Diet soda ?

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  • Randa11G
    Randa11G Posts: 7 Member
    What my nutritionist told me is:

    Diet soda has artificial sweetener that is many times sweeter than natural sugar and sugar is a natural energy source for your body (obviously over indulging is not good). So when you ingest Diet sodas with no natural energy source for your body it starts to crave the energy it thought it was getting, so you tend to overeat and crave high calorie (carbs and sugars) as a result. I have switched to water and occasionally crystal light tea which still has artifical sweetener.

    Agreed! When I cut soda (including diet) out of my diet my cravings for sweets are almost completely gone.
  • Fit_Canuck
    Fit_Canuck Posts: 788 Member
    I drink diet only and only when its an option. Other times I opt for crystal light in a lemonade or tea flavor.

    I don't get it, Crystal Light is basically the same as drinking diet soda. It's all artificial sweetener.
  • I don't think diet soda is that bad for you. You know what is bad though? Being overweight. If it helps you lose weight go for it. I have a rule I don't drink calories.

    However just as I don't like to eat tasteless food I don't really enjoy tasteless beverages. The only time I want to drink water is if I'm hot or working out.

    One thing I have read as others have indicated is that diet soda can make you crave sweets. Perhaps this is true but not with everybody. The last thing I would want to have after drinking a Coke Zero is something like a cake or brownie. I don't have a sweet tooth though so this may be why this works for me. Others who crave sweets may have more difficulty.
  • You guys can have your diet soda or all soda in particular. Just don't get addicted to it, don't get hooked. If you drink enough of that stuff you'll start getting headaches. Worst time of my life was soda withdrawal over a week period when I gave it up. It is a serious thing just like if someone is addicted to heroin. Not the same side effects but I can say that any sort of advil or tylenol you name it did not get rid of the pain I was in. Soda can go to hell.
    This is anecdotal. If you have NO EVIDENCE to prove it, then it's based on solely your own experience which makes it anecdotal.
    I've never gotten a headache from diet or regular soda, but I do get them from all the bogus information I hear on the forums.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    Probably because you have 1, i'm talking a huge amount. 4 liters or so in a night for long periods of time. There are people out there that drink that and if you go cold turkey I guarantee headaches..
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Withdrawal headaches have nothing to do with it being soda. It's from caffeine. Coffee, tea, any beverage or food containing caffeine would lead to the same headaches and symptoms.
  • RonSwanson66
    RonSwanson66 Posts: 1,150 Member
    Withdrawal headaches have nothing to do with it being soda. It's from caffeine. Coffee, tea, any beverage or food containing caffeine would lead to the same headaches and symptoms.

    ^^This^^

    People with sensitivities to certain artificial sweeteners can experience headaches. But this invariably happens when they are consuming them, not cutting them out.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,026 Member
    Probably because you have 1, i'm talking a huge amount. 4 liters or so in a night for long periods of time. There are people out there that drink that and if you go cold turkey I guarantee headaches..
    Like tigersword stated, it's from the caffeine then (which is not an uncommon side effect from any caffeine withdrawl) and not due to diet soda.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Naughtybiscuit
    Naughtybiscuit Posts: 71 Member
    I don't think diet soda is that bad for you. You know what is bad though? Being overweight. If it helps you lose weight go for it. I have a rule I don't drink calories.

    However just as I don't like to eat tasteless food I don't really enjoy tasteless beverages. The only time I want to drink water is if I'm hot or working out.

    One thing I have read as others have indicated is that diet soda can make you crave sweets. Perhaps this is true but not with everybody. The last thing I would want to have after drinking a Coke Zero is something like a cake or brownie. I don't have a sweet tooth though so this may be why this works for me. Others who crave sweets may have more difficulty.

    I have a horrendous sweet tooth but drinking diet coke keeps it happy! The way I see it is if I choose diet coke over chocolate (for example), that's going to be better for my diet. As I'm on MFP obviously I prioritise a calorie-controlled diet over everything else, otherwise I'd be off doing Atkins or Paleo or some other restrictive diet. I'm not, so it makes sense to be as efficient as possible with calories. 0 calories for diet coke definitely beats 100+ for a glass of fruit juice.

    Just my opinion :)
  • I challenge you to go six weeks with this goal: Don't drink any other beverages each day until after you drink your needed 48 ounces of water a day. If you do not have a desire for water it will help you develop the taste for it. It takes six weeks to break a bad habit or develop a good one. If your desire for diet soda currently is more than "moderate" this will help you to bring it to that level, accomplishing two healthy goals at one time. I think you'll be pleased with the results. I certainly was when I accepted this challenge.
  • I switched from regular Pepsi to Diet 7Up. I didn't realize at the time that Diet 7Up is caffeine-free, but giving up caffeine is one of the best things I've done for my diet. The surprising thing I found with giving up caffeine is that my taste for sweets disappeared.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,026 Member
    I challenge you to go six weeks with this goal: Don't drink any other beverages each day until after you drink your needed 48 ounces of water a day. If you do not have a desire for water it will help you develop the taste for it. It takes six weeks to break a bad habit or develop a good one. If your desire for diet soda currently is more than "moderate" this will help you to bring it to that level, accomplishing two healthy goals at one time. I think you'll be pleased with the results. I certainly was when I accepted this challenge.
    I drink 84 ounces of water plus 1-2 diet Pepsi a day. So it's doable. I chug water, I drink diet Pepsi.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Exactly. 1 or 2 cans of soda a day plus a gallon or so of water. Amazing concept, that people can actually drink both, isn't it?
  • Zevia really rocks as a diet soda replacement! All natural ingredients and often taste just like the real thing! In love!
  • mccoy624
    mccoy624 Posts: 1
    My girlfriend is a dietitian and very rarely drinks diet soda if ever. She has found that decaf tea's that are flavored have curtailed her sweet tooth and are naturally flavored vs. what may be in a diet soda. I say go with tea.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,026 Member
    My girlfriend is a dietitian and very rarely drinks diet soda if ever. She has found that decaf tea's that are flavored have curtailed her sweet tooth and are naturally flavored vs. what may be in a diet soda. I say go with tea.
    What if you don't like tea?


    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition[/b
  • Justforthebacon
    Justforthebacon Posts: 61 Member
    <-- Drinks diet pepsi daily, sugar free syrups in my coffee and Poweraid Zero.
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