I am a recovering diet soda junkie. No, really. I used to chug
maybe 2 liters a day of Diet Coke. When I became concerned that the
preservatives which give sodas their dark color might not be the
best thing for my health, I switched to a "healthier"
alternative. Diet Sprite.
But here's the thing. I have always had to struggle with my
weight. I am now at my ideal weight but it's been truly a
8-year struggle, trying everything under the sun but surgery. It
took a health scare for me to start finally eating right. I've
tried cabbage soup, liquid diets, weight watchers, Jenny Craig,
Oprah's 7 Day Diet--name it, I've been there, done
that.
Still, those last 10 pounds just wouldn't come off. And I was
always fighting my food temptations like crazy. I mean, I was one
of those people who had to distract myself from thinking about food
late at night. Food started to call my name at night. Every single
night.
So, once day when a friend suggested that it just might be the diet
sodas that were making me crazy about food, I thought...worth a
try.
I decided to experiment. I gave up diet sodas for a week. I
had always thought of diet sodas as "free food", kind of
a Gift from God because they didn't have any calories.
But I was wrong.
Diet sodas are not "free food". It turns out that
research studies have found that even diet foods which have no
calories can trigger your appetite. They set off your appetite,
just like sugar. The mere taste of sweet makes you hungry.
Now that I am six months into my post-diet soda recovery, I
agree. I no longer get the urge to eat late at night. Food
doesn't start calling my name. I drink a cup of herbal
chamomile tea at dinner, which helps to control my appetite,
and I'm set. Give up diet sodas. It will turn down the
volume on your appetite.
