anybody drink diet pop to save the calories?

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Replies

  • Stefanny91
    Stefanny91 Posts: 223 Member
    Honestly ... just cut it out completely, I have been addicted to diet pepsi for about a year, and in that year I have put on 40lbs! and obviously its not completly pepsi's fault but I do blame it alot for my never ending appetite. I am now weening myself off it and have had two glasses in the last 3 weeks, and I feel so much better for it not to mention the money I have saved.
  • Stripeness
    Stripeness Posts: 511 Member
    Diet soda still has sodium and those "harmful chemicals".. I resoved to just drink water and the occasional 100% fruit juice.. maybe kool aid every once in a while.. I honestly do juice like 1 time every 4 months. lol.
    Emphasize which chemicals are harmful.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    moreso meant the aspertame....

    Actually, colas (diet & not alike) contain phosphoric acid which has been shown to be harmful to bone density. Which no one necessarily cares about until later in life - unless you've seen a friend or family member who's got osteoporosis. It's sneaky, and you "feel fine", yet (from nof.org):

    "A woman’s risk of breaking a hip due to osteoporosis is equal to her risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer combined. And a man age 50 or older is more likely to break a bone due to osteoporosis than he is to get prostate cancer."

    Not that I'm hypocritically advocating cola-abstinence (see previous reply!)...just pointing out that a multi-can/day habit really isn't in anyone's best health interests.

    *ETA: some studies have shown that the rate of cola-induced bone loss is faster than what can be replaced by weight-bearing exercises and/or medications. I found that sobering, as I like to think lifting heavy can fix anything :-/
  • favoritenut
    favoritenut Posts: 217 Member
    about the only thing I drink is either diet coke or water and coffee and tea, I can't have milk because dairy upsets my tummy. so for breakfast its been a diet coke for over 25 years!
  • Fullsterkur_woman
    Fullsterkur_woman Posts: 2,712 Member
    The diet sodas I have seen have too much sodium
    Most have 40mg. How much is too much sodium?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    If anyone has ever seen a response to this point, please let me know. I see it all the time, but nobody ever comes back and revisits it... :huh:
  • SugarLou57
    SugarLou57 Posts: 84 Member
    No, but I drink Zevia (stevia sweetened zero calorie pop) because I like it. Sometimes I put root beer flavored stevia in water just to get more water in that isn't carbonated and not so boring. I know water is good for me, it's just not my favorite beverage.
  • healthytanya1
    healthytanya1 Posts: 198 Member
    Yes I drink my diet pop mixed with vodka or whiskey when I want to get drunk. I figure if I'm going to be bad and have a few drinks then I'll help myself a little by using diet.
  • bbg_daryl
    bbg_daryl Posts: 150 Member
    Actually, colas (diet & not alike) contain phosphoric acid which has been shown to be harmful to bone density. Which no one necessarily cares about until later in life - unless you've seen a friend or family member who's got osteoporosis. It's sneaky, and you "feel fine", yet (from nof.org):

    "A woman’s risk of breaking a hip due to osteoporosis is equal to her risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer combined. And a man age 50 or older is more likely to break a bone due to osteoporosis than he is to get prostate cancer."

    Not that I'm hypocritically advocating cola-abstinence (see previous reply!)...just pointing out that a multi-can/day habit really isn't in anyone's best health interests.

    *ETA: some studies have shown that the rate of cola-induced bone loss is faster than what can be replaced by weight-bearing exercises and/or medications. I found that sobering, as I like to think lifting heavy can fix anything :-/

    I wonder if those studies have ever revealed that cola sometimes has zero effect on a person's bones? Well, probably, but it's hidden somewhere in the percentiles.

    What I find so interesting about health and the human body is that things that kill some people quickly have no effects on other people. For example, this information about cola connected with osteoporosis. I'm not doubting the info or anything, I'm sure it's probably true, but then there's people like my mother. My mom's main beverage every single day of her life since childhood has been Coke or Pepsi. Multiple cans and bottles every single day of her life (since probably about 5 or so?) and she's now 65 years old. Her bones are in perfect condition. Could it be that eating a lot of cheese counteracted other effects? We'll probably never know, but isn't it just so amazing?

    The same goes for cigarettes and I am not saying anyone should start smoking, this is just an example! My father started smoking when he was 8 years old, was a 2 pack a day smoker most his life, and was running marathons right up until he died at the age of 71. Doctors were always flabbergasted at his perfectly clear lungs. All studies and info dictated that he should've had cancer or emphysema or something. He did die of a heart problem, but the experts that worked on him said that what happened (spontaneous aortic rupture) can happen to anyone of any age and any level of health. So... baffling. So many others I've known have smoked less for shorter period and become very ill.

    Sorry for going so far off topic here, I'm just marveling at how some people defy the "laws" of medicine and we'll probably never figure out why or how. *nerd moment*
  • I avoid diet sodas just to avoid the loads of chemicals. I figure there's enough chemicals that we take in anyway why add to it?
  • Oodlez
    Oodlez Posts: 13
    Personally, I drink these carbonated flavored waters called Sparkling Ice.

    They're zero everything and curb my craving for soda. I hate the idea of empty calories (which is all soda is). So why drink a meal away when you can eat it? Lol
  • o0oDeuceo0o
    o0oDeuceo0o Posts: 12 Member
    I used to drink pop all the time and could never touch the diet stuff but since i watched my cals ect ive found coke zero cherry is niiiiiiiice :noway:
  • Ive just recently cut out diet coke, not so much because diet coke is bad, but because I get in a terrible habbit of drinking diet coke as my only source of liquid, and completely dismiss water. Now I will only have diet coke if I have either had all my water for the day or as an indulgence :) I drink diet coke as I do not like coke at all!
  • I haven't read all the response.. but wanted to tell you my experience.

    I used to drink 1 diet coke a day. Due to the aspartame, I switched to regular coke. I lost 5lbs.

    I have since stopped drinking pop and lost more.
  • elis_mama
    elis_mama Posts: 308 Member
    I drink at least 1L a day of diet coke! and for any that want to say oh you shouldn't its not good etc etc....well blah blah blah I haven't asked for your opinion!

    ^ Ha! This....for sure. I'm with you on this....aaaand, I also agree about no opinions necessary.
  • If you don't mind the taste it's a fantastic alternative. Save whole colas for cheat days. A lot of people don't realize that regular soda drinkers aren't necessarily looking to cold turkey their favorite bubbly beverages.
  • TRD66
    TRD66 Posts: 310 Member
    I don't bother......as I don't really like the taste. If I'm having a fizzy drink I'll go full fat and damn well enjoy it.

    That said, diet coke can be used as an alcohol mixer (but that's not really the point). I tend towards dulited juice.
  • aliceclutz90
    aliceclutz90 Posts: 151 Member
    I don't just drink diet drinks on their own normally, because I'm not really fussed about fizzy drinks at all so it seems pointless to drink them when I can just have water.

    However, when choosing alcohol mixers I always go for diet just because it saves calories. It's not like a drink on a daily basis anyway so I don't think using a bit of diet coke on occasion to have with a brandy or whatever is going to be a problem. I suppose I'm lucky because I'm not a regularly fizzy drink consumer I can barely even tell the difference between sugary and diet.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,972 Member
    Diet soda still has sodium and those "harmful chemicals".. I resoved to just drink water and the occasional 100% fruit juice.. maybe kool aid every once in a while.. I honestly do juice like 1 time every 4 months. lol.
    Emphasize which chemicals are harmful.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    moreso meant the aspertame....
    Which is one of the most studied compounds by several journals of medicine. The consensus is that it's not harmful in moderation.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Phrick
    Phrick Posts: 2,765 Member
    Diet soda still has sodium and those "harmful chemicals".. I resoved to just drink water and the occasional 100% fruit juice.. maybe kool aid every once in a while.. I honestly do juice like 1 time every 4 months. lol.
    Emphasize which chemicals are harmful.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    moreso meant the aspertame....
    Which is one of the most studied compounds by several journals of medicine. The consensus is that it's not harmful in moderation.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    Agreed - my question has always been, though, "what's the definition of 'moderation?'" 2 cans a day or 2 liters a day? When do you pass by the "moderation" level into the "ok now that's really not good for you" level?
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,972 Member
    Diet soda still has sodium and those "harmful chemicals".. I resoved to just drink water and the occasional 100% fruit juice.. maybe kool aid every once in a while.. I honestly do juice like 1 time every 4 months. lol.
    Emphasize which chemicals are harmful.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    moreso meant the aspertame....

    Actually, colas (diet & not alike) contain phosphoric acid which has been shown to be harmful to bone density. Which no one necessarily cares about until later in life - unless you've seen a friend or family member who's got osteoporosis. It's sneaky, and you "feel fine", yet (from nof.org):

    "A woman’s risk of breaking a hip due to osteoporosis is equal to her risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer combined. And a man age 50 or older is more likely to break a bone due to osteoporosis than he is to get prostate cancer."

    Not that I'm hypocritically advocating cola-abstinence (see previous reply!)...just pointing out that a multi-can/day habit really isn't in anyone's best health interests.

    *ETA: some studies have shown that the rate of cola-induced bone loss is faster than what can be replaced by weight-bearing exercises and/or medications. I found that sobering, as I like to think lifting heavy can fix anything :-/
    Bone density is usually affected more by age than phosphoric acid. Lack of stress on them reduces it's density. Older people have more symptoms of osteoporosis because many don't adhere to a physical fitness program.

    http://nof.org/faq/594

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Stripeness
    Stripeness Posts: 511 Member
    Diet soda still has sodium and those "harmful chemicals".. I resoved to just drink water and the occasional 100% fruit juice.. maybe kool aid every once in a while.. I honestly do juice like 1 time every 4 months. lol.
    Emphasize which chemicals are harmful.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    moreso meant the aspertame....

    Actually, colas (diet & not alike) contain phosphoric acid which has been shown to be harmful to bone density. Which no one necessarily cares about until later in life - unless you've seen a friend or family member who's got osteoporosis. It's sneaky, and you "feel fine", yet (from nof.org):

    "A woman’s risk of breaking a hip due to osteoporosis is equal to her risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer combined. And a man age 50 or older is more likely to break a bone due to osteoporosis than he is to get prostate cancer."

    Not that I'm hypocritically advocating cola-abstinence (see previous reply!)...just pointing out that a multi-can/day habit really isn't in anyone's best health interests.

    *ETA: some studies have shown that the rate of cola-induced bone loss is faster than what can be replaced by weight-bearing exercises and/or medications. I found that sobering, as I like to think lifting heavy can fix anything :-/
    Bone density is usually affected more by age than phosphoric acid. Lack of stress on them reduces it's density. Older people have more symptoms of osteoporosis because many don't adhere to a physical fitness program.

    http://nof.org/faq/594

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/84/4/936.full

    Even when activity levels were accounted for, phosphoric acid has been shown to have an impact. I'm not by any means suggesting colas are Evil, just that people should make conscious choices.

    Me? I still occasionally drink Coke Classic or a nice single malt, and eat bacon. Once every few years, I smoke while listening to the blues. Sometimes I ride my mountain bike without a helmet. It's all risk management of one sort or another.
  • turtleball
    turtleball Posts: 217 Member
    I have been drinking mostly water, I cant drink soda anymore without tons of water. It just taste too strong now.
  • LB30
    LB30 Posts: 109 Member
    I have been drinking diet soda (and lots of it--I am a junkie!!) for over 20 years. Currently, I make my own with a Sodastream. My initial reason for switching to diet way back was the calories, and that still holds true for me today. I'll have an occasional regular soda, but my taste preference is for diet. If I am going to drink my calories, they damn well better contain alcohol, or ice cream!
  • insane5150
    insane5150 Posts: 93 Member
    The start of my journey, to save calories, I did switch over to coke zero. I would drink 1-2 cans a day, but slowly cut it out. I found that I retain a lot of water and become swollen.

    If I am going to drink my calories, I will drink them in vodka shots (55 calories) chased with soda water.
  • Chezzie84
    Chezzie84 Posts: 873 Member
    I drink diet coke everyday.

    Not because it's diet but because I prefer the taste.

    I have always loved diet coke and if those "studies" are true I will be dead soon...:laugh:

    I drink it for this reason too.
    If you actually listen to the "experts" nothing is actually good for you and it all gives you cancer
  • carolrock1121
    carolrock1121 Posts: 2 Member
    not any more, i will never drink diet drinks again. only water and coffee!
  • mustgetmuscles1
    mustgetmuscles1 Posts: 3,346 Member
    A few cans a day.
  • amandakev88
    amandakev88 Posts: 328 Member
    I have been drinking diet soda (and lots of it--I am a junkie!!) for over 20 years. Currently, I make my own with a Sodastream. My initial reason for switching to diet way back was the calories, and that still holds true for me today. I'll have an occasional regular soda, but my taste preference is for diet. If I am going to drink my calories, they better contain alcohol, or ice cream!

    this. though i initially switched i think because the sugar was rotting my teeth!

    glad there are lots of fellow dc drinkers =]
  • I used to be a BIG regular soda drinker - Fanta, Sprite, etc - but over the past few weeks I've switched to those fizzy flavored waters? They're sold in 1 liter bottles, and almost every grocery store or Walmart has their own brand of them. They have fruity flavors & the fizz with 0 calories.

    I'm trying to up my water intake also, and while I'm doing better with that (up to 2.5 liters of water a day!) when it comes to mealtime, water (at least for now) doesn't cut it.... I need something a but 'tastier' - so those 0-calorie fruit fizzy drinks fill the void of soda. At least for me. Not as "healthy" as plain old water - but not as BAD as sugary, high-calorie soda. So I just feel good that I'm drinking something better than before. And that's a switch I can live with - I don't miss regular soda. It'd probably taste way too sweet and syrupy now for me.

    I honestly think figuring out what works for you - and what doesn't - is a largely trial and error... And 'what works' isn't JUST about what's gonna work when it comes time to weigh-in or whatever, but also what works with regards to you being able to live with/without it. For example - I'm positive those Atkins-type diets where you eat NO carbs work wonders... But I know for myself, that is not something I could live with - even if it does work for others.
  • I drink a can or two of Coke Zero each day. Sugar makes my teeth hurt, along with cold, so a regular soda is a double whammy for my teeth! I have also drank diet and simply love Coke Zero.