I was watching something on the breakfast news a few months ago (I know I am sad) that said that caffiene, including that in soft drinks, acts very like sugar. At first you get the rush and feel more awake, but then that goes and you feel more tired than you did before. Apparently though, if you drink a lot of caffiene, its effects are reduced because your body gets used to it.

I'm not sure about this, sometimes I think I do notice something like this, other times - nothing. Maybe it depends on how tired you are to begin with?

Two articles my friend has sent me since I have quit are - 5 days and feeling good!

http://www.menstuff.org/issues/byissue/dietsoda.html

http://www.americanheritage.com/even...et-pepsi.shtml

I drink about 1/2 diet pepsi a day and considering I've given up alcohol completely working on my 3 month now I think this will be something else I will be giving up later on in my journey.

I just said this on another board about jello....i dont think that aspartame hinders your weight loss. I think its great that you have cut back on soft drinks because now you are drinking more water however aspartame shouldnt be your reason for completely giving it up. I think if you have a DC every now and then you will be ok but good for you and keep drinking lots of water.

get me on board... i had a big gulp full of diet pepsi today and drank it WAY too quickly.

I've actually never had a problem drinking enough water - Really - I would drink more than required amt of water and lots of diet coke - I like liquid - or oral fixation - or whatever!

2ndly - aspartame wasn't the only reason - as I mentioned it has been studied or thought that diet coke and aspartame actually trigger hunger and cravings for other things (mainly sweets). Which has been kinda of true - this past week I have not been craving that many sweets - but I have been eating more fruit too - and veggies.

at least my headaches have dissapated (after like 4 days). One week one day in and sitll strong (I feel like I should get a medal! esp. cause my room mate has tons of it just everywhere!)

plus ssomewhere deep down I wonder if I can give up dc - what else can I give up to help me in this wieghtloss battle...

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia about three years ago (like most fibro sufferers, I probably had it ten years or more, before diagnosis). I've been on disability for a little over a year because of the fatigue and pain it causes.
Caffeine is said to aggravate fibro for some people, so I gave it up for over a year (and nutraweet/aspartame with it, for the most part). I didn't notice any improvement, but stuck with it, since I assumed no caffeine would be healthier.

My current doctor suggested a few months ago, that I try adding back a little caffeine to help my fatigue, before taking a prescription med like Provigil.
He told me to avoid aspartame only if I noticed symptoms such as headaches or dizziness when drinking it. Since I hate coffee, I now drink a few caffeinated beverages daily, usually teas and diet soda (I LOVE diet Mountain Dew Code Red, but usually buy a 20 oz bottle only once in a while, or I will drink too much of it).

I do try to drink water with meals and snacks, though as I do think I eat a bit more if I drink diet soda or Crystal Light with food.

one more reason for abstaining from diet coke... if i don't make it a daily habit, then it works very well as a treat if i am on a road trip or craving something sweet. when i drink it often, i really feel like i become dependent on it.

i went to happy hour last night and had ONE light beer instead of 2 or 3 rum and diet cokes... it was much easier on the wallet, too. and i can save the rum and diet cokes for special occassions.

I gave up Diet Coke about 2 weeks ago. The first few days were **** without caffeine, but I'm over the withdrawal now. It's water, water, and more water for me!

Soda is something i always have to have when I'm having my junk food. Soda and chips, soda and fries, soda and chinese food. I'm trying to give it up aswell, i haven't had any in 2 days. Too many chemicals, OH OH OH there is this great stuff called Steaz and they come in diet black cherry and they use all natural, non cancer causing ingredients. It's like healthy soda. I don't drink Steaz much either but it's better and healthier than diet soda.

Anti Soda! lol