Diet coke - does it make you put on weight

Matt_Wild

Please tell me how a zero calorie drink can increase waist circumference? All that shows me is people who drink diet drinks may also eat bad diets as well. How often do you see people at McDonalds clearly over weight eat a burger and fries with "a diet coke" please.

There is no bias for or against. I've actually provided 3 pubmed studies on insulin and glucose levels AND a recent overview of diet drinks combined and they all show what I say.

Your information states "he American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions suggests" meaning they have not drawn any conclusions based on the data they have.

beachlover317 - "Haven't seen any HARD FACTS in this thread" - so studies I provided plus an overall co-allation of date I provide aren't based on FACTS and blood glucose and insulin readings? Um? Ok then. Ignore the science!

aimeelambert88

I was drinking diet coke every day and after cutting it out of my daily diet I have started to lose weight, I dont know if there is any link or its just a coincidence, but I know if i now drink too much it really makes my stomach feel bloated and yacky.....i've swapped the diet coke for flavoured water (might be equally as bad) but this works as a good replacement for me

Matt_Wild

Kara_xxx - since the aspartame has no calories nor does it need insulin for it to be lifted into the system, it would be the carb's in the meal causing the insulin/glucose rise, fairly obvious really!!!

Kara_xxx

Kara_xxx - since the aspartame has no calories nor does it need insulin for it to be lifted into the system, it would be the carb's in the meal causing the insulin/glucose rise, fairly obvious really!!!

ooohhh who do I believe... the research of Helen P. Hazuda, Ph.D., professor and chief of the Division of Clinical Epidemiology in the School of Medicine or "Wild Matt"....

it's tough really...

_Mimi_

Like most things, it's individual as far as the cravings/weight gain. For me? WOW! I can't even believe the difference since giving it up. Not only diet soda, but all artificial sweeteners, and most sugars. I use a bit of honey...other than that, I add no sweetener, natural or artificial.

As to the qestion of if they are harmful to you? Again, you can find a study to convince you of whatever you wish to believe. Personally, I try to eat as clean as possible, and stay away from as much processed foods as I can. At the very least, it is processed, so for me, I don't consider it a healthy choice.

I would like to suggest that anyone out there who is a binge eater, or has huge cravings, especially for sweets, try cutting all the artificial sweeteners, and don't add any refined sugars, for 2 to 3 weeks. See if you feel a difference. I truly believe this one change is what is going to finally get me off the diet roller coaster, and help me to live a happier, healthier, thinner life.

smithy85

I know it won't help with the artificial sweetener issue, but I now drink diet lemonade instead of diet coke, so at least I get the sweet fizzy hit, but without the caffeine.

Ive also been buying diet lemonade recently! Good Stuff! x

Matt_Wild

My name is actually Matt Wild, its my real name, I don't hide behind pseudo names - http://www.gasparinutrition.co.uk/195.html

As for who you believe, my studies are all from pubmed again by published scientists and my overall conclusion again, the same.

If you feel the need to start name calling, the I think it shows general level of confidence in your own data. I provide studies on humans, you provide them in mice.

As much as they can suggest human interactions with insulin, I can 100% state that I am not, have never been and will never have the endocrine, digestive nor biological set-up of a MOUSE.

Stuz359

I don't think it makes you gain weight, just increases your cravings for the other sweet stuff. It's like giving an alcoholic a light beer, or an ex smoker a fake cigarette. It just brings back the cravings and makes you want more.

3LittleMonkeyMom

Without being a nutritionist or doctor of internal medicine I can say this: I gave up a years long habit of DAILY coke zero/diet coke, and feel 100% better. My stomach doesn't bloat as it used to, I have have bladder issues anymore, and I don't have fuzzy brain. I actually remember what I walked into a room for.

I have a large cup of coffee in the morning, and drink water the rest of the day. I never thought I could kick my addiction (that's what it felt like when I was giving it up!!) to diet coke...but I did.

ETA: By "Daily" I mean it was the only thing I drank besides my cup of coffee in the A.M.

beachlover317

Please tell me how a zero calorie drink can increase waist circumference? All that shows me is people who drink diet drinks may also eat bad diets as well. How often do you see people at McDonalds clearly over weight eat a burger and fries with "a diet coke" please.

There is no bias for or against. I've actually provided 3 pubmed studies on insulin and glucose levels AND a recent overview of diet drinks combined and they all show what I say.

Your information states "he American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions suggests" meaning they have not drawn any conclusions based on the data they have.

beachlover317 - "Haven't seen any HARD FACTS in this thread" - so studies I provided plus an overall co-allation of date I provide aren't based on FACTS and blood glucose and insulin readings? Um? Ok then. Ignore the science!

I believe you misunderstood what I was stating. I said that all the previous posters were just stating their opionions. We were providing anecdotal evidence from our own experiences. I know you gave fact based studies - I agree. At this point there is not relevant PROOF that says diet drinks cause weight gain, cravings, etc. I can only say what works for me. That's it. I'm not telling anyone to drink or no drink. These forums do not always have to be all or nothing. My telling someone my experiences does not harm them. If they quit drinking diet sodas they are not harmed either. Have a good day.

camrunner

I drink ridiculous amounts of diet soda and it's never been a problem. That said, if you can give it up, you'll probably be better for it.

vtachycardia

In the UK there was a program called "the truth about weight loss." it is on Youtube although I do not know if USA can view the BBC channel.

Interesting point was made using Functional MRI and sugars and sweetners. The brain reacts immediately to real glucose, it does not react to artificial sweetners. You have fooled the tastebuds but not the brain, the brain will want it's glucose and diet soda drinkers subconciously eat more.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=artificial-sweeteners-confound-the-brain

Many more articles, but who really reads links.

The functional MRI, would support the view of both Matt Wild and the other womans studies. The functional MRI is changing perception on many areas of diet and brain interaction. Rather like worlds first robot stomach has destroyed many opinions on cooked food versus raw food, cooked is better.

beachlover317

I drink ridiculous amounts of diet soda and it's never been a problem. That said, if you can give it up, you'll probably be better for it.

I like this. This is the attitude we should all have on these forums. This was my point exactly. If you want to drink it - go ahead. If you give it up (like I did) you may feel better. Either way - live and let live!!!

CyberEd312

Stop drinking it! Giving up sodas was this best thing I did a couple years ago. The artificial sweeteners in diet drinks make you hungry so you tend to eat more if you consume a lot of diet sodas.

No they don't, they don't increase insulin nor blood glucose. Indeed studies show this:

Overall - http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=7921865

Aspartame - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1946186

Saccharin - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7652029

Sucralose - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21245879


Don't let facts get in the way of your interesting story tho

Agreed!! I am a type 2 diabetic (diagnosed in 2009 @ 560 lbs,) and I drink 2 to 3 bottles of diet pepsi a day (also drink 125 oz. of water a day atleast) and have lost 310 lbs. over the last 37 months... The diet drinks haven't triggered any craving and I don't buy into the fear mongering...... Do what you need to do for yourself but I am quite content with my Soda's... On a Big Red Zero kick at the moment.. (stuff is O so good)..... Best of Luck

queenhiphop

All this thread has done has made me crave diet coke.

So i'm gona go and drink one. And put on 30 lbs.

pkw58

I quit diet coke in 2005 and lost like 13 pounds without trying…my new rule for coffee and tea is to add another 8 ozs of water for every coffee or tea I drink in addition to the 8 waters I have a day.

totally un - scientific, but worked and works for me.

jsidel126

Heavily sweeted drinks encourage consumption of other heavily sweetened/salted foods which tend to be high in calories...
Fruits and vegetables tasted better when paired with lighly sweetened/unsweetened drinks...
I found simply diluting the heavily sweetened drinks helpful in curbing my appitite for them (and consequently other foods normally consumed at the same time...)

Brand logos previously had a much bigger effect on my appitite than they do now. When I used to see certain logos, I would instantly get hungry for the food item. I don't eat much fast food anymore and the logos have very little effect on me now (hence less empty calories. I now refer to it as an emotional induced diet.)

Now I eat less calories, I run at least 30 min a day 6x/wk... :happy:

Adsnwfld

It is hard to dig through the data, but some data suggests that the diet drinks trigger your body to want real sweets and cause over eating. It is better for you to dump the soda, plenty of research linkes artificial sweetners and cancer (in huge amounts, but why take the chance)

Try to dump the soda and I think you'll have better luck maintaining

Matt_Wild

"The present review explores the interactions between sweeteners and enteroendocrine cells, and consequences for glucose absorption and insulin release. A combination of in vitro, in situ, molecular biology and clinical studies has formed the basis of our knowledge about the taste receptor proteins in the glucose-sensing enteroendocrine cells and the secretion of incretins by these cells. Low-energy (intense) sweeteners have been used as tools to define the role of intestinal sweet-taste receptors in glucose absorption. Recent studies using animal and human cell lines and knockout mice have shown that low-energy sweeteners can stimulate intestinal enteroendocrine cells to release glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide. These studies have given rise to major speculations that the ingestion of food and beverages containing low-energy sweeteners may act via these intestinal mechanisms to increase obesity and the metabolic syndrome due to a loss of equilibrium between taste receptor activation, nutrient assimilation and appetite. However, data from numerous publications on the effects of low-energy sweeteners on appetite, insulin and glucose levels, food intake and body weight have shown that there is no consistent evidence that low-energy sweeteners increase appetite or subsequent food intake, cause insulin release or affect blood pressure in normal subjects. Thus, the data from extensive in vivo studies in human subjects show that low-energy sweeteners do not have any of the adverse effects predicted by in vitro, in situ or knockout studies in animals."

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smaugish

I drink Dr Pepper Zero, and/or Coke Zero, pretty darn regularly, and my craving for 'sweet/salty/junk foods' has actually gone down. I've been much more successful in choosing healthy options over the delicious rubbish ones- apples instead of cookies, frozen yogurt instead of ice cream, a yogurt instead of chocolate, wholemeal pasta/brown rice instead of the white variety. I chalk this down to a mental change, however; think it has nowt to do with what kinda soda I am or am not drinking.

Different things work for different people!

anatee1

WAAAAAAAH!
I love diet coke!
and reading everyones posts is making me think twice!
then ill be craving my diet coke.
i usually have about 4 600ml bottles a week!!

LeggyKettleBabe

I gain water weight from it the next day

Shrinking_Moody

I am a diet soda addict! I've cut down to one a day on some days - but have switched to diet coke w/ splenda (I've only found it at Wal-Mart but it isn't bad) or if I don't have a soda that day - I have the diet arizona green tea with splenda. When I started MFP I had a 6 to 8 soda a day habit. It was ridiculous really. I too kept seeing those stupid articles and the only info I found was that the aspartame in diet drinks can make you retain belly fat. I'm not a regular soda fan - but have actually seen a few articles saying those are better for you but again they all boiled down to that aspartame stuff.

Since cutting back (a twelve pack of soda every two weeks or so) I've lost a few inches - but I'm also watching what I eat and working out six days a week - so I dont' know how much truth there is to that stuff. I do feel better since cutting back - but again - I'm watching what I eat and exercising so that could just be the ticket. However with all the reports out there on diet soda one has to wonder - and ultimately do what works for you.

***Edit - the zero drinks (coke zero/pepsi max, etc) also have aspartame.

LorinaLynn

No one can "gain weight" from a zero calorie food item. The sodium in it is minimal... typically about the same as the sodium in three baby carrots.

But in some people, it increases cravings and has other side effects, like headaches. If you're one of those people, avoid it.

jlmauchgibbs

It may be all in my head, but my husband and I have noticed the same thing with regards to snacking more when drinking diet soda. We gave it up about a year and a half ago and both lost weight - he lost 60 pounds and I lost 30. Of course, it was really more about diet and exercise than just giving up soda. However, when we introduced it back into the diet, we both found ourselves snacking more and having a tough time controlling cravings - both fell off the wagon a bit. I have also read about this and don't know how much of it is true, but it sure seems to impact our diets. We have decided to really limit it. If I have to have a can of soda, I have it at supper so it doesn't wreck my whole day. I figure, if I can't pronounce any of the ingredients listed on the can, it can't be all that good for me anyway so it can't hurt to limit it if it works for me (and it does!) Good luck!!

falcon367

I don't buy into the theory myself. I am on the road all day .. for me soda, water, SOMETHING to drink breaks the monotony. While I've cut back and drink more water than I ever used to, especially because of my protein consumption, I still drink whatever diet soda I have a desire for and have lost 20 lb in the last 70 days ... it's a mindset IMO. And no, I have no cravings ... IMO, sugar is a bigger concern than diet soda.

dinosnopro

Over the past few months I have slowly gotten addicted to diet coke. I am having at least 1 can, but sometimes up to 3 a day. Initially it helped to fill that space in the late afternoon when I wanted to eat and eat. I've googled and there are so many reports saying that it actually ends up making you put on weight in the long term.

Initially I pffft'd that, but I'm beginning to think that is true. I am starting to struggle with controlling my cravings (and then over eating) and I'm actually now thinking that it might be the diet coke. I didn't seem to have any problems with this for the year that I lost weight. It's only once I got close to maintenance that I started with the diet coke thing, and every so slowly my weight has crept up (which is not surprising - I'm logging,but I always seem to go over my cals).

Thoughts? Experiences?

I would find this ( the food that is causing you to go over on cals. ) and it should solve your problems, diet coke would not cause this. It has zero calories.

meglynne1987

I used to have a Diet Coke addiction, I would drink a couple a day! I decided that i could give up a few and go down to one a day, and still i didn't feel like it quenched my thirst and i was super hungry after drinking one. I have now given Diet Coke up for good. I lost weight once i cut sodas out all together, but that could be due to the amount of water i am drinking in its place (which is good) but i did try a sip of DC the other day and it tasted horrible, way to sweet!! I think if you give them up and replace them with water you would see a difference in the way you feel as well as the number on the scale. But this is only my opinion, feel free to ignore it. :laugh:

tishajo

I drink over a litre a day of the stuff, at my worst I was drinking 3 litres a day.

I'm still losing weight even though I'm drinking it

I also drink Diet Coke quite a bit. I know it's bad for you and blah, blah. Maybe I'll wean myself off in the near future. No problems with the weight loss though.

freew67

I've lost 104 lbs so far and I drink about 2L a day. I don't get cravings or any other silly side effects that others get. A little bit of self-control goes a long way.