DIET SODA???

I always used to drink Diet, Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi, 20 oz everyday. When I started MFP I did some experimenting. The days I did not drink diet pop, it was easier to maintain my calorie intake goal. On the days I would drink diet pop, I notice I would have cravings for more sugary, white-carb type foods. So it's a trigger for me definitely. No more diet pop.

However, I still felt the need for some type of caffeine intake. I switched to coffee green tea. I buy mine from Starbuck's in the form of a Cool Lime Refresher packet, mixes in with one liter of water (70 calories per liter). I only need one a day and it helps me get my first liter of water down quite easily.

I actually think that the diet wild cherry pepsi made me crave sugar more. when i started gaining weight was right around the time i started drinking that and i wanted to eat candy ALL the time!

I heard from my friend who works with a trainer and lost about 100 lbs since January that diet pop is really bad for you and bad for weight loss. I do not know why... I am sure too much of any chemical is not good for you though. I used to like pop, coffee, juice... anything tasty! But now it is JUST water, sometimes tea, and sometimes milk in the morning. But 95% just water. WAY better for you.

I would ask this friend to ask the trainer why and how it is bad for weight loss as it has zero calories (well, almost zero)

I have been Strongly Urged by osteoporosis specialists to not drink carbonated beverages of any kind because it leeches calcium from your bones, making them break easily. I've had a lifelong diet coke habit and have have 5 fractures in the last 4 years. I promise you, this is no way to live.

HMMMMM since it happened to you it MUST be true for EVERYONE!
oh wait im lifetime soda drinker and have never broken anything.....

Not everyone, but not just me either. The link between carbonated beverages and osteoporosis is widely documented, and if you wind up at a specialist your consumption will be a subject for discussion. Personally, I don't think it's worth the risk although plenty of people don't worry about it at all. The main thing is making an informed choice.

i switched to sparkling water when I gave up drinking soda. I'll mix it with a little juice (like cranberry, grape or orange) for a little flavor. Eventually, i got over the soda craving and I just drink water and tea now. It gradually gets rid of the sugar cravings.

soda = ew (for me). I haven't touched a sip of any type of soda in almost 8 years. I definitely think if you can't control it or it leads you to eating/drinking other things that aren't good for you, then you should skip it. Water is best.

http://www.purdue.edu/uns/x/2008a/080211SwithersAPA.html

Original Purdue study article no longer available, but, according to the study, rats who consumed artificial sweetener lost the ability to accurately regulate caloric intake which led to obesity of the rats who consumed artificial sweetener. Very small study however, and with the pull the soft drink companies have you can bet there will never be a large study. Just will not happen.

Most of us do make some compromises with our health. I haven't had soda on a regular basis in years. However, I do use cane sugar in my coffee. Some people feel that all sugar is horrible for you. I make an exception for plain old sugar here and there in my diet. I make all efforts to avoid high fructose corn syrup, but very occasionally will use regular corn syrup for baking. Think twice a year maybe?

Whenever I see someone at the grocery store with a cart full of soda I just wince. Usually the same person saying they can't afford to buy vegetables and eat healthy and I see how they could save themselves enough money to buy vegetables by forgoing soda. Worst thing I've seen recently in the grocery store is a mom with probably her 13 year old son, cart full of soda, standing in the canned veggie aisle trying to find a vegetable they were willing to try. They bought two cans of creamed corn. Seriously? The son hadn't ever tried green beans, peas, spinach, none of that. So, they were going to try corn to get used to eating vegetables.. So much ugh. As an adult, make whatever decisions you want with your body. But, if you have children, it is morally reprehensible to have a teenager who has never eaten vegetables but does consume a shopping cart full of soda.