Giving up soda , for good

KnM0107

Any acidic food or drink can cause damage to tooth enamal if good oral hygeine isn't in place. Lemons, oranges, limes and other acidic fruits can damage enamal just as bad. My mom used to love oranges and lemons (she would eat them by themselves). The acid destroyed her teeth and she now has veneers.

snickerscharlie

mojojojo222 wrote: »

Diet Coke is worse for you than regular Coke. I have always been a heavy soda drinker (Coke), when Diet Coke came out I started drinking it. Then I was at a picnic where there was an endless supply of sodas. I had about 6 Diet Cokes that afternoon, enough to literally make me sick, not from the sugar or caffeine, but from the vulgar taste of toxic aspartame. For some reason you can't taste it in small quantities. But when you have a lot of it, you get that taste and it never leaves you. It really is gross! That was 30 years ago. I can still taste that nasty ASPARTAME taste. It is the aspartame that is toxic. Sugar may not be the best thing for you, but it is not toxic like aspartame is.

Aspartame is not toxic.

maidentl

This whole thread made my head hurt. For the record, I have been ingesting diet soda for over 30 years. I still have all of my teeth, only recently got my first cavity and I haven't been pickled or poisoned to death.

Seigla

very good. Yeah I've given up on soda - I drink 99% less of it then in my teens, when I drink at least 1.5 liters of cola per day. Now I have the rule not to buy any soda in the supermarket, unless I have guests (but then it's very rare to actually buy soda then, in fact I don't remember doing that, but it's allowed for the sake of hospitality). I can drink soda at parties, but I prefer beer so I hardly do that either. I drink water, tea and coffee at home. It's not hard at all when you are used to it. I love the taste of water!

I have this ice cube maker that you can put in the fridge (I paid 1 euro for it or so) and it is nice in the summer. Makes water even better!

As you can see I allow myself to drink soda sometimes. That prevents frustration for me. But like I said I don't buy it from the store, which I think is the most important change I made. Btw I also don't buy juice, because it's mostly sugars, and yeah some vitamins, but I prefer to get those from vegetables and fruit.

ruggedshutter

I've never really been a big cola drinker so cutting it out wasn't that difficult. Now if someone were to take my coffee there might be a beat-down o.O

Oldbitcollector

I quit soda over a period of a year.. First, I quit buying and bringing it home, then I only drank a glass or two at the restaurants on Friday evening. I've switched to water and those mix additives.

alcurran33

I used to be a Pepsi Max addict, but realised it was the ice cold, fizzy sensation I liked, not so much the actual flavour. I replaced it with sparkling water and it suits me well, as well as saving me $$. I still have a coffee in the morning when i get to work as I enjoy it, but on days off not having the caffeine isn't a problem.

punkrockgoth

Quitting Pepsi sucked so bad! I swore by applesauce fruit snacks and black coffee to help with the sugar and caffeine withdrawls, but man, I had the shakes for weeks. Nausea and dizziness... I kid you not, it was almost as bad as quitting smoking. Which also sucked.

I did see in OP that it's diet soda... I have no good advice for that as I've never been able to tolerate diet products.

SconnieCat

mojojojo222 wrote: »

Diet Coke is worse for you than regular Coke. I have always been a heavy soda drinker (Coke), when Diet Coke came out I started drinking it. Then I was at a picnic where there was an endless supply of sodas. I had about 6 Diet Cokes that afternoon, enough to literally make me sick, not from the sugar or caffeine, but from the vulgar taste of toxic aspartame. For some reason you can't taste it in small quantities. But when you have a lot of it, you get that taste and it never leaves you. It really is gross! That was 30 years ago. I can still taste that nasty ASPARTAME taste.It is the aspartame that is toxic. Sugar may not be the best thing for you, but it is not toxic like aspartame is.

Some people may disagree with me about sugar. If you are diabetic, ok. But I am more about nutrition and health (toxic free diet) than I am about "losing weight" or having a sugar free diet.

Good luck.

Aspartame isn't toxic. Stop with the fear mongering.

OP, I drink a Coke Zero a day...sometimes two. And sometimes I'll throw in some rum with Diet Coke if I'm feeling frisky.

I regularly brush my teeth and floss (granted I probably floss less than my dentist would like to see), but I've never had a cavity, the enamel on my teeth is good, and my dentist has never told me to give the stuff up.

How much are you drinking that you need to quit drinking diet sodas?

sherbear702

You can still drink diet coke, just brush and floss regularly after words. If you really are going to give up diet coke though, a good alternative is carbonated mineral water. You still get the fizz without the sugar. I like the lemon flavored kind, it's pretty good.

kskinnyperfect

SconnieCat wrote: »

mojojojo222 wrote: »

Good luck.

Aspartame isn't toxic. Stop with the fear mongering.

OP, I drink a Coke Zero a day...sometimes two. And sometimes I'll throw in some rum with Diet Coke if I'm feeling frisky.

I regularly brush my teeth and floss (granted I probably floss less than my dentist would like to see), but I've never had a cavity, the enamel on my teeth is good, and my dentist has never told me to give the stuff up.

How much are you drinking that you need to quit drinking diet sodas?

I drink around 2-3 a day. It's just a fear of losing my teeth as my mother who is now 60 and has drank 1-2 a day her entire life almost has no teeth left from it. Hoping to stop the issue before it becomes one

brandyosu

I gave up drinking soda almost four weeks ago. I went cold turkey. I was drinking enough caffeine daily that I knew I would have headaches. So each day I drank a LOT of water and waited until I could feel the first signs of a dull headache starting in my temples. Then, I would take two Aleve and all was well. The second day I did take a nap because I was initially very sluggish as well. After about three and a half days the headaches stopped and I've been fine since. I've replaced it with water. I drink filtered water from the fridge when I am at home. When I'm at work, though, I splurge on the liter sized bottles of Evian because I love the way it tastes.

I haven't had a drink of anything other than water since I gave up the cokes. There are plenty of things I enjoy drinking such as wine, or Izze fruit drinks and I have no plans to give them up...I just haven't had anything else I guess because I have been so focused on drinking more water and staying hydrated.

Good luck! If you are "addicted" enough to caffeine the headaches really do suck but you can head them off at the pass!

ImitatetheSun

I just gave up Diet Coke in January! Before that I had about two 20-ounce bottles per day for 20 years. I drank caffeinated tea instead. Republic of Tea makes a Tea called something like Hi Caff that has the equivalent of a cup of coffee's worth of caffeine per tea bag. The French Toast flavor is out of this world. Now that I'm through the transition, I drink water mostly. I actually crave water now, and don't miss Diet Coke at all. BTW, I actually took it to another level - I gave up all artificial sweeteners (incluiding in foods like yogurt). I didn't lose weight just from that, but after two or three months, my appetite was gone. No more food cravings, or desire for second. For those headaches, you could try Excedrin Migraine. It's a combination of aspirin and caffeine and might help. If nothing else , mastering any addiction - even to something as mild as Diet Coke - is worth doing. Good luck!!!

kshama2001

Gain weight by “going diet?” Artificial sweeteners and the neurobiology of sugar cravings

...Intuitively, people choose non-caloric artificial sweeteners over sugar to lose or maintain weight. Sugar provides a large amount of rapidly absorbable carbohydrates, leading to excessive energy intake, weight gain, and metabolic syndrome [15,16,17]. Sugar and other caloric sweeteners such as high fructose corn syrup have been cast as the main culprits of the obesity epidemic. Whether due to a successful marketing effort on the part of the diet beverage industry or not, the weight conscious public often consider artificial sweeteners “health food” [6]. But do artificial sweeteners actually help reduce weight?

Surprisingly, epidemiologic data suggest the contrary. Several large scale prospective cohort studies found positive correlation between artificial sweetener use and weight gain.

Read more: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2892765/

AnitaHardin

I quit cold turkey. Had headache for a couple of days. Now I drink mainly water. Sometimes I'll have tea, but very seldom. This may be tmi, but all the gassiness and diareah have stopped. I can tell a difference in the way I sleep also. I'd stay up until 1 or 2 every night because the caffeine kept me hyped up. Now I do good to make it to 11. And it's definitely changed my appetite. Just not as hungry now. Good luck, it will be one of the best decisions you can make for your health.

kskinnyperfect

AnitaHardin wrote: »

I quit cold turkey. Had headache for a couple of days. Now I drink mainly water. Sometimes I'll have tea, but very seldom. This may be tmi, but all the gassiness and diareah have stopped. I can tell a difference in the way I sleep also. I'd stay up until 1 or 2 every night because the caffeine kept me hyped up. Now I do good to make it to 11. And it's definitely changed my appetite. Just not as hungry now. Good luck, it will be one of the best decisions you can make for your health.

Ah yay definitely not too much tmi. Makes me wanna quit even more . Looking forward to the energy and not the need for a soda to wake me up

Sutnak

chelsmaee7 wrote: »

My fiancé was able to cut down on soda a lot by replacing it with the mio with caffeine. I cut it out easily but I found that I like lipton diet green tea with citrus when I want something other than water.

so basically he replaced soda with flat soda.


fwiw, until last week, I drank 2 gallons of soda a day. My teeth are fine. I'm not even super picky with my oral hygiene...

ElJefeChief

Aspartame and sucralose are harmless. The fizz will eat away your teeth though.

Justygirl77

kskinnyperfect wrote: »

I've decided after a trip to the dentist that it is time I give up my diet -coke addiction for good. I've tried to stop before but get headaches after a day or two cold turkey . Has anyone given up sodas ? Do u replace them with another drink? Thanks

To help with the caffeine withdrawal, you could use green tea in decreasing amounts over a few days. In my own experience getting off diet coke, it took a week of migraines and fatigue. If you were drinking sugar, too then you'll have withdrawal from that. If you tough it out for a week, drink lots of water and try to have the best schedule/sleep you can. You can do it!

Bshmerlie

I've been slowly cutting down my Coke intake for years. I first stopped buying them for the house so I only had them in the afternoon. Then I stopped getting the large soda when I went out to eat. Then I stopped getting the refill. Now I only have one on a rare occasion. Very rarely do I miss it. If i go out to a nice restaurant I may get a coke...but not always. I an now a water drinker. I don't like the taste of diet sodas.

lemonsnowdrop

There's nothing wrong with soda or diet soda. The people with teeth issues should pick up a toothbrush or go to a dentist every now and then.

Liftng4Lis

Seltzer water.

maidentl

kshama2001 wrote: »

Gain weight by “going diet?” Artificial sweeteners and the neurobiology of sugar cravings

...Intuitively, people choose non-caloric artificial sweeteners over sugar to lose or maintain weight. Sugar provides a large amount of rapidly absorbable carbohydrates, leading to excessive energy intake, weight gain, and metabolic syndrome [15,16,17]. Sugar and other caloric sweeteners such as high fructose corn syrup have been cast as the main culprits of the obesity epidemic. Whether due to a successful marketing effort on the part of the diet beverage industry or not, the weight conscious public often consider artificial sweeteners “health food” [6]. But do artificial sweeteners actually help reduce weight?

Surprisingly, epidemiologic data suggest the contrary. Several large scale prospective cohort studies found positive correlation between artificial sweetener use and weight gain.

Read more: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2892765/

Correlation does not equal causation.

Justygirl77

Artificial sweeteners are no bueno. They actually mess with your blood sugar! Your brain gets the sweet signal from the tongue, and tells the liver that "sugar is coming, so stop releasing sugar into the blood stream, and start storing it!" So your blood sugar decreases because the drink was devoid of sugar, and you get HUNGRY. This hunger lasts for hours, too.
So if you drink diet soda, you'll have to remember to ignore the hungry feeling.

maidentl

Justygirl77 wrote: »

Artificial sweeteners are no bueno. They actually mess with your blood sugar! Your brain gets the sweet signal from the tongue, and tells the liver that "sugar is coming, so stop releasing sugar into the blood stream, and start storing it!" So your blood sugar decreases because the drink was devoid of sugar, and you get HUNGRY. This hunger lasts for hours, too.
So if you drink diet soda, you'll have to remember to ignore the hungry feeling.

No, none of this happens.

lemonsnowdrop

Justygirl77 wrote: »

Artificial sweeteners are no bueno. They actually mess with your blood sugar! Your brain gets the sweet signal from the tongue, and tells the liver that "sugar is coming, so stop releasing sugar into the blood stream, and start storing it!" So your blood sugar decreases because the drink was devoid of sugar, and you get HUNGRY. This hunger lasts for hours, too.
So if you drink diet soda, you'll have to remember to ignore the hungry feeling.

This is all very incorrect. In fact, I feel fuller after drinking a diet soda. Explain that.

Justygirl77

maidentl wrote: »

Justygirl77 wrote: »

Artificial sweeteners are no bueno. They actually mess with your blood sugar! Your brain gets the sweet signal from the tongue, and tells the liver that "sugar is coming, so stop releasing sugar into the blood stream, and start storing it!" So your blood sugar decreases because the drink was devoid of sugar, and you get HUNGRY. This hunger lasts for hours, too.
So if you drink diet soda, you'll have to remember to ignore the hungry feeling.

No, none of this happens.

Yes. It does lol

Justygirl77

If you drink a soda, the acidity makes your enamel soft, so rinse your mouth with water before you brush them!

Justygirl77

lemonsnowdrop wrote: »

Justygirl77 wrote: »

Artificial sweeteners are no bueno. They actually mess with your blood sugar! Your brain gets the sweet signal from the tongue, and tells the liver that "sugar is coming, so stop releasing sugar into the blood stream, and start storing it!" So your blood sugar decreases because the drink was devoid of sugar, and you get HUNGRY. This hunger lasts for hours, too.
So if you drink diet soda, you'll have to remember to ignore the hungry feeling.

This is all very incorrect. In fact, I feel fuller after drinking a diet soda. Explain that.

Ummmm.....your tummy expanded?

lemonsnowdrop

Justygirl77 wrote: »

lemonsnowdrop wrote: »

Justygirl77 wrote: »

Artificial sweeteners are no bueno. They actually mess with your blood sugar! Your brain gets the sweet signal from the tongue, and tells the liver that "sugar is coming, so stop releasing sugar into the blood stream, and start storing it!" So your blood sugar decreases because the drink was devoid of sugar, and you get HUNGRY. This hunger lasts for hours, too.
So if you drink diet soda, you'll have to remember to ignore the hungry feeling.

This is all very incorrect. In fact, I feel fuller after drinking a diet soda. Explain that.

Ummmm.....your tummy expanded?

Exactly. I didn't have any of the intense sugar cravings you implied. I've never seen scientific proof of your claims.