$3 soda = criminal

I was raised only being allowed to have diet soda as a kid, as such I cant stand regular Coke, and regular Pepsi is marginally better but I would still take Diet Coke or Pepsi over either of those two.

Most diet things that replace sugar/HFCS with some nasty lab-created crap is worse for you than the "unhealthy" alternative (look at the ingredients). Of course, with non-diet stuff, you do have to practice "moderation" (whatever that is), so its understandable why diet everything is such a popular fad in America.

Anyone who's worked in any restaurant can attest to people ordering a meal consisting of 2,000+ calories, only to wash it down with a diet soda.

^Again dj, thats not the case with Aspartame, its has not been shown to be unhealthy, trans fat and others are a different story. And as to your example, well at least they didnt add even more calories to said meal. Having the diet soda doesnt make their meal better or worse, having a regular soda would make it worse.

A lot of people order diet soda because they actually like it better, not because they want to save a few calories after ordering a 2000 calorie meal.

I love Coke Zero, not because of the calorie count, but because it tastes somewhat less sweet than regular Coke or Pepsi. Plus, it has been shown that drinking a lot of soda with sugar or corn syrup does lead to health problems like diabetes. Diet soda does not contribute to those types of health problem.

Whether or not aspartame is bad for you, it has absolutely NO nutritional benefit. Its like eating sand, only it tastes like crap. It may not be technically bad for you (of course, at one point, cigarettes weren't bad for you either), but it sure as hell isn't good for you.

As for my example, again, you're missing the point. In 20 oz. of Coke, there's about 250 calories. Couple that with the aforementioned 2,000 calorie meal, and swapping that sugar-based soda for a faux soda saves a mere 11% of the calories, when simply eating a healthier meal (say, around 1,200 calories or whatever) with HFCS-based Coke is much healthier. And that's the point - rather than simply practicing good eating habitsand controlling portions, people order a super-ultra-megabucket of dietsoda along with their doule-cheese pepperoni lover's deep dish heartattack (with a side of cheese sticks, of course - and don't forget the ranch!). The people who order these giant meals with a diet soda are doing so out of guilt, presumably (the alternative being idiocy).

And I have to ask, do you work for NutraSweet or something? ;)

Pete said:
A lot of people order diet soda becausethey actually like it better, not because they want to save a fewcalories after ordering a 2000 calorie meal.

I take it you've never worked in a restaurant. ;)

^I do not work for NutraSweet, I just am adicited to diet soda and have done the research to make sure Im not doing something that is super unhealthy (the sodium component of diet soda is probably the worst part about it.)

I realize that Im just drinking really expensive water (its not sand, your body cant absorb sand which causes problems for you as it collects in your GI tract, especially your large intestine thus has a side effect.)

You also fail to realize that its been shown that any calorie which is in a liquid has no effect on your feelings of hunger. You could drink 2000 calories in one siting and still feel hungery (and depending on what your alcholic beverage is and how much you drink you might actually do that on a weekly basis) so your example is moot. Calories eaten at least solve your hunger issue, if said person was to have the meal you suggest odds are they would still be hungery and have an (likely unhealthy) snack later.

I order Diet Soda because I like it better.. The feeling of the corn syrup on my teeth really irks me for some reason.

If it gives me cancer, that's just a bonus! :)

Touchdown, you're missing the point(s) completely - I mean, c'mon... you're arguing about the nutritional value of sand?

Whether or not those liquid calories has any affect on hunger has nothing to do with anything, especially my point. My point was that those calories count when it comes to weight gain, etc..

And are you suggesting that a 1200-calorie meal isn't adequate? Either I have a disastrously skewed perception on a healthy diet, or you're making it up as you go along.

This exciting discussion is making me thirsty. Now where did I put that scotch?

^^It is not for some people who are obese, like it or not thats a fact, they will still be hungry.

My point is this: don't criticize them for picking the diet soda, criticize them for eating that much. And criticize everyone who drinks normal soda on a daily basis, its a waste of calories and all that corn syrup that dumps quickly into your system puts you at increased risk for Diabetes II, no matter how fit you are.

^so you only eat and drink because its necessary to sustain life? I drink pop because it tastes good when I'm thirsty, not because I'm trying to hydrate myself.

Krafty said:
Do they regularly stop people from bringing outside beverages into the park? I often bring my own pop or water and nothing has ever been said. I didn't know it was against the rules.

The rule (as of Halloweekends 2007 when I last worked admissions) is that you may bring one drink in with you. I think there was something in there about "being in the process of consuming it" when you come through the gate, but either way we'd allow people to bring in one beverage with them.

Does a 2-liter count as one 'drink'?

lladnar said:
I'm thirsty, not because I'm trying to hydrate myself.

Read that again, if your thirsty your body is saying: hydrate me! You then go and drink a liquid and what have you done? Contrary to some beliefs soda ends up being mildly hydrating, not nearly as good as water or Gatorade but not a net negative like alcoholic beverages.

There is nothing wrong with eating anything (that isn't poisonous) the key is if its an "unhealthy" item you really shouldnt be having it everyday if you can.

I like it how when a person makes a new topic on something thats already been posted you yell at him, and then if somebody brings up a topic from the past so he doesn't have to make a new one he also gets yelled at. :)

Ralph Wiggum said:

Krafty said:
Do they regularly stop people from bringing outside beverages into the park? I often bring my own pop or water and nothing has ever been said. I didn't know it was against the rules.

The rule (as of Halloweekends 2007 when I last worked admissions) is that you may bring one drink in with you. I think there was something in there about "being in the process of consuming it" when you come through the gate, but either way we'd allow people to bring in one beverage with them.

I know for the last two summers at both Geauga Lake and Cedar Point Iwalked in with a bottle of water or soda without a problem.

At least their smart enough not piss people off that way.

Just for the record...

The Cedar Point rule is listed on the page below. It says unopened bottles of water are ok, but that's it. It's under the Picnic Baskets, Coolers and Picnic Shelters section.

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/visit/tips.cfm#top

Kings Island mentions a similar rule on the page below. They don't mention water being an exception. I would think the metal detector security people would make you get rid of any food/drink.

http://www.visitkingsisland.com/visit/visit_tips.cfm

Here's the thing. Admissions people don't care what you bring in. The one day I worked admissions I even let a few people bring in coolers, mostly because I wasn't paying attention to anything, and partly because I just didn't care.

sarah1 said:

factory81 said:
You cannot carry soda around in the park brought from outside.

I have always taken in soda in my purse, and never had any problem. I usually take in the same size container that they sell in the park, and Diet Pepsi, so the park thinks I bought it there.

The point of crystal light is if I was to drink a soda weighing in at 250-300 calories vs a crystal light. I will consume less calories with crystal light, and get the same satisfaction. Over a long period of time these subtle diet changes have a big difference. I stopped drinking pop and switched to Gatorade drinks and Crystal Light kind of stuff and just changing a few things about my diet I went from 163 to 145lbs.

Well I am not talking about how I brought a wine bottle in to CP, the half pint of grey goose that I took down the lazy river. But like someone said, nothing is stopping you other than yourself. CP is rather lax about checking bags and persons.

I'll bring a keg with me and sit with my one drink around TTD's benchs and camp out all day.....MGD 64 calorie keg of course...

Well back in May at KI, vending machine's prices for soda was 3.50$ I believe, then while walking for Diamondback yesterday, I saw they went up to 3.75$. Watch out, by the end of the year they might be asking 4$ for soda. And the M&M's candy machine asking 2$.