Is it worth it to quit diet soda? Have you?

There is nothing, repeat, NOTHING wrong with having a diet coke every day.

By all means, cut back from 6 a day, it's better for your teeth and bones if you exercise moderation, but the obscure websites are not credible resources and I think you know that just from the way you asked the question. Enjoy your vanilla coke zero on the rocks, it's a perfectly viable no-calorie drink.

I drank diet coke for many years, at least two, sometimes three, "thirstbusters" (32 oz) a day. I was having strange episodes like a petite seizure. After several doctors and several tests I overheard a weight watchers leader mention having bad reactions to diet soda. I quit it completely. I felt immensly better. "Episodes" stopped and I felt less headache-y. Sadly after years of no soda at all I somehow got started on regular coke :-(

So... I have nothing scientific to offer but I felt much better without it.

There are a bunch of reasons to cut out soda: tons of chemicals, erodes enamel on teeth and lining of throat/stomach/etc due to acidic nature, bloat, and adds unnecessary caffeine, to name a few. Additionally, there have been numerous studies that suggest correlations with obesity, blood sugar issues, and slow metabolism.

Further, my doctor says most people will lose at least ten pounds from dropping diet soda.

Personally dropping soda was one of the best things my husband and I ever did. It wasn't easy, but we feel so much better without it.

From personal experience I can state that since I stopped drinking diet soda I do feel quite differently. No more excessive thirst, heartburn, my fatigue has improved and I am not experiencing the high-low energy seesaw.

I think the biggest improvement is that I am not craving sweets anymore. Before I started drinking diet soda, I never ate sweets. I was craving them endlessly during the time I drank it. I did not realize the connection until after I stopped the soda. Within a week, no more sweet cravings.

Again, this is just personal experience. I cannot speak for anyone but myself.

I thought about it exactly the way you did, OP. I loved the stuff and rationally, I couldn't think of a reason to stop, except that I thought it might be such an ingrained habit that maybe I'm not in control anymore. So In January I gave up My two 20-ounce bottles of Diet Coke, plus Splenda out of the same fear that I was dependent on it. I substituted them for Hi Caff teas from Republic of Tea and Starbucks Iced Coffee, which I drank straight or with milk. Here was the surprise: my food cravings went away. I've lost 20 pounds since giving them up - not because they alone created a calorie deficit, obviously, but because my appetite is small enough that i can actually successfully be on a diet. So now I'm on the biggest weight loss effort of my life, and that was the first step for me. Annoyingly, because the studies sounded so stupid and condescending to me when they came out, this corresponds to a September study that got in the news finding a correlation between diet soda and obesity. Here's another study that's been cited 102 times, suggesting it's a well-studied phenomenon at this point: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2892765/

I don't think it's harmful in moderation. Life is hard enough, if you enjoy it, have it!

I have quit soda altogether for 3 years now, it's great! It helps with maintaining weight and/or gaining muscle because I can use all my calories up for healthy and filling food but that's just me, maybe you can lessen your intake into let's say ince or twice a day? As long as you consume in moderation

No reason to quit it entirely if you don't have any issues with it. That is a lot of caffeine, and I was once in your shoes, so I cut back to a couple a day just so I could sleep better at night. I have experimented with cutting it out entirely and noticed no changes. I didn't magically lose weight and I felt no different. I think if you reduce your consumption you'll lose that feeling of dependency while still getting to enjoy it.

I'm down to 1-2 20oz bottles of diet Mt dew a week from the 3-4 a day I used to drink. I feel much better and don't feel dependant on caffeine anymore.

It is worth it to stop drinking soda period. It has zero benefits. Then again I never got into soda to begin with so maybe it has some magical benefit I do not know about

I haven't quit anything.

I used to drink regular soda frequently, years ago when I was obese.
I gave it up for awhile to lose weight, and it helped. I don't suggest telling yourself you'll never have it again, but it'd be healthier to find an alternative daily drink - like tea or coffee.

I have diet soda occasionally, but not often. I know it has no nutritional benefits, but it's nice as a treat...I like mixing hard liquor with diet soda... I know I'm already getting a lot of calories with the alcohol so I feel like it saves some mixing with diet soda.

We all have to make choices on what works best for us and what we can live without. Good luck.

I have asked many doctors this question. They tell me that water is best; however, if it keeps you from eating/drinking sugar.... go for it. They state that there are many REPUTABLE, controlled studies that show the dangers of sugar. The literature is less clear with diet soda. If it makes you feel more hungry, don't drink it. If you are diabetic, and it makes your insulin needs greater, quit drinking it. Otherwise, moderation is key.

I drink less than I used to, but I'm not giving it up completely. I mostly have it in the morning, then drink water the rest of the day. If I go out to eat, I get water, too, because it bothers me to pay more for one glass of soda than I would 2 two-liter bottles. I'd rather give a higher tip to the server.