diet coke, sugar free desserts etc.

All soda is bad for you. I personally feel that diet soda is worse, although I think it due to no calories. I try not to drink a lot, and am hoping to quit soon, but I really do like it. I'm honestly not worried about it hurting me.

I am not sure that this is true, but my Dr a long time ago said that sugar-free -anything- is like a place holder. It doesn't have the calories but it causes your body to still crave the sweet flavor. Your brain thinks it's getting the sugar so it will continue to cause you to want it. He said the best bet is to go through the two weeks or so of withdrawal so that your brain doesn't want ti anymore.

It worked for me for several things. I loved chocolate but no longer crave it. I stopped drinking soda 20 years ago and still don't crave it. I don't eat meat very often and don't crave it. It sounds good once in awhile, but I never 'have' to have it anymore.

I have read (in scientific journals) that disconnecting the sensation of sweetness from caloric intake causes confusion between the stomach and the brain, such that people then eat more to achieve fullness. Also, that HFCS (while providing both sweetness and calories) doesn't result in release of the hormones that signal satiety, so you don't feel "full".

Personally, I gave up artificial sweeteners (including HFCS) 4+ years ago...it took a little while to get out of the habit of ordering a diet coke with meals, but water has become my beverage of choice.

Drink this stuff in moderation.... theres plenty of research out there that states too much of it causes weight gain. I don't think one/day will hurt you in the long run, but there are absolutely no nutritional benefits and all this processed crap is why so much of America is obese. Pay attention to Dr. Oz people, if we quit buying this crap, and start buying more healthy foods, then prices of healthy food will go down and the cheap, processed crap will go up in price. (and yes, anything Dr. Oz says is 100% true for me- lol)

You are right you shouldn't have too much of it. I have known a lot of people who have gained weight drinking the sugar subsitute drinks and desserts. All sugar subs should be avoided. There are lots of articles on the net about the effects of sugar subs. You are best to eat the regular items and in moderation and count the calories. I think that's the big trick, since it's 0, we tend to reward ourselves with more. I'm all about quanity, so diet and sugar free items are not my choice anymore. I just skip it all together. I might have a diet coke once a month as a treat.

Good luck Smiley! It's a hard long road we are on, but we can do it.

I've know a lot of people who eat healthy and are overweight. I know lots of people who drink diet drinks and are slim. Anecdotes are evidence.

You're right ninerbuff. I guess we don't need someone to tell us what to do and what not to do. Every one is different and react to foods differently. listen to your body.

The jury is still out on artificial sweeteners causing cancer, but I've definitely heard a lot of anecdotal evidence suggesting a trend in artificially sweetened things causing plateaus in weight loss and generally unhealthy feelings physically. If you find yourself stalling in weight loss, or feeling really not great, that's always the first thing that should be cut out I think. But if you're indulging in moderation, and it's not a huge part of what you're consuming, and you're feeling no side effects, including increased hunger or cravings for other things, then eat whatever.

But listen to YOUR body. Other people can't tell you what only you can feel.

I love diet soda. I used to have a big problem with drinking tons of it...so did the 6 year old. So when we moved the hubby and I decided that we weren't going to buy it for the house. I admit, I miss it and now only have it whenever we're out...but not having it around the house is forcing me to drink more water.