Diet Soda and weight loss

So that means i can eat 2 big macs everyday and not gain weight if i drink diet soda with them? [8D]

So that means i can eat 2 big macs everyday and not gain weight if i drink diet soda with them?

 
ummmmm.. I am pretty sure that article never stated that particular fact Espence![8|]

Actually, I read something about this years ago.  I believe the book was called Beyond The Zone.
 
When your mouth tastes sweet - even in an artificial diet drink - the body thinks its going to get sugar.  So your pancreas will release insulin to metabolize the anticipated influx of glucose.  However, there is no glucose to metabolize, and so the insulin remains in your system until it can be absorbed elsewhere.  A side effect of insulin is that it promotes fat storage.  This is why insulin-dependent diabetics are often overweight.  So, you aren't really doing yourself any favors by drinking diet soda - and is it any coincidence that the rate of obesity in this country has skyrocketed since nutrasweet's introduction in the early 80's?
 
Primarily I tend to drink water or unsweetened iced tea, that is when I'm not pregnant.  I've been drinking regular-sugared colas and not too much diet during the pregnancy. 

I haven't done any research, and I suppose I should qualify this by saying I am not a soda drinker at all, but does anyone ever wonder if people drink diet soda in order to compensate for overeating in other areas?  Sort of like what Espencer said.  Same with low fat/low calorie foods, thinking "I can eat all I want because it's low fat!". 
 
I work in the fast food industry and it is not uncommon for customers to order the super-duper 3 patty burger smothered in cheese topped with a pound of bacon, jumbo fries, and top it all off with a 42 oz diet Coke.
 
I personally don't like soda because it does not quench my thirst.  Besides, I get hiccups from the carbonation, which, btw, the CO2 in carbonated drinks is produced from ammonia.  Isn't that enough to make you want to chug more of the stuff?! [:-]

All I know is artificial sweeteners give me the shakes!

I try to only have one soft drink a day (reg coke). Other than that I drink water, ice tea (lemon only no sugar). Though I do like lemonade, but I try not to have it too often because of the sweetness.

I also think some of the problem people think because it is diet it is ok, and have too many per day. It doesn't matter if it is diet, no fat, etc you can still over consume and gain weight.

I heard on the radio many years ago, that the artificial sweeteners, margarine, and other processed food subsitutes your body can not break down. So it sits longer in your system. That kept me away from that sort of thing, I still use real butter.

I think it's pretty simple. People order HUGE meals and then add a diet soda. They eat more than people who don't order diet soda's because they think somehow the diet soda changed their overall caloric or sugar intake...when it didn't.
 
It'd be the same as someone eating a smaller than usual breakfast then pigging out big time at lunch, then eating a regular dinner on top of that. It's not overall any less food than had they eaten the normal breakky lunch dinner, in fact depending on what was for the huge lunch it might be MORE...so you aren't losing any weight.
 
Shorting one meal or 'compensating' by drinking a diet soda...isn't changing your overall intake at all...in fact you may eat MORE because "you drank that diet soda a while ago".

ORIGINAL: espencer
So that means i can eat 2 big macs everyday and not gain weight if i drink diet soda with them? [8D]

I like to order salad and french fries! [&:]

ORIGINAL: Maxs Mom

All I know is artificial sweeteners give me the shakes!

 
That is an insulin reaction.  The release of insulin to metabolize nonexistent glucose puts you into a hypoglycemic state.

I only drink diet soda at lunchtime and I never, ever finish the can or bottle.  It's just too filling with the carbonation.  I drink diet because the regular soda tastes way too sweet now and I get the shakes from too much real sugar of any kind. I really should drink more water but I just haven't ever gotten into the habit.  It's a goal of mine though []

There are sooo many theories on this and they change so frequently - I just gave up on trying to figure out which one was right.  I actually prefer to buy the boxes of water bottles. (The best deal on this, BTW, is at Costco where 35 bottles cost about $4.49.) I like to get the little boxes of Crystal Light to Go and just shake a little tube of lemonade or raspberry lemonade into a bottle of water.
 
Joyce

I like to get the little boxes of Crystal Light to Go and just shake a little tube of lemonade or raspberry lemonade into a bottle of water.

 
You know, that's exactly what I should start doing.  I love Crystal Light and we buy the cases of bottled water at Costco.  I just need to remember to grab one when I leave every day.  When I do remember, I usually finish it off on the drive into work. I feel better when I drink more water too.

About 8 oz is my max on any kind of soda, diet or regular, though I prefer regular. Those 20 oz bottles that come out of the vending machines in my building need to be labeled as controlled substances because drinking an entire one of those makes me FREAK OUT with the sugar and caffeine.

I think there's probably a whole matrix of issues as to why you can drink diet soda and still not get an effect from that. It also keeps your taste for sweetness fully intact which will make you crave. I've found that if I cut out anything sweet for about 2 weeks, I break my craving for it completely and stop caring.

High Fructose Corn Syrup is another one of my...I'll say issues but not really beause I will drink soda with it on occaision (when I need caffiene b/c I hate coffee and mountain dew is so very very efficient in caffeine delivery), but I really would rather not. Given my choice, I want a glass bottle (less than 10 oz) of naturally sweetened cola like Boylens--it's sweet and lovely and delicious and I'm not fooling anyone about what I just did and I'm not consuming evil HFCS. I can treat it as dessert and just be content with that.

Thanks everyone for your input.. some great info here and Gina (g33) that is more in line with the info I was looking for so thanks!
 
I think the biggest key with EVERYTHING is moderation.   I try not to drink more than 5 diet sodas a week, and I only order it in place of ice tea in restaurants that I KNOW have crappy tea or that fountain sweetened Nestea crap.   In the long run, IMO, reducing your amount of regular sugary sodas is a good thing for those of us trying to manage our weight, but I do not believe that diet sodas should be our sole replacement.   I think water is the best option and tea is second (and actually tea leaves are quite healthy for you)  

ORIGINAL: cakana

You know, that's exactly what I should start doing.  I love Crystal Light and we buy the cases of bottled water at Costco. 

 
Wally-Mart has these things too, probably cheaper than the grocery strores.  And - they have their own brand with some yummy flavors that Crystal Light doesn't have, like apple and cranberry apple.  Yum!
 
Joyce