Diet Soda and Belly Fat

If you are a female who was old enough to drink soda in the 1970s I am sure you were introduced to Tab, drink of the gods.  Yes, long before Diet Coke there was a strange tasting diet cola named Tab, all females drank it.  Tab does not taste like Diet Coke and is probably an acquired taste.

In 1980 I went on a school trip to Mexico City.  The first thing all us girls wanted when we got home was Tab.  We craved it.  We talked about it when we were together.  Wish we could have a Tab.  Alas, there was no Tab in Mexico City.  There was also no drinking age, so we subsisted on Sangria, cerveza and tequila, much to the chagrin of our chaperones, who succeeded in getting us banned from the hotel bar.  But money talks, we bought alcohol directly from the back of the bar.  

Fast forward to 2015, I am still keeping tabs on my weight, and I occasionally enjoy a Tab.  My refrigerator is stocked with them.  When I am invited to a BYOB event put on by one of my former high school classmates, I bring a 12 pack of Tab.  Most do not know Coca Cola still makes it.  Tab excites them, takes ‘em back. 

You can only imagine my mortification when I read an article last week that said a study showed taking out all other factors, even one diet soda contributes to weight gain and dangerous belly fat.  NOOOOOO!!!!

I had to put that to the test.  On Saturday all I ingested was coffee, water and Tab.  I did not eat anything to eliminate all outside factors.  Yes, that’s the kind of crazy I am.  Prior to beginning this experiment I weighed myself and measured my waist.  Throughout the course of the day I drank 3 Tabs, which is 2 more than I would drink on any given day. 

The next morning I again weighed myself and measured my waist.  My weight was down 5 lbs. which I expect to see back as soon as I eat.  My waist was down an inch.    

From this very small sample I conclude occasionally partaking in a diet soda will not increase my belly fat.  I think people who drink diet soda tend to have larger bellies than people who do not that’s why they are drinking diet soda, they want their belly to be smaller.