thoughts on diet soda

*grabs popcorn*


But to answer your question, I love me my diet soda and alllll the aspartame that goes with it. It's a nice treat when I have minimal calories left but want something sweet.

Just keep in mind....I'm a paramedic, and we have yet to respond to an aspartame overdose, just saying.

Live dangerously.

I had a kidney issue two years ago. After they got everything working well again 7 weeks later, they told me that I shouldn't drink dark soda (sprite and mountain dew were okay, but fortunately I don't like them), drink coffee or tea. Fortunately no other diet restrictions. At first I wanted a second opinion, because i liked my daily diet coke and didn't want to give it up. But when my doc said 'go and and drink it, I have 4 kids to put through school', I knew he wasn't BS'ing me.

25 months without a coke, diet coke, pepsi etc.. and now I don't miss it at all and most importantly I realize how bad that stuff is for you.

So put me down for dump the diet soda.

I've just started my "permanent" weight loss journey, and have a question for everyone regarding diet sodas.
First I should say:
My name is Roxanne, and I'm a recovering Coca-cola addict." Whew, that's not easy huh.
I used to drink nearly 2 liters of cola a day (I can't even believe it now but I used it as a cigarette substitute when I quit smoking 7 years ago) and have been successful in the past several months of ditching most all soda (except occasionally) and drinking 8 glasses of water or more a day instead. YAY me.

The problem is, whenever I diet, or change my eating habits, inevitably I crave the damn stuff
Today I decided to try a diet soda, but in general I just think its all bad.

My question is: should I use diet soda as a crutch for now, until I'm in a position in which I can tackle the issue without ruining the momentum I have going right now? Or should I try to "buck it up" as they say (I suck at that, btw) and try to ditch it all now? Please share your thoughts.

I found when I drank diet soda I craved sweet things like crazy. When I got it out of my system a year ago, my cravings dropped dramatically. Not drinking it has helped me control my sweet tooth quite easily. Plus it's not exactly healthy for you. It's a hard habit to kick, but you feel so much better for it!

0 calories, inconclusive research about dangers of aspartame

Drink up, OP. I know I will.

I would treat it as an occasional treat (a 2-liter once every 2-3 weeks+) as opposed to drinking it anywhere frequent. Water is still your best friend.

diet soda is awesome /thread

I personally stopped drinking diet pop last year because it gave me headaches and made me feel bloated and overall crappy. I used to drink it several times per day.

I used to be like you. I drank a big bottle a day.
Then I changed to coke zero.
Then I tried to cut back to a glass or two a day.
Then a few times a week etc.

Now that I am very rarely having it I find I can actually control my sweet craving more easily.
I used to crave sweet stuff all the time. Now I don't.
I don't know if there is a connection but there seems to be for me.

I don't plan to "ban" the stuff but I don't plan to ever go back to drinking it every day.
I feel so much better without it.

I've just started my "permanent" weight loss journey, and have a question for everyone regarding diet sodas.
First I should say:
My name is Roxanne, and I'm a recovering Coca-cola addict." Whew, that's not easy huh.
I used to drink nearly 2 liters of cola a day (I can't even believe it now but I used it as a cigarette substitute when I quit smoking 7 years ago) and have been successful in the past several months of ditching most all soda (except occasionally) and drinking 8 glasses of water or more a day instead. YAY me.

The problem is, whenever I diet, or change my eating habits, inevitably I crave the damn stuff
Today I decided to try a diet soda, but in general I just think its all bad.

My question is: should I use diet soda as a crutch for now, until I'm in a position in which I can tackle the issue without ruining the momentum I have going right now? Or should I try to "buck it up" as they say (I suck at that, btw) and try to ditch it all now? Please share your thoughts.

Whatever you decide, but if it was me I'd say don't have it at all. Especially because with your history you went from smoking addiction to using cola and then became an addict to that. I'd think you might get too heavy handed when using diet cola as a crutch and it would be too bad if you got addicted to that as well.

Goodluck Just what I would do. Plus , i don't knwo too much but the research about aspartame as well as other diet soft drinks isn't too good, so maybe just not do it at all.

As someone else on here said, occasionally as a sweet treat instead of a candy bar or something is a better option , i also do it like that.

Big thing I notice in these threads is moderation, or a lack there of.

I generally consume 1 can of diet soda at lunch every day of the work week. At home, I will go through about one 2L bottle of pop a week.

I drink at least 80 ounces of water per day.

I see some people hardly drink water or pound back six or seven cans a day...too much of anything can be bad, and if you're getting that much soda in you, you're likely chronically dehydrated.

Diet pop is totally fine, but drink some water too.

I dont think diet soda or artificial sweeteners in general make a difference on body composition. But instinctively I have to say that they are certainly not healthy. I try to avoid them as much as possible for not only for health reasons, but I feel that they make me hungrier all the time. Just my opinion here but I attribute that to the body getting something sweet and expecting the calories to go along with that sweetness that never arrive.

While there has been no link between diet soda and weight loss, the findings have been confusing. They have not figured out if it's because of the associated meal being unhealthy or excessive or the diet soda. However, I've read that it 'can' cause a spike in your body's insulin as it's tricked into thinking you're eating something sweet. This is short lived however as there is nothing sweet about diet soda. In turn your body then starts craving the sugary sweet drink that you teased it with. Endorphins are your enemy at this point as they get released and your cravings build. This can lead to indulging in sugary caloric evil.

Now having said this, there is still 0 calories in diet soda. I wouldn't suggest quitting it cold turkey. Instead, save a glass of it for meals. Have one glass of diet soda with lunch and then supplement with water. You can even try adding cucumber slices, lemon wedges, or some other "natural" flavor enhancement. I mostly only drink water. Maybe once every two or three weeks I'll just crave a soda with a meal to the point that I can't resist. So I indulge myself, being careful to note it in MFP and then adjust my food the rest of the day. (I don't do diet). If you knew what diet soda can do to your body, especially your teeth you would probably stay away from it completely anyway.

Diet soda contains artificial sweeteners and artificial coloring. Caramel coloring has been found to be carcinogenic and the verdict is still out on artificial sweeteners, though it certainly can't be good for you. There is also evidence that artificial sugar actually makes you crave real sugar, which is not what you want if you're on a diet. I was a hardcore Diet Dr. Pepper addict up until June and I am proud to say that I have finally kicked that habit. About a month after I quit regularly drinking diet soda I ordered one at a restaurant, thinking it wouldn't hurt to have one just every once in a while, and it made me feel horrible. It made my throat and chest burn and I felt super bloated. I received the message loud and clear that I no longer needed or even wanted to ingest something that was made up of chemicals and made me feel terrible. Since then, I have been sleeping much better and I feel amazing to not "need" that caffeine first thing in the morning anymore. My suggestion would be to give up all soda completely and see how much better you feel and how it helps your diet. When you are craving something sweet, just have the real thing in a small amount and you will probably feel much more satisfied and able to stay on track.

If your stomach is lined with concrete, you have bigger problems than whether or not to drink diet soda...

On a related note, have you seen what water does to metal? You probably should stop drinking that, too.

Technically it's the oxygen/ moisture mix reacting with the iron in metal that causes rust. And it's the chloride is seawater that causes underwater erosion in metal.