Diet soda makes you fat!
No calories, no sugar and still no weight loss
By Thea Shoemaker 07/17/2008
Diet soda makes you fat! How so? If it doesn’t have calories, and it doesn’t have sugar, then how the heck does it add pounds to your butt? I’ll tell you, but first I want to share a couple of stories.
A few years ago, I was working with a very dedicated client; she started working out three times a week with me and was changing some eating habits. All was going well. Her diet was getting better, and her exercise routine was consistent: She didn’t miss a workout! However, she could not lose weight. We discussed how much she was eating, the amount of water she drank in a day, and how much she worked out when I wasn’t there, and it all should have added up to weight loss, but still not a pound!
I finally asked her what else she drank besides water. She innocently replied, “Diet Sprite.” She then went on to tell me how it’s her “thing” and that she drinks a 2-liter bottle every day in a tall cup with lots of ice. Her face just lit up as she was telling me!
I quickly reminded her that if it’s not water or pure juice, you need to back off. She felt it was impossible to gain weight from something with no calories and no sugar. How could it possibly make her hold weight?
My good friend is addicted to Diet Coke. She, too, argues the “no calories, no sugar” thing. In this case, my friend exercises nearly every day, eats very healthfully, and does not drink alcohol. Is it surprising that she wonders why the heck she can’t lose those last 10 pounds?
Well, my friends, the answer lies in the sodium. Yup, good old salt. While it’s true that our bodies need some sodium (in fact, some marathoners keep packs of salt with them on long runs because losing too much of it can be harmful), too much of it will cause excessive water retention and prevent weight loss.
We do need sodium to help maintain the right balance of fluids in the body, as it helps transmit nerve impulses, which influence muscle contraction and relaxation. In fact, if you are running low on sodium, you may experience muscle cramping and tightness.
Studies have shown that some people are more sensitive to the effects of sodium than others. People who are “sodium sensitive” retain sodium more easily, leading to excess fluid retention and increased blood pressure. Extra sodium in your diet increases your chance of developing high blood pressure, which can lead to cardiovascular and kidney diseases.
The recommended amount of sodium for an average healthy adult ranges from 1,500 to 2,400 milligrams per day. It’s estimated that the average adult consumes 3,500 mg a day.
You can monitor your sodium by learning to read labels and look for these words in the ingredients:
• Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Disodium phosphate
• Sodium alginate
• Sodium nitrate or nitrite
What an easy way to take off those last stubborn pounds!! After she ditched Diet Sprite, my client lost 30 pounds. My friend has been off soda for a few weeks, and has already seen her weight come down. Do yourself a favor and ditch the vice of soda. You’ll feel so much lighter! And always remember: You’re worth it!
Reference: Mayoclinic.com
Source: Department of Agriculture, Nutrient Data Laboratory, 2005
Thea Shoemaker, CPT, is the owner of TS Fitness Systems, a personal training business located in the Oxnard beach community. Contact Thea by phone (805) 985-7867 or e-mail
ts_fitness_systems@yahoo.com, or visit her on the Web at TSFitnessSystems.com.
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