My wife, I, and several other family members (from AK, CA, & TX) set 21 Sep as the start date for dieting. I'm the only one doing EvFit, so I'm under pressure to convince them of the benefits. I allowed myself to get one 12-pack of caffeine-free diet Coke, as opposed to my usual stack of 'em, to wean myself off. I suspected that to be effective, I'd have to give up the "diet" drinks, though I didn't know specific details, beyond the obvious fact that the processed chemicals don't fit into our evolution.

I'm thinking of going with honey-sweetened tea once my Coke supply runs out, and experimenting with lower amounts to see what I can tolerate. Being too Spartan with a diet tends to build up my urge to give up.

I remember Richard, et al., mentioning that a low-carb diet tends to suppress the cravings for sweets (as well as making things like broccoli taste sweeter), so I'm hoping that when my body adjusts, that will help.

On artificial sweeteners:
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/artificial-sweeteners/
http://www.modernforager.com/blog/2008/02/12/artificial-sweeteners-linked-to-weight-gain/
http://www.modernforager.com/blog/2007/12/06/so-if-its-safe-is-it-healthful/

Those were the three I recalled off the top of my head the sources of. I also recall one talking about the sweeteners still damaging your perception of food and thus causing problems, but I can't recall the source. Probably the same one Patrik read.

I have some more information second-hand and currently unsourced, I'll see if I can cough up some related stuff though… (http://www.modernforager.com/blog/2006/12/21/pancreatic-cancer-add-another-side-effect-to-sodas-list/), and there we are: Carbonation isn't all too good either. Also my mother had a bunch of lecture information on carbonation via some seminars she attended, but I don't have the sources or materials available for referencing. I'll see if I can dig them up (currently received some contact information and will contact her sources).

That's what I found with some quick checking of the usual suspects. Someone else might have better info than that.

Diet soda may pop your insulin just like sugar based drinks do. I don't know if this is a fact, but I have read that your body can initiate an insulin response simply by tasting something sweet, even if there are no sugars present.

I was just wondering if there was any scientific reason (observed affect) why artificial sweeteners could hamper a fitness program, in general.

Thanks for any advice.

To Rick, If you quit the GYM will you continue to walk?

Since I eliminated most of my diet soda consumption…

How does diet soda affect metabolism? Obviously, it's unnatural, but isn't it better than a heap of sugar in regular sodas?