Why would diet soda make you stall?

[molaurie]

I'm a diet soda addict. I really don't see how this makes people stall, if it's carb-free, calorie-free, and sugar-free.

Darn it, I've given up so much, I'm doing good on the plan so far, and it really makes me mad that I'm supposed to now give up this one remaining vice!

And they say to drink Diet Coke made with Splenda. I looked at the store for it yesterday. Is ALL Diet Coke brand made with Splenda, or is the Splenda-made Diet Coke specially labeled as Splenda-made?

I am really attached to my diet soda, obviously! I did buy Diet Rite raspberry soda yesterday, but it's not the same as my good old Diet Coke/Diet Pepsi with caffeine(it's not really THAT much caffeine! Can't we have SOME fun?!).

If I have to give it up, I'll give it up...reluctantly. Slowly. But if anyone out there has had weight loss success on this plan while still drinking diet soda, I'd like to know. Oh, and I also do drink plenty of water, but it's not the same "treat" as my diet coke! Thanks.

[Lisa]

Re: Why would diet soda make you stall?

It's not the soda (carbonate or flavorings) but the artificial sweetners. You're only allowed 2 to 3 servings (pkts or tsps) a day on the plan.

People burn sugar alchohol and artificial sweetners differently. But your body has to burn off those things before it starts to even touch the fat. So, reality is, if you want to burn the fat and have consumed a lot of the artificial sweetners and have not been able to lose weight, it's time to cut those things out and see if it works in weight loss.

Hope that helps.

[Rick]

Re: Why would diet soda make you stall?

Molaurie,

No, unfortunately not all diet coke is made with splenda. If it is, it will have the splenda name on the can. Almost all diet sodas have aspartame in them for a sweetner, and that's pretty much the culprit that makes a lot of people stall. So, look at the ingredients... if you see aspartame, I'd stay away from it. It also has other health issues. Do a google search for "Aspartame" and you'll see what I'm talking about. If you see "sucralose" (splenda), it's a better choice, but as Lisa said, don't forget to count those like 1 carb each.

They don't stall everyone, and I still occasionally drink them, but not like the coke-a-holic I was before Atkins.

Good luck to you!
Rick

[studyinscarlet]

Re: Why would diet soda make you stall?

Here are some articles about it:
Diet Coke is a Joke
ABC News: Can Diet Soda Make You Fat?
Diet Sodas May Double Your Risk of Obesity

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/health/nutrition/05symp.html?ref=science

[allyscharm]

Re: Why would diet soda make you stall?

Laurie...I hear you! People at work would tease me because I always had a Sonic drink in hand. I gave up the diet coke slowly and I am still having one occasionally. My last one tasted so sickening sweet to me that I really feel like I finally prefer water. I go back to work next week (I teach so I have been off all summer) and my coworkers will be so surprised to see a water bottle in hand instead of my Route 44!

[damato300x7]

Re: Why would diet soda make you stall?

I drink about 2 -3 Diet Pepsi a day and it has not stalled my weight loss I am still losing after 4 weeks. Maybe I would have lost more but I am extremely happy now.

[moniegail]

Re: Why would diet soda make you stall?

truth be told, some people can tolerate diet soft drinks and still lose weight, but some can't. some can tolerate caffeine and still lose weight, and some can't. i don't want to say it's ok to drink them, because Dr. Atkins said to stay away from these things, but there are some people who don't give them up and do fine. this WOE is intended for us to COMPLETELY let go of all the vices (foods and drinks) that we have become so addicted to throughout of lives.

for myself, before Atkins, i could drink 6-10 twenty oz bottles of diet dr. pepper a day without blinking an eye. since restarting Atkins i maybe drink one twenty oz bottle of diet rite a week, and usually only about 4 ozs of it at a time. that's a major accomplishment for me. i have had a couple diet pepsi's at a baseball game, but other than that, it's all water for me. i've lost weight before not giving it up, but i know that i have less cravings without that sweet taste of the soft drink everyday.

[molaurie]

Re: Why would diet soda make you stall?

Thanks for all your helpful replies. I feel like I've lost a bunch of weight already(not weighing myself daily because I'll get obsessive about it!). Maybe if i start stalling, I'll try to forego it altogether and see what happens.

In the mean time, I'll try to drink more water, look for Diet Coke made with Splenda at the store, but still allow myself my one and only vice of diet soda, in reasonable quanitites, for now, and see how it goes.
Laurie

[Greeneggs&ham]

Re: Why would diet soda make you stall?

Each individual will see different results from including various quantities of diet soda on this WOE. I occasionally drink a caffeine free diet soda without stalling although the sweet taste sometimes makes the thought of cheating even more tempting so I try to stay away.

side effects of aspartame
side effects of caffeine

Basically it comes down to this: if someone told you that the secret ingredient in Diet Coke was 12 grams of horses--t, would you keep drinking it because it was your vice, or would you reconsider? There's no right or wrong answer although if the analogy were true, it might be the Coke instead of the ketones that were causing your bad breath

[zoewmu]

Re: Why would diet soda make you stall?

When I started Atkins I decided to get rid of anything that was getting in my way of being a healthy, active, thin person. I gave up coffeeand soda. The coffee was the hardest, but only for a few days. I'm occasionally tempted, but it's been one of the best things I've ever done. I sleep better and I wake up feeling rested.

I guess it depends on whether or not giving up soda is worth it to you. If it does cause you to stall, would you rather give up soda or stay at the weight you are?

My DH, who does this WOE with me, drinks soda occasionally. I don't drink it at all. We both are losing weight.

[flpooh19701]

Re: Why would diet soda make you stall?

I continue with diet pepsi.. with aspartame.. because 1. I personally don't believe that splenda is any better than aspartame and to me it just tastes nasty. 2. It hasn't stalled me. Keep in mind I still count it as one of my 3 sweetener servings, I don't substitute it for the water that I drink and I don't even drink it every day. Also, I keep in mind that one day I may have to cut it out completely if I start to stall. I have gone a week without a soda and then tried to drink one and thought it was way too sweet. Ended up pouring it out.

[FLdoodette]

Re: Why would diet soda make you stall?

Supposedly any cola is high in phosphorus and subsequently bad for bone density (apparently, it upsets the calcium/magnesium balance somehow); since osteoporosis runs in the family, I'm avoiding colas. But a Diet Rite Tangerine soda (sweetened with Splenda) is a nice occasional treat Don't think it's hampering my weight loss ... although I'm purposely avoiding the scales until I've done the program a full month (Sept. 1), my pants are getting looser and the belly bloat is beginning to disappear. Plus, I feel good! Wish I'd done this years ago.