Diet Sodas- Is It Affecting My Weight Loss?

Natelywills · February 2013

So I have a problem and I really hope my fellow MFP-ers can help. I drink a LOT of soda. I mean tons. Most days I drink around 2-4 liters in the evening, at least 5 cups of tea a day with creamer and often have a couple of pops during the work day. I only drink diet sodas and don't take sugar in my tea so I felt I was being healthy since I'm not terribly keen on water or flavored water. I've tried it with lemon and other things and it's OK but I crave something with real flavor and that yummy fizz.

Do carbonated beverages cause the body to retain liquid? I've been losing pretty steadily but I've been plateauing out for over a month and I'm drinking plenty of liquids, just very minimal water.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Other than the liquids, I'm doing so well and nothing is changing.

Thanks, everyone and good luck on your losses, too.

RandiLandCHANGED · February 2013

I am curious about this as well. I just discovered Coke Zero and I liked it but I was worried about starting to drink it for this very reason. I've never been a diet soda drinker but I just can't afford the calories of regular anymore without sacrificing real food!

odadkins78 · February 2013

well ive always been told the aspertame in diet sodas cause major health issues

AckieJ · February 2013

Well I stopped cold turkey with drinking diet or non-diet and felt the weight fall off. Went back to drinking it and now I'm at a stand still. Tomorrow we start a biggest loser challenge at work so attempting to stop the diets for the 6 weeks. So we'll see.

SherryTeach · February 2013

Everyone reacts differently to artificial sweeteners and you will find people here who are quite militant about their disapproval of diet drinks. I drink Coke Zero and diet 7-Up a few times a week and it hasn't affected my weight loss in any way.

jenilla1 · February 2013

I used to drink them but haven't had one in months. Diet soda has had no effect on my weight whatsoever. :drinker:

links_slayer · February 2013

well ive always been told the aspertame in diet sodas cause major health issues

lololol

naidyl150 · February 2013

I just discovered Coke Zero not too long ago as well. I have family members who drink exclusively diet drinks, soda and tea, and haven't drank an ounce of water in the past 15 years or so and have lost significant weight.
I also have other family members that swear soda is going to kill us, so I just ignore them

Aspartame did cause health issues in the lab experiments done for FDA testing, but you have to keep in mind that during those tests, they are using around 50 times the amount the average person will use per day. They are to find the extremes of what new chemicals will cause.

Truly, it depends on the individual person. Overall, I believe, that as long as you try to add some variety, and maybe a little bit of moderation, you should be alright.

mustang3 · February 2013

I have been hooked on Sparkling Ice Water. . . It is flavored and carbonated so you get your fizz fix!! Plus you can get it in multiple flavors!! As a bonus it has no sugars or calories

links_slayer · February 2013

OP, what do mean by "plenty of liquids"?

FindingSamMon · February 2013

I don't know about the diet soda (I still indulge occasionally), but when I stopped using cream in my coffee, I lost 3 pounds in a week (I used to do coffee with triple cream 2 or three times a day). Now I use milk or drink it black.....

hilarytwilary · February 2013

There is some evidence that even diet soda can make people gain weight. This video sums it up: http://nutritionfacts.org/video/how-diet-soda-could-make-us-gain-weight/

sarahirishrose · February 2013

I drink diet soda, but I don't drink it everyday and I do drink lots of water. I use it as a treat on days where I'm having a lot of trouble. Maybe do crystal light or something? I don't know but I had always heard it was the carbonation that was counter productive. This article I found was the most balanced on the information.

http://www.shape.com/weight-loss/food-weight-loss/ask-diet-doctor-can-diet-soda-make-you-fat

winterswish · February 2013

Please take this from a completely non-preachy, non-clean eating point of view: ditch the soda, diet or otherwise.

I was raised with soda as a food group, meaning it wasn't a "Would you like a soda?" it was a "Which kind do you want?" sort of household. For the first time in my 34 years, I'm eight weeks soda free and it REALLY does make a difference.

I gave up diet soda about a year ago and shed all of my headache problems (thanks to aspartame, also linked to Alzheimer's if I'm not mistaken but don't quote me). Switched to regular but cut back on my consumption. Two months ago I just decided to give it up and I'm so glad.

It was hard because it was such a habit, but that's all it was-- a habit. I found I was at the store buying it mindlessly, not even wondering if I wanted it at all. Just buying it because that's what I do. And now, I don't. And I don't want it. And I still can't believe I'm saying it.

I guess if you don't have any negative reactions to the artificial sweeteners and you're limiting intake of them as you would any other "treat" type food, then I say what the heck. But if it's the habit you're supporting and not the enjoyment...I say let it go.

RhonndaJ · February 2013

My answer is: Maybe.

Some people seem to be sensitive to the ingredients in diet soda, while others are not.

geebusuk · February 2013

Loads of Coke Zeros and I used to be on cheap fizzy drinks all the time.
When I stopped as per doctor's suggestion due to upset stomach (turns out it was Caesin powder causing it), it didn't affect me at all.
I find Coke Zero a really good tool to help weight loss as someone that doesn't drink hot drinks.

I also liked the way that fizzy drinks give you a bit of a 'full' feeling.

LiftAllThePizzas · February 2013

There is some evidence that even diet soda can make people gain weight. This video sums it up: http://nutritionfacts.org/video/how-diet-soda-could-make-us-gain-weight/

"People consuming low calorie sweeteners may overcompensate by eating more than they otherwise would."

Not if you're counting calories. And it's not the diet soda making people gain weight, it's the fact that they think they can eat twice as much as they would have if they had a regular soda... in those cases it is their own stupidity that's making them gain weight.

babydocDO · February 2013

Diet sodas have no calories; however, studies have shown that the more diet soda a person drinks, the more he or she weighs. Most likely, this is due to other factors in an individual's diet. For many people, drinking soda, even diet soda, is accompanied with eating other foods that are high in calories. Therefore, the weight gain is caused not by the diet soda, but the other foods. Aspartamine can cause headaches in high quantities, but not inherently dangerous unless you have phenoketonuria. Diet sodas do have sodium in them. This sodium is pretty negligible in small quantities of diet soda; however, it can add up if you are drinking a lot. All this sodium can lead to weight gain due to fluid retention as well has hypertension in the long term.

Kristineknits · February 2013

Regardless of whether the contents of a soda hurt you... you are drinking a LOT of soda and tea. Are you drinking as a substiute for eating? Maybe you are substituting these drinks for food that could actually satisfy your hunger. You also may want to drink more water, I notice I lose more when I am well hydrated.

Maybe start cutting back a liter a week until you are down to only 24 ounces a day. I suspect you may feel a bit better, even if if doesn't result in huge weight loss.

elisa123gal · February 2013

i've not been drinking much at all since being on mfp. I do know the Adkins diet said any diet drink except those sweetened with splenda somehow stalls weight loss. They didn't know why...but saw a pattern with stalls when low carb dieters drank aspartame.

I've also heard that the diet drinks keep people wanting sweets..so that is why it stalls weight loss.

what is so great about mfp is you can find out for yourself. Drink diet soda for a month...then quit for a month..and see how much you lose each month..and there.. you have your answer.

ubetterwerk · February 2013

My nutrritionist suggested eliminating completely, but if I had to have it, it would do less harm if I drank it with a meal. I used to have a diet soda in the morning (and all day). I did find that cutting it out between meals made a huge difference in my hunger and snacky feeling between meals. I also notice a difference in the appearance of my skin when I don't drink it. It's tough, but for me it made a difference. The hardest one for me to give up was the morning one, but I found caffeinated water called Water Joe, I found it at Meijer. It helped me b/c I'm not a coffee drinker (unless it's a 400 cal. latte

kelp99 · February 2013

Do carbonated beverages cause the body to retain liquid? I've been losing pretty steadily but I've been plateauing out for over a month and I'm drinking plenty of liquids, just very minimal water.

It's not the carbonation that causes the body to retain liquid, its the caffeine.

I know you say you don't like the taste of water/flavored water, but there are just too many benefits to water to not drink it! Is it tap water you don't like? If thats the case, maybe try some of the bottled waters - differant brands do taste different. Or maybe get a Brita water filter?

Rather than stop drinking it all together, maybe just try to cut back on it ... [for example] instead of drinking a 20oz bottle maybe switch to 12oz can. Don't deprive yourself all together, but try to cut back a little and [give it a week or two] just to see if it affects your weight.

(I also found it difficult to give up soda [I'd do well for awhile and then end up drinking a whole 2 liter by myself in one day]. So now I try to limit my intake to just one can of [regular] coke a day.)

sharonKay65 · February 2013

Great question! I too used to drink a lot of soda I have always drank diet, but then I cut way back on pop only to replace it with coffee. I am the type of person, that literally has another pot brewing as soon as one is empty. Up until a few minutes ago, my diary setting was "private" because to be honest, I was almost embarrassed at the amount of coffee I realized I was drinking once I really starting tracking everything. Plus, I used to use a lot of flavored creamers, half&half whole milk, etc.... or drank cappuccinos . I don't use sugar but rather sweet-n-low and even when I was just using regular coffee mate I realized how many calories and fat gr. I was adding everyday. I really was "drinking" my calories. I have switched to fat-free creamer which helped on the fat grams, but I realized, I need to be making healthier choices. I used to figure I drink "more than enough water" everyday, it just happens to have coffee added to it.

now I am going to make a commitment to myself to try and limit it to a reasonable amount. I still love a diet coke, but like coffee, I am going to try to cut back on that as well. It may take me a little while to get used to the change, but that's what I am trying to do, even if it's one little change at a time if necessary!

misspastry · February 2013

Wow is all I can see. That's a ton of soda. You need to cut it out completely or only have 1 a day. Diet soda has sodium which makes you retain water and therefore you plateau. I used to drink a lot of diet coke as well and as soon as I stopped I started losing. I have a sodastream and make my own, whicch has only 35 calories a cup and 5g of sugar. Even then I only drink a couple cups a week. I stick to water, crystal light and seltzer. If you want fizz, do half cranberry juice/seltzer. It's actually good once you get to used to it and use the flavored seltzer(lime). I'm down 26 pounds and feel a lot better when I drink water.

mikkimomof3 · February 2013

Not sure, since I guess it affects everyone differently. Like you, I drank a TON of diet soda for years. I stopped cold turkey on December 10th...and haven't looked back. I now drink much more water and just feel better in general. I have not lost a ton of weight since quitting--so I wouldn't expect that to be an immediate result, however I do find that I my cravings for sweet/sugary foods has dramatically decreased! I still love my sweets, but I feel that I can keep it under control a bit better now--have a couple cookies and move on. I used to feel the need to eat everything in sight! I quit because it isn't good for me in general and figured I really needed to be drinking more water anyway. Saves me money too, which is a great perk!

Edited to add: I had a four day headache when I quit and was falling asleep by 7pm (sitting up on the couch and holding water in my hand-haha)...I have started drinking a cup of coffee once or twice a day to help with my caffeine addiction-lol)

Goal_Line · February 2013

Lost 57 lbs with a diet Dr Pepper every weekday.

staceyspassion · February 2013

Here is an AWESOME group to follow.
http://www.hungryforchange.tv/article/could-diet-sodas-be-making-you-depressed

This was sent out today.
I think DIET soda has a great effect on your weight. The sodium and effects to our hormones alone is enough to STOP drinking it.
We're all human, so having it to treat yourself like once a week or month isnt going to be horrible.
If you were to stop and then one day drink a COKE, for instance you would notice the bloating effect it gives right away..
JUST SAY NO!

grward612 · February 2013

Everyone is going to have something to say that contradicts what someone else said. This is evident as you read down through the messages. So we share with you what we have experienced ourselves. I drink a LOT of diet soda (not quite as much as you do) and have not experienced the weight gain because of it nor have I had problems losing weight because of it.

The best thing you can do is EXPERIMENT. Cut out SOME of the diet soda and replace it with water. Maybe try telling yourself that you can have a diet soda right after you drink a bottle of water (flavored or not). If you get through that step, try cutting out a little more. Does it make a difference? Only you will know. If you notice a difference, you can then decided if you want to continue cutting it from your diet.

This will give you the answer you are looking for. Good luck!

pg3ibew · February 2013

I drink 1-2 caffeine free diet cokes every day, whether I am dieting or not. I lost 88 pounds.

In my opinion, too much of anything could be too much.

monstergirl14 · February 2013

Considering you drink them as religiously as you do, there may be in issue there. I would consider attempting to develop a fondness of water lol

liittlesparrow · February 2013

I wouldn't drink them all the time. I drink diet mtn dew maybe once or twice a week.. But I usually don't finish the can, because it's just on my breaks at work. I would lay off of the sodas but if you like them, just moderate your intake of them.

Diet Sodas- Is It Affecting My Weight Loss?

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