4113 Responseshttp%3A%2F%2Ftheabsexpert.com%2Fblog%2Fis-diet-soda-making-you-fat%2FIs+Diet+Soda+Making+You+Fat%3F2008-02-24+23%3A50%3A30Scott+Colbyhttp%3A%2F%2Ftheabsexpert.com%2Fblog%2Fis-diet-soda-making-you-fat%2F to “Is Diet Soda Making You Fat?”

• Carl Pruitt February 25th, 2008
  9:05 am

  I love your work, but this diet soda issue is just a tiny bit off base and is an unnecessary overcomplication to the weight loss process.

  First, the 2005 study mentioned is absolutely full of holes if it is to be used to indicate diet sodas cause obesity in any way. The authors even state so in the study. It makes much more sense that the cause of the associated weight gain in the study is overeating combined with drinking diet sodas and not just diet sodas on their own.

  This is a willpower issue that has little to do with the diet sodas. I have personally lost plenty of weight eating well and exercising while drinking plenty of diet sodas.

  Second, the statement is made several times in the podcast that there is nothing nutritional in diet soda and the ingredients are listed above to indicate so. But the top listed ingredient is “water”. Granted, carbonated water is not the ideal top choice form of water to drink, but it is not a problem as long as it is not a person’s only source of water.

  The diet soda issue is a tiny sidebar to the real issues of overeating and underexercising.

• Alain Mokbel February 25th, 2008
  9:33 am

  Very good discussion topic. I learned quite a bit why Diet Pop is bad. I personally don’t drink it because I don’t like the taste of aspartame but I was addicted to drinking regular coke.

  It’s been over 2 weeks now that I stopped and the first few days were horrible. Now, I look at a bottle of coke and I really don’t crave it. And yes, I stopped cold turkey.

  I have a sensitive stomach so any pop does a number on it. As soon as I stopped, I felt so much better and people noticed that I look different. Which reinforces my drive to stay away from it.

  I’m curious to know why you guys call this a debate when really, the conversation is one sided. A debate is usually a topic discussed from different point of views. It would’ve interesting to have as a guest one of these scientists who claim that Diet Pop is safe. Now, THAT is a debate.

  I work in the field of water treatment and I found an article not too long ago on how pop is produce. So, I wrote up an article on the subject (see link below if interested). That will reinforce how any type of pop is bad for your health.

  http://www.fitnessplanpro.com/articles/Article/Is-Pop-Good-for-Ya-/40

  Thanks,

  Alain
  http://www.FitnessPlanPro.com

• Linda Ruberg February 25th, 2008
  11:28 am

  When it comes to getting fit it goes beyond the calories and yes the diet soda issue can be a real one. A friend of mine was getting sever headaches. It turns out that she was drinking 8 diet sodas a day. I learned that the sweetener use “aspartame” has been shown in animal studies to alter brain chemicals affecting behavior… this is why… When aspartame breaks down it releases methanol, which basically turns into formic acid a product you would use to strip furniture with.So why would you drink this?? One website that has info is Dorway.com and other links about. So its not just about no nutrients it’s about posion in our bodies. After my friend stopped drinking the soda her headaches went away.Thx, Linda

• Burla February 25th, 2008
  11:55 am

  I agree with the research that diet pop makes you gain weight. But the aspertame in these products is very hazardous to your health. I’m living proof ate a lot gum with aspertame in it had a lot of problems with my joints and started taking seizers when I was 18 doctors couldn’t find out was causing them. Friend told me about aspertame stopped everything with aspertame in it took a year to come out of my system. Seizers for over 20 years have not had any in the last 7 years. I know this getting off track a bit just wanted people to know about this product. Have did some research on this myself a drug company that makes this also makes perscriptin drugs as well interesting eh?

• Sarah Morgan February 25th, 2008
  1:16 pm

  A correlation (drinking diet soda correlates with a gain in weight) does NOT necessarily indicate a causal relationship. In this case, it is far more likely that a difficulty in controlling weight will induce a person to drink diet soda rather than regular. Obviously, the switch is not sufficient to solve the weight gain problem from most people.

  Pop drinks originally WERE health drinks! If you do a search for Ginger Ale recipes on the web, you will be able to make your own healthy version, using Stevia as a sweetener and bottled fizzy water. Basically a ginger tisane!

• Ileana February 25th, 2008
  2:29 pm

  Yes I used to be one that thought that diet coke had nothing to do with weight gain. As a matter of fact, I use stop at Mcdonalds, or BK just to grab a large diet coke. I am 48, very active, I have always worked out and eat a very health diet. However, for the last 6 years my weight would not budge I could not figure it out, here I was eating super healthy small meals, I worked out for 2hours a day and nothing.

  I reached 232 I was like what in the world is going on. I went to Doctors and they couldn’t figure it out. I would give them a diary of everything that went into my mouth and I always told them the only thing I can think of is that I do drink socially and I do drink alot of diet coke. They always told me to give up alcohol and diet soda. But of course I wouldn’t in my mind that was not the problem. Well after the Holidays I told my self that I was going to give up 4 things that I never had before, to see if by not eating those 4 things, if I would loose weight. On the 7 of Janaury I gave Alcohol, diet coke, sweets and the night time meal. It is now February 25 and I have lost 11lbs and alot of inches. I am amazed that in only one month I have been able to see this changes. That I was not able to do for 6 years. So defenetly diet coke is a no no and also alcohol.

• Wally February 25th, 2008
  3:09 pm

  The alternative to drinking diet soda for most overweight people is not water or fruit juice or tea…it is drinking sugar-based soda. Personally, when my willpower is slipping, I will grab a diet soda instead of a donut or the like. It is unrealistic to expect Americans to give up carbonated cola drinks; Coke and Pepsi are world-wide hits precisely because people enjoy the flavor more than other (even far cheaper) beverages.
  I work with teenagers, and it is all I can do to get them to give up regular soda for diet. One loses all credibility if your dietary restrictions are unreasonably restrictive for the culture….lighten up!!

• Christina February 25th, 2008
  4:41 pm

  Perdue University just released findings on a study of artificial sweeteners, revealing that the diet sodas lead to more weight gain than sugar when consumed.

  http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=4271246&page=1

  Just say no to crap! Avoid sugary junk food and refined crap like the plague.

• helen February 25th, 2008
  7:42 pm

  Thanks fellows;

  Our bodies will get use to whatever we put into it and yes,if it even is poison but why would a person drink almost pure acid and if your body is already acidic you could become unhealthy fast not to mention have a toxic influence on those around you..does it produce a loving heart with loving thoughts???Think about the container it is stored in-cans that might be with lead or aluminum?That just might leak into the drink!!Some I know have actually dehydrated their bodies just from drinking diet sodas and others have picked up a fungus which came as a bonus because it was in with the diet sodas..we need to look at our bodies as beautiful and treat it with love and respect as we will not live forever in them..I learned just how unhealthy some of these drinks were when 10 years ago I was confined to a wheelchair and given two months to live and now 10 years later I am young,energetic and vibrant all from changing my unhealthy ways including what I was drinking and changing what I was putting into my body..we can choose to be sick or we can choose to be healthy..that is up to us in how healthy we want to be each and every day..thanks..Helen

• Mike Munds February 26th, 2008
  2:28 am

  The aspertame debate aside. This is a diffrent issue. A little over dremaatic in places “aspertame sucks the calcium right out of us” hmmmmmm yes there is evidence to show that aspertame can leech calcium but “suck it rightout of us” c’mon

  The sweetener in diet pop can spark off the an insulin response in some people. their bodies can diffirentiate between the taste of sugar and sweetener and therefore their bodies act as if they are consuming sugar. Im not sure if this is true for everyone. Effectifly shutting off the fat cells and stopping fat being used as fuel. So athlough diet soda has no calories drinking lots can reduce the amount of fat that you can loss when you are trying to lose weight.

  My advice eat great nutritious food 90% of the time and if you need a sugary dring then go for the full suger one.

  My favorite thing to say to my clients is “Diet Coke is for fat people if you are going to do it go for the real thing”

  Thanks for the debate

  MM

• Scott Tousignant February 27th, 2008
  8:19 am

  Great comments everyone! Thanks for joining in the debate.

  Alain mentioned that we call this a debate, yet most of the time Scott and I agree on the issues. The real debate starts when all of you get involved just as what has happened with these comments.

  I love hearing all your different perspectives and appreciate your input. I encourage you to keep it up.

  I am really intrigued by some of the comments.

  Wally mentioned “One loses all credibility if your dietary restrictions are unreasonably restrictive for the culture….lighten up!!”

  Wally, I totally respect your position on this as it is one that I’m sure is felt by many.

  But if not consuming foods that are poisoning your body is considered unreasonably restrictive it’s no wonder our society’s health is going down the tubes.

  I don’t drink pop at all and do not feel like I am restricting myself at all. Just because companies find ways to make poison taste good does not mean that I have to accept the fact that I should consume it.

  I agree with you 100% if what you meant by your comment was that diets that don’t allow room for any of junk or carbonated drinks in our diet are unreasonable and unrealistic.

  I do treat myself to chocolate bars, pizza, and other junk food once and sometimes twice per week.

  Carl… interesting points. With the way that studies are done today I think that we can pretty much find holes in all of them.

  Glad to hear that you were able to shed those excess pounds even if you were drinking diet soda. Nice to hear that feedback.

  Sarah, I hear your point that eliminating diet soda is not the solution to ending obesity.

  It’s PART of the solution. I believe that it plays a key role in the solution as so many people are addicted to the stuff and eliminating it will have a big impact on them.

  When you add all the little parts together that’s where the big impact will be made. We don’t have to wait for some major change to take place.

  Mike… thanks for your input. Ya can’t blame us for being over dramatic when we’re so passionate about something But I get your point.

  I totally agree with you when you say if you’re going to have pop, go for the real deal.

  I get this a lot with my clients. They used to load their cupboards with boxed foods that said ‘light’ or ‘fat free’, and they always asked what the healthiest snacks are.

  My advice was just like yours. Eat well 90% of the time and enjoy the real cheesecake that tastes great rather than eat the light version all the time thinking that it’s better for you.

  And to everyone else… thank you for sharing your stories. It’s amazing how aspartame and diet sodas have impacted so many peoples lives.

  I know too many people that have been impacted by it and it appears that I’m not alone.

  Thanks for the debate everyone and all your different perspectives and points of view.

  I appreciate all of you.

  Scott Tousignant
  http://www.ObliterateObesity.com

• Zernan Velasquez March 2nd, 2008
  6:05 pm

  First of all let me congratulate you guys on doing this great fatloss debate.
  I just want to know if it would be better to drink canned fruit juices or juices sold over the snack counter bar. Over diet soda? Which would you rather choose? Iced Tea, Pineapple juice or Diet Soda. I am always ask this question and would answer that for calorie restriction wise it is better to drink diet soda over iced tea. But a healthier choice would be fruit juices. Am I right to say this. Whats your comment?

• Wilma November 2nd, 2011
  10:37 am

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