<p>I have read a number of things in the popular press about the possibility that artificial sweeteners can actually hinder weight loss, because the sweet taste confuses the brain somehow. For a long time I couldn’t really contemplate giving up my diet coke, but in the last few months I have made it a goal to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, and I am finding that I have naturally cut down my diet coke consumption and am thinking now I might actually be able to give it up altogether.</p>
<p>Amesie, this doesn’t really answer your question, but my vice is Classic Coke (no diet sodas for me–most have an aftertaste I don’t like and the newer ones sweetened with sucralose are too sweet). Naturally, I have better luck at losing weight when I cut out the coke. I go low carb and satisfy my sweet tooth with sucralose when I can control the proportions. So far, it’s been very successful. The last time I did it seriously, I lost 27 lbs. in 2 months. I’ve just started again this past Monday. I’ll let you know how successful I am in a few weeks (I’ve cheated a bit this week, but will try to be good next week).</p>
<p>I don’t believe the stuff about diet colas. I DO agree that they aren’t the greatest thing for you, but I lost 25 pounds and still drank Diet Pepsi. I need to reduce/eliminate it for bone density issues, but I don’t think it hinders weight loss efforts.</p>
<p>I hope that you get more responses to this question. My husband keeps cutting out articles about this topic to make sure that I read them. I am not sure why he does this because I don’t drink much soda at all–maybe one or two a month. On the other hand, our son drinks one or two a day. It has helped him maintain his weight loss but he is very active with sports and weight training.</p>
<p>I have changed my diet to be as organic and low-glycemic as possible, so I have cut my Diet Cola habit considerably. I treat myself to about one or two a week, which is quite the change for me. Not only have I lost the weight, but more importantly I do not have the sweet food cravings anymore, I tend to taste the sugar in just about anything nowadays, even the plain Cheerios that I snack on. I look forward to seeing my endocrinologist next week to see just how much weight I have lost, I am not as concerned with the number as I am with my energy level and how good my clothes fit…</p>
<p>The first couple of days are pretty tough if you go cold turkey, but after a week or two you don’t even miss it…</p>
<p>I’ve heard this but for myself at least, I don’t buy it. I do drink diet sodas, maybe once a day, and also use artificial sweeteners in my coffee. I don’t have a sweets addiction–rarely eat any since I adopted a low carb approach. I’ve never been a water drinker (I try to, but it’s just boring, bordering on distasteful, to me), and if I eliminated artificial sweeteners in drinks, I’d either drink almost nothing, or stuff with calories I don’t need.</p>
<p>I drink 1 diet soda every afternoon for a little “pick-me-up”. I did it when I weighed 244 pounds and I’ve continued to do it as I’ve lost 103 pounds so far this year. I don’t have a sweet tooth, though, so I can’t speak to sugar cravings.</p>
<p>I havent dropped diet soda, but I do usually put sugar (rather than artificial sweetener) into my coffee, especially if its the only cup and I am not having it with food (I figure if there is caloric food accompanying, the fooling effect of the artificial sweetener shouldnt apply, cause the body IS getting calories) I mean one sugar packet is only about 20 calories, whereas a 12 oz coke is about 140 calories.</p>
<p>Or alternatively, I try to just drink water, or a full calorie fruit drink like lemonade. Non diet soda still seems like just too many empty calories.</p>
<p>Another question - why can’t they make a naturally sweetened soda that is only 20 calories, like my morning cup of coffee?</p>
<p>I just dropped soda and drink coffee, tea and water. I bought a 20 oz bottle of lemonade for a buck (didn’t really care for the lemonade) and just fill the bottle with filtered water in the office. We have a filter at home and fill a large bottle and leave it in the refrigerator so that we have cold water available. Sometimes I toss in a vitamin/electrolytes pack (Trader Joes).</p>
<p>We have free sodas in the office, diet and regular and I haven’t had one of those in several months. It’s always tempting though as there are two clear refrigerators with all of these colorful cans calling out to you.</p>
<p>You might take a look at Polar for water/spritzer with a hint of fruit flavoring.</p>
<p>nj2011- I,too, am not a coffee drinker. I have never liked it. My drink of choice to start my day is Diet Pepsi. The issue for me is that the colas are very bad for bone density in women, and despite being a competitive runner (still), I have a problem with that. I have quit a few times (the diet sodas) and have cut back, but I still haven’t completely eliminated them. I do like iced tea, but it isn’t the same thing and also isn’t as convenient of just grabbing that can. On my 2 day bike ride a couple of weeks ago I was really struggling on the 2nd day (horrible wind) and the drinks at the rest stops were Gatorade and water. At one stop I spotted an aluminum tub of iced down DIET PEPSI! I told the people it was life-changing!!!</p>
<p>Lost 3-4 pounds just giving up diet coke!! Now I do not drink any soda (except club soda). Made a promise to myself that I will give it up for the sake of my freshman son, who insists its bad for me. I will not have it until Dec break when he comes home ;)</p>
<p>I have personally found giving up artificial sweeteners to help a great deal in my weight loss and maintenance. I struggled with my weight for decades and keep detailed journals so can detect long-standing patterns. I finally lost weight two years ago and have kept it off (about 80 pounds). Sugar and artificial sweeteners both cause identical food cravings, for me, and to a lesser extent starchy carbs. Portion control became much less of an effort once I gave up splenda in my hot tea, diet coke, and other artificially sweetened foods like Crystal Light or Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches. </p>
<p>When I do eat something sweet, like birthday cake or indulge in a diet coke, I know and accept it will set up cravings that I then have to deal with. One indulgence is like a drug that can leave me famished and craving more for a couple of weeks. I haven’t eliminated these things forever, but don’t indulge often because it’s just not worth the withdrawal. </p>
<p>I know plenty of people who do not have these kinds of reactions. They can happily have a small piece of chocolate or something sweet every day and it works great for them, satisfying their cravings rather than triggering them. So you just have to know your own body. I recommend journaling for a few weeks and track how you feel with and without.</p>
<p>This is the trick that I use to cut down on soda consumption. I grew up in a household where sodas were not brought in unless it was someone’s birthday or we were having a party. DH always had soda available as he was growing up, so I started the soda drinking habit too. I have gotten back into the habit of drinking carbonated spring water with some flavoring. I also purchase much less soda so my DH has to drink more water.</p>
<p>I don’t drink diet pop- when I do drink pop, it is rarely in a can ( Aluminum is so energy intensive it is called “congealed electricity.”)</p>
<p>I do however drink ( male rooster ‘n’ bull ginger beer) in a bottle no corn syrup- just sugar.
( but it is pretty expensive so I drink only a couple a month)</p>
<p>Theanalyst–I definitely have that reaction from sugar-containing foods. I attribute it to the rising and falling blood sugar levels, resulting in cravings. I don’t understand why the “taste” of sweet should cause the same cravings, when blood sugar would remain unaffected. I understand that it’s true for some people, and assume this is psychological, not physiological. But, I’m not a doc, so I’m just speculating. I just know that for me, I do not experience the same reaction from artificial sweetener that I do from simple carbs.</p>
no corn syrup- just sugar.