IGNORE DOUBLE POST!! Does caffeine slow down weight loss?

[catherine]

Does anybody know if caffeine slows down weight loss? I've checked out various sites where it says that caffeine increases the metabollic rate, but I'm wondering if it increases water retention also. Over the last few weeks my weight loss rate has changed dramatically and the only thing that I can think of that I'm doing differently is drinking diet coke. I don't think that it's drinking soda that is causing it because I had been drinking other diet sodas with no caffeine. So do you think that it could be the caffeine, or do you think that it's just a coincidence?

TIA
Catherine