No-calorie Sweeteners/ "diet" sodas...?

I was ADDICTED to mio and have been a frequent artificial sweetener user in the past. Especially when I first started watching calories.

My experience:

1. Unexplained weight retention: I noticed when I avoided the artificial sweeteners it was easier to make the scale tip in the direction I wanted it to. I can't explain that phenomenon. It's the oddest thing. Exact same calories (within 300cals over a week's time) and I was a whole pound lighter by the end of the week if I was able to just avoid artificial sweeteners. I have experienced this phenomenon many times as a myfitnesspal user. When I first started they were my go-to because of the diversity of products and how easy it is to swap out a high calorie food item for a low (or no) calorie one. Again, this is something I can't explain and still haven't quite figured out myself but it is true.

2. Headaches. The first time I started using artificial sweeteners more heavily I was also transitioning away from sugar so the headaches were likely due to the lack of sugar. Then I went from a diet high in natural sugars to a diet that relied a bit more on artificial sweeteners (again, for convenience) and I got the headaches again. It only seemed to occur when I consumed a significant amount of artificial sweeteners. In moderation, I didn't experience this.

3. Impact on bowl movements. I wont elaborate.

Overall those are my reasons for avoiding them. Everything in moderation. If you catch me on the street with a diet sunkist I'm not going to apologize.

That is a choice. I have not had a diet soda in 10 years. Approx once a year, I have a full sugar Mountain Dew.

I am aware it makes you have an apatite for more sugar but that's something you can technically overcome by just eating what you are supposed to.

I haven't noticed any appetite for more sugar when I drink diet sodas.

I agree with PP's - if you want to drink it, do; if you don't want to drink it, don't.

I drink coke zero because at this point I prefer the taste. I have noticed no adverse reactions to it, besides caffeine headaches so I startd only drinking 1-2 cans a day instead of triple that.

I drink things like Kool-Aid liquid drops and add splenda to my coffee/tea. It's the only one to me that doesn't taste nasty. I see no reason to not ingest them.

Yes so fing good. plus coke zero. Really no difference than coffee. If u get "caffeine headaches" buy the de cafe colas.

If the only side effect is water weight, I have that but my body doesn't show it...

This is a "sticky" thread in "General Diet & Weight Loss Help". Seem like it ought to be in "Food & Nutrition" as well!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1308408-why-aspartame-isn-t-scary

There is no reason not to have them, and they do not make you crave sugar. Canada Dry 10 and Coke Zero ftw!!

I think I read once that artificial sweeteners can cause cancer. Don't expect me to post my source or findings. I still drink them even with this warning because these days it seems that anything will give you cancer. So you can live a long life and not do anything, or go out and have truly lived.

Most bad things are just psychological. Some studies show some people tend to overeat if they drink diet soda, and it is likely caused by people feeling like they can eat more since the sodas are all 0 cal. It's just a trend they've seen, but it certainly doesn't happen to everyone. The drinks themselves don't make you gain weight or anything.

However, I do tend to feel a lot more bloated when I drink carbonated things of any kind, so I generally don't. I will grab a Cherry Coke Zero if I have a sweet craving that just won't quit, though.

I think I read once that artificial sweeteners can cause cancer. Don't expect me to post my source or findings. I still drink them even with this warning because these days it seems that anything will give you cancer. So you can live a long life and not do anything, or go out and have truly lived.

I have heard about the cancer thing as well, but I don't know how scientifically reliable that information is. I think at the end of the day, the stigma exists because of the fact that most of these things are artificial and not 'real' ingredients. It's like margarin. I know some people consume it, and I'm not saying butter is necessarily good for you, but at least butter is made primarily of natural ingredients (well, depending on what type of butter you buy, I guess). As far as my personal health is concerned, I'd rather consume whole/natural products as much as possible, so I avoid non-natural sweeteners as much as possible. But that's just my preference. Everyone is different.