Soda/Pop/Coke...whatever you call it!

Sorry if this question has been asked before, but can anyone tell me whether drinking DIET soda hinders weight loss and if so, how? I've seen a lot of posts about people who are going to quit drinking soda but they don't say whether it's regular or diet. Thanks in advance! :)
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Replies

  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    It is a zero calorie drink and in no way will it hinder your weight loss.... I drink 2 or 3 Diet Pepsi a day and have throughout my weight loss and have lost a few pounds..... Queue the fear mongering due to the evil aspartame in 3.......2........1.......... and go........ lol :drinker:
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    It's pop. Pop, pop, pop.

    Aside from the sodium bloating you, they say that it stimulates the appetite. I don't know that it stimulated mine. I don't think so.

    I went back and forth, on and off the stuff for years. Every time I quit, I knew how much better felt without it. Bid drop a pound or two, but that was sodium and not fat.

    That caffeine is so addictive!!
  • higgins8283801
    higgins8283801 Posts: 844 Member
    it doesn't.

    I however can't do the taste, so I cut it out completely.
  • my_2_cents
    my_2_cents Posts: 109 Member
    First of all, soda is not good for us in any form. Second, there are scientific indications that fake sugars such as aspartame etc are triggering responses in our body that are not desirable. I believe weight gain or impaired weight loss is one, but I'm not a scientist so I don't want to make exaggerated claims.

    My suggestion to you is that soda tastes far better in its form as intended with real sugars. Budget for it in your calories and therefore you are owning up to your bad habit. This way, you either choose to drink your soda and perhaps are a bit more hungry, or you choose to eat more food and make the conscious decision that despite its great taste, soda is only worth it once in a while. I do this and I never have to feel guilty about drinking Pepsi because I know I'm making a conscious decision and I will take responsibility for it.
  • SingRunTing
    SingRunTing Posts: 2,604 Member
    It doesn't.

    I don't drink it nearly as much as I used to, but sometimes I have some when I just need something with some flavor. I drink mostly water now and sometimes you just need something different.
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    First of all, soda is not good for us in any form. Second, there are scientific indications that fake sugars such as aspartame etc are triggering responses in our body that are not desirable. I believe weight gain or impaired weight loss is one, but I'm not a scientist so I don't want to make exaggerated claims.

    No there aren't.


    Diet soda is fine. It's an easy way to cut calories if you drink regular soda.
  • SingRunTing
    SingRunTing Posts: 2,604 Member
    First of all, soda is not good for us in any form. Second, there are scientific indications that fake sugars such as aspartame etc are triggering responses in our body that are not desirable. I believe weight gain or impaired weight loss is one, but I'm not a scientist so I don't want to make exaggerated claims.

    My suggestion to you is that soda tastes far better in its form as intended with real sugars. Budget for it in your calories and therefore you are owning up to your bad habit. This way, you either choose to drink your soda and perhaps are a bit more hungry, or you choose to eat more food and make the conscious decision that despite its great taste, soda is only worth it once in a while. I do this and I never have to feel guilty about drinking Pepsi because I know I'm making a conscious decision and I will take responsibility for it.

    Please post the studies on this. I want to see them.
  • TheSatinPumpkin
    TheSatinPumpkin Posts: 948 Member
    It did not hinder my progress (diet mt dew and diet coke) but went cold turkey soon into my WOE because i wanted to start drinking more water. Still have my cup of coffee in the morning though... not giving that up.
  • shabaity
    shabaity Posts: 792 Member
    For most its regular soda though to be honest its got more to do with the sugar and calorie content in regular soda. This being said there are also those who give up diet because of aspartame related concerns see the aspartame posts pinned. The whole foods, clean eaters, and paleo/primal groups have also for the most part given up soda or at least severely limited due to dietary restrictions. Then you've got the ones that are cutting back caffeine or just don't care for the taste (I fall into this one.) I personally can't point to any study that says diet soda hurts weight loss in anyway though I hear there are some out there.
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    First of all, soda is not good for us in any form. Second, there are scientific indications that fake sugars such as aspartame etc are triggering responses in our body that are not desirable. I believe weight gain or impaired weight loss is one, but I'm not a scientist so I don't want to make exaggerated claims.

    My suggestion to you is that soda tastes far better in its form as intended with real sugars. Budget for it in your calories and therefore you are owning up to your bad habit. This way, you either choose to drink your soda and perhaps are a bit more hungry, or you choose to eat more food and make the conscious decision that despite its great taste, soda is only worth it once in a while. I do this and I never have to feel guilty about drinking Pepsi because I know I'm making a conscious decision and I will take responsibility for it.

    Would really like to see this scientific data that you speak of....... I have research drinking diet sodas for the past 5 years since a began this journey and have not read one peer reviewed study stating that drinking diet soda in moderate amounts will harm you in any way.....
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Weight loss is all about calories. No calories therefore no weight gain. There is a theory that drinking/eating sweetened things triggers cravings but I don't agree. If you drink a lot of it and not much water, there could be a water retention issue but I think that'd be kind of extreme.

    I've never been a huge soda drinker but I'll have one, maybe two a week. It's usually more for the want of something sweet and kind of filling without eating a bunch of junk. It's hard for me to drink something carbonated (get hiccups) so I really take my time and enjoy it.

    BTW...taste is subjective people. Just because you think the real stuff is better, it doesn't mean everyone does.

    And now I want a soda. :)
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    even regular pop does not hinder weight loss. Just account for the calories and you are golden.

    There may be other reasons to avoid soda, regular or diet, but weight loss doesn't have to be one
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    You drink it, you pee it out.
  • mrslcoop
    mrslcoop Posts: 317 Member
    I drink a Diet pop every few days (drinking a cold pop right now actually) and at one point drank several of them a day. It does nothing to hinder or help the process.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    Sorry if this question has been asked before, but can anyone tell me whether drinking DIET soda hinders weight loss and if so, how? I've seen a lot of posts about people who are going to quit drinking soda but they don't say whether it's regular or diet. Thanks in advance! :)

    Mmmm diet soda...my favorites in order of preference:
    - Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry
    - Coke Zero Cherry
    - Coke Zero Vanilla
    - Diet Dr Pepper Cherry
    - Diet Dr Pepper
    - Diet Pepsi
    - Diet Dr Thunder (walmarts version of Dr. Pepper)

    One of the first changes I made when I started to work on my weight was when I want a soda 90% of the time choose diet and 10% of the time get a regular soda. However, most regular soda's are now too sweet for me. Usually if I'm going for a regular soda it is Mountain Dew.

    In some people the artificial sweeteners can cause them to crave sweets. Now that is only going to hinder weight loss if you cave in and end up eating enough to put you at or over maintenance calories.
  • jrline
    jrline Posts: 2,353 Member
    I have quit all for the most part. Occasionally I will have some after church at our luncheons. I used to drink 3-5 20oz a day. Now I just drink coffee in the morning water all day and an adult beverage or two some nights.

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  • KatieKansan
    KatieKansan Posts: 61 Member
    I cut out pop completely for 4 months and i have to say i don't miss it! I had headaches at first because I was addicted to the caffeine.. but now I'm definitely water only and feel great!!
  • It hasn't hindered my weight loss any, and I drink lots of Diet Dr. Pepper. :drinker:
  • Lesa_Sass
    Lesa_Sass Posts: 2,213 Member
    First of all, soda is not good for us in any form. Second, there are scientific indications that fake sugars such as aspartame etc are triggering responses in our body that are not desirable. I believe weight gain or impaired weight loss is one, but I'm not a scientist so I don't want to make exaggerated claims.

    My suggestion to you is that soda tastes far better in its form as intended with real sugars. Budget for it in your calories and therefore you are owning up to your bad habit. This way, you either choose to drink your soda and perhaps are a bit more hungry, or you choose to eat more food and make the conscious decision that despite its great taste, soda is only worth it once in a while. I do this and I never have to feel guilty about drinking Pepsi because I know I'm making a conscious decision and I will take responsibility for it.

    Would really like to see this scientific data that you speak of....... I have research drinking diet sodas for the past 5 years since a began this journey and have not read one peer reviewed study stating that drinking diet soda in moderate amounts will harm you in any way.....

    I have an auto immune disease , diet soda causes inflammation which gives me pain. So it harms me, and I believe with out a shadow of a doubt that it is harmful to others as well. My Rhemy suggested to her other patients that I found that diet drinks cause pain, they stopped drinking it and found the same thing.

    Regular soda, with real sugar, in moderation, will not harm you either.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    First of all, soda is not good for us in any form. Second, there are scientific indications that fake sugars such as aspartame etc are triggering responses in our body that are not desirable. I believe weight gain or impaired weight loss is one, but I'm not a scientist so I don't want to make exaggerated claims.

    My suggestion to you is that soda tastes far better in its form as intended with real sugars. Budget for it in your calories and therefore you are owning up to your bad habit. This way, you either choose to drink your soda and perhaps are a bit more hungry, or you choose to eat more food and make the conscious decision that despite its great taste, soda is only worth it once in a while. I do this and I never have to feel guilty about drinking Pepsi because I know I'm making a conscious decision and I will take responsibility for it.
    You've already made exaggerated claims.
  • JeriAnne84
    JeriAnne84 Posts: 543 Member
    I cut out pop in May. I've had 3 or 4 since then but I account for the calories. I can't drink diet pop. It tastes nasty to me and if I'm going to go for it, I'm going for the hard stuff. But I rather eat my calories than drink them so I don't do it often
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    First of all, soda is not good for us in any form. Second, there are scientific indications that fake sugars such as aspartame etc are triggering responses in our body that are not desirable. I believe weight gain or impaired weight loss is one, but I'm not a scientist so I don't want to make exaggerated claims.

    My suggestion to you is that soda tastes far better in its form as intended with real sugars. Budget for it in your calories and therefore you are owning up to your bad habit. This way, you either choose to drink your soda and perhaps are a bit more hungry, or you choose to eat more food and make the conscious decision that despite its great taste, soda is only worth it once in a while. I do this and I never have to feel guilty about drinking Pepsi because I know I'm making a conscious decision and I will take responsibility for it.

    Would really like to see this scientific data that you speak of....... I have research drinking diet sodas for the past 5 years since a began this journey and have not read one peer reviewed study stating that drinking diet soda in moderate amounts will harm you in any way.....

    I have an auto immune disease , diet soda causes inflammation which gives me pain. So it harms me, and I believe with out a shadow of a doubt that it is harmful to others as well. My Rhemy suggested to her other patients that I found that diet drinks cause pain, they stopped drinking it and found the same thing.

    Regular soda, with real sugar, in moderation, will not harm you either.
    People with a peanut allergy will die if they eat peanuts. That doesn't make peanuts harmful to people without an allergy. Similarly, your medical condition is the reason diet soda may be harmful for you, that doesn't make it harmful for people without that condition.
  • HeidiCooksSupper
    HeidiCooksSupper Posts: 3,839 Member
    It depends on whether the sweet taste triggers your cravings. For some of us it does. If you find yourself wanting to munch through your bread box upon having drunk a Diet Coke, you are among those of us for whom cutting it out makes life easier. There is epidemiologic data confirming that as artificial sweetener consumption rises in a population so does weight but not much biological data confirming it. For some of us, however, it is demonstrably true that artificial sweeteners make us ravenous. Only you will know if that is true for you.

    For more info see:
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2892765/
  • Cfkearney
    Cfkearney Posts: 197 Member
    I almost never drink soda - but on the days where I seem ravenously hungry, I'll drink a diet soda or a 10 calorie soda. The carbonation bloat helps me feel full. HAHA Not so good got the pants for but the bloat goes a way faster than calories. Unless you're going to the gym right away I guess....then the bubbles might be a good thing either.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    Sorry if this question has been asked before, but can anyone tell me whether drinking DIET soda hinders weight loss and if so, how? I've seen a lot of posts about people who are going to quit drinking soda but they don't say whether it's regular or diet. Thanks in advance! :)

    No, it does not hinder weight loss.

    It is probably a good idea to try to switch out some diet soda for water, especially if you think you may be getting too much caffeine, but in the long run it really doesn't matter except in the budget. Buying all of those cans and/or bottles, hauling them into your home, and needing to recycle the empties can be a bit expensive compared to tap water.

    Common sense and moderation.
  • Lesa_Sass
    Lesa_Sass Posts: 2,213 Member
    First of all, soda is not good for us in any form. Second, there are scientific indications that fake sugars such as aspartame etc are triggering responses in our body that are not desirable. I believe weight gain or impaired weight loss is one, but I'm not a scientist so I don't want to make exaggerated claims.

    My suggestion to you is that soda tastes far better in its form as intended with real sugars. Budget for it in your calories and therefore you are owning up to your bad habit. This way, you either choose to drink your soda and perhaps are a bit more hungry, or you choose to eat more food and make the conscious decision that despite its great taste, soda is only worth it once in a while. I do this and I never have to feel guilty about drinking Pepsi because I know I'm making a conscious decision and I will take responsibility for it.

    Would really like to see this scientific data that you speak of....... I have research drinking diet sodas for the past 5 years since a began this journey and have not read one peer reviewed study stating that drinking diet soda in moderate amounts will harm you in any way.....

    I have an auto immune disease , diet soda causes inflammation which gives me pain. So it harms me, and I believe with out a shadow of a doubt that it is harmful to others as well. My Rhemy suggested to her other patients that I found that diet drinks cause pain, they stopped drinking it and found the same thing.

    Regular soda, with real sugar, in moderation, will not harm you either.
    People with a peanut allergy will die if they eat peanuts. That doesn't make peanuts harmful to people without an allergy. Similarly, your medical condition is the reason diet soda may be harmful for you, that doesn't make it harmful for people without that condition.

    My point is it causes inflammation, which is harmful to people. Just because everyone can not feel it like I can, does not mean it does not do harm.

    Here are a few links to some of those pesky scientific studies:
    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130108162135.htm
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20592133
    http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/early/2013/01/30/ajcn.112.050997.abstract
    http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/97/1/155.abstract
    http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/32/4/688.short
    http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/117/6/754.full.pdf+html

    Cheerio
  • my_2_cents
    my_2_cents Posts: 109 Member
    First of all, soda is not good for us in any form. Second, there are scientific indications that fake sugars such as aspartame etc are triggering responses in our body that are not desirable. I believe weight gain or impaired weight loss is one, but I'm not a scientist so I don't want to make exaggerated claims.

    My suggestion to you is that soda tastes far better in its form as intended with real sugars. Budget for it in your calories and therefore you are owning up to your bad habit. This way, you either choose to drink your soda and perhaps are a bit more hungry, or you choose to eat more food and make the conscious decision that despite its great taste, soda is only worth it once in a while. I do this and I never have to feel guilty about drinking Pepsi because I know I'm making a conscious decision and I will take responsibility for it.

    Please post the studies on this. I want to see them.

    Ok, I guess I have to eat my own words. I've read plenty of negative things about artificial sweeteners in the past, but now that you challenged me to find them, It appears government researchers in various countries have debunked most of the claims of negative health outcomes associated with artificial sweeteners.

    I stand by my claim that soda's in general are not healthy and it should be a treat...and that regular sodas taste better than diet. I still prefer my method of controlling my intake of them by owning up to the calories of a regular soda. I did not spend extensive time on research on this today, so there may still be links to weight gain vs loss, I just looked for safety information in general quickly and found nothing negative from reputable sources today.
  • shabaity
    shabaity Posts: 792 Member
    First of all, soda is not good for us in any form. Second, there are scientific indications that fake sugars such as aspartame etc are triggering responses in our body that are not desirable. I believe weight gain or impaired weight loss is one, but I'm not a scientist so I don't want to make exaggerated claims.

    My suggestion to you is that soda tastes far better in its form as intended with real sugars. Budget for it in your calories and therefore you are owning up to your bad habit. This way, you either choose to drink your soda and perhaps are a bit more hungry, or you choose to eat more food and make the conscious decision that despite its great taste, soda is only worth it once in a while. I do this and I never have to feel guilty about drinking Pepsi because I know I'm making a conscious decision and I will take responsibility for it.

    Would really like to see this scientific data that you speak of....... I have research drinking diet sodas for the past 5 years since a began this journey and have not read one peer reviewed study stating that drinking diet soda in moderate amounts will harm you in any way.....

    I have an auto immune disease , diet soda causes inflammation which gives me pain. So it harms me, and I believe with out a shadow of a doubt that it is harmful to others as well. My Rhemy suggested to her other patients that I found that diet drinks cause pain, they stopped drinking it and found the same thing.

    Regular soda, with real sugar, in moderation, will not harm you either.
    People with a peanut allergy will die if they eat peanuts. That doesn't make peanuts harmful to people without an allergy. Similarly, your medical condition is the reason diet soda may be harmful for you, that doesn't make it harmful for people without that condition.

    My point is it causes inflammation, which is harmful to people. Just because everyone can not feel it like I can, does not mean it does not do harm.

    Here are a few links to some of those pesky scientific studies:
    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/01/130108162135.htm
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20592133
    http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/early/2013/01/30/ajcn.112.050997.abstract
    http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/97/1/155.abstract
    http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/32/4/688.short
    http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/117/6/754.full.pdf+html

    Cheerio
    Um I hate to break it to you but of those studies only http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/32/4/688.short and http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/early/2013/01/30/ajcn.112.050997.abstract reached any conclusion of harm following the use of aspartame soft drinks. Two didn't even include them as a data point so we can throw those out, one did mention further study though as a possible link. The pregnancy one does link it to preterm risks requiring further study but as they don't mention caffeine a known pregnancy risk I'm not sure how well set up or controlled this one was. The depression article was studying all sweetened drinks and didn't differentiate between regular sugar and artificial in its findings. And the two potentially linking it to type 2 Diabetes both require further study as they can't say for sure if its a cause.
  • fitwithin
    fitwithin Posts: 210 Member
    All I know is that when I stopped drinking regular Dr. Pepper, I lost 30 pounds. Then when I stopped drinking Diet Dr. Pepper and Diet Cokes and cut out artificial sweeteners, I also lost 10 pounds. It probably depends on how much you drink it. I was addicted to both and had about 5 or 6 a day. It prevented me from drinking the water I needed to drink. Now that I am drinking lots of water with lemon and tea, I feel so much better. Everything in moderation. Try doing without as much and see how you feel. I have more energy without it. I never realized that after the high, there was a low in the afternoon. Best of luck.
  • seglass1
    seglass1 Posts: 15 Member
    Hi

    I read research that said the fake sugar in diet drinks is not only bad for you but it has the same effect as sugar in that it stimulates appetite. I go to a weight watcher group and people agreed the 'fake sugar' made you crave more.
    I converted to 'La Criox' or any club soda with a hint of lemon or lime - really refreshing cold and No Sodium or other bad stuff just pure and simpe which is the way all food should be! Try it:happy: