Soda pop!

Jecca910

hellloooo everyone. I am on my weight loss journey. I've only been doing this for 9 days but it's getting easier every day to stay aware to what I'm putting in my body and my triggers. The only problem I'm having is with soda. I cannot stop craving it. I can't stand the after taste of artificial sweeteners and i feel like it's just the bubbles that I'm craving. I want to stop drinking it all together but I've really seen I'm addicted to it lol does anyone use a soda stream or have any suggestions? I feel like Pop is the only thing that's standing in my way of reaching my goals.

DeguelloTex

How much of it do you drink a day?

maillemaker

Drink diet soda. There are tons to choose from. If you just like the bubbles, buy soda water.

malibu927

Either give it up or work it into your calories

Bshmerlie

It took me years of slowly cutting back to finally give it up completely and I'm glad I did. I use to drink coke for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Now I haven't had one in over two months and no more cravings. Give it a little more time and the cravings will stop.

2wise4u

Try seltzer or flavored waters. I quit cold turkey and it was hard but worth it. I only drink water and iced tea now and glad I kicked the habit. You're right about the cravings...it was bad for me.

joeyzuraski

Water and fruit flavoring

TuffChixRule

I cut out all sodas about 8 months ago when I first started using MFP, which was a drastic step and I regret doing that in hindsight. Maybe if you have a plan to eliminate one serving a day and gradually back off it would help. I switched to water flavored with Mio or Crystal Light which did help a lot so I didn't feel as deprived. Now I've started to work one 20 ounce bottle of diet soda a day into my diet plan but I can take it or leave it. You will get through this

softblondechick

Iced tea!

PuckTard

softblondechick wrote: »

Iced tea!

^^This! I had to cut out soda completely.. I was an all day soda chugger. Tea was the only thing that seemed to work as a replacement and I slowly cut that out as well. The last time I had a "cheat" soda, it was way too sweet and I couldn't even drink more than a few sips. Slow and steady, progress is progress.

ffbrown25

Try flavored carbonated waters like La Croix. I LOVE the lime flavor. Grapefruit is also tasty.

wwh140

I was drinking 2 of the 20 oz bottles a day so I know what you mean. When I started my journey I cut back to 1/2 bottle per day for a week or so then if I really felt like I needed one I would have a small bottle or can of one of the diet ones - Coke Zero and Diet Sunkist Orange are pretty good. Also, the flavored fizzy waters are good for the bubbles. I mostly drink water now with some iced tea or a bit of a diet soda on occasion and skim milk with cereal once in a while. Good luck. The cravings will eventually go away, just give it time.

kshama2001

Here are some tips about soda from the MFP blog:

https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/the-better-beverage-challenge/
https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/so-you-want-to-stop-drinking-soda/
https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/6-tips-to-make-tea-taste-better-than-soda/

2. Create a tea mocktail. Tea can be added to a variety of mocktail recipes that are full of other fun, fresh ingredients. During the summer, you can make a ginger peach tea punch with chilled chai black tea, fresh ginger and ginger syrup, and fresh peaches. Pour it over ice and you have an instantly refreshing, hydrating seasonal sipper. Also consider adding sparking water to your tea mocktails to curb that hankering for carbonation.

lissiestel

Do not do artificial sweeteners, they are your enemy! I was hooked on soda too, there is a flavored soda water option that is JUST carbonated water and natural fruit flavor. I drink the grapefruit and lime flavors, our Aldi carries both the name brand and their version called LaVie. Over ice, with citrus fruit slices in it it is very good. I put lime in the lime one, and either lemon or grapefruit in the grapefruit one. Hubby drinks soda, so this helps me resist grabbing it!

Colures

It may sound a bit weird, but have you tried exercising? Soda is by far my biggest crux and giving it up was incredibly difficult. The problem was I just didn't like the taste of water at all (I know, I know... water supposedly doesn't have a taste). But I've found that on days I exercise my body craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaves water, it doesn't want any sugary concoctions at all.

On rest days I still have to spike my water with a little lime juice or have an iced tea instead, but so far I haven't had a drop of soda in over a month.

Cricket1515

Yes, I use a Soda Stream. It's the bubbles for me too. I find that I will reach for carbonated water, but only reach for plain water after exercising. When I want to make it more interesting, I'll add a tbsp of tart cherry concentrate. Supposedly tart cherry reduces inflammation, but really I just like the taste.

85Cardinals

Diet Dr. Pepper damn nearly killed me! But I kicked the habit, back in the late 90s. It's worth the effort, water tastes great now, and some coffee in the morning. It makes life so much simpler, not stumbling around on the streets at dawn looking for an angry cola fix.

jean_rennolds

I know how you feel about the soda. I have the same problem. I have been able to cut back. In fact I was almost completely off of them at one time till I had nothing else to drink. I can't stand the tap water here it's nasty. I was to the point where I was drinking glass after glass of soda. I can and have and sometimes still do go through an entire 2 liter a day. The thing I found to make it easier was something called smart water. It's bottled water that has enzymes in it and it tastes better then most bottled water. You'd think water wouldn't have a funny after taste cause it's not suppose to have a taste at all but most of it does. I guess it's the plastic bottles but I found smart water doesn't have that funny after taste. Plus I don't like it but one of my daughters does, you can get seltzer water if it's just the fizz. but it takes will power too. good luck.

spatulamom

I had a soda addiction as well. I've switched to those Dasani Sparkling (carbonated water with a hint of fruit flavoring - no artificial sweeteners or flavoring, 0 calories) because I need the bubbles. I don't like plain water. I basically drink 2-3 cans of this stuff a day.

I do still allow myself soda once in awhile in moderation - like this weekend when we were out of town and stopped at McDonalds for lunch on the drive home. I also had half of a bottle of my husband's Mountain Dew last night because I'm in the throes of a migraine and the caffeine and sweetness are helpful. But I log every last sip (actually, I was impressed that I didn't drink the whole thing last night - it was way too sweet for me for some reason). So it can be done in moderation. It's a treat now, not a daily need.

Timshel_

I drink a bit of Pepsi every day. I still lose weight as long as I track it. There is nothing more to it than calories.

slaite1

ffbrown25 wrote: »

Try flavored carbonated waters like La Croix. I LOVE the lime flavor. Grapefruit is also tasty.

I love La Croix. If it's too blah for you try adding a lime wedge-delicious.

As far as the taste of artificial sweetener-have you tried Coke zero? IMO-it has a way better taste than diet coke, no aftertaste. I enjoy a few every day. The cherry coke zero is delicious as well.

CharlieBeansmomTracey

I like the skinnygirl sparklers or sparkling ice. they are carbonated flavored waters and pretty good flavored too. or you can take plain seltzer water and add some fruit,fruit juice or water enhancers. I mixed some iced tea with the seltzer yesterday and it was pretty yummy.

Timorous_Beastie

If you want to switch to diet, but don't like the taste, try flavored diet sodas over plain cola. Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi, Diet Dr Pepper, Diet Mt Dew, etc. That made switching easier for me.

HollyKennedy1

Diet Dr. Pepper and Diet Crush taste the same as their regular counter parts so I have changed to them. I live for pop and this makes it a little easier.

Debmal77

Jecca910 wrote: »

hellloooo everyone. I am on my weight loss journey. I've only been doing this for 9 days but it's getting easier every day to stay aware to what I'm putting in my body and my triggers. The only problem I'm having is with soda. I cannot stop craving it. I can't stand the after taste of artificial sweeteners and i feel like it's just the bubbles that I'm craving. I want to stop drinking it all together but I've really seen I'm addicted to it lol does anyone use a soda stream or have any suggestions? I feel like Pop is the only thing that's standing in my way of reaching my goals.

I had the pop problem also. I started mixing diet pop with regular pop. Half and half at first. When I was use to that I switched went to full on diet pop. I now prefer Coke Zero. Worked for me. Good luck on your journey.

colors_fade

It takes some time to adjust, but you can adjust to diet cola. And once you do, there's no turning back. After a few weeks, the regular stuff tastes like syrup.

TheVirgoddess

If it's the bubbles you want, how about sparkling water?

I still drink coke, but I just have a bit of some with dinner usually. Some days I have more, if I want it, but I find myself satisfied with water 90% of the time.

I've lost 85 pounds that way, by the way.

laur357

I love infused iced tea. I don't add sugar, but a few slices of blood orange and fresh sage leaves while the tea is cooling down . . . so good.
Or club soda with a tablespoon of pomegranate juice or citrus slices. Or Sprite Zero.

callsitlikeiseeit

i used to drink 3-6 dr peppers a day.

now i drink all water, and allow myself one DIET soda (coke or sprite) a day. ive had EXACTLY ONE dr pepper since january. (and loved every sip LOLOLOL). i dont like diet dr pepper at ALL, so that wasnt/isnt an option.

when you want something bad enough, you make changes.

isma123x

I used to be obsesssed with soda but nowi only drink water which i never imagined i would do. Honestly it really does make a diffrence

WBB55

Here was my path of main daily drinks (combos aren't mixed or anything, these were just my main drinks):
Mt. Dew -> Diet Sprite & Coke 0 -> Coke 0 & Iced tea & water flavored with Mio -> Iced tea & water flavored with Mio -> Hot tea & water flavored with Mio -> Hot tea & water