OK, so I have been wanting to lose weight since my daughter was born 16 months ago. I was kind of stuck at a plateau about 8 lbs over my usual weight, which is a lot for me since I am only 5ƈ". I finally buckled down and totally cut out regular soda-I usually only had one per day, 2 at the most so it didn't seem like that many calories. Since then I have lost 12 lbs, I feel good and happy about it but some people are commenting that it worries them, I dont get why since I am at a good weight-but, I am enough of a hypochondriac to worry just a little.
My husband was drinking 1/2 a soda a day and complaining about a gut, he quit and lost 5 lbs right away, so my theory is that soda calories are just absorbed quicker/differently than other calories?

You are right. Cokes are mostly sugar, and sugar molecules are more readily converted to fat than other forms of energy. Cutting out the coke is probably exactly what did it for you.

I quit drinking soda and lost 5 pounds right away too. A lot of soda have a large level of sodium causing extra water retention.

Yes it can. Soda pop is horrible for you through and through. I quit drinking pop about 7 months ago and lost 10 pounds right off the bat. I have a task for you. Research osteoporosis and soda pop. I will guarantee you will not drink it anymore. Even though it says diet, it does not make it any healthier. I am the same way. I am only 5Ɔ tall and only way about 105 but that is normal for someone my size. Hard work, exercise, and eating healthy are the way to go to stay at a comfortable weight. I hope this helps.

Soda is empty calories....colored sugar water with no nutritional value whatsoever, and the phosphoric acid is bad for both bones and teeth.
For many people sugar spikes the blood sugar and then drops it, causing you to crave more sugar.
So you are definitely better off avoiding soda.
When I was in my twenties I stopped eating sugar and dropped 10 pounds simply from doing so, even though I did not change my eating habits otherwise.

I believe it is possible because it happened to me too. I was 128 which is the most I've ever weighed and I am only 5Ƈ. I decided to try and be healthier and I cut soda out of my diet completely (didn't even drink diet) and I was drinking about the same one a day maybe 2 some days. I lost 6 pounds in one week JUST from cutting out soda. Once I lost the 6 pounds just from cutting out soda then I decided to cut out other junk and eat less calories in food as well and I also started walking a few times per week for about 45 minutes and I got down to 110 and was very happy. I have gained a little back since I got bad over this past winter and started having soda once in awhile, I got back up to 116 and so I stopped soda again and have already lost a couple pounds since!

Sure it can. Say you should only be eating 1700 calories a day and soda is anywhere from 120-170 calories each, and naturally you burn about 2000 calories a day from daily activity, breathing, sleeping etc. If you cut out the soda you have nearly a 300 calorie a day deficit, which leads to weight loss.
You're lucky though, I cut out energy drinks a little over two months ago. I drank one energy drink everyday for three years, and I had gained ten pounds, so I quit. Last week i realized I gained five more pounds, which is unacceptable. I don't see how I cut out 200+ calories a day and still gained weight.????? So, now I'm counting calories, and exercising MORE (it sucks) but I have already lost five pounds. Ten more to go :)
Congrats on losing twelve lbs by the way :)