Diet pop?!?! Let's talk about it...

[neutronnorman]

Re: Diet pop?!?! Let's talk about it...

Ok! I should know all of this. But I am struggling with a now, almost 30 pound weight gain. I eat pretty responsibly but the diet pop, that I had formerly given up while losing 130 pounds, is back in the picture.

Talk to me. Can this be enough to make me put back on the weight?!?!?! I need anyone and everyones advice and take on this deal. Quality research of references to articles on the subject appreciated.

Thanks!

Drink More Diet Soda, Gain More Weight?

Artificial Sweeteners Linked To Weight Gain

Artificial Sweeteners Could Make You Gain Weight, Study

Just Desserts: Artificial Sweeteners Linked to Weight Gain: Scientific American

http://www.insidermedicine.com/archives/Artificial_Sweeteners_Cause_Weight_Gain_in_Rats_Av astin_for_Breast_Cancer_Drug_Eluting_Stents_for_Pe ripheral_Artery_Disease_2183.aspx

Sweet'N Fat: Artificial sweeteners linked to weight gain — JSCMS

Diet Soda and Weight Gain: The Facts that May Surprise You. | Suite101.com

And the list goes on and on...I'm not a fan of sweet stuff, but I will drink a can of Diet Coke perhaps, at max, twice weekly.

[dthomps]

Re: Diet pop?!?! Let's talk about it...

This is probably an urban legend, but it helped me kill diet coke from making a regular appearance in my diet.

A friend of mine who lives in Germany told me that in that country they use diet soda additives in pig feed to make them eat more.

That was it for me. I quit cold turkey through 2-week induction and now I allow myself one every once in awhile. I've been on plan for 5 weeks, and I've had 4 diet sodas. (I guess that's one every weeks.)

Anyway, it was brutal at first, but now I don't really miss it. I only have one when I'm craving something sweet. I figure if it stops me from stuffing a candy bar in my mouth, one won't hurt. But then I don't allow myself to have another until the serious craving for one is long gone.

[chellybobs]

Re: Diet pop?!?! Let's talk about it...

I have Sprite Zero occasionally - no sugar and no caffene or carbs. I suppose if its a choice between a little of what you fancy NOW and AGAIN or giving up cos its so strict i know which id choose, (sorry if i seem a renegade lol)

[ErinB]

Re: Diet pop?!?! Let's talk about it...

Talk to me. Can this be enough to make me put back on the weight?!?!?! I need anyone and everyones advice and take on this deal.

This has been my one hold out. I finally, at some point, talked myself into making sure I had all the required water each day before I popped the top of a Diet Rite, but I have had enough of that Diet Rite (0 carbs, 0 caffeine, sucralose and not aspartame) to really raise the eyebrows of most of those dedicated to the Atkin's WOE since I started stumbling into this back around June 15, 2008. I also had to even teach myself to like it to get off the diet sodas which contained aspartame and caffeine.

Other than during the very beginning of this journey, it seems no matter what I do, I cannot lose more than 5 pounds per month. My average over that period of time is 5.55 lbs. per month. Certainly not fast loss if one compares to so many of the young people here, but I need to realize I am 65 years old, hypothyroid and must also take a diuretic daily, thanks to the tiny veins in my legs. (If I don't do that, my legs and calves swell painfully.)

After joining this site, I have lurked A LOT and have been gradually cleaning up after the mistakes I make and really would have preferred to overlook. Still, overlooking them only hurts me and my progress, I figure.

First I bought a very accurate little food scale, after much research, and began tracking foods on fitday.com. This first forced me to be aware of how inaccurate my eyeball can be in regard to calories, etc. A real eye opener.

Second, I began to work on the fat/protein/carb balance. Then, increasing the carbs to 25 net carbs per day to start and trying to make as much of that fiber as possible. (The pumpkin and jicama have been helpful there for me.)

Third (June 23, 2009), I started strength training (weights) and rather intense cardio at the gym. I didn't exercise at all for the first 8 months, then started working out with my home cardio rider end of February 2009.

Interesting about the increased exercise. I saw no progress downward in inches or pounds for two weeks, then lost five pounds. Another two weeks gaining and losing 3 pounds, but no progress downward.

A couple of days ago I finished all but one Diet Rite (it still sits there in the 'fridge) and decided to give it up as an experiment.

I went from 199 to 196.8 within those same couple of days. I don't know if that is just how it is with me as I increase exercise effort (two weeks of waiting, then lose a little, wait again) or if ditching the diet soda is actually contributing. If I keep this up a month and find my monthly weight loss amount is increasing, I'll give it more time to see if it continues.

It is hard to change one thing at a time. Right now I am changing that thing, the diet soda, but I also strive daily to do more within my 2-hour sessions at the gym, so this is really not a scientific approach. It would be better if I could only look at one change at a time, but I refuse to hold myself back with the workouts. I need to do all I can there because I am recovering from a long period of inactivity due to illness.

I do think JulieB is right. You can ask others, but you'll only ever know how something affects you if you experiment for yourself. Most people who are successful here, if they really reach a stall or see slower progress than they think is right, will do that ... look for the most likely culprit and cut it out of the plan long enough to tell if it affects their weight loss or not.