I was asked a very good question this week so I thought I'd answer it for everyone out there who may also have questions about these sugar infused beverages.

"I drink DIET COKE and PEPSI but still put on weight is there something wrong with me"?

The answer is there is nothing wrong with you! The problem lies in a lack of understanding as to how these drinks still cause a person to put on weight and hinder a person's weight loss. This is what I will endeavour to explain.

Don't let the bubbles fool you! Soft drink is liquid sin!

Let's take a look at Coke & Pepsi, the hard stuff, no diet label in sight:-

(Statistics obtained from 2011 calorie king counter by Allan Borushek)

250ml can has 105 calories and 6 teaspoons of sugar

375ml can has 160 calories and 10 teaspoons of sugar

600ml can has 260 calories and 15 teaspoons of sugar

1 liter bottle has 425 calories and 25 teaspoons of sugar

1.25 liter bottle has 540 calories and 32 teaspoons of sugar

All I can say about the above statistics is, OH MY WORD!!

So, people are aware that soft drinks and all their sugar is probably not all that great for them and as a result consumption of non diet soft drinks has begun to drop annually. However, the consumption of deadly diet soft drinks has increased annually. People are being seduced and lulled into a false sense of security that diet means good, or a 'free pass' if you will!! Let me assure you there are no free passes as far as diet soft drink is concerned!

"I just have diet..." sound familiar? This used to be me, I confess. If there's one thing I've been addicted to, it was diet coke. Thank goodness I kicked it to the curb quickly! And now I wouldn't touch it if you paid me and Here is why:-

If the above statistics don't scare you and you rationalize "diet" and "zero" as a license to drink soft drink it's time to re-evaluate and quickly!

They contain a chemical called ASPARTAME. Let me assure you this is no wonder 'artificial sweetener' set to save you calories. This chemical hurts you in more ways than one and in fact it has 92 horror symptoms associated to it. Which is why it took the FDA (Food & Drug Administration in America) 8 years to sinfully approve it for human consumption.

Aspartame is a carcinogenic (cancer causing). Some of its side effects (I won't name all 92) include:- memory loss, nerve cell damage, migraines, reproductive disorders, mental illness, brain lesions, blindness, joint pain, and wait for it...BLOATING and WEIGHT GAIN.

Still THIRSTY for more??

The truth is although diet soft drinks contain 2-0 calories and no fat, they contribute to far more serious ailments and if weight loss is your aim they are one of your worst enemies.

Soft drink effects our immune systems, referring back to the statistics above and the amount of sugar found in 1 x 375 can of coke alone which contains 10 teaspoons of sugar. This one beverage can immobilize our immune system by 30% for a whole day! And in the pursuit of health you must be aware of the things that harm you and soft drinks are definitely up there!

Tooth decay, lethargy (once they lift you up they smash you down very quickly), bloating, bad skin, emotional and physical problems just to name a couple of related effects to making these drinks a part of your daily ritual.

Give them the flick and ask yourself why you have them in the first place. Is it a way to treat yourself, relax, seek an energy boost etc. Not everyone's answer will be the same. Once you have come to your honest conclusion though, ask yourself what you could and better still, should replace it with! And do it!

And don't tell me you drink it because "you like it and there is no one reason" that's mindless consumption and if we are talking about weight loss you need to start being truthful to yourself and start stopping habits that hurt you and start making habits that help you.

Soft drink diet or otherwise makes you sick and keeps you fat!