Is cutting out Soda that important if no other junk food is eaten trying to get cut

[Haplo21]

There is no good reason for anyone to drink soda. Ever. Seriously.

Drink water, dude. Soda is awful for you.

[Brackneyc]

There is no good reason for anyone to drink soda. Ever. Seriously.

This is true for just about everything in life.

[182lbs]

I drink loads of energy drinks to and I got a 6pack. It can be done. but ofocurse keep the protein high still lol.

[tkdnj]

I can't believe this thread got this far on a body building site. Soda is pitiful for you. Besides the obvious empty calories, large amounts of simple sugar causes spikes in blood sugar and insulin, this can lead to insulin resistance and excess inflammation, which can increase your risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer.

Plus don't think just because you work it into your macros that your build won't suffer. The spike in insulin can cause you to store fat at a greater rate.

In general, from a health perspective, it's garbage.

[ahawk01]

I can't believe this thread got this far on a body building site. Soda is pitiful for you. Besides the obvious empty calories, large amounts of simple sugar causes spikes in blood sugar and insulin, this can lead to insulin resistance and excess inflammation, which can increase your risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer.

Plus don't think just because you work it into your macros that your build won't suffer. The spike in insulin can cause you to store fat at a greater rate.

In general, from a health perspective, it's garbage.

Basically he wont have as good of results without it and replacing calories with good foods, but he can still cut and drink soda..

[PrivateFreedom]

This is my biggest issue/problem...cutting out the junk and eating clean! More often than not, it's a matter of will power!

Best wishes, Private Freedom

[thewhaleshark]

10% of your calories is soda. There is your answer.

^This.

[JediRN]

Diet coke crew checking in.

[Tiny Tim]

Soft drinks have ZERO redeeming qualities. Drink Water. I don't drink anything but water. No alcohol for the last 6 months (Beer lowers your Testosterone levels... anything made with Hops does.) and these days I am ALL about the Testosterone... I'm going to be 46 in a few weeks, so I decided it was time I started acting like a man instead of an overgrown adolescent. What purpose does drinking soft drinks serve? The carbonation is bad for your bones, the sugar is bad for everything, who knows what half the other stuff in it does to you?!?!

Just drink water. Your body will thank you for it.

[Tiny Tim]

and i do?

Track it. Track your intake with the soda, and then track it without.

I created an eating schedule, and it made a major difference. I could NOT get under 300lbs for ever. I dropped over 120 lbs in the summer of 2006 (started at a whopping 420lbs!!), then it slowly started creeping back up. Ever since 2009 - I have not been able to get under 300lbs. I was stuck in the 310-340lbs range and constantly Yoyo'ed back and forth between the two numbers.

I cut out soft drinks and coffee (I used Equal and Half & half in it) and within 2 weeks I was 10 lbs. Under 300 lbs!!

Admittedly, I've never been a big sweets person. Forget cake, I'd rather have pie - a PIZZA PIE. LOL

So these days, if I don't NEED it, it isn't in the diet. I'm staying away from "Frankenfoods". If it isn't really FOOD, I'm not eating it.


Tim

[grubman]

I can't believe this thread got this far on a body building site. Soda is pitiful for you. Besides the obvious empty calories, large amounts of simple sugar causes spikes in blood sugar and insulin, this can lead to insulin resistance and excess inflammation, which can increase your risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer.

Plus don't think just because you work it into your macros that your build won't suffer. The spike in insulin can cause you to store fat at a greater rate.

In general, from a health perspective, it's garbage.

What he said...just because it is worth reading again.

Like Mike Spitzer said on page one, once you stop drinking soda for a while you won't even have a desire for it anymore. All I drink is a cup of black coffee in the morning and water the rest of the day. Whenever I get a thirst now, nothing makes my mouth water like the thought of a cool glass of H2O. Anything sweet (besides a chocolate protein shake) doesn't even sound refreshing or delicious anymore....and soda tastes like perfume!

I cut ALL sugar (and sugar substitutes) and white flour out of my diet (except for the unavoidable gram here and there) and it was the key to getting in great shape...then I got lazy for a while (on diet, not workouts) and I watched all my cuts disappear in a fraction of the time it took to get them. I'm back on track, but getting rid of a layer of fat (even a thin one) produced by sugar is a bitch to get rid of.

It's really a very small sacrifice compared to how much better you feel and look.

[acrawlingchaos]

What he said...just because it is worth reading again.

Like Mike Spitzer said on page one, once you stop drinking soda for a while you won't even have a desire for it anymore. All I drink is a cup of black coffee in the morning and water the rest of the day. Whenever I get a thirst now, nothing makes my mouth water like the thought of a cool glass of H2O. Anything sweet (besides a chocolate protein shake) doesn't even sound refreshing or delicious anymore....and soda tastes like perfume!

I cut ALL sugar (and sugar substitutes) and white flour out of my diet (except for the unavoidable gram here and there) and it was the key to getting in great shape...then I got lazy for a while (on diet, not workouts) and I watched all my cuts disappear in a fraction of the time it took to get them. I'm back on track, but getting rid of a layer of fat (even a thin one) produced by sugar is a bitch to get rid of.

It's really a very small sacrifice compared to how much better you feel and look.

Track it. Track your intake with the soda, and then track it without.

I created an eating schedule, and it made a major difference. I could NOT get under 300lbs for ever. I dropped over 120 lbs in the summer of 2006 (started at a whopping 420lbs!!), then it slowly started creeping back up. Ever since 2009 - I have not been able to get under 300lbs. I was stuck in the 310-340lbs range and constantly Yoyo'ed back and forth between the two numbers.

I cut out soft drinks and coffee (I used Equal and Half & half in it) and within 2 weeks I was 10 lbs. Under 300 lbs!!

Admittedly, I've never been a big sweets person. Forget cake, I'd rather have pie - a PIZZA PIE. LOL

So these days, if I don't NEED it, it isn't in the diet. I'm staying away from "Frankenfoods". If it isn't really FOOD, I'm not eating it.


Tim

Soft drinks have ZERO redeeming qualities. Drink Water. I don't drink anything but water. No alcohol for the last 6 months (Beer lowers your Testosterone levels... anything made with Hops does.) and these days I am ALL about the Testosterone... I'm going to be 46 in a few weeks, so I decided it was time I started acting like a man instead of an overgrown adolescent. What purpose does drinking soft drinks serve? The carbonation is bad for your bones, the sugar is bad for everything, who knows what half the other stuff in it does to you?!?!

Just drink water. Your body will thank you for it.

This is my biggest issue/problem...cutting out the junk and eating clean! More often than not, it's a matter of will power!

Best wishes, Private Freedom

Basically he wont have as good of results without it and replacing calories with good foods, but he can still cut and drink soda..

I can't believe this thread got this far on a body building site. Soda is pitiful for you. Besides the obvious empty calories, large amounts of simple sugar causes spikes in blood sugar and insulin, this can lead to insulin resistance and excess inflammation, which can increase your risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer.

Plus don't think just because you work it into your macros that your build won't suffer. The spike in insulin can cause you to store fat at a greater rate.

In general, from a health perspective, it's garbage.

There is no good reason for anyone to drink soda. Ever. Seriously.

Drink water, dude. Soda is awful for you.

if you can stand it, at least drink a diet soda.....although some will argue that it is worse for you.

unsweetened tea is where I usually turn but if I really want some carbonation, I drink flavored seltzer water.

the quick and simple answer is .......... Scrap the Soda, it is nothing but a concentrated source of simple sugars that will get in the way and offer no benefits to your goals.

And trust me - once you kick the habit, you will never want a soda again.
After 60 days or so with no soda, it will taste like nasty chemical crap if you try one again.

Empty calories...but admitedly I do have one from time to time ... Yes they are bad for you... specially if you are not drinking enough water.

There is nothing good about Sodas. I stopped drinking them 2 years ago and never turned back. Occasionally when I feel the need for caffeine I chug a Mountain Dew, but I've also stopped doing that.

Do away with them and make better choices. Have water or tea with everything for awhile, even at restaurants, and track it. It's crazy how may calories one drink has.

I think you'd be surprised at the improvements that would come with substituting that can and a half of soda with something else without all the high fructose corn syrup/sugar. Un-sweetened iced tea is what I switched to and it's fantastic. No calories, tastes good, and has other antioxidant benefits depending on the type and quality of the tea. After you're off the soda for a while, it won't even be appealing to you anymore. Good luck!

Quoted for humor.

OP, this is the sort of food paranoia that you need to avoid.

IMO, if your cals are tight otherwise, and you enjoy it, it won't hurt you. I see guys on here all the time talking about how much alcohol they drink. A can of soda is not going to make or break you in the long run. Brush your teeth and drink a lot of water. JMO.

Quoted for common sense.

For the life of me, I can't understand demonizing HFCS, and then these same people consume artificial foods (diet foods) and supplements. Neither of which would be remotely considered heathy if you followed the same logic for avoiding soda.

Adding or eliminating one food item from your daily intake isn't what your focus should be on, but rather your overall calorie and macro intake for the day based on your specific requirements to meet whatever goal you might have.

Don't get hung up with thinking that banishing various foods only because of their names is the path to good bodybuilding nutrition. Instead, do some reading here, and get yourself up to speed on nutrition basics:

*Emma-Leigh's Nutrition for noobs: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=136691851

*Emma Leigh's calorie/macro thread: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=156380183

Quoted for truth.

It is your diet overall that will determine your progress.

Are you meeting your minimum macro requirements?
Are you meeting your micro requirements?
Are you seeing progress on the bar and in the mirror?
Are you doing this eating and drinking the foods you enjoy?

If the answer is yes, then keep doing what you are doing.

[ironwill2008]

Quoted for humor.

OP, this is the sort of food paranoia that you need to avoid.

Quoted for common sense.

For the life of me, I can't understand demonizing HFCS, and then these same people consume artificial foods (diet foods) and supplements. Neither of which would be remotely considered heathy if you followed the same logic for avoiding soda.


Quoted for truth.

It is your diet overall that will determine your progress.

Are you meeting your minimum macro requirements?
Are you meeting your micro requirements?
Are you seeing progress on the bar and in the mirror?
Are you doing this eating and drinking the foods you enjoy?

If the answer is yes, then keep doing what you are doing.

Thanks for the quote, Jeff. Maybe the second time around, somebody will get a clue, quit worrying about inconsequential **** like drinking a can of soda, and start paying attention to what will actually make a significant difference in their progress.

[DuracellBunny]

Thanks for the quote, Jeff. Maybe the second time around, somebody will get a clue, quit worrying about inconsequential **** like drinking a can of soda, and start paying attention to what will actually make a significant difference in their progress.

Not gonna happen, for 2 main reasons.

1) people like to think they are more advanced than they are and need to be OCD about the minutiae to make improvements instead of making progress from doing simple basic stuff.
2) if success or failure is down to tiny little details, they have a built in excuse they can blame when they don't see results i.e. it's not their fault.

[ahawk01]

Not gonna happen, for 2 main reasons.

1) people like to think they are more advanced than they are and need to be OCD about the minutiae to make improvements instead of making progress from doing simple basic stuff.
2) if success or failure is down to tiny little details, they have a built in excuse they can blame when they don't see results i.e. it's not their fault.

I think I said that in my first post. Are sugary drinks good for you no.. but stressing out about one soda isn't going to make or brake a diet.

[acrawlingchaos]

Are sugary drinks good for you no...

Prove it.

[Bo_Flecks]

Soda is from the Devil



^^^^True story

[djflex]

There is no good reason for anyone to drink soda. Ever. Seriously.

Drink water, dude. Soda is awful for you.

I dunno , they are an important part of rum and cokes.

[djflex]

Also, my serious advice to op is this . Switch from cans to plastic bottles. That way you csn re seal the half of the pop you do not drink. The cans usually go flat after opened. Hope this helps..

[grubman]

Quoted for humor.

Quoted for truth.

By all means! Discount all the sound advice from people backed by personal experience, research, and tons of medical and nutritional documentation. Then praise the guy who gives (at best) mediocre nutritional advice like he's preaching common sense at every chance and looks as if he's never been below 25% body fat in his life.

If you count your macros why not eliminate one of the worst (and most useless) things in your diet? Do you NEED to cut out soda, or sugar...well, no...you don't HAVE to do anything, but I think you already KNOW soda has no good qualities or I don't think you be asking and searching for some positive reinforcement?

[IronCharles]

Diet coke crew checking in.

In on this crew. I don't get all the diet soda hate. I'd be more concerned about all the noxious chemicals in the air and pesticide / herbicide / hormone residue in my food and water than I would about tiny amounts of artificial sweeteners and some extra sodium.

[adoniscomplex]

I crush a lot of diet soda and ultra zero monsters
And am the leanest I've ever been

[acrawlingchaos]

By all means! Discount all the sound advice from people backed by personal experience, research, and tons of medical and nutritional documentation.

Will do. I trust my sources just fine thank you.

Then praise the guy who gives (at best) mediocre nutritional advice like he's preaching common sense at every chance and looks as if he's never been below 25% body fat in his life.

Let's try not to be a complete a**hole.... shall we?

If you count your macros why not eliminate one of the worst (and most useless) things in your diet? Do you NEED to cut out soda, or sugar...well, no...you don't HAVE to do anything

LOL Why? I get my protien... more protein won't help. I get my fats... more fats wont help. I meet my micros, more vitamins won't help. If I am meeting all of my dietary requirements, why would I remove something that isn't detrimental and something that I enjoy?

but I think you already KNOW soda has no good qualities or I don't think you be asking and searching for some positive reinforcement?

Dafuq? It's sugar, a simple carb, 4 calories per gram...



Good luck living in a bubble where only supplemental protein, vitamins and fiber exists, and the thought of vegetables and juice sends you screaming for the sh*tter.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=162264561

[mikenorwood961]

If you're gonna drink sugary soda, do it post workout and with creatine. Apparently creatine is better absorbed during an insulin spike, so people take it with grapefruit juice - soda will have a similar effect. Plus mixing in the creatine will make your sofa flat and taste like garbage, so it will be easier to quit.

And fyi, artificial sweetener in soda is... amino acids! Aspartame is a methyl ester of the dipeptide of the natural amino acids L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine. Asparic acid is a very common amino acid (originally discovered in asparagus) and phenylalanine is found in plants and breastmilk among other places.

Phenylketonuria is a condition where people can't process phenylalanine, people with that condition should avoid diet soda. People with certain disorders (sleep disorder, anxiety disorder, tardive dyskinesia) or who are taking certain medications should avoid phenylalanine and thus should avoid aspartame. Aspartame has got a bad rep but there is no evidence that aspartame is unsafe for most of the population. You might as well say milk, fish and nuts bad because some people have allergies to them.

[davidolson22]

You might as well say milk, fish and nuts bad because some people have allergies to them.

You heard it here first. Milk is a deadly killer!

[ahawk01]

Prove it.

The Health Consequences of Drinking Soda and Other Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
www.KicktheCan.info
PAGE 2
Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption increases the risk for both diabetes and heart disease.
Compared to non-drinkers, individuals who drink 1–2 sugar-sweetened beverages per day have a 26% higher
risk for developing type 2 diabetes and a 20% higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome.
21
Women who
drink more than 2 servings daily have a 35% higher risk of heart disease.
2
2
High levels of fat in the blood, liver,
and abdominal region, which increase one’s risk for heart disease and diabetes, can develop after very short
periods of high sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. After only 2 weeks, young men and women who drink
3
cans of soda daily show a 20% increase in levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.
23
After 6
months, men and women consuming 3 sodas daily display increased cholesterol, visceral fat, and fatty liver.
24
Sugar-sweetened beverages damage teeth.
Soda consumption nearly doubles the risk of dental
caries in children,
25
and increases the likelihood of cavities in adults.
26
The acid in soda and other sugar-
sweetened beverages causes erosion of tooth enamel, often after just one sip, and the sugar in these
beverages provide fuel for bacteria that cause tooth decay.
27
Diet Beverages.
Although diet beverages can provide calorie savings if substituted for high-calorie
sw
eetened beverages,
28
t
hey are not recommended because they often have high acid content that can
harm teeth
27
and there is some evidence that their sweet taste can stimulate overeating.
29, 30
For children,
they displace milk and other healthier options.

[acrawlingchaos]

The Health Consequences of Drinking Soda and Other Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
www.KicktheCan.info
PAGE 2
Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption increases the risk for both diabetes and heart disease.
Compared to non-drinkers, individuals who drink 1–2 sugar-sweetened beverages per day have a 26% higher
risk for developing type 2 diabetes and a 20% higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome.
21
Women who
drink more than 2 servings daily have a 35% higher risk of heart disease.
2
2
High levels of fat in the blood, liver,
and abdominal region, which increase one’s risk for heart disease and diabetes, can develop after very short
periods of high sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. After only 2 weeks, young men and women who drink
3
cans of soda daily show a 20% increase in levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.
23
After 6
months, men and women consuming 3 sodas daily display increased cholesterol, visceral fat, and fatty liver.
24
Sugar-sweetened beverages damage teeth.
Soda consumption nearly doubles the risk of dental
caries in children,
25
and increases the likelihood of cavities in adults.
26
The acid in soda and other sugar-
sweetened beverages causes erosion of tooth enamel, often after just one sip, and the sugar in these
beverages provide fuel for bacteria that cause tooth decay.
27
Diet Beverages.
Although diet beverages can provide calorie savings if substituted for high-calorie
sw
eetened beverages,
28
t
hey are not recommended because they often have high acid content that can
harm teeth
27
and there is some evidence that their sweet taste can stimulate overeating.
29, 30
For children,
they displace milk and other healthier options.

This means absolutely nothing. Your source is a website dedicated to demonizing soda. I tried looking for the info you posted on that website, but it was a mess. Could you actually post the studies instead of some random websites interpretation of them?


and that copy paste is atrocious to read.

[Flounderbout]

Oh look. Here is a link proving that the moon is made out of cheese.

http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/I...e_of_cheese%3F

Ain't the Interwebz just great?

[Brackneyc]

soda has no good qualities ?

Some soda tastes good.

[67fastback]

I am 3 weeks plus into quitting diet pop/soda (diet pepsi) cold turkey.
It was my last BAD habit, since I started eating better years ago.

I'd hazard a guess and say I'd have consumed 2 litres per day, at least.
I'd probably be more horrified at the actual number.

Yeah it was empty calories, yet your body and kidneys still have to process all the chemicals.

I suppose one can +/- a day is not a big deal, but for me it was way more than that.

I have replaced the diet pop/soda with water. Most times I'll add 1/4 of a crystal light pouch, Gatorade crystals or flavouring.
Not perfect, but I am only putting in enough to give the water a slight taste. Plain water makes my stomach acidy.

Yes I actually do feel better.
The other thing, is when one goes to buy a soda/pop one often buys something else Saves money, reduces the impulse to buy something else.

Cheers