then all soda deaths combined.
Avoid water. Drink soda.

WickedGarden

instead of drinking 'flavored' water-like the kind that contain Splenda or other artificial sweeteners, try to look for flavored seltzer water. My local Fred Meyer (Kroger in other parts of the country) sells a 2 liter bottle for about a buck. Carbonated water with 'natural flavors'. 0 calories.

I prefer Talking Rain since they put 'natural essence' in the water to flavor it. That's only available here in the Northwest.

It has helped me kick the soda habit, I 'feel' like I'm drinking soda since it's carbonated, but it's just water with a bit of flavor in it. I really am thinking about buying a seltzer bottle to make my own...the soda stream is really expensive (well, their CO2 cartridges are...regular CO2 cartridges are cheaper)

rjt1000

Every year water kills more people then all soda deaths combined.
Avoid water. Drink soda.

I guess the anti aspartame seagulls haven't spotted this thread yet. 5 posts and 1 that says diet sodas are toxic. I think that's a record.

Counting down the seconds until the flaming starts.....
5
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1

mahidac

lol yeah im shocked this thread hasn't blown up yet

that being said medical school has not taught me anything that causes me to fear diet soda - i only joined MFP after I lost a lot of weight, ive lost about 50 pounds total so far and every pound was 'soaked' in coke zero

I dont think you can deny yourself everything, and aspartame studies quoted on these websites dont scare me - the neurotoxic and carcinogen responses from people are vastly overblown to me

pornstarzombie

I think it just depends on your body and what works for you. I personally cannot drink diet soda, because it does seem to hinder my weight loss. Just like some people can lose weight and be fine with carbs, and some have to lower their carbs.

Sp1nGoddess

When I gave up soda of all types I lost 5 pounds! I like Pellegrino or other sparkling mineral water with a squeeze of lemon or lime.

cressievargo

I think it just depends on your body and what works for you. I personally cannot drink diet soda, because it does seem to hinder my weight loss. Just like some people can lose weight and be fine with carbs, and some have to lower their carbs.

^^ This. Diet pop is a HUGE trigger for me, so I avoid it as much as possible.
I have switched to crystal light - which still has the aspartame, but I use about 1/3 of the packet for 64 oz of water.
I don't know why it doesn't seem to trigger me as much as the pop - who knows - maybe it's all in my head...
but - that said - quitting the pop was a huge step forward for me (yay NSV!) and I know that if I can do that, there lots of other foods I can "quit" too!

LuneBleu85

Every year water kills more people then all soda deaths combined.
Avoid water. Drink soda.

HAHAHAAH

SeaStar

I like to buy sugar-free water flavor packets from vons and have them every once in a while vs soda. I just don't like diet soda because it bloats me and steers me away from drinking more water.

stephcricket

I have learned that if I deny myself my favorite foods...that I just gain my weight back after losing...(yes, I am a yo-yo dieter--losing the same 20-30 pounds over and over!!).....I absolutely love cherry sundrop. I allow myself one every morning and allow it in my 1200 calorie diet plan...I don't feel deprived anymore and hopefuly my theory is going to help me this time around!!!

KeepOnMoving

lol yeah im shocked this thread hasn't blown up yet

that being said medical school has not taught me anything that causes me to fear diet soda - i only joined MFP after I lost a lot of weight, ive lost about 50 pounds total so far and every pound was 'soaked' in coke zero

I dont think you can deny yourself everything, and aspartame studies quoted on these websites dont scare me - the neurotoxic and carcinogen responses from people are vastly overblown to me

I've just recently heard of the carcinogen in the carmel coloring of soda that scared me. I also have been hearing about how artificial sweeteners do not break down and can cause kidney failures. But this as been on the subject of diet soda and soda in general. Why do we not hear a big deal on artificial sweetened yogurt with zero fat??? Its the same thing. Why the big up roar on soda?

KeepOnMoving

Enquire minds want to know! (quest from the diet soda addict)

If you want, you can sweeten your water with fruit such as lime, orange, or cucumber slices. That might work for you. I still rely on my fake sugar and caffeine to get me through some days.

ashcandi

I don't know about the health pros or cons on diet cokes but I feel much better and look less bloated when I don't drink them! I actually like the taste of water, particularly water with a little lemon juice.

Skinny_Beans

teeeeeea! Seriously, black, green, white, chai-all delicious, and you can add milk, almond milk, cream, splenda, ect.

Have you tried tea sweetened with licorice root? Very sweet, no calories.

After a few days you won't miss super sweetened drinks anyway, your tastes buds adapt. Versus craving a diet soda every day-yikes.

knucklescasey

I am having the same problem. I can not get away from diet pop. it calls to me everytime i see it. i love it. I drink atleast 8 glasses of water a day and one soda that has been working for me. But water has completley bloated me. I am going to cut my pop down to a half a glass then to none. since i have got away from regular pop i have lost like 5 pounds though. I am not really sure if its the pop or my new found love for healthy food.. lol

juliedee6

Diet sodas also activate your pancreas just as regular sodas do. It is best to stay away from them. (That's not to say an occasional one is bad.) I buy plain soda water and put in flavored Stevia that I ordered on-line. Gives me a little fizzy drink, but mostly, I drink water. I cut up limes and oranges and keep in the fridge to use also.

starlapickens

I heard on Dr. Oz that the artificial sweeteners trick your brain into sending out insulin. which then has no calories to consume so it brings your blood sugar down and makes you feel hungry. I've noticed that it affects me that way. But I love Diet soda, and I've had a problem with my blood sugar for years, (not on insulin), controlling it with my diet so far... But I like the suggestion about Seltzer flavored water and i will try it...Thankyou!

cgsr

You should cut out both, really...but if I had to pick my poison of the two...flavored waters (you know soda can be used to clean a car battery right...something just seems fundamentally wrong with drinking that to me...just sayin)

theredcliche

i put one pack of crystal light in my 74 oz jug of water per day. its like 5 cals and has some artificial sweeteners, but i'm drinking 74 oz of water a day at least. i love diet dr pepper and sometimes i crave them, but i find that i do much better when i just avoid them. i let myself have one every now and then, but sometimes, it takes me an entire day to drink a 12 oz can... two years ago, i finished a 2 liter in one night. i'd focus on drinking as much water as possible then having a diet soda if you wanted it later.

MrDude_1

You should cut out both, really...but if I had to pick my poison of the two...flavored waters (you know soda can be used to clean a car battery right...something just seems fundamentally wrong with drinking that to me...just sayin)

you can also use vinegar.
or any acidic fruit.
or if you just want to clean it, and not neutralize it with an acid, water works too.

this, and the tooth thing, also can be done with a piece of fruit... but thats not the image the people manipulating you want to portray.. they want you to think soda bad, fruit good.

rjt1000

I heard on Dr. Oz that the artificial sweeteners trick your brain into sending out insulin. which then has no calories to consume so it brings your blood sugar down and makes you feel hungry. I've noticed that it affects me that way. But I love Diet soda, and I've had a problem with my blood sugar for years, (not on insulin), controlling it with my diet so far... But I like the suggestion about Seltzer flavored water and i will try it...Thankyou!

I've checked my blood sugar on a regular basis using a glucose kit as diabetics do. No changes from drinking diet soda. And I drink 6-8 cans a day.

colobon

Some very interesting replies. My can of soda takes me three hours to drink at work so I think it's not a huge issue. I will focus on changing other habits first. As far as cleaning car batteries, I bet stomach acid would do a good job, too. ;-)

tlee718

If I were you I'd stay away from any kind of soda. I use to drink regular coke and Pepsi everyday (sum times at least 4 a day) and I weighed 175 lbs. so I switched to diet soda and my weight really didn't change so I stopped drinking soda all together and only drink water throughout the day now. I do allow myself to add one Packet of flavoring a day( normally with my dinner) but that's it. Since I started this 2 months ago I now weigh 154 lbs. I also go to the gym everyday too but that's a different story. But yeah stay away from soda period, it makes u (or at least me) feel bloated, it still contains sum sort of artificial sugar and water is full of a lot more nutrients. Good luck!

drmerc

I too have irrational fears of foods

Lyssa62

I can't even drink diet pop now. I drink the Sparkling Ice waters mixed in with regular water..about 1/2 and 1/2. it's upped my water intake to about 64 oz a day.. 0 calories 0 sodium and sugar and great taste. I don't taste a splenda taste at all. Doesn't trigger any kind of craving for me.

Sarauk2sf

How does a zero calorie beverage cause issues for weight control, assuming you are logging your food?

Sarauk2sf

If I were you I'd stay away from any kind of soda. I use to drink regular coke and Pepsi everyday (sum times at least 4 a day) and I weighed 175 lbs. so I switched to diet soda and my weight really didn't change so I stopped drinking soda all together and only drink water throughout the day now. I do allow myself to add one Packet of flavoring a day( normally with my dinner) but that's it. Since I started this 2 months ago I now weigh 154 lbs. I also go to the gym everyday too but that's a different story. But yeah stay away from soda period, it makes u (or at least me) feel bloated, it still contains sum sort of artificial sugar and water is full of a lot more nutrients. Good luck!

Water is full of nutrients? What nutrients would these be?

drmerc

If I were you I'd stay away from any kind of soda. I use to drink regular coke and Pepsi everyday (sum times at least 4 a day) and I weighed 175 lbs. so I switched to diet soda and my weight really didn't change so I stopped drinking soda all together and only drink water throughout the day now. I do allow myself to add one Packet of flavoring a day( normally with my dinner) but that's it. Since I started this 2 months ago I now weigh 154 lbs. I also go to the gym everyday too but that's a different story. But yeah stay away from soda period, it makes u (or at least me) feel bloated, it still contains sum sort of artificial sugar and water is full of a lot more nutrients. Good luck!

Water is full of nutrients? What nutrients would these be?

HO