Why is diet pop bad for weight loss?

13

Replies

  • Fullsterkur_woman
    Fullsterkur_woman Posts: 2,712 Member
    I don't know about gaining weight on it or glucose or sodium...I just know that when I drink soda, especially diet, I bloat up like a Maceys Thanksgiving parade float.
    I imagine that'd be due to the carbonation more than anything else. Some of us handle it just fine.

    Also, I think I just figured out where this ridiculous and fallacious link between diet soda and sodium came from.

    soda and sodium.

    double_facepalm.png

    'Round here we just calls 'em "cokes" no matter what flavor and whether the gots sugar or not. We don't think they have cocaine in 'em though...
  • wcboldt
    wcboldt Posts: 11 Member
    It's really good for your teeth too.
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    It's really good for your teeth too.

    tumblr_inline_mm4qchUGvu1qz4rgp.gif
  • FlaxMilk
    FlaxMilk Posts: 3,452 Member
    It's really good for your teeth too.

    I'm interested in your responses to the sodium counterpoints.
  • This content has been removed.
  • candlegal
    candlegal Posts: 220 Member
    YES!! I have not read any of the previous comments. I use to drink about 6 cans of diet cherry coke a day. I gave it up and it immediately improved my weight loss. I firmly believe that the diet coke INCREASED my appetite. Now that I drink mostly just water, I don't feel the appetite increase at all. Plus there is so many chemicals in diet coke/pepsi that they say are so bad for us. Chemicals that can contribute to fibromyalgia and other icky problems. Yes it is really bad for you teeth, I've been told that more than once by my dentist!! It is a hard habit to break! I know!! Good luck! You will feel better after you give it up, Guaranteed!
  • botanygeek
    botanygeek Posts: 10 Member
    Are these forums always like this?
  • ramsfan84
    ramsfan84 Posts: 68 Member
    Just want to add what I think to this conversation. I was an avid pepsi max drinker and still love the stuff. I don't drink coffee so when I would get back sinus headaches I would drink that to help. I also drink it when I need a lift. It has a bit more caffeine then just diet pepsi and it tastes better too. I heard all the people saying how bad it is for you. But it was too hard to quit. Then I read something a few weeks ago that it bloats you up. So I thought well I will try it. So I have been drinking water and some green tea and I have noticed a huge difference in my stomach. So I do think it does bloat you up. I had one tonight. So I haven't totally stopped drinking but I wait now until I have drank 10 glasses of water or so a day. I do agree that it does trigger me to eat junk food and it does have a tiny bit of sodium in it as well. I am trying to get rid of it. I'm not there yet! I don't think having 1 a day will hurt.
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    Diet soda offers zero health benefits yet people can't wait to defend it. Sodium causes water retention. That is a biological fact. And that may be the least of diet soda's negative side effects.

    Coke Zero facts per 250ml

    Calories : 0.8
    Sodium : 28mg



    Yep HUGE amount of sodium there. Cheese has more sodium.
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Are these forums always like this?

    What do you mean?
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,300 Member
    Are these forums always like this?

    What do you mean?

    I think she means the OP asks a question. A bunch of people who have been here awhile and who are known to give good information reply with the correct information. Then a handful of brand new, low post count people show up and try to argue against science and logic. Then the "older" people start asking the "new" people to back up their information and the "new" people can't so they give off handed replies that make no dang sense.

    Sadly, yes, that is pretty common.

    That and the "OMG diet pills, VLCD, and unicorn farts helped me lose weight!" posts.
  • lynleeg88
    lynleeg88 Posts: 104 Member
    Are these forums always like this?

    Do you mean how some people get sarcastic with their answers to other peoples questions instead of just informed answers minus the sarcasm? Yes. It happens quite often.
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Are these forums always like this?

    Do you mean how some people get sarcastic with their answers to other peoples questions instead of just informed answers minus the sarcasm? Yes. It happens quite often.

    The first several answers were informed answers minus the sarcasm.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    Please help me understand this. Diet pop is zero calories. I need a reason to get rid of it. I love my Diet Pepsi! Has anyone out there seen success with giving up their diet sodas?
    Good news is you don't have to give it up. There will be many who will tout it's "poison", that it's linked to obesity, that you'll get tumors, yada, yada, yada, but PEER REVIEWED CLINICAL STUDIES show that moderation with is it fine.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    I am an ex diet coke fiend. Quitting was not easy... the headaches were horrible.
    It is bad for your weight loss for two reasons. First, the sodium in the diet soda causes your body to retain water.
    At 40mg a serving, other natural foods would be more detrimental with their sodium count.
    Second, and worse, sweeteners (including artificial) cause your body to produce more insulin which in turn causes your body to store fat. So even though there are no calories in the soda, it can indirectly hinder your weight loss efforts. Quitting soda is harder than people think but you can do it and you'll feel so much better when you do. Water water water...
    Really? Better tell that to the millions of diabetics that drink diet soda then. Causing insulin to rise in a diabetic would kill them.
    http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/making-healthy-food-choices/what-can-i-drink.html

    As you can see, you have many other options!

    Most diet drinks (like diet soda or diet tea) have zero grams of carbohydrate per serving, so they will not raise blood glucose on their own. These diet drinks are sweetened with artificial sweeteners instead of added sugars. Removing the added sugars and replacing them with artificial sweeteners removes most of the calories and carbohydrates.

    One good thing about low-calorie drinks and drink mixes is that they are available in several flavors. They may be a good alternative to regular lemonade, iced tea, fruit punch, etc. These drink mixes are also usually sweetened with low-calorie sweeteners. They are very low in calories (about 5-10 per 8-ounce portion) and have less than 5 grams of carbohydrate per serving.
    - See more at: http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/making-healthy-food-choices/what-can-i-drink.html#sthash.5Tkoj4u8.dpuf

    Nice try though.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    Diet soda offers zero health benefits yet people can't wait to defend it. Sodium causes water retention. That is a biological fact. And that may be the least of diet soda's negative side effects.
    Most of diet soda is water. Yes or no? Sodium does cause water retention, but at 40mg, and consuming a substantial amount of water, this isn't likely to happen.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Phoenix_Warrior
    Phoenix_Warrior Posts: 1,633 Member
    I love diet cherry Dr. Pepper. . . I have nothing else to add.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    Why would you want to consume something with artificial sweeteners?
    To have a "sweet" drink with no calories? Why else?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    In a nutshell:

    The TASTE of sugar sends a message to your brain saying it has received glucose, so you secrete insulin to sequester the sugar from your blood.

    But there isn't any sugar, so it sequesters the baseline sugar that should be there, giving you low blood sugar.

    That does several things. Most importantly it makes you hungry so you want to eat more food. The insulin dump also stops fat burning.
  • 19TaraLynn84
    19TaraLynn84 Posts: 739 Member
    I was once a committed Diet Mt. Dew drinker. Loved the stuff. I had so many people telling me how bad it was. I was suffering from dizzy spells, fatigue, forgetfulness, and a few other things. People kept saying how the aspartame and other chemicals in diet sodas will cause the symptoms I was having. So I decided to give up my beloved Diet Mt. Dew. It was awful! But I got through the withdrawals and I didn't have a diet soda for over 2 months. A few weeks ago I noticed I was still dealing with the same problems as when I was drinking the "cancer-causing" drink. So I bought myself a 6-pack and have been enjoying them ever since. I have since dropped 6 pounds.

    Long story short - it has not been bad for my weight loss.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    Diet soda has been linked to everything from dehydration to Parkinsons. But if you need 100% proof, I hope you get it soon. At one time, they said cigarettes weren't bad either.
    CURRENT PEER REVIEWED STUDIES have deemed it safe in moderation. Pirate population is linked to global warming. Truth look it up.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Diet soda is not bad for weight loss. In fact, caffeine is an appetite suppressant. As long as you're logging your calories, you're fine.

    However...

    ...sodas have carbonation, which is thought to harm bone density over a long period of time, AND...

    ...colas (dark sodas with high carbonic acid levels, e.g. everything in the Coke and Pepsi family) have a LOT of acid in them. I have seen people who have severely f'd up their teeth and bowels because of ridiculous amounts of cola consumption.

    Also, extremely high caffeine intake jacks up your heart and can ruin your sleep schedule.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    It won't kill you. Drink up. I'll buy more Coca-Cola and United Health stock.
    Lol, then you won't make money on me since I drink Diet Pepsi and have Kaiser.:laugh:

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • RllyGudTweetr
    RllyGudTweetr Posts: 2,019 Member
    In a nutshell:

    The TASTE of sugar sends a message to your brain saying it has received glucose, so you secrete insulin to sequester the sugar from your blood.

    But there isn't any sugar, so it sequesters the baseline sugar that should be there, giving you low blood sugar.

    That does several things. Most importantly it makes you hungry so you want to eat more food. The insulin dump also stops fat burning.
    Fascinating.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,282 Member
    Why would you want to consume something with artificial sweeteners?
    AND...Study after study has proven that reg soda vs diet made no difference in regards to weight loss.
    A better alternative; mineral water with balsamic fruit vinegar or natural flavored stevia drops added.

    Assuming for a moment this is a serious question - the reason I drink diet coke or coke zero (in moderation, I drink about 3 or 4 glasses of it a week) is because when I go out for lunch I like to have a cool drink other than the plain water I drink most of the time at home and work - so diet coke is a no sugar, almost no calorie option.

    Also works as a mixer with spirits - which I have a few drinks now and then - perhaps once a week.

    I don't think going out to a café for lunch and ordering mineral water with balsamic vinegar or stevia drops added would go down too well - likewise I cant really see those as good spirit mixers.:bigsmile:
  • I agree Diet Dew taste just like the real thing
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    It's really good for your teeth too.
    Sugar is worse. But of course if someone has good dental hygiene, this isn't a problem.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • I don't think it affects weight loss at all it has zero calories. It's gross thigh and tastes like chemicals. I gave up soda for health reasons not weight loss.

    It is NOT gross thigh. :angry:
    I agree Diet Dew taste the same
  • cheegerz
    cheegerz Posts: 26 Member
    Speaking from my own personal experience...

    Between 2007-2008 I lost 50lbs. I went from 180lbs down to 130. During that time, the ONLY TWO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES that I made to my daily lifestyle were: cutting out soda (cold turkey) and incorporating a 25 minute pilates DVD into about 4-5 days of my average week. Those are the only two significant changes that I made in that year.

    Before completely cutting soda from my diet, I was chugging 4-6 cans (12oz) of diet soda per day. I only drank diet soda, because I preferred the flavor of diet sodas over other sodas, or other beverages in general. I primarily drank Diet Coke.

    I replaced every can that I would have drank with the same amount of water. I did a little bit of pilates. I lost 50lbs.

    I'm not a nutritionist nor a scientist, but my results pretty much speaks for itself. I can't say that diet soda consumed in moderation hinders any kind of serious weight loss strategy, but it certainly doesn't positively contribute to it. You can do no wrong by consuming no fluid besides water and the occasional green tea. =]
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,282 Member
    Diet soda has been linked to everything from dehydration to Parkinsons. But if you need 100% proof, I hope you get it soon. At one time, they said cigarettes weren't bad either.

    The comparison to cigarettes is just silly - there are many many studies, overwhelming evidence, of the harm cigarettes do.

    Nobody is refuting that.

    But there are not comparable studies showing the harm of diet drinks - in moderation.

    IF there are in the future ,then, sure, recommendations will change - but until then, there is no reason for everyone to stop drinking them.

    Individuals who find individual effects like sugar cravings etc - sure - give them up.
    But for most people there is absolutely no problem - in moderation, of course, just like everything else.