Diet Soda: Thoughts?

squirrelzzrule22
squirrelzzrule22 Posts: 640 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Okay, let me first start out by saying that I KNOW DIET SODA IS NOT HEALTHY. I know it is a load of chemicals and artificial sweeteners that my body does not need. I know this. But I also know that once or twice a week, around lunch, it is exactly what I want: It satisfies sweet cravings, it gives a pep of caffeine that's not as twitchy as a third cup of coffee, and I really like carbonation.

My question is NOT is diet soda healthy, it is ONLY- how does it affect weight loss? Now, regular soda is obviously a sugar-loaded weight loss-killer, but what do you all think about diet soda and its effect (if any) on weight loss? On the one hand, it is zero calorie (and we've all heard calories in, calories out!), but on the other I have read a few semi-reputable sources (women's magazine articles, etc) that say even diet soda can contribute to difficulty losing weight.

I'm curious what you all think. Other addicts out there? My drink of choice is Coke Zero.
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Replies

  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Okay, let me first start out by saying that I KNOW DIET SODA IS NOT HEALTHY. I know it is a load of chemicals and artificial sweeteners that my body does not need. I know this. But I also know that once or twice a week, around lunch, it is exactly what I want: It satisfies sweet cravings, it gives a pep of caffeine that's not as twitchy as a third cup of coffee, and I really like carbonation.

    My question is NOT is diet soda healthy, it is ONLY- how does it affect weight loss? Now, regular soda is obviously a sugar-loaded weight loss-killer, but what do you all think about diet soda and its effect (if any) on weight loss? On the one hand, it is zero calorie (and we've all heard calories in, calories out!), but on the other I have read a few semi-reputable sources (women's magazine articles, etc) that say even diet soda can contribute to difficulty losing weight.

    I'm curious what you all think. Other addicts out there? My drink of choice is Coke Zero.

    Given equal intake of calories, diet soda will not effect weight loss.

    Also, the dose limits at which bad things may start to happen are ridiculously high. I wouldn't even go so far as to label it unhealthy without applying that context.
  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
    Can't think anymore, too much diet soda.
  • BrettPGH
    BrettPGH Posts: 4,716 Member
    I drink a large one pretty much everyday. Never stopped me from losing weight. No calories = no weight gain.
  • seena511
    seena511 Posts: 685 Member
    what i've heard is that the artificial sweeteners trick your body into thinking that you're eating real sugar, so it reacts as if you had ingested calories when you really didn't, which throws off your metabolism. i don't know if that's actually true or not. i've heard people say that such and such lost 10 lbs just by quitting drinking soda, but i don't really see how that can be either. i know that i started cutting back on soda and lost a lot of weight, but that is probably due more to a better overall lifestyle and relationship with more healthyfoods overall than to getting rid of soda altogether. most people on here will tell you to drink it in moderation and you'll be fine. you can also search for it in the message board history...there are quite a few discussions on this.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    I KNOW DIET SODA IS NOT HEALTHY

    why do you think that?
  • infamousmk
    infamousmk Posts: 6,033 Member
    I drink diet soda and I lose weight. Also haven't gotten cancer or had my bones turn to jelly. So, my thought is, "have some diet soda if you want some. Don't overdo it, because overdoing anything is a bad idea."
  • MidwestAngel
    MidwestAngel Posts: 1,897 Member
    I :heart: diet soda
  • Unknown
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  • CM9178
    CM9178 Posts: 1,251 Member
    Even to say it is unhealthy, if you are only having it a couple times a week, I really don't think it is that bad. There are some people who drink gallons of it every day - THAT is unhealthy.
  • Krys_140
    Krys_140 Posts: 648 Member
    I drink diet soda and I lose weight. Also haven't gotten cancer or had my bones turn to jelly. So, my thought is, "have some diet soda if you want some. Don't overdo it, because overdoing anything is a bad idea."

    ^^^This.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    You could listen to SS, Taso and Brett.... but I'm guessing most people don't....

    So....

    groundhog-day-11.jpg
  • mzjessicaxo
    mzjessicaxo Posts: 330 Member
    It wont effect your weight loss, if thats your vice stick with it! Obviously its better to drink water but it wont effect the number on the scale
  • tonyrocks922
    tonyrocks922 Posts: 172 Member
    If you find you eat more and go over your goal on days you drink diet soda, cut it out, otherwise drink it and don't worry about it.
  • Trilby16
    Trilby16 Posts: 707 Member
    what i've heard is that the artificial sweeteners trick your body into thinking that you're eating real sugar, so it reacts as if you had ingested calories when you really didn't, which throws off your metabolism. i don't know if that's actually true or not. i've heard people say that such and such lost 10 lbs just by quitting drinking soda, but i don't really see how that can be either. i know that i started cutting back on soda and lost a lot of weight, but that is probably due more to a better overall lifestyle and relationship with more healthyfoods overall than to getting rid of soda altogether. most people on here will tell you to drink it in moderation and you'll be fine. you can also search for it in the message board history...there are quite a few discussions on this.

    I've heard the opposite. I've heard that you may be fooled but your body is NOT fooled by the sweet taste in your mouth and after you drink it goes, Hey, where is that sweet stuff we just had? I'm still hungry! and primes you to address the hunger by eating something, possibly something SWEET!
  • cblaramore
    cblaramore Posts: 14 Member
    I also love my diet soda. I drink a Diet Mountain Dew everyday and honestly, I'm like you, it is my treat! I might walk into the kitchen 20 times and talk myself out of eating something chocolate or sweet but if I break down and drink that one soda the craving goes away. I think moderation is the key! I know I've heard the same as you, people say so and so or they lost 5 lbs by quitting but I've seen people quit it and not lose any.
  • Soosannah
    Soosannah Posts: 270 Member
    I've always been a diet coke girl, but I have to limit mine or I start replacing water with soda. I usually have 1-2 16 or 20oz bottles per week. The less I drink them the less I want them.
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    Minimum of two Coke Zero's a day since 2008.
    See my ticker? It won't stop weight loss. VVVVVVVVVV
  • fiferize
    fiferize Posts: 141
    Try a soda called "Zevia" it's sweetened with Stevia and not as bad for you. Tastes pretty good and has a variety of likeable flavors.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I just don't like it...never had, never will...except for my diet tonic with vodka.
  • branson101
    branson101 Posts: 173 Member
    my nutritionist is always yelling at me that caffeine hinders weight loss. I don't know if that is true or not. *Shrugs* I feel that I was losing weight better before I cut my diet soda consumption down to drink more water. I won't give up diet soda completly. I still have one daily.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    I just ate poptarts...and they may not be as healthy as something else..but it fits into my calorie goal and I'm okay with it :flowerforyou:

    So if you want to drink diet soda...then drink diet soda.
  • bcf7683
    bcf7683 Posts: 1,653 Member
    Diet Coke. Mmmm :drinker:
  • MightyDomo
    MightyDomo Posts: 1,265 Member
    If you search the nutritionals there isn't much to say it is bad but would you really want to be sticking more unnatural food/drink into your body than you have to? I certainly wouldn't which is why my main and almost only drink that I normally have is either milk or water. And water is usually 90-100% of my liquid intake.
  • escloflowneCHANGED
    escloflowneCHANGED Posts: 3,038 Member
    I miss Skittybang...
  • Kellbellftw
    Kellbellftw Posts: 89 Member
    If I'm thirsty for something carbonated I reach for flavored sparkling water or flavored seltzer water! Something Natural is a brand of sparkling water I see around at most convince stores. The strawberry peach flavor is delicious! I know it's only 30 cals a bottle, but I don't remember other facts or ingredients off the top of my head.
  • BeachGingerOnTheRocks
    BeachGingerOnTheRocks Posts: 3,927 Member
    what i've heard is that the artificial sweeteners trick your body into thinking that you're eating real sugar, so it reacts as if you had ingested calories when you really didn't, which throws off your metabolism. i don't know if that's actually true or not. i've heard people say that such and such lost 10 lbs just by quitting drinking soda, but i don't really see how that can be either. i know that i started cutting back on soda and lost a lot of weight, but that is probably due more to a better overall lifestyle and relationship with more healthyfoods overall than to getting rid of soda altogether. most people on here will tell you to drink it in moderation and you'll be fine. you can also search for it in the message board history...there are quite a few discussions on this.

    This isn't correct. Artificial sweeteners having no calories can't act like foods that do have calories. The problem arises with people who justify eating a bit more because the diet soda is calorie-free (or trace calorie, to be technical). If you don't eat extra foods while drinking it, then you won't gain weight.

    The only reasons I can think of for avoiding diet soda is if you have some stomach issues from it or if you drink it in amounts that can erode your teeth.

    And if you drink it, log it. If you track your sodium, that is.
  • apriltrainer
    apriltrainer Posts: 732 Member
    I don't drink diet soda much...maybe once a week on the weekends. Nothing has happened. My metabolism didn't break...I didn't bloat. I didn't burp. I think if it doesn't hurt..why not.

    My great grandma was a smoker who died at 100. My aunt was a vegan who died at 32.

    OF course those are extreme examples. No need to be holier than thou with nutrition. I used to be one of those holy rollers..until I binged hardcore and gained 50 freaking pounds with all the restrictions I put on myself. Now I will have a diet soda...once a week. That's it. And that's because normally I don't have a taste for it. But I go to movie night with my son on the weeknds. I like to have a diet coke with my movie.

    My metabolism didn't break because I had a diet coke. I actually look pretty freaking good for my age. It's all the other crap people eat with the diet coke on the regular, that will get you the weight gain.
  • stacygayle
    stacygayle Posts: 349 Member
    I stopped drinking soda in August. My drink of choice was Coke Zero also.....loved it. I was getting heartburn all the time so I thought I'd cut out soda to see if that helped. It didn't. I didn't lose any weight by quitting. I tried to drink a diet coke recently and found that I no longer like it, so i just don't drink it. I do have an occassional diet sierra mist or diet root beer but again, they don't taste as good as they used to lol. I never thought diet coke was that unhealthy but aspartame has been known to trigger migraines and since stopping the diet coke it has helped with my headaches. One or 2 a week isn't going to hurt you.
  • kluvit
    kluvit Posts: 435 Member
    Some will say that it promotes cravings, but I lost all of my weight without giving up or cutting back on it. I typically drink 24-48oz of Diet Dr Pepper or Coke Zero per day, plus about 24-32 oz. of Crystal Light. For me, lifetime success requires that I don't feel deprived, so I chose not to "give up" everything I enjoy. It's up to you...if you lose weight better without and don't feel deprived, then go for it, but if you enjoy it and continue to lose steadily, I don't see an issue with it. There are many more serious/problematic "vices" than diet soda! :drinker:
  • sa11yjane
    sa11yjane Posts: 491 Member
    like you, i know that it's not healthy BUT a can mid-pm a few days a week often fills me up and satisfies my craving for something sweet and has therefore got to be better than choosing something unhealthy to eat.....everything in moderation??? x

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