Fat loss

Diet Coke, caffeine, and fat loss.

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I found this in my computer’s archive and had to share it with you. I can’t claim the credit as it was written by Charles Poliquin and was probably something I originally found on his website (www.charlespoliquin.com)

Q. In the last year, I became addicted to a Diet Coke or two per day (I know–Bad girl!) This is my only caffeine for the day but I’ve now switched to caffeine-free. Anyway, I work out as usual and eat the same but it appears than my subcutaneous fat layer is increasing substantially. Is there anything about this change that could be contributing? Thanks so much.

A. Definitely, caffeine does have lipolytic effects; in other words it helps you lose fat. Plus caffeine in an effervescent medium such as Diet Coke is better absorbed than the one in coffee. Your consumption of caffeine was not excessive. In fact, studies on caffeine consumption showed than caffeine consumers had healthier gallbladders AND had sex on a more frequent basis than people that abstained from caffeine. The people that think caffeine is ultra-dangerous also tend to believe in the astrology of vitamin therapy, genetic blue-print through aura manipulation and other new age bullshit.

So relax and enjoy your Diet Cokes!

This is great advice and demonstrates above all that common sense is always the best way when it comes to fat loss (or anything else to do with your health and / or body composition for that matter). We have many detailed articles on this type of subject in our main London personal training website (www.UPFitness.co.uk)

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  • Diet coke is basically just has less calories and fat and stuff, but it still has some. So we should avoid it.
  • Nick
    Diet coke has zero calories. The potential problem (aspartame and neurotoxicity aside!) is that artificial sweeteners can "trick" the pancreas into producing insulin even in the absence of carbohydrates. This can lead to blood sugar issues, crashes, and carvings. The caffeine in diet coke tends to eliminate this, but I don't want anyone to be under any illusions, what works for fat loss is not always about what is healthiest for your body.
  • Nick Mitchell
    I am not one to speak for Charles, but my thoughts on this would be that his attitude would be that a moderate amount of diet coke would be better than a moderate amount of sugar filled "fat" coke. I have been with him several times when he has drunk diet coke (OK, coke zero), but never regular.

    Obviously diet coke isn't healthy per se, but there is no need to get so wrapped up in the lifestyle that you berate yourself for having and enjoying the odd diet soda.

    We know that aspartame is bad, but in small quantities I think t is not so detrimental (again this also Poliquin's view the last time I heard it) unless it is heated up. Then it is incredibly bad for you, so never ever drink diet drinks that have sat in the sun and then been subsequently refrigerated. There are are several reports of terrible side effects resulting from this practice in the first Gulf War conflict.
  • 28" Biceps
    Didn't Poliquin write an article explaining how diet coke is worse than regular coke?
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