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So you want to learn about the best core exercises?

Well my friend, you’ve arrived at the right place!

We help men, women, and intergalactic bounty hunters grow strong as part of our 1-on-1 Online Coaching Program, and we always put an emphasis on core muscles when we build client workouts.

Are you training your core muscles correctly? Let our coaches help you decide!

Here’s what we’ll cover to answer the question, “What are the best core exercises?”

• Why is training your core muscles important?
• What are the best core exercises for beginners? 
• How can I strengthen my core at home?
• The 5 best core exercises
• Core exercises to avoid (skip the sit-ups)
• “What exercise burns the most belly fat?” (Best core exercises for weight loss)
• How to build a core workout (Next steps)

Alright buckeroo, let’s do this thang!

Why Is Training Your Core Muscles Important?

You use your core muscles for just about everything:

• Getting out of bed in the morning? Not without a sturdy core.
• Pushing a grocery store cart across the parking lot? Your core will make that happen.
• Fighting off ninjas who just discovered your secret identity? Karate kicks require a strong core.

You get the gist.

So what exactly do we mean when we say “core”?

Contrary to popular belief, your core isn’t just your abs.

Some of the muscles found in your core include:

• Erector spinae: this is the muscle around your spine and helps you stand up straight.
• Rector abdominis: better known as your “abs.” 
• Obliques: these are found on the sides of your torso and help you twist (and shout).
• Gluteal muscles: also known as your “glutes” or “butt” or “bum” or “ass” or – okay, you get the point –  which connects your legs to your core.

You might also hear your core referred to as your “trunk.” Same thing.

The core muscles really are the foundation of the human body. And much like building a house, when it comes to fitness, you need to start with a strong foundation.

This is why we focus on building a strong core with each of our coaching clients. 

What Are the Best Core Exercises for Beginners? How Can I Strengthen My Core at Home?

If you’re just starting your fitness journey, we won’t make you jump into the deep end quite yet. 

Here are the Best Core Exercises for Beginners:

#1) Plank

Your entire core is engaged in a plank, as you stabilize yourself in a straight line (don’t sink)! 

If you can’t quite support yourself into a full plank, have no fear, you can start with…

#2) Knee Plank

Just like a regular plank, but you have your knees for support. Start with these until you can do the real thing.

#3) Hip Bridge

The hip bridge will activate the glutes and the rest of your core as you bring your body up.

#4) The Hollow Body Hold

The hollow body is one of the best ways to engage the midsection and stabilize the body. We utilize the hollow body exercise as part of our strategy for getting your first handstand.

Once you get comfortable holding the position, try…

#5) The Hollow Body Rocking

These 5 exercises will go a long way towards developing serious core strength.

“Steve, these moves are easy peezy. What are some advanced core exercises?”

I thought you’d never ask.

The 5 Best Core Exercises

Now the real fun starts.

Here are The 5 Best Core Exercises:

#1) Squats

Squats? Yes, squats. 

Squats train just about every muscle in your core (and lower body). Your core is engaged as you stabilize yourself up and down. If you don’t currently train with squats, start with a simple assisted bodyweight squat:

You can also read our full guide on how to perform squats to level up your game.

#2) Deadlifts

We’re big fans of the deadlift around these parts. Not only is it a core exercise, but it’s really an EVERYTHING exercise (lower body, core, and upper body). 

Senior Coach Staci credits performing deadlifts to her visible abs:

If you want a strong core, start performing deadlifts.

#3) Push-ups

Just like how a plank forces you to stabilize your core, a push-up will do all that and more as you push yourself up and down.

How’s your push-up form? Most people do them incorrectly.

Read our full guide on how to do a proper push-up to hone your technique.

#4) Pull-ups

Yes, pull-ups are an upper-body exercise. But you’ll engage your core as you hoist yourself up. The more you keep your body in control (don’t flail about as you go up and down), the more you’ll train your core.

Can’t do a pull-up yet? No problem, read “How to Get Your First Pull-Up in 30 Days.”

#5) Knees to Elbow

This will challenge your core like you wouldn’t believe. The slower you go, the more intense it will be.

Bonus Core Exercise: Toes to Bar

This is an advanced move, but a great core exercise that only requires a pull-up bar!

Are you doing these moves correctly?

A good way to check would be to record a video of yourself and match it against the gifs and videos here. If they look close, you’re doing great!

The other option would be to have a trained professional review your form, which we can do in our 1-on-1 Online Coaching Program!

Our spiffy mobile app lets you send a video of your training directly to your coach, who will provide feedback so you can perfect your technique.

They’ll also build a workout program that’s custom to your situation, which can improve your core strength!

Have a Nerd Fitness Coach build you a core workout and check your form! Click here to learn more!

Why You Shouldn’t Do Sit-Ups

You may have noticed that we haven’t covered sit-ups in our guide on the best core exercises.

This is 100% intentional. You don’t need to do sit-ups.

In fact, there’s an argument you SHOULDN’T do sit-ups at all.

Sit-ups can be hard on your back.^[1] They’re also an incomplete exercise, as they don’t work out your entire core (stomach AND lower back). 

So skip the sit-ups and crunches. 

If you’re gonna do a crunch for your core exercise, go with a Reverse Crunch:

“What Exercise Burns the Most Belly Fat?” (Best Core Exercise for Weight Loss)

There’s a common belief that if you simply do enough crunches or sit-ups, you’ll get a flat stomach.

I hate to break it to you, but this isn’t true.

It’s something I bring up in the article: “Can You Actually Banish Belly Fat?” 

You cannot spot reduce fat on your body:

• Not on your thighs.
• Not on your love handles.
• Not on your stomach. 

This is why the Thighmaster is a joke:

Depending on your age, weight, sex, and genetic makeup, your body will lose fat in a certain order, from certain parts of your body, that you can’t control.

Here are some things to consider:

• Everybody has abdominal muscles. Yep, even you! They might be tiny, or weak, but everybody has 6-pack abs. They might just be hidden under a layer of fat. No judgment, just reality.
• Fat does NOT turn into muscle – they are two different things. Like oil and water, fat sits on top of muscle. You could have ridiculously strong abs ready to pop out, but if they are buried under a lot of fat, no amount of exercise will give you a flat stomach or make those abs pop, because it doesn’t address the fat on top of your muscles.
• A flat stomach only appears when you have a low enough bodyfat percentage. The reason there are 1,000,000,000 ab workouts on YouTube is that people know there’s BIG money in the ab-industry for people desperate to get a flat stomach! And ab exercises are much easier to market as exciting than “eat better, get strong, move more, for a long long time.”

So if you want a flat stomach or six-pack abs, we need to create a plan for sustainable weight loss. 

I know, WAY EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

Have no fear, I have a couple of resources for you:

• How to Lose Weight Without Dieting (The 5 Rules of Weight Loss): you’ve probably been on a diet before. You might even be on a diet right now. We discuss why they generally don’t work (temporary changes create temporary results) and provide a less conventional but more permanent solution (tiny changes for the win).
• Our 1-on-1 Online Coaching Program: many of our clients spent years yo-yoing their weight, going from one diet to another. It’s only when working with one of our coaches that they were able to achieve sustainable weight loss. 

Want to lose weight without hating life? Learn how we can help.

How to Build a Core Workout (Next Steps)

Now that we know how to perform the best core exercises, you know what time it is?

It’s my favorite time.

It’s time to build a workout routine!

Woot.

I generally recommend beginners strength train two to three times a week with a full-body workout. 

We’re going to make sure our full-body workout hits the following:

• Quads (front of your legs).
• Butt and hamstrings (back of your legs).
• Chest, shoulders, and triceps: (“push” muscles).
• Back, biceps, and grip ( “pull” muscles).
• Core (abdominals and lower back).

We just went over what you should do for that last segment, “core”. 

What should you do for the others? For ideas, read our guide: “How To Build Your Own Workout Routine.”

That will help you build a practice to grow strong.

Don’t get startled by my comment that you should train “two to three times a week.” If you can only do a full-body workout once a week, that’s WAY BETTER than none a week.

Once you get the practice going, we can always work to increase the frequency later. 

The most important thing you can do today is start:

Want a little help getting going? The perfect next step on what you should do now?

No problemo!

Here are 3 options on how to continue with Nerd Fitness:

Option #1) If you want step-by-step guidance on how to lose weight, eat better, and get stronger, check out our killer 1-on-1 coaching program:

Option #2) If you want an exact roadmap for getting fit, check out NF Journey. Our fun habit-building app helps you exercise more frequently, eat healthier, and level up your life (literally).

Plus, we have Missions specifically designed to help you achieve a strong core.

Try your free trial right here:

Option #3) Join the Rebellion! We need good people like you in our community, the Nerd Fitness Rebellion.

Sign-up below and receive our free guide Strength Training 101: Everything You Need to Know. It includes step-by-step instructions for the Best Core Exercises covered in today’s guide. 

Alright, enough from me. Your turn:

Do you agree with my list of the best core exercises?

Do you think I’m missing any?

Am I completely off base on my position on sit-ups?

Let me know in the comments!

-Steve

PS: Many of the exercises covered today came from our post “The 42 Best Bodyweight Exercises.” Give it a read if you’d like to start training without a gym!

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GIF Source: kung fu challenge

Photo Source: Morning run with the Fitbit, Core muscles, LEGO Ninjas, Sit-Ups, Mario gang, Handstand in Desert, Laughing Buddha, 

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If one thing’s true about parenting it’s this: it’s bloody tiring.

Any parent will tell you that as soon as Player 2 or 3 enters the game, the sleep level difficulty instantly shifts from ‘tutorial’ to ‘expert’.

But have no fear, we’ll set you up with some tips to help you regain a little energy.

Many folks in our Online Coaching Program are parents (as well as the coaches themselves!) so we have all sorts of advice on how to stay energized with kids around. 

Our coaches customized plans for those with busy lives. Learn more here!

Here’s what we’ll cover today:

• Engage in multiplayer mode (Ask for help).
• How to do less (Picking priorities).
• Why moving more will make us more energized.
• The importance of eating well, regularly.
• Rethinking our sleep schedule.
• How to improve our sleep quality.

Let’s jump right in.

Engage in Multiplayer Mode

CHILD used TIRE. It’s SUPER EFFECTIVE!

If you and your partner really feel burnt out (or you’re a single parent and you’re struggling), I have one big message for you:

Ask for help. 

Let go of the feeling that asking for help is some epic inconvenience or that you’ll no longer be this self-sufficient superhero. Even Batman needs Robin. Asking partners, family, or friends to take your little one out for a walk or just keep an eye on them while you have a moment’s rest can be the difference between getting through a week with energy and struggling to the end of a week feeling exhausted.

If you’re lucky enough to have a partner or someone who can help out, try taking turns settling or feeding overnight, and work with what best fits your sleep type.

Couples, talk to each other! So many parents I’ve worked with have been struggling for so long because they simply haven’t spoken with their partners about their needs.

Feel like you’re a night person and you’re always exhausted when you feed the baby in the morning? A short conversation could really make a huge impact: “I think I’d be better off putting the baby to bed and feeding at night if you can do the morning feed and let me sleep until 7. What do you think?”

Figure out what you both want, try a few things out, and come to an agreement on what works best for both of you.

My wife and I found a way to take advantage of my ‘night owl’ tendencies by expressing the milk beforehand (and storing it safely). I stayed up late like normal, allowing my wife to go to bed early, and I covered the 2 am feed.

Even if you don’t have kids, this is a great strategy for couples or roommates to divide responsibilities.

What responsibilities and chores can you divide to work to your advantage, allowing you to rest when you need it?

Do less, be better

At the end of the day, you can’t do it all. Most days I go about doing everything I can, pretending I’m a Superman…

…but in the end, we’re all just Clark Kent. If we’re feeling like we’ve been exposed to Kryptonite, we won’t be able to effectively look after our little ones or get the things done that need doing.

Sometimes our expectations of ourselves are simply too high; we make a list of things to do that is unrealistic. As parents especially, but also for anyone who feels like they “just never have time”, making hard choices and prioritizing what’s important can help take the pressure off while improving your overall output.

We all like to think that we can play with the kids, get them dressed, go to work, cook an amazing dinner, clean the house, get the ironing done, put the kids to sleep, go to the gym, and play ‘just 15 minutes’ of our favorite video game in between everything else going on in our lives. But as parents and busy people of all varieties, we need to accept that our lives are different now, and we need to let go of certain things that might not be as important anymore.

Try picking a few things out of your week to stop doing so you can focus on what’s really important to you. It may feel weird at first, but you’ll be able to focus on the big wins and accept that you’re not going to be able to fit EVERYTHING from your old schedule into your new life.

Move More

“But I’m already so tired, and you expect me to move more?!”

I know it’s a really tough ask. But it’s been shown that physical activity can actually increase your energy levels, make you feel better, and even increase the quality of the little sleep that you do get.

As parents, we’re usually short on time, so the easiest way to get moving more is to sneak light exercise into everyday activities. This could be a walk with your child to somewhere nearby that you would usually drive to, rolling around on the floor with them, or some roughhousing.

For non-parents and parents alike, try to complete some smaller “move more” quests like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking the long way, or dancing in your house when you’re just hanging out or cooking a meal.

Movement really matters. Think of this like a small investment in your day – you pay in a little movement upfront, but you’ll start to notice that these tweaks will pay dividends in your energy and mood. It’s amazing how these small movements add up to not only help you get through the day, but in turn help you sleep better and set you up for success the next day. It’s a cycle of awesome!

Steve shared some great tips on “How to Stay Active When You Have a Family” if you’re looking for a more complete guide.

Eat well regularly

“Wait, so a fitness site is telling me to eat better and move more? Interesting.”

Yes, I know you’ve heard it all before, but this isn’t just cliche advice. It’s crucially important, research-backed advice. Eating healthy and moving more isn’t just a physical fitness thing, it’s about keeping your brain working at full capacity and your energy levels up.

Once you become a parent, there will be changes in your lifestyle, daily routine, social values, and spending power. This makes the temptation of unhealthy snacks and cheap fast-food that much more appealing: it’s cheap, it’s easy, and it tastes great it’s designed to manipulate your taste buds and hit the perfect bliss point.

But as we all know by now, this is a recipe for a downward spiral of energy, mood, and health. Eating the right amount of calories and the right types of food is the foundation for feeling great every day.

Regular healthy snacks can be important as a parent, especially if you’re throwing off your body’s clock by being awake at all hours of the night. A small hit of fat or protein to the system will really help you work up the motivation to take the baby for a walk, wash those bottles, or spend some time on the floor with your little one. Don’t be afraid to keep a jar of almond butter nearby!

For more on snacking, check out Steve’s full article here.

Rethink your silly sleep schedule

The sooner you actually think about your sleep and establish a bedtime routine, the better. Your baby will be more relaxed if they know what’s coming next. It’s been shown that with a routine, your kids will be more likely to go to bed easily, fall asleep quicker, and even improve their wakeful state afterward as well!

But establishing a sleep routine is great for parents (and other adults) too, as it gives you time to wind down, and makes your day a little more predictable. Studies show understanding sleep routines may help in making choices that will lead to better quality sleep. Once you start to fall into a good routine, you’ll be able to know when you can get things done around your little Rebel’s slumber, and maybe even get some extra shuteye yourself.

So, if you don’t have a sleep routine, it’s time to implement one starting now. I suggest working it around when your child naturally sleeps best. Don’t swim upstream if you don’t have to.

A good way of going about this is to track your child’s sleep pattern for at least a week so you can really recognize any patterns. I’ve even compiled the official ‘Nerd Fitness Child Sleep Diary’ (or the Tired Parent Syndrome (TPS) Report) for you to print out and keep records in. Just open the document and go to file –> “Make a copy.”

Start establishing a routine by giving your child a bath, bedtime story, feed, and a lullaby…maybe using an ocarina!

Stick to the same time and order each night and your child will be more settled as time goes on.

Once you’ve figured out and established your routine, try to rest around the time your child is resting. I know not everybody has this luxury, but if possible, try to lay down, relax, meditate or even have a power nap during their day sleeps.

Level Up Your Sleep Game

When you become a parent, chances are you’ll be sleeping like a baby for a few years, even if you don’t get a lot of shut-eye. (Whoever coined that phrase obviously never had kids.) You’ll likely be waking up really grumpy every few hours and taking a long time to settle back down.

Let’s be realistic here: you’re more than likely not going to get as much sleep as you need, and you’re going to feel tired more often than not. Recognizing this, knowing your limitations, and knowing how to optimize your energy levels is the key to staying on top of your game.

Here are a few bonus tips to ensure you’re getting the best rest you can:

• Follow good sleep hygiene rules – limit media use in the bedroom and have time to wind down. If you don’t get much sleep time anymore, you should make sure the little shuteye you get is good quality.
• Limit your consumption of caffeine and alcohol for the hours leading up to bedtime – they can lead to poor sleep. If you do drink caffeine (most parents need to), use it wisely. See Taylor’s article for ways to go about this.
• Do some stress-busting things like yoga and meditation as often as you can. As mentioned, your child will pick up on and react to your mood, so being calm is always a good thing.
• If you feel the lack of sleep is really taking its toll on yourself or your child, seek professional advice as soon as you can. (My wife and I saw a specialized child sleep psychologist with our second child as he was constantly waking throughout the night, which made a world of difference.)

Your priorities change once you have children. You want what’s best for them and to be the best parent you can be. This means you must be rested, calm and healthy. An investment in you is an investment in them. Looking after yourself is paramount in caring for your child; they deserve nothing less.

So get started. Tonight, have a roll around on the floor with your child. The ironing can wait and the Reddit frontpage will still be full of reposts later on. Start figuring out your routine with our official Tired Parent Syndrome Report (yeah, if you can get those TPS reports done as soon as possible, that would be great). Talk to your partner about your schedules, or set up a time for a loved one to come lend a hand this week so you can get in a power nap or exercise.

To parent best, rest.

If you want some more help, Nerd Fitness is here for you.

We have three options on how to continue with us. Pick the option that best aligns with your goals:

Option #1) If you want a professional coach in your pocket, who can do video form checks, provide feedback, and adjust your workouts based on the equipment you have available, check out our 1-on-1 Online Coaching Program! 

As I said earlier, many of our clients are parents, and they find a customized plan for their hectic lives to be a total gamechanger.

Our coaching program changes lives. Learn how!

Option #2) If you want a daily prompt for getting in shape, check out NF Journey. Our fun habit-building app helps you exercise more frequently, eat healthier, and level up your life (literally).

Try your free trial right here:

Option #3) Become part of the Rebellion! We need good people like you in our community, the Nerd Fitness Rebellion.

Sign up in the box below to enlist and get our Rebel Starter Kit, which includes all of our “work out from home” guides.

Now, it’s your turn.

I love hearing from other Rebel parents, I’m always willing to try new ideas:

• How do you rest?
• Is your child a Zubat or a Snorlax?
• How do you fit exercise into your busy day?

-Dan

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There’s one question we get asked more than any other: “Is diet soda bad for me?”

People want to know if Diet Coke will make them fat and make them sick, or if it’s all just a bunch of hoopla about nothing.  

We help our clients navigate challenges with soda (diet or not) in our 1-on-1 Online Coaching Program, and we’re gonna tell you everything you need about diet soda below.

Should you be drinking diet soda? If so, how much? Let us help you decide!

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Does drinking diet soda lead to weight gain?
• Will drinking diet soda make me crave actual sugar?
• Does my body process artificial sweeteners just like sugar? 
• Can drinking diet soda cause cancer? (Is aspartame or saccharin dangerous?)
• How many diet sodas can I have in a day? 
• Can you be addicted to diet soda?
• Is Diet Coke worse for you than regular Coke?
• Is drinking diet soda bad for weight loss? (Next steps)

Let’s get right to it!

Does Drinking Diet Soda Lead to Weight Gain?

Does drinking diet soda make you fat?

No, it does not.^[1] 

It would be super evil if it did, what with the whole “diet” thing and all.

Diet sodas utilize “high-intensity sweeteners” which is a fancy term for very-low-calorie (or zero-calorie) sugar substitutes:

• Acesulfame Potassium
• Advantame
• Aspartame
• Monk Fruit Extract 
• Neotame
• Saccharin
• Sucralose
• Stevia 

The FDA has approved these eight high-intensity sweeteners for human consumption.^[2] You’ll find them in all sorts of food products, not just diet drinks. 

Because high-intensity sweeteners are many times sweeter than table sugar, you can make a drink taste “sweet” without including any sugar at all. 

Most important, without the sugar, you’re skipping out on all the calories that come with it.

Weight loss depends on consuming fewer calories than you burn, so drinking Diet Coke compared to regular Coke can help tip the equation in favor of “weight loss.”

• 12 oz Diet Coke total calorie count: 0
• 12 oz Coca-Cola total calorie count: 150

If you’re trying to lose weight, but love fizzy carbonated and caffeinated beverages, the soda with fewer calories seems like a no-brainer.

“Steve, hold the phone here! Are you saying Diet Coke is okay to drink? I thought the sweeteners and chemicals in it were sketchy!?!”

The concern of drinking diet soda generally rests on three points:

1. Drinking diet soda will make you crave real sugar.
2. Your body processes high-intensity sweeteners just like actual sugar.
3. Artificial sweeteners (like aspartame) can make you sick or cause cancer.

We’ll hit each of these points with its own section below.

Before we continue, I need to make a strong caveat: most studies on diet soda treat all high-intensity sweeteners as one.^[3] This is concerning considering there are eight approved high-intensity sweeteners in use.

Does your body process all eight the same? 

Some early studies on various sweeteners do show our bodies process them differently.^[4]

More studies are being done on individual high-intensity sweeteners as we speak, so expect new information on the subject to unfold.

For now…

Will Drinking Diet Soda Make Me Crave Actual Sugar?

If you eat a bunch of sugary and sweet food regularly, your body can start to crave more of it.^[5]

In other words, consistently eating sugary foods in the afternoon can result in an urge for sweets after lunch. 

These cravings can make it difficult to turn down the bowl of M&M’s as you pass Debra’s desk (She’s even got the peanut kind!).

The question becomes, do the high-intensity sweeteners found in diet soda make us crave sugary foods?

The research on this isn’t clear: 

• Studies done on rats have shown a positive correlation between high-intensity sweeteners and sugar cravings.^[6]
• A 2019 meta-analysis found two studies where aspartame was added directly to the diets of humans. The result? Those who consumed the high-intensity sweeteners found their sugar craving to be LOWER.^[7]

There might be something to the thought that drinking a Diet Coke can help satisfy the sugar craving.

As long as you remember: “correlation doesn’t prove causation!” 

Anecdotally, many of our coaching clients claim that grabbing a diet soda helps them from drinking the regular sugar-filled version. This can be really important, because “cravings” are one of the top issues facing most of our clients.

Which is why we work closely to identify possible food addictions in our 1-on-1 Online Coaching Program, so we can start to work through them together. Our strategy is to take it slow, to make small changes to alter these cravings. Over time, this is the best way to see real progress. 

If you’d like to learn how we can help battle sugar cravings, click below:

No shame, no guilt, just results! Learn about Nerd Fitness Coaching:

Does My Body Process Artificial Sweeteners Just like Sugar?

Another concern of drinking diet soda rests on the idea that your body processes high-intensity sweeteners as it would normal sugar.

The argument states that these sweeteners are so sweet that they fool your body into thinking it’s consuming actual sugar. 

After drinking diet soda, your body responds as it would after consuming normal table sugar: by dumping out insulin. This slows down the fat-burning process.

That’s the gist of it, more or less.

Is it true?

Do high-intensity sweeteners trick our bodies into releasing hormones (insulin)?

Again, the studies on this are mixed:

• The high-intensity sweeteners sucralose and saccharin were both shown to provide a small insulin response in men.^[8] 
• Aspartame does not appear to elicit the same hormone response.^[9] 

Verdict?

This isn’t a HUGE deal. Of all the things to worry about with regards to weight loss or getting healthy, this doesn’t hold the top spot on the list.

While hormones do play a role in weight loss, the main determining factor will always be an energy balance (calories in vs. calories out).

Since most diet sodas have next to zero calories, I’d say the insulin response of high-intensity sweeteners isn’t that important for your weight loss journey.

There are far better targets in the quest to eat healthy, like eating lots of vegetables and eating enough protein at every meal.

Can Drinking Diet Soda Cause Cancer? (Is Aspartame or Saccharin Dangerous?)

The other concern people have about diet soda is that it will cause cancer and kill them and everyone they know.

A little hyperbolic perhaps, but…

Should we be worried about the ingredients of diet soda causing us harm?

Some history is in order:

In the 70s a high-intensity sweetener (saccharin) was shown to give rats cancer.^[10] People flipped out and actually banned saccharin in America, although it’s since been reintroduced.

Why the reintroduction? 

Because no cancer link has ever been shown for the human consumption of saccharin. And folks have looked.^[11] A lot.^[12] 

Not everything that is cancerous to rats is harmful to people, and vice versa. 

Plus, you would have to drink 800 cans of diet soda to get to the levels of saccharin given to the rats in the study.

Even an all-night binge of Call of Duty would only put a small fraction of a dent in that.

How about aspartame or any of these other high-intensity sweeteners…

Are they sketchy?

Earlier I stated the FDA, the United States’ regulation agency, approved eight high-intensity sweeteners.

They aren’t the only agency that has done so. Australia, the EU, Japan, and Canada have all reviewed and approved these sweeteners.^[13] They did so after a thorough investigation. 

So it’s safe to say that high-intensity sweeteners are okay to be used in a reasonable amount.

This brings up the question…

How Many Diet Sodas Can I Have in a Day?

While the sweeteners in diet soda have been approved safe for human consumption, there is a limit to this approval.^[14] But I won’t make you pore over charts and do the math…I’ll do that for you.

What’s the number of 12-ounce diet sodas deemed safe in a day?

18.

Which is A LOT of diet soda. 

However, it should be noted that diet soda is not the only place high-intensity sweeteners are found. 

Many other food products utilize these sweeteners to cut back on sugar and calories. So keep an eye on protein bars, yogurts, baked goods, etc, for hidden high-intensity sweeteners.

The other concern with drinking lots of diet soda would be the caffeine. Caffeine in moderate amounts is fine, but if you go overboard you could increase your anxiety and interfere with your sleep.^[15] 

There’s about half the caffeine in Diet Coke versus a regular cup of coffee, which is still a decent amount. 

If you have trouble sleeping at night, consider how late in the day you’re having your last can of soda. Perhaps install a 2pm “caffeine cutoff” if you find yourself tossing and turning at night. 

Another problem with diet soda: most of them contain exactly zero nutrients. It’s water, some kind of sweetener (sugar or not), flavoring, coloring, and carbonation.

Drinks like coffee and tea actually have some antioxidants present, so you might be getting some benefits with these caffeinated drinks.^[16] 

If you find yourself drinking lots of diet soda, consider mixing in some coffee or tea as a partial replacement. 

Sparkling water might help with the switch too, if you love those fizzy bubbles.

At this point, we should note that stopping diet soda consumption might be easier said than done.

Can You Be Addicted to Diet Soda?

The Coca-Cola Company hires folks to find the perfect combination of:

• Carbonation. The bubbles actually burn your tongue a little, which provides a pleasurable experience. Kind of like a good hot sauce. 
• Sweeteners. Sure, it isn’t sugar, but your brain likes them just the same.
• Caffeine. The jolt from caffeine will provide you a boost and raise your dopamine levels. The brain likes this.
• Flavor. After drinking Diet Coke for some time, your brain will start to associate the flavors with carbonation, sweeteners, and caffeine. Which will make you start craving the flavor of Diet Coke. This is probably part of the reason people become brand loyal to particular diet beverages. 

How do you know if you have an addiction? If you find yourself approaching our 18 can a day safety limit, that’s definitely a sign. 

Another would be if you find diet soda interfering with your life (not sleeping after drinking Diet Coke all evening).

You don’t have to go cold turkey on this one: 

• If you normally drink six cans of diet soda a day, try five.
• After a month or so of this, try four.

This is the exact strategy we follow with our 1-on-1 Online Coaching clients, and it’s the most likely to succeed. 

Small changes over time are the ticket to permanent success.

Having trouble building healthy habits? Have a Nerd Fitness Coach guide your fitness journey instead!

Is Diet Coke Worse for You Than Regular Coke?

Before you use this article as justification to start drinking a six-pack of Diet Coke a day, let’s talk about some other possible concerns.

We’ve talked about all the mechanisms in diet soda that can make it unhealthy (high-intensity sweeteners, caffeine, etc). My conclusion is that these factors are likely overblown.

However, we should acknowledge that drinking diet soda can often be linked to health issues:

• Despite diet sodas containing low to zero calories, drinking them is correlated with obesity.^[18] Is this just because people who are overweight are more likely to consume a “diet” drink? We don’t know.
• Diet soda consumption has been associated with kidney disease.^[19] Is this because of the high phosphorus content of diet soda, or because people who drink soda likely have a poorer diet than those who don’t? This has still yet to be answered.
• Soda, even the diet version, isn’t great for your teeth.^[20] Diet sodas are acidic, leading to the erosion of tooth enamel. Although to be fair, this study found the acids in orange juice more corrosive than Diet Coke.^[21]

There’s an important point here: drinking regular soda is also linked to kidney disease, teeth erosion, and obesity. Even more so those last two points (because of all the sugar and calories).^[22] 

So the concerns of drinking diet soda would also be found in drinking regular soda…even more so.

Drinking Diet Coke may be the lesser of two evils here. 

Is Drinking Diet Soda Bad for Weight Loss? (Next Steps)

If you’re starting your weight loss journey and wondering where diet soda fits into the picture, I want you to know I’m proud of you.

You’re starting to ask questions and you’re looking for answers. This is a great first step.

If you’re trying to lose weight and currently drinking regular soda, the switch to diet would be a good move. 

You’re gonna consume fewer calories that way, critical for weight loss.

This is why one of our top recommendations to our coaching clients is to cut back on sugary drinks. 

However, if you currently drink diet soda and are trying to lose weight, there might be some better targets to shoot for:

• Make sure every meal has a solid protein source.
• Try to add some vegetables to your plate.
• Get comfortable in the kitchen and experiment with making your own meals. 

These are far more important than an occasional Diet Coke here and there.

If you find yourself firing on all cylinders (you eat well, you strength train, you get lots of sleep), then maybe consider replacing diet soda with tea, coffee, or carbonated water. There are enough unanswered questions on consuming diet soda to warrant the switch. 

The most important thing you can do now? Commit to a change:

• One less regular soda a day
• One less Diet Coke a day
• A daily walk first thing in the morning

Pick something you can track. Something with a clear “yes or no” that you can reflect on at the end of the day.

This will help you start your weight loss journey.

Want some help getting going? A little nudge out the door?

Okay, but only because you’ve been nice this whole time:

#1) Our 1-on-1 Online Coaching Program: a coaching program for busy people to help them make better food choices, stay accountable, and get healthier, permanently.

You can schedule a free call with our team so we can get to know you and see if our coaching program is right for you. Just click on the image below for more details:

#2) If you want an exact blueprint leveling up your nutrition, check out Nerd Fitness Journey! Our fun habit-building app helps you exercise more frequently, eat healthier, and level up your life (literally).

It’ll also provide a step-by-step plan from moving away from regular sodar, perhaps to a diet version or even tea.

Try your free trial right here:

#3) Join The Rebellion! We have a free email newsletter that we send out twice per week, full of tips and tricks to help you get healthy, get strong, and have fun doing so. 

I’ll also send you tons of free guides that you can use to start leveling up your life too:

Alright, I think that just about does it for me.

Now, your turn!

What are your experiences with diet soda? 

Did you use them as a tool to help you lose weight? 

Or did you struggle with weight loss until finally dropping diet soda out of your daily consumption as well?

Share your story in the comments!

-Steve

PS –

Check out the rest of our sustainable weight loss content:

• 5 Rules of Weight Loss
• Which Diet is Right for Me?
• Start Eating Healthy Without Being Miserable

PSS: I want to give a hat-tip to Precision Nutrition, whose fascinating article served as the inspiration for this post. 

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Photo source: Corrie Miracle: Diet Coke, Zeyus Media: Sugar Spoon, Stavos: Scientist, Emmi: Gollum, Sarah Korf: nutritional information, Ryan Hyde: Water, Mike Mozart: Diet Coke, Laura Lewis: mirror, Mike Mozart: Diet Coke

 

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