Off Topic- Diet Soda?

[Breezy]

I have been reading articles highlighting studies on the harmful affects of Diet Soda (pop where I come from ) and the connection between the chemicals in diet soda (and other diet things) and weight gain.

It really got me thinking.... I always drank sugar pop before meeting my husband. I am by no means a pop junkie but I would have one, maybe two a day. When I moved to Arizona in Feb of 2009 (moved to where DH was stationed and in with him) I was a skinny little thing. Now, granted I was 19 years old so my age may play into this story. By June of 2009 we took a trip back to Minnesota to visit and I was already 3-4 pant sizes bigger. Actually I recall buying a pair of expensive jeans for the buckle that trip because mine didn't fit. The only thing that really changed in my lifestyle was that I was a few months older and drinking diet pop. Sure maybe a little less active but still doing things like hiking in the mountains, etc.

By the time we were married in October of 2009, I was 200 pounds or more. Again, no real changes. Even doctors were baffled on why the weight gain. But said I was considered obese and needed to lose weight. Even my older brother came down on me for weight gain.

I lost 20 pounds over the next few months despite the holidays! I was going to the gym every day and drinking very little pop... Diet or otherwise. I was 180 pounds in may of 2010 when I was a bridesmaid in my brothers beach wedding. We also conceived our son in tha month.

Fathers day 2010 I found out I was 6 weeks pregnant and went to the doctor and was 225 pounds. So in almost exactly a month I gained 45 pounds! They found my thyroid was acting a little silly because of pregnancy hormones and put me on a medication and I only gained 25 pounds the rest of my pregnancy.

I had my DS and after about 6 weeks I was back at 225. I was so excited to be going down in weight! But a few months later it was creeping back up.. and that's when I started drinking diet pop again. I stayed with my mom for 3 weeks after DH deployed shortly after our son being born and drank the sugar pop they had and continued to lose weight.. it was coming home and drinking diet that started me gaining.

I am now at 260ish pounds (haven't weighed myself in a while) I am 5'7-5'8ish. Most of the weight is In my belly.. people say I don't LOOK like the typical almost 300 pound person because of how I carry the weight but I am still up there.

Am I trying to blame my weight gain on something? No. Should I stop drinking pop all together? Yes. Do I love my caffeine and hate coffee? You betcha!! Should I eat better? Who shouldnt. And should I find more time to exercise? Absolutely.

With that all being said, it makes me wonder if diet pop is a contributing factor to my weight gain. And my overall unwell feeling. If I dont eat every 3 or so hours I get shaky (no diabetes no hypoglycemia). I am always tired. Always just foggy.

The last two days, I have had no diet pop. Only a glass of sugar pop for the caffeine. and I havent been starving every few hours, no shakiness when I am hungry, I feel awake and not in a fog, and just happy and positive!

I read articles yesterday saying diet pop could cause depression, make you more hungry, bloated, gain weight, etc etc. Because its basically all chemicals.

It also said it makes you crave carbs which aids in weight gain.

I dont know... Just thought it was interesting...


Anyone have thoughts?







This was very hard to put all my weight issues out there so be kind please!!

[Truly Scrumptious]

I am on the Ideal Protein diet and the nurse told me that drinking diet soda would interfere with my weight loss. I can drink water of course...but I can add those little sugar free packets to it.

[crazydaycarelady]

I stopped drinking diet pop last June after gaining tons of weight. I have lost a good amount since then. Now when I take a sip of hubbys pop it tastes so gross!

[Breezy]

Ahh so I am not crazy! Maybe it does contribute. I have read a lot about the good results people have with the ideal protein diet!

[Crazy8]

I have heard of quite a few people who cut soda out completely and that alone helped them to drop a good amount of weight. Unfortunately I am not like that. I have been struggling with my weight for the last 5-6 years. I lost all the weight after my last baby, then it started to all come back, I had some depression issues, etc. - now I weigh more than when I was 9 months pregnant so I know the struggle and I try to battle it every day without success. I do not keep soda in the house - diet or regular - because I would drink it if it was here, I could easily be a diet coke addict. I do have it when we go to restaurants but that isn't very often.

I don't know if diet is worse than regular - probably is because of the artificial sweeteners but I do know its a proven fact that sugar makes you crave more. Even natural sugars like in fruit can do that to you, but a sugar overload like soda definitely does!!! I did South Beach diet for a while - its a realllllyyy low sugar diet, was hard but did work. I just couldn't make it a lifestyle change.

But I don't think you can blame the soda for more than a small fraction of the weight gain - look at your post - you lost weight with exercising - I really think that is the key (and something I am horrible at!!!). Move more, eat less - even with a can of soda a day I'd bet you'd see results if you could stick to that. I am not judging, I am in the exact same boat - I know its hard but I really do believe it is the answer. I need to force myself to do it!!!

[Country Kids]

OK Breezy-here it goes.

This last two months I was doing awesome walking twice a day. This month I was walking twice a day and started running. I started only having 1 Pepsi (regular) a day. I gained 4 lbs in one week! I was eating very healthy and about 2 hours apart. I hurt my ankle really bad (crutches for a few days) and know my knee is really hurting so I can't work out. I went back to 2 sodas a day and for some weird reason I lost 3 lbs?

Also, everytime I quit drinking soda I have issues with my kindeys. Either kidney infections, stones, or pains in them. The doctors can't figure it out.

I do want to get back to working out and may have to fight. Its been two weeks and my ankle still is pretty swollen by night time and hard to walk on. I just thought I would give you my story on drinking regular pepsi.

[DBug]

This is really interesting! I don't like anything carbonated myself, but hubby can't live without his Coke Zero. He is overweight too. Yes, he needs to eat better and exercise more, but I've always wondered if the Coke Zero was helping or hurting his efforts.

He gets irritable and almost panicky if he doesn't eat regularly -- usually every 4 hours or so. There's no diabetes or anything in his case either.

So, any hints on how he can wean himself off of the pop? I'm sure going cold turkey would be like me trying to function without my morning coffee .

[Breezy]

I think regardless of the weight gain or not (and I'm not blaming it all on diet soda that would be silly!!) I think its crazy how different I feel not drinking It!

[Country Kids]

When I went down to one soda a day, I still had that one in the morning (like my coffee-). Then a couple hours later I would fill a water bottle with ice and water and keep it right by me. If I got thirsty I would just sip on that instead of going for a soda!

[Breezy]

This is really interesting! I don't like anything carbonated myself, but hubby can't live without his Coke Zero. He is overweight too. Yes, he needs to eat better and exercise more, but I've always wondered if the Coke Zero was helping or hurting his efforts.

He gets irritable and almost panicky if he doesn't eat regularly -- usually every 4 hours or so. There's no diabetes or anything in his case either.

So, any hints on how he can wean himself off of the pop? I'm sure going cold turkey would be like me trying to function without my morning coffee .

Yes! I get the same way. I need it eat like right then and there or I am crabby shaky icky feeling. But with the non diet pop I have been not like that at all. I can eat like a normal person. And haven't been craving carbs like usual.

[Blackcat31]

Here is a webMd article negating the idea of diet soda = weight gain

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/diet-sodas-and-weight-gain-not-so-fast

I didn't gain or lose any weight when I switched from regular Coke to Diet Coke.

I lost weight immediately when I stopped drinking Coke (or any pop) altogether.

I now ONLY drink water.

[Country Kids]

Could alot of it be from doing daycare. I've gained 20+ lbs in 1 1/2 years of doing childcare! Yep, you read that right. I started doing child care full-time again almost 2 years ago and the pounds started packing on.

I think its because I couldn't be as active as before! I'm active but in a different way. There is still alot of sitting for me in this job. Most of the childcare providers I know are over weight and its sad.

[wahmof3]

I have not had any soda since january for the reasons you state.

I was drinking diet forever & read some articles on the artificial sweeteners and really thought that I need to eliminate it from my diet completely.

I think the biggest thing for me was how the artificial sweeteners make you hungry.

I have lost 20 pounds changing my diet & exercise (although this summer has been awful trying to eat right and exercise). I have maintained and will really buckle down when school starts back up.

I drank soda like crazy I could go thru a case in a week and a half and quit cold turkey.

Funny thing is: I DON'T MISS IT!! I drink water and iced tea (unsweetened).

"With that all being said, it makes me wonder if diet pop is a contributing factor to my weight gain. And my overall unwell feeling. If I dont eat every 3 or so hours I get shaky (no diabetes no hypoglycemia). I am always tired. Always just foggy."

^^this was me too. I felt like I was going to pass out at times as well & the FOGGY feeling yep, yep. I thought it was hormone related, but since I've eliminated the soda I don't have it. Hmm interesting.

[Truly Scrumptious]

Ahh so I am not crazy! Maybe it does contribute. I have read a lot about the good results people have with the ideal protein diet!

It's a huge commitment! But, the only thing that works for me (And I have tried them all)...Carbs are my enemy

[HaveaHoot]

You sound a lot like me. When I drank diet soda I would get the shakes also after a few hours. Once I stopped so did the shakes. I also hold weight in my belly and before I got pregnant I went on the insulin resistance diet. I lost 30 pounds between Christmas and March. I reduced my carbs to one serving per meal with all the protein and veggies I needed to be full. If I didn't get morning sickness and get disgusted by protein and veggies I would still be on it!

I also hate coffee but love caffeine and switched to tea. I missed the cool drink but after a few days it wasn't so bad. I would drink lemonade when out if I really wanted something other than water. I felt soo much better after the first week.