I have started a diet and have been working out for a couple weeks. I started very restrictive, following John's food logs and have only been drinking Water and a cup of black coffee in the morning. If I am working on wieght loss, what are the issues with drinking low calorie cola like diet coke and coke zero? I appreciate the response. Thanks.

I have started a diet and have been working out for a couple weeks. I started very restrictive, following John's food logs and have only been drinking Water and a cup of black coffee in the morning. If I am working on wieght loss, what are the issues with drinking low calorie cola like diet coke and coke zero? I appreciate the response. Thanks.

I see nothing wrong with a can a day.

I see no problem either except it's cool to open the fridge and see no packaged goods at all. I mean no commercial labels. That's the cool part about eating clean. Just containers full of pre prepped chicken, beef, veggies, fruit, water etc. It's kind of relaxing looking in my fridge now.

That Coke Zero stuff tastes surprisingly good huh? I was kinda amazed myself.

It's not exacly "oooh, yummy!" but for 0 calories it's pretty good!

That Coke Zero stuff tastes surprisingly good huh? I was kinda amazed myself.

It's not exacly "oooh, yummy!" but for 0 calories it's pretty good!

It's not bad, but nothing, and I mean nothing, beats Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper, for a no calorie drink.

it's cool to open the fridge and see no packaged goods at all. Just containers full of pre prepped chicken, beef, veggies, fruit, water etc. It's kind of relaxing looking in my fridge now.
Very good point. If I didn't have a family, I'd set this as a goal. Mmm... can I come over and gaze in your fridge? :d_wink:

You must have the least garbage on your block too, right?

Coke Zero is the nectar of the gods and I will hear no comments to the contrary. :mad:

Coke Zero doesn't hold a candle to Pepsi One

Just thought I'd throw that in there!

Why drink any of them? ;P I get enough sweetness simply from the various fruits and protein drinks I consume -- chugging water the rest of the day helps me feel like a load is lifted off of my shoulders (and bladder, occasionally). A minimum of ½ your bodyweight in fl oz per day for a merely sedentary person (not accounting for the diuretic nature of other substances consumed -- such as coffee and sodas) means I need all the bladder room I can spare.

Of course, quad espressos are another issue altogether.

At any rate, I suppose it comes down to personal opinions regarding legitimacy of artificial sweetener safety research.

It's not bad, but nothing, and I mean nothing, beats Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper, for a no calorie drink.

mmmmmm... I love that stuff... have some at home right now :D

but back to the main question... it's okay to drink diet soda's some times, but I wouldn't drink more than one a day a the most because they still have a lot of sodium in them and you don't want too much sodium in your diet ;)

Must agree with u that the cherry vannilla diet dr pepper is amazing :D i only drink diets sodas once a week.. Point to make do not drink them when you are out to eat because you may say i just had one for lunch but how many did u really have including refills and ect like it all adds up...

diet rite zero sodium zero cals zero caffiene tastes bad at first then you get used to it

I'm not a fan of sodas due to the chemical content. I've only had 1 soda (diet, yuck!) in the last 4 weeks.

I have one thing to say:

http://www.kraftfoods.com/koolaid/2001/images/ka_J10_sf_ka_man.gif

I have one thing to say:

http://www.kraftfoods.com/koolaid/2001/images/ka_J10_sf_ka_man.gif

OHHHHH YEAH

When I was a little kid we did this "experiment" in class. We put someone's baby tooth (which had fallen out) in a glass of soda. It had completely dissolved in 10 days. After seeing that I don't drink any sodas unless I'm within easy reach of a toothbrush. I also heard that carbonic acid leeches calcium from your body too.

Coke Zero doesn't hold a candle to Pepsi One

Just thought I'd throw that in there!

I like 'em both with a slight edqe to Pepsi One. Oddly enough I live down the block from the world headquarters of Pepsico but it's easier to get Coke Zero around here.

"Soft drinks also contain large quantities of phosphorus, which when
excreted pulls calcium out of the bones. Heavy users of soft drinks will
have osteoporosis along with their damaged arteries." (http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/cocacola021605.cfm)

"Soft drinks also contain large quantities of phosphorus, which when
excreted pulls calcium out of the bones. Heavy users of soft drinks will
have osteoporosis along with their damaged arteries." (http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/cocacola021605.cfm)

Thank you Guava, thats what I was looking for.

If you just read the ingredients of any soft drink, one of the main ones is phosphoric acid. After a month of quitting soda, I tried a can to see how I react to it. Well, I felt a burning tinge, and I don't really enjoy soda now.

Hemang.

"Soft drinks also contain large quantities of phosphorus, which when
excreted pulls calcium out of the bones. Heavy users of soft drinks will
have osteoporosis along with their damaged arteries." (http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/cocacola021605.cfm)

That article scared me. I really need to stop drinking diet cola. :d_eek:

That article scared me. I really need to stop drinking diet cola. :d_eek:

Hmmm... sounds a bit hokey to me. I wonder if they're using samples of older females and children who are prone to calcium loss and trying to make it sound horrible for everyone.

I think you'd have to be a chronic soft drink consumer to experience calcium loss to the degree they're suggesting. The amount of phosphoric acid present in colas (even diet) is low. Not enough to dissolve enamel or any of the other myths that are out there. Myth Busters did this one on Discovery.

I guess the occasional diet drink is okay once in a blue. Hell, after reading this thread, I went out and boughtone just to see what the fuss was all about. Not bad. I won't be stockpilling diet soda in my fridge anytime soon but I have to admit, it wasn't too off tasting compared to what I remember of the "real thing" (it's been so long)

I used to drink at least a six pack of regular coke a day. Glad I stopped that. I switched to diet but now I don't drink any at all.

As far as soft drinks go, recent scientific evidence points to two facts:

1. The myth that diuretic beverages (sodas, coffee, beer) do not "count" toward, or in any way decrease your daily fluid intake is preposterous. The Institute of Medicine debunked this claim last year and issued new hydration guidelines accordingly. An article from TUFTS detailing the new guidelines:

http://healthletter.tufts.edu/issues/2004-04/consumption_guidelines.html

2. The most harmful (as far as tooth decay is concerned) acid in soft drinks is citric acid, which occurs naturally in citrus juices but is also artificially added to teas and citrus flavored soft drinks. Phosphoric and carbonic acid (a byproduct of the reaction that makes soda bubble when exposed to neutral pressure air) exacerbate the problem. A recent study indicated that the most enamel-eroding beverages commercially available are "light-colored" (Mountain Dew, Sprite, etc.) sodas and Arizona's flavored iced teas, if you can believe that. This can be drastically reduced by somehow neutralizing the acids in your mouth after consuming such a beverage (ie drinking water or brushing). Here's a WebMD article showing a similar study:

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/88/100020.htm?z=1728_00000_1000_nb_04

3. I can't speak to the concept of calcium depletion, mainly since the last article posted in this thread didn't contain any links or references to studies published in any mainstream peer-reviewed academic journals. The two people quoting a study were NDs, not MDs and they referenced a study in a journal which does not have mainstream acceptance in the academic world. Here is a link from the Medical College of Wisconsin, expressing a similar inability to find a supporting study in any academic journal. My only addendum to this point is that if you aren't getting enough calcium in your diet, obviously soda is not going to provide that.

http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/959705343.html

That being said, I mostly drink water throughout the day, but I also tend to have about two cups of black coffee (or an espresso) per day and a diet coke. The second study really freaked me out, however. I was going through a period where I drank a gallon of Arizona diet tea every two days.

The moral to you folks new to nutrition and fitness is that you will hear the old folks caution you to drink only water and say proudly that they only drink water and that works great for them. It really doesn't make any difference as long as it is liquid. Unless it is liquid nitrogen. That is bad. The fitness world is full of myths and gags and fads just like anything. If all else fails, turn to the academic world. If someone makes a claim, see if there is a study that supports it (or debunks it). Weigh the facts, and keep up with new ones. Everyone these days is a self-appointed fitness/nutrition guru, so be cautious.