I quite like Coke Zero, although I admit that regular Coke does taste somewhat better.
However, my reason for drinking diet Coke is that sometimes I feel like drinking soda, but if I can limit the damage done (by sugar, since I'm trying to lose weight), might as well do it.
Sure, no soda at all is best, but I think this is one of those cases which aren't all black or all white.
It's not punishment. You get used to it and then you start finding regular soda way too sugary. Your taste buds adjust to the new flavor and end up preferring it.
The unhealthy part is mostly the caffeine, not the aspartame, itself. That being said - I don't get the 'soda' at all. It's worse than plain water, juice (no extra sugars), espresso, and beer.
I hate beer and also have some sort of allergic reaction to it (I don't mind, since I don't like it anyway).
Water has no taste, so unless I'm drinking merely to quench my thirst, it's not what I want.
Juice is too much work and many juices "out of the fruit" without added sugar are also bad for you, e.g. orange juice. Most dentists and nutritionists now do not recommend drinking orange juice except very occasionally (then again, of course they don't recommend soda drinks either).
I love espresso and drink it way too often, but it's not a refreshing drink like Diet Coke is, and also it's not good for you either (in excess). I probably drink way too much espresso and Diet Coke.
Different strokes. The only soft drink I like is Pepsi Max; Fat Coke and Fat Pepsi taste horrible to me and make my teeth feel all furry, and Diet Coke tastes off in some way
However, my reason for drinking diet Coke is that sometimes I feel like drinking soda, but if I can limit the damage done (by sugar, since I'm trying to lose weight), might as well do it.
Sure, no soda at all is best, but I think this is one of those cases which aren't all black or all white.