Diet Pop / soda / coke depending on where you live

[David LoPan]

I know it sounds lame but my only "addiction" is for diet Dr. P. I know its loaded with Na but I don't drink coffee and its my go to drink (yes I still drink a ton of water, about 100+ oz a day). Been trying to use OJ or apples for that energy pump that I get from diet dp. I also like the taste and the burn the carbonation gives.

I am keep messing up my diet with this "addiction" / weakness. Anyone struggle with this or have overcome drinking diet soda?

[Bio-Active]

I gave up diet soda many years ago. I lost another 10 pounds when I kicked the diet soda so I never looked back

[hellomycognomen]

I am also addicted to diet coke, its too damn good. Dr. P is ok as well.

I dont care about the negative effects (if any) to me the flavor and bubbly carbonation is worth the cost.

Idk what you mean by it messing up your diet. The sodium is negligible IMO.

[David LoPan]

So I am not alone with the diet soda. I would like to lose that extra 10 pounds that everyone talks about. I had no problems giving up drinking alcohol while training and now hardly every drink, but I did drink 1/2 a beer today with a couple of neighbors that stopped by with a 12 pack. I want to stop drinking pop but dam its so good.

I thought that diet soda messed up ones diet from what all I have read. Is this a myth or a fact?

[hellomycognomen]

It has zero calories, so how can it mess up your diet?

Its a myth IMO.

Diet soda is just an easy scapegoat.

But if you really want to quit (I dont see why you would tho) you can reduce consumption to only with meals, then only for lunch and dinner, then only for dinner, then only half the glass, then none at all.

[Bio-Active]

It has zero calories, so how can it mess up your diet?

Its a myth IMO.

Diet soda is just an easy scapegoat.

But if you really want to quit (I dont see why you would tho) you can reduce consumption to only with meals, then only for lunch and dinner, then only for dinner, then only half the glass, then none at all.

So because it has zero calories you don't think diet soda has any bad effects or are you just saying it won't make you gain weight? Though it may have no calories it's loaded with other sweaters and sodium

[hellomycognomen]

So because it has zero calories you don't think diet soda has any bad effects or are you just saying it won't make you gain weight? Though it may have no calories it's loaded with other sweaters and sodium

"Zero calories" in foods may or may not be zero in terms of numerically significant figures, ie if a food has 0.9 calories it would still be labeled as 0.

But diet soda should have no effect on caloric intake.

As far as the other chemicals and ingredients in general, they could have an effect I guess, but it would be rather hard to correlate them.

There is a lot of hype over artificial sweeteners and their long term effects but nothing to date has shown any hard evidence so its basically all anecdotal IMO.

A 12oz diet coke contains 45mg of sodium, typical daily sodium consumption on average is 2400mg, so you would need to drink ~54 of them to reach that level.

IMO the sodium in diet soda is negligible and if a person is taking in too much sodium more likely it is coming from their food not the diet sodas they drink.

---------------

I love soda too much man, to be honest even if there were scientifically documented negative impacts I would still drink it. haha.

-Cheers

[jngymrat]

Well first off, Diet soda is no scapegoat at all. It's completely guilty on its own! If you have no real training goals or, are just a weekend warrior to training or athleticism, it may not matter how much of the stuff you drink. But if you are a more serious about what you put into your body then get rid of it altogether! First off, you should weigh any food that goes into your mouth, if it has no calories or benefit to your body why on earth would you eat it? Here are some facts that may tip the scale.

According to a 2008 University of Minnesota study of almost 10,000 adults, even just one diet soda a day is linked to a 34% higher risk of metabolic syndrome, the group of symptoms including belly fat and high cholesterol that puts you at risk for heart disease. Whether that link is attributed to an ingredient in diet soda or the drinkers' eating habits is unclear. But is that one can really worth it?
Also, a University of Texas Health Science Center study found that the more diet sodas a person drank, the greater their risk of becoming overweight. Downing just two or more cans a day increased waistlines by 500%. Why? Artificial sweeteners can disrupt the body's natural ability to regulate calorie intake based on the sweetness of foods. People who consume diet foods might be more likely to overeat, because your body is being tricked into thinking it's eating sugar, and you crave more calories.

This is what I hate about chemicals in the body, aside from tons and tons of links to more sickness and illness due to the crap they put into these diet drinks, think about the acidity, it has an acid value of 3.2, a battery has a value of 1! water is a 7, I know right! and we drink this crap and wonder why our teeth fall out.

Sometimes, the vessel for your beverage is just as harmful. Diet or not, soft drink cans are coated with the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked to everything from heart disease to obesity to reproductive problems. That's a lot of risk taking for one can of pop.

There are way too many reasons not to drink a diet soda and no benefits to drink one. Take a smoker for example, most athletes would be totally against it, but then, why would any true athlete want to have soda instead, the affects and health risks are just as dangerous, they just come in a different package.

Sorry for the downer, and on a Monday no less!

[Docd187123]

Well first off, Diet soda is no scapegoat at all. It's completely guilty on its own! If you have no real training goals or, are just a weekend warrior to training or athleticism, it may not matter how much of the stuff you drink. But if you are a more serious about what you put into your body then get rid of it altogether! First off, you should weigh any food that goes into your mouth, if it has no calories or benefit to your body why on earth would you eat it? Here are some facts that may tip the scale.

According to a 2008 University of Minnesota study of almost 10,000 adults, even just one diet soda a day is linked to a 34% higher risk of metabolic syndrome, the group of symptoms including belly fat and high cholesterol that puts you at risk for heart disease. Whether that link is attributed to an ingredient in diet soda or the drinkers' eating habits is unclear. But is that one can really worth it?
Also, a University of Texas Health Science Center study found that the more diet sodas a person drank, the greater their risk of becoming overweight. Downing just two or more cans a day increased waistlines by 500%. Why? Artificial sweeteners can disrupt the body's natural ability to regulate calorie intake based on the sweetness of foods. People who consume diet foods might be more likely to overeat, because your body is being tricked into thinking it's eating sugar, and you crave more calories.

This is what I hate about chemicals in the body, aside from tons and tons of links to more sickness and illness due to the crap they put into these diet drinks, think about the acidity, it has an acid value of 3.2, a battery has a value of 1! water is a 7, I know right! and we drink this crap and wonder why our teeth fall out.

Sometimes, the vessel for your beverage is just as harmful. Diet or not, soft drink cans are coated with the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked to everything from heart disease to obesity to reproductive problems. That's a lot of risk taking for one can of pop.

There are way too many reasons not to drink a diet soda and no benefits to drink one. Take a smoker for example, most athletes would be totally against it, but then, why would any true athlete want to have soda instead, the affects and health risks are just as dangerous, they just come in a different package.

Sorry for the downer, and on a Monday no less!

Personal preference is reason enough considering numerous studies done on the safety of the topic at hand. Here's no reason to eliminate anything besides what you're allergic to or have an intolerance to and/or you dislike.

[hellomycognomen]

Well first off, Diet soda is no scapegoat at all. It's completely guilty on its own! If you have no real training goals or, are just a weekend warrior to training or athleticism, it may not matter how much of the stuff you drink. But if you are a more serious about what you put into your body then get rid of it altogether! First off, you should weigh any food that goes into your mouth, if it has no calories or benefit to your body why on earth would you eat it? Here are some facts that may tip the scale.

According to a 2008 University of Minnesota study of almost 10,000 adults, even just one diet soda a day is linked to a 34% higher risk of metabolic syndrome, the group of symptoms including belly fat and high cholesterol that puts you at risk for heart disease. Whether that link is attributed to an ingredient in diet soda or the drinkers' eating habits is unclear. But is that one can really worth it?
Also, a University of Texas Health Science Center study found that the more diet sodas a person drank, the greater their risk of becoming overweight. Downing just two or more cans a day increased waistlines by 500%. Why? Artificial sweeteners can disrupt the body's natural ability to regulate calorie intake based on the sweetness of foods. People who consume diet foods might be more likely to overeat, because your body is being tricked into thinking it's eating sugar, and you crave more calories.

This is what I hate about chemicals in the body, aside from tons and tons of links to more sickness and illness due to the crap they put into these diet drinks, think about the acidity, it has an acid value of 3.2, a battery has a value of 1! water is a 7, I know right! and we drink this crap and wonder why our teeth fall out.

Sometimes, the vessel for your beverage is just as harmful. Diet or not, soft drink cans are coated with the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked to everything from heart disease to obesity to reproductive problems. That's a lot of risk taking for one can of pop.

There are way too many reasons not to drink a diet soda and no benefits to drink one. Take a smoker for example, most athletes would be totally against it, but then, why would any true athlete want to have soda instead, the affects and health risks are just as dangerous, they just come in a different package.

Sorry for the downer, and on a Monday no less!

First off, you should weigh any food that goes into your mouth, if it has no calories or benefit to your body why on earth would you eat it?

Because maybe it tastes AWESOME!

According to a 2008 University of Minnesota study of almost 10,000 adults, even just one diet soda a day is linked to a 34% higher risk of metabolic syndrome, the group of symptoms including belly fat and high cholesterol that puts you at risk for heart disease. Whether that link is attributed to an ingredient in diet soda or the drinkers' eating habits is unclear. But is that one can really worth it?
Correlation does not imply causation

Also, a University of Texas Health Science Center study found that the more diet sodas a person drank, the greater their risk of becoming overweight. Downing just two or more cans a day increased waistlines by 500%. Why? Artificial sweeteners can disrupt the body's natural ability to regulate calorie intake based on the sweetness of foods. People who consume diet foods might be more likely to overeat, because your body is being tricked into thinking it's eating sugar, and you crave more calories.

Over eating was the cause not diet soda, Its their own fault for not controlling themselves.

This is what I hate about chemicals in the body, aside from tons and tons of links to more sickness and illness due to the crap they put into these diet drinks, think about the acidity, it has an acid value of 3.2, a battery has a value of 1! water is a 7, I know right! and we drink this crap and wonder why our teeth fall out.

Orange juice is 3.5, other acidic fruit even less (lemons pH 2) and I still have all my teeth, and I also drink fresh lemonade

Sometimes, the vessel for your beverage is just as harmful. Diet or not, soft drink cans are coated with the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked to everything from heart disease to obesity to reproductive problems. That's a lot of risk taking for one can of pop.

BPA is used in just about all canned products (food and drink) to help prevent contamination and extend shelf life, it poses no risk to the general public. Do you not eat any thing canned?

There are way too many reasons not to drink a diet soda and no benefits to drink one. Take a smoker for example, most athletes would be totally against it, but then, why would any true athlete want to have soda instead, the affects and health risks are just as dangerous, they just come in a different package.

Come on man surely you cant be serious.

[Docd187123]

First off, you should weigh any food that goes into your mouth, if it has no calories or benefit to your body why on earth would you eat it?

Because maybe it tastes AWESOME!

According to a 2008 University of Minnesota study of almost 10,000 adults, even just one diet soda a day is linked to a 34% higher risk of metabolic syndrome, the group of symptoms including belly fat and high cholesterol that puts you at risk for heart disease. Whether that link is attributed to an ingredient in diet soda or the drinkers' eating habits is unclear. But is that one can really worth it?
Correlation does not imply causation

Also, a University of Texas Health Science Center study found that the more diet sodas a person drank, the greater their risk of becoming overweight. Downing just two or more cans a day increased waistlines by 500%. Why? Artificial sweeteners can disrupt the body's natural ability to regulate calorie intake based on the sweetness of foods. People who consume diet foods might be more likely to overeat, because your body is being tricked into thinking it's eating sugar, and you crave more calories.

Over eating was the cause not diet soda, Its their own fault for not controlling themselves.

This is what I hate about chemicals in the body, aside from tons and tons of links to more sickness and illness due to the crap they put into these diet drinks, think about the acidity, it has an acid value of 3.2, a battery has a value of 1! water is a 7, I know right! and we drink this crap and wonder why our teeth fall out.

Orange juice is 3.5, other acidic fruit even less (lemons pH 2) and I still have all my teeth, and I also drink fresh lemonade

Sometimes, the vessel for your beverage is just as harmful. Diet or not, soft drink cans are coated with the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked to everything from heart disease to obesity to reproductive problems. That's a lot of risk taking for one can of pop.

BPA is used in just about all canned products (food and drink) to help prevent contamination and extend shelf life, it poses no risk to the general public. Do you not eat any thing canned?

There are way too many reasons not to drink a diet soda and no benefits to drink one. Take a smoker for example, most athletes would be totally against it, but then, why would any true athlete want to have soda instead, the affects and health risks are just as dangerous, they just come in a different package.

Come on man surely you cant be serious.

I can help with the last one lol. You'll often notice endurance athletes drinking flat soda during a race. The soda bc the sugar allows them the energy they need to perform and keep performing and flat to help with hydration I believe.

[jngymrat]

"I can help with the last one lol. You'll often notice endurance athletes drinking flat soda during a race. The soda bc the sugar allows them the energy they need to perform and keep performing and flat to help with hydration I believe."

Wow! This is the one I like the most. I have been a long distance runner for over 30 years and still am. You are trying your best to be right, I have never seen an endurance athlete drink a soda in my life that wasn't getting paid to do a commercial. I attended the last Olympic track and field trials which took place over several days and low and behold, I have never seen one pick up a bottle or can of soda pop.

Maybe one of the reasons is because most diet sodas are still classified as a Diuretic, which actually causes you pee more, and more often. Now I am not sure where you see endurance athletes drinking soda, especially when your reason was "hydration". I only say this because the very reason you gave would be the absolute opposite any endurance athlete would be drinking a soda when it would cause them to suffer dehydration! Also I have never seen big orange coolers of diet soda in the background of any televised sporting event.

Bottom line, is they just aren't healthy. My suggestion to you, is to try and point out the health benefits rather than just criticize the health risks, I think that discussion would be more beneficial.

Also, you are again wrong regarding canned foods and BPA. BPA rarely exist in canned goods because of the dangers. This is the simple fact, most all major and minor producer have done away completely or have phased out the use of BPA lined cans by the end of 2012. The majority of that number quit by 2002. ALL soda cans are lined with BPA's. Now I again call on you to give us your reasons that BPA is completely safe! You say it poses no health risks?? The good news is, you couldn't get away with propagating that BS anywhere but here, It's just shameful.

Again, I would suggest you to point out all the benefits of what you have claimed rather than just denying the facts with rhetoric.

[Docd187123]

"I can help with the last one lol. You'll often notice endurance athletes drinking flat soda during a race. The soda bc the sugar allows them the energy they need to perform and keep performing and flat to help with hydration I believe."

Wow! This is the one I like the most. I have been a long distance runner for over 30 years and still am. You are trying your best to be right, I have never seen an endurance athlete drink a soda in my life that wasn't getting paid to do a commercial. I attended the last Olympic track and field trials which took place over several days and low and behold, I have never seen one pick up a bottle or can of soda pop.

Maybe one of the reasons is because most diet sodas are still classified as a Diuretic, which actually causes you pee more, and more often. Now I am not sure where you see endurance athletes drinking soda, especially when your reason was "hydration". I only say this because the very reason you gave would be the absolute opposite any endurance athlete would be drinking a soda when it would cause them to suffer dehydration! Also I have never seen big orange coolers of diet soda in the background of any televised sporting event.

Bottom line, is they just aren't healthy. My suggestion to you, is to try and point out the health benefits rather than just criticize the health risks, I think that discussion would be more beneficial.

Also, you are again wrong regarding canned foods and BPA. BPA rarely exist in canned goods because of the dangers. This is the simple fact, most all major and minor producer have done away completely or have phased out the use of BPA lined cans by the end of 2012. The majority of that number quit by 2002. ALL soda cans are lined with BPA's. Now I again call on you to give us your reasons that BPA is completely safe! You say it poses no health risks?? The good news is, you couldn't get away with propagating that BS anywhere but here, It's just shameful.

Again, I would suggest you to point out all the benefits of what you have claimed rather than just denying the facts with rhetoric.

As if you're not trying your damnedest to be right and spew your own rhetoric/biases. I've been to the Tour de France, my companies owner is an endurance cyclist, I've worked alongside marathoners and decathketes and I've seen them using flat soda. Have you ever thought your little foray into running and YOUR experiences may not be collectively exhaustive?

All it took was several seconds on google....

Sportscience News: Cyclists & Coca-Cola


also soda is a very WEAK diuretic if at all. Please get your 'facts' straight. If you wish to avoid soda altogether that's your choice. Others, with more open and critical minds, will see that when taken in moderation there is nothing wrong with it

[David LoPan]

wow thanks for all the information. I can say that drinking flat sprite or 7 up (prefer sprite zero) when I am sick, rarely, helps a lot. I didn't know about it helping with athletes. I know I drink to much soda but it tastes great. I hit the gym and eat pretty darn clean, I am like most and have a slip meal now and again.

I know that abs are made in the kitchen and not the gym but I really want to see my lower abs defined better and those darn serratus anterior muscles to show better.

[Hrothgar]

You could be like Jay Cutler and drink a gallon of sugar free tang everyday.

[Bio-Active]

Just about anything in moderation is ok as long as you are achieving your goals. If you are not achieving your goals that's when you have to really look at your nutrition plan. If you can reach your goals and still have some things that you like that's great!

[IAMPOLISH]

in my best times i drank 3 Liter daily Coca Cola Zer0

now only water and green tea

[Sicko]

First off, you should weigh any food that goes into your mouth, if it has no calories or benefit to your body why on earth would you eat it?

Because maybe it tastes AWESOME!

According to a 2008 University of Minnesota study of almost 10,000 adults, even just one diet soda a day is linked to a 34% higher risk of metabolic syndrome, the group of symptoms including belly fat and high cholesterol that puts you at risk for heart disease. Whether that link is attributed to an ingredient in diet soda or the drinkers' eating habits is unclear. But is that one can really worth it?
Correlation does not imply causation

Also, a University of Texas Health Science Center study found that the more diet sodas a person drank, the greater their risk of becoming overweight. Downing just two or more cans a day increased waistlines by 500%. Why? Artificial sweeteners can disrupt the body's natural ability to regulate calorie intake based on the sweetness of foods. People who consume diet foods might be more likely to overeat, because your body is being tricked into thinking it's eating sugar, and you crave more calories.

Over eating was the cause not diet soda, Its their own fault for not controlling themselves.

This is what I hate about chemicals in the body, aside from tons and tons of links to more sickness and illness due to the crap they put into these diet drinks, think about the acidity, it has an acid value of 3.2, a battery has a value of 1! water is a 7, I know right! and we drink this crap and wonder why our teeth fall out.

Orange juice is 3.5, other acidic fruit even less (lemons pH 2) and I still have all my teeth, and I also drink fresh lemonade

Sometimes, the vessel for your beverage is just as harmful. Diet or not, soft drink cans are coated with the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked to everything from heart disease to obesity to reproductive problems. That's a lot of risk taking for one can of pop.

BPA is used in just about all canned products (food and drink) to help prevent contamination and extend shelf life, it poses no risk to the general public. Do you not eat any thing canned?

There are way too many reasons not to drink a diet soda and no benefits to drink one. Take a smoker for example, most athletes would be totally against it, but then, why would any true athlete want to have soda instead, the affects and health risks are just as dangerous, they just come in a different package.

Come on man surely you cant be serious.

hellonmycognomen you are correct in that BPA's are found in a huge amount of packaged food & drinks but check out my post regarding BPA's it is called "killing us with bottled water" it will undoubtedly change your opinion about BPA's..
I know it is a long read but very informative.

[Sicko]

I never drink a soda...every great once in a while I will take a swig of my wife's...it's not that I don't like soda but I know once you start you cant stop and I do not need another addiction in my life.
My downfall is beer...always has been...always will... I figure if I have to pick one vise, beer is a clear winner for me.
I do use lime flavored Pierre water to curb over indulgence. It is super carbonated and with the lime flavor it tricks you into thinking you are drinking something you shouldn't...soda or beer for example.

[Beethoven]

Well my vise is also 1 diet coke per day. Once I get closer to my goal weight I do cut it out. I thought I was the only one.

[slfmade]

I'm drinking a 2litre diet pepsi as we speak. I put down about 1 per day. It used to be 4 liters of Regular Mountain Dew until I got fat and decided to make the switch to diet. LOL

[AngryNR3C4]

I like coke zero. I drink it often.
Because stuffing your face with water, even to meet minimums, is not fun.