Does Diet Soda Make You Fat?

So a friend of mine recently asked why she was unable to loose her stubborn dreaded belly fat. She says she eats pretty good and
exercises everyday, but still the belly fat hangs around. What gives?

She tells me she gets around 70-80 oz water daily, and has maybe 2-3 diet sodas a day..... screech..beep.... beep.....beep.... back-up. "How many diet sodas
do you have a day?" 2-3 is the reply.

Next I have to break the news to my good buddy that although diet sodas typically lack sugar and high fructose corn syrup, they are still
really NOT what you want to be putting into your body.

A quick note- if you are drinking ANY type of carbonated sugary sodas, drop the can run! Get rid of ALL the canned POP or Soda now! This
stuff is complete junk.... please stop now!

Why do diet soda make you fat? Let's look at a couple reasons why it's time to dump this phizz.

I recently reviewed this 8-year study completed at the University of Texas (Hook Em' Horns!)

An excerpt from the study author:

"What didn't surprise us was that total soft drink use was linked to overweight and obesity," Fowler tells Web MD. "What was surprising was when we looked at people only drinking diet soft drinks, their risk of obesity was even higher."

"There was a 41 percent increase in risk of being overweight for every can or bottle of diet soft drink a person consumes each day," Fowler says.

To understand more about this, I had to dig a bit deeper into the study to find out how this really works. Here's what I gathered:

1. Artificial sweeteners will create a negative hormonal response in the body that increases fat storing hormone production and increases cravings for more sweets and refined carbohydrates usually after you have consumed a soda.

2. Also people who consume these diet beverages subconsciously feel that since they take measures to drink diet soda instead of the heavier sugar sodas, that they can then splurge a bit more on other foods which causes them to consume more calories.

Bottom line is that these little cans of fizz are not good for you. Get back to basics and enjoy water with say lemon or lime. You may also enjoy unsweetened iced teas. Try some of these options- Gynostemma, (my favorite) green, black, oolong, jasmine, red, white, blueberry, etc. You'll even increase your anti-aging antioxidants. Bonus!

I'll be writing another article about Artificial Sweeteners so you'll know which ones are good & bad for you. Watch for these articles
in the new Inner Circle Members area coming soon!

Go Nuts, Live Your Dreams!

Eric Carlson

This Line Sucks!

So I walk into WaMu bank and I am quick to notice that there is an amazing line that has backed up for the two tellers who were on that current shift. 2 tellers and 23 people standing in line trying to remain cool and calm.

I am one of those kind of people who see opportunity in a line and think, "oh nice, an opportunity to practice patients" and although I may be in a hurry to get somewhere, I have no other choice but to come back later or wait this line out.

As a few minutes pass I can feel the tension building as heads start to look around from back to the front of the line as almost if to notice if anyone else is feeling as impatient.

Not but a couple minutes later, and 5 new people added to the line...the comments start to fly... I won't bore you, but let's just say people were very frustrated and now shouting out comments that get more people riled up in line.

As others try to finally conduct their business with a free teller, others are popping out of line to give that teller another piece of their mind... again slowing the process for everyone.

What would you do? Do you possess the Zen like patients to wait out a long line while NOT joining others in misery and frustration. Are you one who has control over your thoughts an emotions?

A couple tips I see here.

1. Breath. Take a few deep breaths and slow down your mind for a moment. Allow all the "gotta dos" slip away from your mind so you have a calm peaceful place to maybe day-dream about something you would like to experience.

2. DO NOT jump on bandwagons that causes MORE frustration. Allow others to feel what they feel, they do have a right to feel bad or worse if they choose to. Stay in your own space and find a better feeling thought.

3. Be patient with yourself and everyone else one around you. Do this FOR YOU... not for their real benefit, but so YOU can have a happier day because you CHOSE to.

Remember that Happiness is a Choice. So is Suffering.

What are you going to choose in this moment?

life is good,
eric