I drank my last can of Diet Coke with Lime today. I am attempting to give up my beloved Diet Coke because of two reasons.
1) Caffeine.
2) Artificial sweeteners.
Some of my reading lately has led me to believe that caffeine leads to a surge in insulin and thus an increased appetite. I don't like coffee but I have grown pretty dependent on the caffeine in Diet Coke. In fact, if I don't get my daily fix of noon-time caffeine, I get a headache. Not a good sign, right? So I am gently attempting to back away from the Diet Coke. Nothing legalistic--I'll probably have Diet Coke at the movies, still--but I'm not going to buy it by the case anymore.
Artificial sweeteners are less of a concern for me. I don't believe that I am affected by them although I am aware of the research and articles we could immediately produce (thank you, Google) to show how sweeteners might kill us before our time. I'm more scared of diabetes and heart disease than I am of artificial sweeteners. I guess it's a case of picking your poison. Still. There is some indication that artificial sweeteners might cause a craving for sugar and maybe even cause an insulin reaction.
I have very few vices, aside from eating as much homemade cookie dough as I can while backing cookies. That and the Diet Coke and seeing too many movies in the theater even though it would be so much cheaper to see them on DVD at home. It's all about balance and making choices with full awareness.
So, I'm giving up Diet Coke with Lime. If I'm kind of grumpy tomorrow, you'll know why. (I reserve the right to resume my Diet Coke addiction in the future. Just because I can.)
I feel your pain! I too am in the process of giving up my beloved diet coke with lime. I still have cravings, but the headaches have passed. Good luck!
Posted by: Jeanne | January 14, 2009 at 01:28 AM
I've been reading about artificial sweeteners lately, too, and I'm cutting back on my consumption.
The study that got me was one in which it showed that when your taste buds get that sweet hit, they send a signal telling the body to prepare for the sugar onslaught by producing insulin. No sugar comes and you've got excess insulin floating around.
Posted by: SeaShore | January 14, 2009 at 04:14 AM
Good luck...I am on Barbara's list and I backslid and drank a REAL coke. Not even Diet...ugh!
I do wish you luck. It's hard to turn away from what we want.
Posted by: Suzanne | January 14, 2009 at 04:33 AM
Good luck!
Those caffeine headaches are challenging.
I have heard that you can flush the caffeine out of your system more quickly with extra water. Hope that helps.
If all else fails, naps work ;)
Posted by: Hopefool | January 14, 2009 at 07:04 AM
Actually the articiial sweetner is the big issue there. Caffiene is a known appetite suppressant and thats why its found in all diet pills. And in spite of all the studies done on it they cant find anything that is really harmful from it. In fact Dr Dean Odell on the radio claims that there is positively no bad effects from caffeine in things like coffee. Like I said its the artificial sweeteners that are bad and need to be avoided. Look into caffiene as an appetite suppressant and a diet aid and you may be shocked at what you find.
Posted by: mrs darling | January 14, 2009 at 08:22 AM
You're a stronger woman than I. I could NEVER give up my Diet Coke.
That's not even something I ever want to think about again. ;)
Posted by: Jenn | January 14, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Just a tip...if you give up buying diet coke for home (as I did), your consumption may stay the same or, dare I say, increase if you concurrently work a McDonald's trip for a large diet coke into pretty much every day in the midst of your errands. Just a warning. :)
Posted by: Stephanie | January 14, 2009 at 04:14 PM
Well, caffeine DOES aggravate fibrous cysts in the breast. That's why I had to give it up and if I do have some, I suffer the consequences. (I got so much healthier when I gave up my coffee and Coke.) Plus artificial sweeteners are a migraine trigger for me. So I consider Diet Coke an extreme attack on MY body. ;-) It concerns me greatly that my sister consumes several cans every day.
Posted by: MamaBearJune | January 14, 2009 at 05:12 PM
Just had to chime in with MamaBearJune. I gave up caffeine in December 2007 due to fibrous cyst pain. It was really bad and my doctor kept telling me to ditch caffeine and it would go away. She was right.
Posted by: SeaShore | January 14, 2009 at 06:10 PM
I am addicted to a mocha every day, and instead of chocolate syrup in it, I put a dash of sugar.
But I can't deal with the caffiene headaches from withdrawl. Expect a haze and a little confusion for a while. Good luck!
Try to make it through, and see if it's better in the long run.
Posted by: becca | January 14, 2009 at 06:13 PM
I'm weaning myself off gradually. I haven't had a diet coke with lime in months but I'm still having morning coffee. It keeps me human and my family and friends appreciate that I don't rip their heads off.
Good luck!
Posted by: Scale Junkie | January 15, 2009 at 04:46 AM
I am working on cutting out the diet cokes as well. The case I have now will be my last. I feel better when I don't have caffeine.
Posted by: Stephanie | January 15, 2009 at 09:06 AM