Diet Coke Addiction

Ok. So it may be a long shot well not really. Lol. I'm sure I'm not the only person who's a diet coke addict!!! It's awful!!!
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Replies

  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    I love diet coke. You know diet coke has no addictive qualities.
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
    O_Vianco wrote: »
    Ok. So it may be a long shot well not really. Lol. I'm sure I'm not the only person who's a diet coke addict!!! It's awful!!!
    In what sense are you saying you're an addict?
    Clinical addiction is a very serious thing, and plenty of people on MFP have actually been through it, so it's a bit nicer and more understanding to say something like "I have diet coke cravings" or "I drink diet coke way more than I intend to".
    If you think you actually have a clinical addiction to diet coke (other than the minor physical dependence to caffeine that all caffeine causes), I'd say there isn't really scientific support for people being addicted to foods.
  • senecarr wrote: »
    O_Vianco wrote: »
    Ok. So it may be a long shot well not really. Lol. I'm sure I'm not the only person who's a diet coke addict!!! It's awful!!!
    In what sense are you saying you're an addict?
    Clinical addiction is a very serious thing, and plenty of people on MFP have actually been through it, so it's a bit nicer and more understanding to say something like "I have diet coke cravings" or "I drink diet coke way more than I intend to".
    If you think you actually have a clinical addiction to diet coke (other than the minor physical dependence to caffeine that all caffeine causes), I'd say there isn't really scientific support for people being addicted to foods.

    I'd consider someone whom can't control not giving into, their craving; an addict.
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
    senecarr wrote: »
    O_Vianco wrote: »
    Ok. So it may be a long shot well not really. Lol. I'm sure I'm not the only person who's a diet coke addict!!! It's awful!!!
    In what sense are you saying you're an addict?
    Clinical addiction is a very serious thing, and plenty of people on MFP have actually been through it, so it's a bit nicer and more understanding to say something like "I have diet coke cravings" or "I drink diet coke way more than I intend to".
    If you think you actually have a clinical addiction to diet coke (other than the minor physical dependence to caffeine that all caffeine causes), I'd say there isn't really scientific support for people being addicted to foods.

    I'd consider someone whom can't control not giving into, their craving; an addict.

    Properly, addiction doesn't refer to that, and calling other non-addictive things addictive is not helpful for understanding, and is a bit patronizing to people that have actually gone through a real addiction.
  • senecarr wrote: »
    senecarr wrote: »
    O_Vianco wrote: »
    Ok. So it may be a long shot well not really. Lol. I'm sure I'm not the only person who's a diet coke addict!!! It's awful!!!
    In what sense are you saying you're an addict?
    Clinical addiction is a very serious thing, and plenty of people on MFP have actually been through it, so it's a bit nicer and more understanding to say something like "I have diet coke cravings" or "I drink diet coke way more than I intend to".
    If you think you actually have a clinical addiction to diet coke (other than the minor physical dependence to caffeine that all caffeine causes), I'd say there isn't really scientific support for people being addicted to foods.

    I'd consider someone whom can't control not giving into, their craving; an addict.

    Properly, addiction doesn't refer to that, and calling other non-addictive things addictive is not helpful for understanding, and is a bit patronizing to people that have actually gone through a real addiction.

    I have no understanding why food isn't considered an addiction, like shopping, etc. because eating, buying things, etc., is something that we have to do but an addict, does it excessively.
  • sheldonklein
    sheldonklein Posts: 854 Member
    senecarr wrote: »
    O_Vianco wrote: »
    Ok. So it may be a long shot well not really. Lol. I'm sure I'm not the only person who's a diet coke addict!!! It's awful!!!
    In what sense are you saying you're an addict?
    Clinical addiction is a very serious thing, and plenty of people on MFP have actually been through it, so it's a bit nicer and more understanding to say something like "I have diet coke cravings" or "I drink diet coke way more than I intend to".
    If you think you actually have a clinical addiction to diet coke (other than the minor physical dependence to caffeine that all caffeine causes), I'd say there isn't really scientific support for people being addicted to foods.

    I'd consider someone whom can't control not giving into, their craving; an addict.

    No, you'd call that person weak.
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
    senecarr wrote: »
    senecarr wrote: »
    O_Vianco wrote: »
    Ok. So it may be a long shot well not really. Lol. I'm sure I'm not the only person who's a diet coke addict!!! It's awful!!!
    In what sense are you saying you're an addict?
    Clinical addiction is a very serious thing, and plenty of people on MFP have actually been through it, so it's a bit nicer and more understanding to say something like "I have diet coke cravings" or "I drink diet coke way more than I intend to".
    If you think you actually have a clinical addiction to diet coke (other than the minor physical dependence to caffeine that all caffeine causes), I'd say there isn't really scientific support for people being addicted to foods.

    I'd consider someone whom can't control not giving into, their craving; an addict.

    Properly, addiction doesn't refer to that, and calling other non-addictive things addictive is not helpful for understanding, and is a bit patronizing to people that have actually gone through a real addiction.

    I have no understanding why food isn't considered an addiction, like shopping, etc. because eating, buying things, etc., is something that we have to do but an addict, does it excessively.
    Shopping isn't an addiction either.
    Properly, addiction refers to things that have a physical dependence and exhibit withdrawal responses when stopped.
    Shopping addiction, sex addiction, gambling addiction, are all really compulsive habits.
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
    Neurologically, they also have the distinction that habit addictions have dopamine as an anticipatory neurotransmitter, not a post consumption rise.
    For example, while people like to refer to food as causing dopamine spikes like cocaine, this is entirely inaccurate in explaining the timing. Dopamine spikes in anticipation of food, sex, gambling for a gambler. These all indicate that the person had mentally come to view the object as a reward, and dopamine shows anticipation of the reward. That's also why someone with gambling addiction has dopamine spikes regardless of whether they win or loss, and continuous winning will actually drop the spikes just like continuously losing will. The anticipation is important, and predictable outcomes don't induce as much anticipation.
    Actual cocaine causes dopamine to rise and stay high by blocking the processes that recycle dopamine in the brain. A person who frequently uses will experience withdrawals because their synapses actually alter and lose reception to dopamine because the cells assume their is a biological problem going on and they need to down regulate reaction to a bad signal.
  • ABabilonia
    ABabilonia Posts: 622 Member
    O_Vianco wrote: »
    Ok. So it may be a long shot well not really. Lol. I'm sure I'm not the only person who's a diet coke addict!!! It's awful!!!

    How many cans/bottles do you drink daily? I used to drink diet coke every day, but I started to cut the intake slowly. Now I just drink one can once in a while.



  • annette_15
    annette_15 Posts: 1,657 Member
    I drink 2-3 cans a day, but def dont consider myself an addict, I just really enjoy it. Does it have a negative affect on your life? If so, I wouldnt worry about it
  • Shaz3k
    Shaz3k Posts: 29 Member
    Never been that into diet coke, because as a kid I tried a glass of it only to find a dead fly in it - put me off for life. Real coke on the other hand used to be a big problem for me. Would drink and crave multiple cans a day, luckily back then I was fairly active. I eventually worked past it and now I no longer crave it and haven't for years. Very occasionally I might feel like a can, but I will have coke zero instead, but I pretty much only have water now with a coffee to start the day. :)
  • bettypeyton1
    bettypeyton1 Posts: 10 Member
    I drank diet coke for over 20 years. We are talking 4-6 cans a day. Sometimes more. Two months ago I gave it up. I slowly went down to only 1 can a day then quit. I don't drink anything with caffeine now. I might drink 1 can or bottle of sprite a day. Then rest is water.
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
    I just quit drinking it last week and lost 4.5lbs since. I have noticed a reduced appetite so I'm eating less so I think it was making me hungry. I didn't drink much I would have 1 soda a day and 1 other aspertame drink.
  • ManiacalLaugh
    ManiacalLaugh Posts: 1,048 Member
    edited September 2015
    senecarr wrote: »
    Neurologically, they also have the distinction that habit addictions have dopamine as an anticipatory neurotransmitter, not a post consumption rise.
    For example, while people like to refer to food as causing dopamine spikes like cocaine, this is entirely inaccurate in explaining the timing. Dopamine spikes in anticipation of food, sex, gambling for a gambler. These all indicate that the person had mentally come to view the object as a reward, and dopamine shows anticipation of the reward. That's also why someone with gambling addiction has dopamine spikes regardless of whether they win or loss, and continuous winning will actually drop the spikes just like continuously losing will. The anticipation is important, and predictable outcomes don't induce as much anticipation.
    Actual cocaine causes dopamine to rise and stay high by blocking the processes that recycle dopamine in the brain. A person who frequently uses will experience withdrawals because their synapses actually alter and lose reception to dopamine because the cells assume their is a biological problem going on and they need to down regulate reaction to a bad signal.

    @senecarr You certainly aren't the only one who does this, so forgive me for making it seem like I'm calling you out or making this a personal thing because this is really more of a blanket statement.

    But this argument of the semantics of addiction really has to stop - especially in a forum where people are asking for help. Professional help is available for sex addiction, gambling addiction, etc., and while I understand the science between dopamine spikes and chemical addictions, any behavior that results in too many instantaneous rewards can actually cause changes in the brain. (Src: The TedX Epidsode on Porn - sorry for the lack of link.)

    Professional counselors and psychologists see this as enough of a reason to provide support and treatment for those feeling out of control during any "rewarding" behavior. And trust me, after having dealt with BED, there is no other term that feels appropriate than "addiction" when talking about the abuse of food.
  • TheBeachgod
    TheBeachgod Posts: 825 Member
    How about stopping the blanket statement of equating no willpower with addiction?
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
    senecarr wrote: »
    Neurologically, they also have the distinction that habit addictions have dopamine as an anticipatory neurotransmitter, not a post consumption rise.
    For example, while people like to refer to food as causing dopamine spikes like cocaine, this is entirely inaccurate in explaining the timing. Dopamine spikes in anticipation of food, sex, gambling for a gambler. These all indicate that the person had mentally come to view the object as a reward, and dopamine shows anticipation of the reward. That's also why someone with gambling addiction has dopamine spikes regardless of whether they win or loss, and continuous winning will actually drop the spikes just like continuously losing will. The anticipation is important, and predictable outcomes don't induce as much anticipation.
    Actual cocaine causes dopamine to rise and stay high by blocking the processes that recycle dopamine in the brain. A person who frequently uses will experience withdrawals because their synapses actually alter and lose reception to dopamine because the cells assume their is a biological problem going on and they need to down regulate reaction to a bad signal.

    @senecarr You certainly aren't the only one who does this, so forgive me for making it seem like I'm calling you out or making this a personal thing because this is really more of a blanket statement.

    But this argument of the semantics of addiction really has to stop - especially in a forum where people are asking for help. Professional help is available for sex addiction, gambling addiction, etc., and while I understand the science between dopamine spikes and chemical addictions, any behavior that results in too many instantaneous rewards can actually cause changes in the brain. (Src: The TedX Epidsode on Porn - sorry for the lack of link.)

    Professional counselors and psychologists see this as enough of a reason to provide support and treatment for those feeling out of control during any "rewarding" behavior. And trust me, after having dealt with BED, there is no other term that feels appropriate than "addiction" when talking about the abuse of food.
    A. start a new thread about it then. I'm seriously not going to discuss it further in this one. I give no cares what-so-ever about if you want to call me in particular out or not, but I don't want to deal with it being considered derailing.
    B. You are wrong to equate BED with addiction.
    C. Please don't cite TedX. It is stuff that can't make it on TED. There are TedX's that say GMOs are giving people allergies to their food 'cause correlation and parental instincts.
    D. Naive understanding. Everything can cause changes in the brain. Otherwise, we wouldn't have a way to store memories. There's a huge difference between our brains actually amplifying its own signals and having an outside force that forces neurotransmitters leading to physical withdrawal.
  • ManiacalLaugh
    ManiacalLaugh Posts: 1,048 Member
    How about stopping the blanket statement of equating no willpower with addiction?

    Admittedly, I have no knowledge of this particular instance, which is why I'm calling it a blanket statement - because I see the same reply in every post that dares use the term "addict" in their text. For some, this is going to be more apt than others, but when someone's asking for help/tips on giving something up that they feel as though they are addicted to, the least helpful reply is "no you're not." Maybe a post about Diet Coke is more about willpower, but this response is ubiquitous. It doesn't seem to matter if the reply is about simple caffeine addiction or someone honestly dealing with an eating disorder.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    edited September 2015
    senecarr wrote: »
    Neurologically, they also have the distinction that habit addictions have dopamine as an anticipatory neurotransmitter, not a post consumption rise.
    For example, while people like to refer to food as causing dopamine spikes like cocaine, this is entirely inaccurate in explaining the timing. Dopamine spikes in anticipation of food, sex, gambling for a gambler. These all indicate that the person had mentally come to view the object as a reward, and dopamine shows anticipation of the reward. That's also why someone with gambling addiction has dopamine spikes regardless of whether they win or loss, and continuous winning will actually drop the spikes just like continuously losing will. The anticipation is important, and predictable outcomes don't induce as much anticipation.
    Actual cocaine causes dopamine to rise and stay high by blocking the processes that recycle dopamine in the brain. A person who frequently uses will experience withdrawals because their synapses actually alter and lose reception to dopamine because the cells assume their is a biological problem going on and they need to down regulate reaction to a bad signal.

    @senecarr You certainly aren't the only one who does this, so forgive me for making it seem like I'm calling you out or making this a personal thing because this is really more of a blanket statement.

    But this argument of the semantics of addiction really has to stop - especially in a forum where people are asking for help. Professional help is available for sex addiction, gambling addiction, etc., and while I understand the science between dopamine spikes and chemical addictions, any behavior that results in too many instantaneous rewards can actually cause changes in the brain. (Src: The TedX Epidsode on Porn - sorry for the lack of link.)

    Professional counselors and psychologists see this as enough of a reason to provide support and treatment for those feeling out of control during any "rewarding" behavior. And trust me, after having dealt with BED, there is no other term that feels appropriate than "addiction" when talking about the abuse of food.
    And do you know what happens on these forums when one suggests that a poster seek professional help if his "addiction" is such that he has lost control over his food choices? Warning points. And being called "messed up" by those who cannot be named.

    So people come here asking for help, get pointed toward help, and those doing it get shut down as mean people. Perfectly reasonable. Or not.
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    How about stopping the blanket statement of equating no willpower with addiction?

    ^^ Yup this.

    Admittedly, more often than not, the OPs never return to clarify if they TRULY believe they are addicted, or whether they were using it as a hyperbolic figure of speech.

    In the few times they do, and they fall into the former category, I think it's extremely helpful and important to point out that no, they are not, in fact, addicted. That returns the power to themselves instead of empowering the substance.

    In the latter case, yeah it's probably not necessary to devolve into an argument over the semantics, but the intent is still the same - trying to help the person realize that THEY - not the substance - have the power in their relationship, and that they can choose to exercise that power.
  • tincanonastring
    tincanonastring Posts: 3,944 Member
    How about stopping the blanket statement of equating no willpower with addiction?

    Admittedly, I have no knowledge of this particular instance, which is why I'm calling it a blanket statement - because I see the same reply in every post that dares use the term "addict" in their text. For some, this is going to be more apt than others, but when someone's asking for help/tips on giving something up that they feel as though they are addicted to, the least helpful reply is "no you're not." Maybe a post about Diet Coke is more about willpower, but this response is ubiquitous. It doesn't seem to matter if the reply is about simple caffeine addiction or someone honestly dealing with an eating disorder.

    There's no such thing as a "simple caffeine addiction." It's not addiction.
  • tennisdude2004
    tennisdude2004 Posts: 5,609 Member
    How about stopping the blanket statement of equating no willpower with addiction?

    How about using common sense and not reading everything so literally?


  • TheBeachgod
    TheBeachgod Posts: 825 Member
    edited September 2015
    Oh yeah, mine is the only post worth commenting on here. Not the ones saying it is OK to call lack of willpower an addiction. Why don't they use some common sense?
  • tincanonastring
    tincanonastring Posts: 3,944 Member
    How about blow it out your *kitten*?

    :lol:

    Seriously, though. Words have meanings. Lack of willpower is a better description of these issues than addiction.
  • tennisdude2004
    tennisdude2004 Posts: 5,609 Member
    edited September 2015
    How about blow it out your *****?

    BRASS - BUGLE - FLUTE - KAZOO - SLIDE - VALVE???
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    I just quit drinking it last week and lost 4.5lbs since. I have noticed a reduced appetite so I'm eating less so I think it was making me hungry. I didn't drink much I would have 1 soda a day and 1 other aspertame drink.

    So you stopped drinking something with zero calories, and believe that you dropped 4.5 lbs of weight as a result, which is equivalent to consuming 15,750 less calories than normal?
  • tincanonastring
    tincanonastring Posts: 3,944 Member
    I just quit drinking it last week and lost 4.5lbs since. I have noticed a reduced appetite so I'm eating less so I think it was making me hungry. I didn't drink much I would have 1 soda a day and 1 other aspertame drink.

    What other changes have you made to your diet/exercise in that time period?
  • snickerscharlie
    snickerscharlie Posts: 8,578 Member
    ceoverturf wrote: »
    I think it's extremely helpful and important to point out that no, they are not, in fact, addicted. That returns the power to themselves instead of empowering the substance.

    So much YES to this! <3
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    I've lost over 90lbs while still drinking diet coke/coke zero. I've found no issue with it in regards to weight loss, but I do find I have to limit it at night because the caffeine will keep me up. Another thing to consider is how it affects your tooth enamel (there's a lot of acid in it).

    What is your particular issue with diet coke (more info could lead to better recommendations for a substitute)?
  • knowles1989
    knowles1989 Posts: 28 Member
    Wow, talk about making a mountain out of a mole hill!
    I drink a lot of diet coke too, I found that last time I tried loosing weight I was still able to loose and continue to drink diet coke but just limited myself to 2 cans per day. I wouldn't say I'm addicted, I just love diet coke :) don't worry about it too much :)
  • jez_4ever
    jez_4ever Posts: 68 Member
    I used to drink it so much. I haven't taken a sip in probably 2 years now. I only drink flavored water or good ole agua now. However, I can't say it helped with any type of weight loss or anything like that. Overall, I think its better. I just feel better and I probably sleep a little better too. Have you ever watched the videos on what coke products do to nails, rust, etc? Just imagine what the stuff is doing inside of your body? It can't be good