Does anyone have tips for ditching the sugary drinks?

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Replies

  • beautifullyxbroken
    beautifullyxbroken Posts: 4
    I had to just stop drinking it. I found other drinks I could enjoy, and after a while I stopped wanting it. I know, that sounds so much easier than it really was. It's been six months since I had my last soda. On July 4th, I decided I'd take a sip of a friends and almost gagged. It was the worst tasting concoction, ever. The best advice I can offer is to just do it. If doing the cold-turkey thing isn't going to work for you, you can always try to phase it out. Replace one glass a day with some water or iced tea (my new drink of choice). The next week replace two glasses a day. And so on, until you've completely eliminated soda.

    You can do it :)
  • Jennloella
    Jennloella Posts: 2,286 Member
    don't buy them! First week might suck but just don't keep them in the house and it will get easier.
  • hananah89
    hananah89 Posts: 692 Member
    I travel quite a bit for work and one week I was having several sodas a day (more than I was normally having at the time) to the point where I basically overdid it. I got one at the end of the week, realized how bad it really was (and I was a HUGE dr. pepper drinker) and quit basically cold turkey. I've only had 2 since then: once when I was in the airport and needed a pick me up (actually didn't even help!) and once when I had sprite and rum together. I know not everyone can do it cold turkey but doing that one big binge basically convinced me to quit.
    And I have to say, I feel SOO much better now and drink a ton of water. Best decision I've made (besides joining MFP!)
  • A_Fit_Mom
    A_Fit_Mom Posts: 602 Member
    I only drink water now. I use to live on coke zero and diet dr pepper. So I just started by exchanging one coke with one water..each week. Then I eventually didn't drink any soft drinks and I haven't since.
  • janaegreen
    janaegreen Posts: 6
    Same here! I was drinking a coke a day, sometimes more than one can a day. It's addicting and I agree, it's really hard to substitute water for sweet drinks.

    Try replacing your cravings with natural sodas. I try to allow myself a day of the week where I can drink a soda without guilt, like a "cheat day" in your diet. For the other days of the week, try drinking water between meals until you get used to it. Try juices with meals. Make your own juices. Find a mixture of fruits that you like... homemade juices are delicious!
  • baileyaad
    baileyaad Posts: 19
    Add ice to your water. I also hate water but it goes down easier when it's ice cold.

    I am working to stop drinking soft drinks so I've been adding MIO drops to my water. It makes it taste a million times better.
  • MariaHammer750
    MariaHammer750 Posts: 86 Member
    This is one of those things that I think you just have to quit "cold turkey" style, I truly believe that sugar is an addiction and the more you become accustomed to eating sweet things the more you crave sweet things!



    ^^^^^^^^^
    This is so true! I first stopped eating sweets, did that for a while, then decided to stop the artificial sweeteners next (yes even Stevia & Truvia, etc). And what a difference it has made; I stopped craving sweet things and other types of foods as well. It totally made eating healthy and making better food choices so much easier. I have learned to drink ice tea without sugar and to like it that way. I drink lots of water, (ice cold) my 1 cup of coffee coffee (yes coffee isn't good either, but I haven't yet been able to give up that 1 cup in the morning) without any kind of sweetener--just a drop of milk, and occasionally I drink a can of La Croix, which is like club soda only no sodium, no sugar, no artificial sweeteners, just a little bit of flavoring.
  • kathleenjoyful
    kathleenjoyful Posts: 210 Member
    I've never liked soft drink but I LOVE juice and needed to stop drinking so much of it. I found a natural cordial that has Stevia instead of sugar, and I drink it with soda water. I love bubbles more than I love sugary drinks.
  • haziexxx
    haziexxx Posts: 7
    Just think of it like this:
    Excessive soda intake can lead to....

    1. Diabetes
    2. Instant aging
    3. Causes cancer
    4. Majority of its ingredients are made of harsh chemicals and GMO products that causes sicknesses and early deaths.
    5. Coke can loosen rusty nuts and bolts and the acid in it is strong enough to clean the mold off of your car battery terminals (if it's strong enough to do that, just think of all the damage it can do to your body).
    6. It's bad for you considering the amount of sugar in just one can of soda.

    These are all proven from studies that have been done worldwide. Also, #5, my dad always uses coke to clean out rusty things and that crazy mold that occurred one time on my battery. So, just think of these things.

    If it doesn't work for you. Do this:
    1. Drink less soda each day.
    2. Instead of drinking soda, try healthier alternatives.
    3. Drink tea instead or flavored water or even fruit juice.
    4. Buy those soda makers and make your own soda at home with water and fruit juice--it'll carbonate it so it's just like drinking soda.
    5. Drink more water each day to clean out the toxins in your body.
  • afreelandgti
    afreelandgti Posts: 73
    I know it sounds like stupid advice, but just drink the water. You'll soon find that you'll NEED the water, over anything else. If you have the will power to ditch the soda, there's not magic trick except to just chose water. It becomes a good habit soon enough.

    I could not agree more with this post . The best way to kick the sugar cans is to force water down your throat and the water drinking will become habitual in no time. Diet drinks are dangerous because they keep you dependent on 'sweetness' every time you need a drink and this makes it easier to fall back into the sugary drink trap. I use 5 calorie sugar free sweetener packs in 16 ounces of water with one, or two of my meals max.

    Diet soda and sweetened drinks should be used in moederation IMO. That made it easier for me to lose those coke and mountain dew cravings. Now I don't touch the stuff, but this is just my opinion.

    My basic rules are if I'm eating a meal I will treat myself to a sugar free, low cal, sweetned drink. If I'm thirsty I drink water ONLY
  • Antoine112
    Antoine112 Posts: 49 Member
    Will power :-)
    If you want to do something then do it. its the best way.
  • lauren3101
    lauren3101 Posts: 1,853 Member
    Go cold turkey. The headaches will go soon enough.

    If you really can't manage that, try cutting out one of your fizzy drinks a day for the next week. After that, cut out two a day, and so on. Ease off slowly.
  • MnMPants
    MnMPants Posts: 3
    I stopped buying pop and now keep 1 lite (1 quart) pickling jars in my fridge full of unsweetened iced tea. They're delicious and easy so I'm less tempted to turn to pop. I also find drinking perrier helps fight pop cravings if you're missing the feel of something carbonated.
  • moglovesshoez
    moglovesshoez Posts: 83 Member
    Try drinking sparkling water with a dash of fruit juice or some vanilla essence. Its still fizzy and has a little flavour
  • Kguide
    Kguide Posts: 36 Member
    It's not Coke that you're addicted to it's Caffeine. Coffee or Tea is much better for you, especially Tea. They find new things in coffee that benefit health all the time now also. Diet Coke is just as bad as Coke.
  • ackeebee
    ackeebee Posts: 1,042 Member
    I was never a fan of fizzy drinks but i use to love my fruit juices ( and those from concentrate). Since I started tracking my calories and realise how much calories I was consuming in drinks alone, I was disgusted! It wasn't difficult for me to tone it down as I would rather eat my calories than drink them. I sometimes still struggle with drinking water in the winter months but like now in the summer I just can't get enough. When I don't fancy water, I tend to have some form of herbal tea.
  • jennfranklin
    jennfranklin Posts: 434 Member
    Cold turkey my friend...brutal, but it works!
  • AngieTrullinger
    AngieTrullinger Posts: 8
    I have switched to those lemonade packs with 5 calories you put in your drink until I got use to having lemon juice in my water. I went from drinking soda like crazy to barely even drinking a soda a month. It is tough at first but after a while you get use to it. If you need the fizz, Wal-Mart has some flavored water that can provide that for you.
  • slim4health56
    slim4health56 Posts: 439 Member
    I'm a recovering "Coca-Cola" addict so I relate (actually, it's the sugar and caffeine I'm addicted to like so many others), but when I got serious about losing weight and making healthy changes I knew I had to find a substitute. Sounds like you're there! It's been 18 days (counting days is a sure sign of an addict, huh?), and I'm actually finding that 4-5 glasses of plain ice water starts the day off right and then I "treat" myself to Crystal Lite Pink Lemonade or Decaf Iced Tea with Splenda for the remainder of my fluid requirements. I also avoid the foods that go so well with Coke (pretty easy to do given I'm also on a healthy eating plan). You can do this - just see the soda for what it is - sugar, sugar, and more sugar!

    Club soda with a lime wedge on ice makes a great pick-me-up!
  • DempseyWRX
    DempseyWRX Posts: 93 Member
    Well I definitely agree with everyone on the get into a water addiction plan because it's fantastic. Also it's worth mentioning that an addiction to sugary, high fructose corn syrup and similar ingredients in sodas also develop which is a real physiological and biological thing. HOWEVER, caffeine addiction is also going to have set in and that DOES give headaches.

    I would say if you don't wanna go cold turkey right away, try coffee with enough sugar (not splenda etc) to make it bearable, and then slowly dial it back. I drink black, corporate office issued coffee now because I just kept dialing back. (now every coffee everywhere else no matter what they put in it tastes good :p pro tip haha) While you get away from soda, this will curb your caffeine addiction and curb the headaches!

    Also watch this video because it's relevant and generally speaking it's awesome :wink:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTVE5iPMKLg
  • smoores8238
    smoores8238 Posts: 3
    herbal tea with lemon SOOOO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!
  • The_Gruffalo
    The_Gruffalo Posts: 54
    Currently 3 days in to cold turkey from Coca Cola had one slip when i drank a tiny 150ml diet coke but i have bought some fizzy water and sugar free cordial
  • paulyoung1703
    paulyoung1703 Posts: 29 Member
    I can pretty much guarantee anyone a surefire way of giving up coke, and it only costs £6 (~US$9)

    Just read this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belching-Out-Devil-Adventures-Coca-Cola/dp/0091927048

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