Starting Over w/ Better Soda Pop Strategy

Yackma

Hello! I'm back after a few year hiatus.

I'm excited, too, because I think I've found a much easier way of not drinking pop than before. It's something I can do long-term and will help avoid sugar/caffeine withdrawal.

I swapped pop out for Koolaid Singles. They're sweetened so you don't add extra sugar, but they're still only 30 calories per serving. If I drink the same amount, I'll wind up saving over 8k calories a week!

To control caffeine withdrawal, I'm taking caffeine tabs. I'm down to half of one a day - around 100 mg. So far, no debilitating migraines or commitment-level mood swings. Keeping my fingers crossed. Hoping for big changes by my 40th birthday, Sept. 2018.

Aaron_K123

Out of curiosity why not just drink diet soda? Not that your plan isn't a good one, it just seems like you are going to great lengths to avoid the easier solution.

socioseguro

Hi:
I drink fresh brewed coffee with water. No sugar, no cream.
If I get tired of it, I use skim milk to prepare a capuccino.
In the summer, I drink infused water ( filtered water with a split lemon, slice cucumber)
In winter, I drink green tea
If you really like your soda, make room in your daily calorie budget. I stopped drinking soda. I prefer to munch my calories.
Good luck in your healthy journey

SueInAz

Aaron_K123 wrote: »

Out of curiosity why not just drink diet soda? Not that your plan isn't a good one, it just seems like you are going to great lengths to avoid the easier solution.

This is what struck me, too. What's the difference between the Koolaid singles and a diet soda besides the sugar and calories in the Koolaid? If you were literally drinking 8000 calories per week in soda that's around 37 17-ounce servings. Multiply that by 30 calories and you could save approximately another 1100 calories per week by cutting out the calories in the Koolaid entirely.

sijaeabc

Diet soda isn't good for you. If you're going to question the OPs solution why not suggest not drinking soda or flavored drinks at all? That's the simplest solution.

@Yackma if this works for you it sounds like a step in the right direction. For me, soda really increased my cravings and food impulses and had effects far beyond its caloric content. Finally I reached the point where I understood that soda was an addiction for me and that I had to stop completely. I haven't had a soda in 3 years, and I mostly avoid all other sugary drinks too (except fresh fruit/veggie juice), but I occasionally have something flavored and it doesn't affect me in the same way.

Good luck to you with your new plan, I hope it helps! Once you have made the switch and are solid on no soda, you may find that cutting down on the coolaid is possible too.

Aaron_K123

"Diet soda isn't good for you."

No it isn't good for you, but it isn't bad for you either...its neutral. I just think its a weird thing to spend energy avoiding if you are overweight and looking to lose weight for health purposes. If you like soda but want to avoid empty calories the easiest thing would just be to switch to a diet soda. If caffeine is a serious problem for you then switch to a caffeine free diet soda.

If you avoid diet soda because you've read on a blog somewhere that they are full of dangerous toxins then you are just being mislead.

I just feel that people who have trouble dieting approach it as some sort of rite of passage where they must avoid XYZ and show mental fortitude and what not. Basically they make it a stressful experience when it doesn't need to be.

mom22dogs

Wow - saving 8000 calories a week!? That is a ton of pop. I would go with diet also. Probably not 37 cans a week though. Maybe 7-14 cans? Would save a lot of money also.

Yackma

I should have said "Even if I drank the same amount..." because I'm not planning on it. Two sugary drinks a day (versus 4 or 5) and the rest is water.

Why no diet pop? I don't like the taste, but also, it's a really bad habit for me. If I drink some, I drink way too much and wind up never eating and just drink pop if I'm hungry. That doesn't happen with other beverages, for whatever reason. (Or, it hasn't yet.)

Thanks for the well wishes and the advice. It's always nice to have other people's opinions.

stacylyle13

I've found it was easier in the long run to just stop soda altogether. I was drinking 4-5 20 oz sodas a day. The first 3-4 days was tough. After that the craving was gone. I drink over a gallon of water everyday and occasionally if I want some flavor a little unsweet tea. Artificial sweeteners don't do us any favors. Natural is better in the long run.

Aaron_K123

"Why no diet pop? I don't like the taste"

Fair enough.

EternalSnow627

I still drink soda and its regular but doesn't have all the calories and sugar in it that u would find in a store. I drink sodas from SodaStream u basically make ur own soda with it from the mixes. So much better

xvolution

There are some diet sodas out there that actually taste decent. It's the ones made by the store's company that's generally bad in taste [like the Great Value and Big K sodas].

battyfitch

I like diet sodas. Even the store brand kind. The regular stuff makes my mouth and throat feel... sticky, I guess? I dunno. I'm one of the people that will order a Diet Coke with a Big Mac and large fries.

snowflake930

OP, have you tried products that you add to water? There are tons of flavors and brands out there and even less calories than your Kool Aid. My favorite is raspberry lemonade.

battyfitch wrote: »

I like diet sodas. I'm one of the people that will order a Diet Coke with a Big Mac and large fries.

^^me too. I know people do not get that, but I have always thought that drinking diet pop saves some calories at least, even if you are consuming what others may perceive as very high calorie food.

earthakin66

I drink seltzer water or club soda. I like the fizz of the soda but it has no calories.