I cannot seem to give up Soda, where do I even begin?
Replies
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If you told us you couldn't stop eating a dozen donuts every day what would you have us tell you?
Stop...eating...donuts...everyday!
You really need us to tell you that is not a good idea?
Aside from being devoid of nutritional value, soda pop is really bad for your teeth. The acid in it dissolves the enamel on your teeth.
Sports drinks are equally bad in this way.
You just have to get out of the habit. Just stop. Don't buy it.
If you need the lift you get from soda drink coffee or tea instead.
I think he was asking for tips to break the habit.. not wanting someone to tell him to stop.3 -
I used to be a chronic Mountain Dew/Coke drinker. Start slow. Switch to the calorie free variety. Try soda water, or flavored water. Then water with just lemon or lime.
I ended up going that route until I just drink water most of the time. I stopped drinking sweet tea as well and now I'll drink black tea. I still have little indulgences in my coffee from time to time, like creamer, but never sugar. I mostly drink it black.
I rarely have a soda now.
It's possible!1 -
You can use Coke to remove rust from metal so you don't have to go far to conclude what it does to your teeth.
My dentist is quite emphatic about the effects of soda and sports drinks on tooth enamel.
It is the citric acid in it.
Unless you are competing in extremely exhausting activities in high heat where you lose lots of fluids you don't need sports drinks.
Diet sodas are equally bad and full of chemicals. Yuck!
You can also use ketchup to remove tarnish from copper. You can use vinegar to clean your house. So?9 -
There is a lot of drama in this thread it seems over soda. Anything can be addicting. Soda is physically and mentally addicting, because of the sugar and caffeine. The way I got myself away from it was by eliminating caffeine. It was miserable at first. For 3 days I had a raging, skull crushing headache, but I knew I was going to feel like garbage. I just fought through it thinking that once it passes I won't have to deal with the dependence anymore. Then I began to work on my sugar intake. That can be a bit of a bigger battle, because it is in almost everything, but once you kick it a lot of other weird food cravings die off also. Sounds simple when written down but I know how much of a struggle it is, best of luck to you!7
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You can use Coke to remove rust from metal so you don't have to go far to conclude what it does to your teeth.
My dentist is quite emphatic about the effects of soda and sports drinks on tooth enamel.
It is the citric acid in it.
Unless you are competing in extremely exhausting activities in high heat where you lose lots of fluids you don't need sports drinks.
Diet sodas are equally bad and full of chemicals. Yuck!
You can also use ketchup to remove tarnish from copper. You can use vinegar to clean your house. So?
And water cuts through rock8 -
I understand your struggle. I was definitely addicted to soda, usually having at least two a day. The only thing that worked for me was cutting it out cold turkey. I drank unsweet green tea to help avoid caffine withdrawl headaches, and just refused to let myself have soda. That was a year ago this June, and I don't even think about it anymore as it no longer sounds appealing to me.3
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Green tea has caffeine.3
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I go in cycles - I have found that if I can stop drinking soda for 1 day, the next day is easier, and the next. I look at it a day at a time. Then when I break the cycle and have a soda, it's easier for me to have another, and another...
I have learned to enjoy an ice cold - with ice cubes in it - club soda with a splash of cranberry juice, or a wedge of lemon or lime - it is very refreshing esp. on hot summer days. The fizz is terrific and I am learning to wean myself off sweet drinks because I want to keep my calories for FOOD not drinks.
I also found these super low calorie water-flavoring packets - 10 calories per packet. The package says 1 packet per 16 oz bottle of water, but that's too intense for me. I do one packet per 32 oz of water and it tastes terrific.
A lot of it is just mind over matter - do you want to let your cravings master you, or will you master your cravings?
When I let my cravings master me, I drink a Coke every chance I get. When I master my cravings, I drink my club soda or flavored water and am just as satisfied...maybe even more satisfied...because I like being in control rather than being controlled. (esp. if it means I can have something extra to eat thanks to the calories I saved by not drinking that 200+ calorie bottle of Coke!)1 -
Its been almost six months now I have soda almost everyday (Pepsi, Fanta, Sprite etc...) sometimes as much as 3 glasses a day.
I feel this is doing some hidden internal damage to me (I am beginning to urinate a whole lot more, cannot seem to digest food properly without soda and worst of all the depression that I experience when I don't have a can for more than a day)
I do try to cleanse my body daily with having unsweetened green tea daily (If that even works) and have about 2 liters of plain water daily but I dont think that can really undo the damage caused by soda.
Bottom line, where do I even start to getting rid of such a habit?
For me, it was to stop getting it from the fountain. I get unsweet tea where I can when refills are involved, else I get a bottle which is a set amount of calories, and that is it. That being said, my body needs an extraordinary amount of caffeine to survive, 4 red bulls in one day and still drowsy...1 -
Its been almost six months now I have soda almost everyday (Pepsi, Fanta, Sprite etc...) sometimes as much as 3 glasses a day.
I feel this is doing some hidden internal damage to me (I am beginning to urinate a whole lot more, cannot seem to digest food properly without soda and worst of all the depression that I experience when I don't have a can for more than a day)
I do try to cleanse my body daily with having unsweetened green tea daily (If that even works) and have about 2 liters of plain water daily but I dont think that can really undo the damage caused by soda.
Bottom line, where do I even start to getting rid of such a habit?
Drink a soda a day no big deal it's more working the calories into you daily goal. I am having a 32oz Dr. Pepper today.
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I stopped drinking it cold turkey seven years ago. At first it was extremely difficult but the most important thing is determination. If your resolution to stop drinking it is set in stone then you can.
If you want to reduce the amount you have but not stop entirely, I would suggest setting a daily limit. If you're having three cans a day now I would aim for doing two for a while, and then one.
Also try and hold out longer each day before you have one: the earlier you have one, the stronger the cravings. I was quite addicted to candy but managed to limit my intake by not having anything during the day and treating myself with a very small portion after dinner. It's sustainable and in my calorie budget.1 -
rickiimarieee wrote: »
To the bold: yesrickiimarieee wrote: »Its been almost six months now I have soda almost everyday (Pepsi, Fanta, Sprite etc...) sometimes as much as 3 glasses a day.
I feel this is doing some hidden internal damage to me (I am beginning to urinate a whole lot more, cannot seem to digest food properly without soda and worst of all the depression that I experience when I don't have a can for more than a day)
I do try to cleanse my body daily with having unsweetened green tea daily (If that even works) and have about 2 liters of plain water daily but I dont think that can really undo the damage caused by soda.
Bottom line, where do I even start to getting rid of such a habit?
I was drinking nothing but soda when I started out. It was hard to get off it. Soda can have the same addiction process as heroin. I started off switching to bottled water and I would add mio or packets of koolaid like lemonade and then slowly narrowed it down to just water. To this day I drink nothing but water.
To the bold: No.
OP, I second the suggestion to switch to diet soda.
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You can use Coke to remove rust from metal so you don't have to go far to conclude what it does to your teeth.
My dentist is quite emphatic about the effects of soda and sports drinks on tooth enamel.
It is the citric acid in it.
Unless you are competing in extremely exhausting activities in high heat where you lose lots of fluids you don't need sports drinks.
Diet sodas are equally bad and full of chemicals. Yuck!
You can power a lightbulb with a potato. Do you really want to put that in your body?6 -
I love, love, love Dr. Pepper. I used to drink 3, sometimes 4 a day. Hated water. But, I wanted to be healthy and lose my weight. So I forced myself to drink water, and cut my Dr. Pepper down to 1 can a day. When they came out with 7.5oz cans of Dr. Pepper, I could have 2 a day. But I have never cut it out completely. I have now lost 101 lbs, and am very healthy and active. And, now I drink at least 8-9 glasses of water everyday, voluntarily. You just have to force yourself to pick up a glass of water, instead of a soda. Do this until you no longer have to force yourself. That's how you can beat your addiction.1
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Soda addiction is perhaps a bit overrated, over-everything...
If you want to lose weight, just dump soda from your diet. It is absurd to think you need to drink soda, from my perspective that is.
Boil water. Make tea. Enjoy a cup of hot tea. Leave the tea bag in the pot and let it go cold. Eventually put the cold tea in the fridge. Let it go cold. Also ice a few cubes. Then drink it ice team, without any sense of guilt at any time of the day! If you still want sweetness, make tea of licorice root, fennel seeds and mint leaves. Or if you really need a fizzy drink, start a business to import this wonderful Dutch soda called Rivella, which is totally refreshing and has practically zero calories. Believe it or not, it is made of milk by-products.1 -
I drink La Croix. It's an acquired taste but helped me kick my coke habit (lol) completely. My favorite flavors are grapefruit, cherry lime (any of the mixed flavors), apricot, and Kroger's off brand mandarin orange. Has zero sweetener, zero calories and gives me the carbonation without the syrupy sugar. Now when I drink a coke I think it's too sweet. I also switched from coffee creamer to half and half because the French vanilla I loved before, now tastes too sugary. It takes time but if you cut back..it makes it much easier to cut it out altogether!!!3
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OMG. I can’t get that info graphic!
“THE GLOBE IS A LIE!”0 -
never mind
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Soda addiction is perhaps a bit overrated, over-everything...
If you want to lose weight, just dump soda from your diet. It is absurd to think you need to drink soda, from my perspective that is.
Boil water. Make tea. Enjoy a cup of hot tea. Leave the tea bag in the pot and let it go cold. Eventually put the cold tea in the fridge. Let it go cold. Also ice a few cubes. Then drink it ice team, without any sense of guilt at any time of the day! If you still want sweetness, make tea of licorice root, fennel seeds and mint leaves. Or if you really need a fizzy drink, start a business to import this wonderful Dutch soda called Rivella, which is totally refreshing and has practically zero calories. Believe it or not, it is made of milk by-products.You can use Coke to remove rust from metal so you don't have to go far to conclude what it does to your teeth.
My dentist is quite emphatic about the effects of soda and sports drinks on tooth enamel.
It is the citric acid in it.
Unless you are competing in extremely exhausting activities in high heat where you lose lots of fluids you don't need sports drinks.
Diet sodas are equally bad and full of chemicals. Yuck!
Yes soda may fit into your calorie budget and I'm not one to stand in the way of any of that. Soda is addicting. It has addicting chemicals in it. I didn't just stop drinking soda to lose weight, the chemicals in a soda are just horrible and unnatural, if you disagree feel free to look them up. But also with diet sodas, your doctor Or dietitian will tell you that artificial sweeteners are horrible for your body. My doctor has told me take in the calories of real sugar then 0 calories and the amount of chemicals used to replace sugar.19 -
rickiimarieee wrote: »Soda addiction is perhaps a bit overrated, over-everything...
If you want to lose weight, just dump soda from your diet. It is absurd to think you need to drink soda, from my perspective that is.
Boil water. Make tea. Enjoy a cup of hot tea. Leave the tea bag in the pot and let it go cold. Eventually put the cold tea in the fridge. Let it go cold. Also ice a few cubes. Then drink it ice team, without any sense of guilt at any time of the day! If you still want sweetness, make tea of licorice root, fennel seeds and mint leaves. Or if you really need a fizzy drink, start a business to import this wonderful Dutch soda called Rivella, which is totally refreshing and has practically zero calories. Believe it or not, it is made of milk by-products.You can use Coke to remove rust from metal so you don't have to go far to conclude what it does to your teeth.
My dentist is quite emphatic about the effects of soda and sports drinks on tooth enamel.
It is the citric acid in it.
Unless you are competing in extremely exhausting activities in high heat where you lose lots of fluids you don't need sports drinks.
Diet sodas are equally bad and full of chemicals. Yuck!
Yes soda may fit into your calorie budget and I'm not one to stand in the way of any of that. Soda is addicting. It has addicting chemicals in it. I didn't just stop drinking soda to lose weight, the chemicals in a soda are just horrible and unnatural, if you disagree feel free to look them up. But also with diet sodas, your doctor Or dietitian will tell you that artificial sweeteners are horrible for your body. My doctor has told me take in the calories of real sugar then 0 calories and the amount of chemicals used to replace sugar.
Thanks we all looked them up long ago, but not from people out to make us be afraid of our own shadow who would say they're "horrible and unnatural" but actual scientists who've been studying them for the past 50 years.10 -
Try diet Pepsi.
People who say it can't be addictive well...anything can be addictive. It can be hard to drop.
I struggled getting rid of soda and it was hindering my weight loss. I also don't like the aspartame taste diet sodas have -- not everyone has a problem with it or can taste it though.
If you're one of the people that notices the aftertaste, diet Pepsi is made without aspartame.
I like the taste and the scale started moving again. 0 -
rickiimarieee wrote: »Soda addiction is perhaps a bit overrated, over-everything...
If you want to lose weight, just dump soda from your diet. It is absurd to think you need to drink soda, from my perspective that is.
Boil water. Make tea. Enjoy a cup of hot tea. Leave the tea bag in the pot and let it go cold. Eventually put the cold tea in the fridge. Let it go cold. Also ice a few cubes. Then drink it ice team, without any sense of guilt at any time of the day! If you still want sweetness, make tea of licorice root, fennel seeds and mint leaves. Or if you really need a fizzy drink, start a business to import this wonderful Dutch soda called Rivella, which is totally refreshing and has practically zero calories. Believe it or not, it is made of milk by-products.You can use Coke to remove rust from metal so you don't have to go far to conclude what it does to your teeth.
My dentist is quite emphatic about the effects of soda and sports drinks on tooth enamel.
It is the citric acid in it.
Unless you are competing in extremely exhausting activities in high heat where you lose lots of fluids you don't need sports drinks.
Diet sodas are equally bad and full of chemicals. Yuck!
Yes soda may fit into your calorie budget and I'm not one to stand in the way of any of that. Soda is addicting. It has addicting chemicals in it. I didn't just stop drinking soda to lose weight, the chemicals in a soda are just horrible and unnatural, if you disagree feel free to look them up. But also with diet sodas, your doctor Or dietitian will tell you that artificial sweeteners are horrible for your body. My doctor has told me take in the calories of real sugar then 0 calories and the amount of chemicals used to replace sugar.
You are wrong. Incorrect. Mistaken in your assertions.6 -
I love sparkling flavored waters like klarbrun lime or Perrier w/ grapefruit or strawberry. But the carbonation starts to mess with my gut. I recently started drinking kombucha, which is amazing for gut health and is naturally effervescent. I am addicted!! It’s delicious and low calorie. Synergy brand is my favorite.2
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I think this thread's gotten hijacked by the whole "How addictive is X?" the difficulty to tease out physical and psychological addiction and the whole artificial sweetener debate.
In the end, some habits are very very hard to break whatever the cause is.
Following some of the tips and tricks found by people through the years and science can make it easier to replace old behavior patterns with new ones. There are differences between addiction to smoking, gambling, video games, heroin, hair twirling or excessive soda consumption... but some similarities exist as well.
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Substitute with Zevia1
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I just gave it up cold turkey. It took me two weeks, and then the cravings and mood swings stopped. That was 2008, are I only very rarely will have a Coke.
I think diet sodas are fine, but I cannot stand them. At all. My sister keeps telling me to try this and that because it is so great, and nope, it just isn't. I think I am one of those individuals who are very sensitive to the artificial sweeteners. But I really enjoy unsweetened iced tea with lemon, so that is ok. I stay caffeinated and calorie free- drink wise at least. 1 -
girlonthego06 wrote: »I drink La Croix. It's an acquired taste but helped me kick my coke habit (lol) completely.
I second getting sparkling water of some sort. You could easily sub one per day, then two, etc. LaCroix or store brands are fine, plain or "essenced." I found that a lot of the time I just wanted something fizzy -- people often discount the sensory/habit experience of food apart from the taste. (This is why there are food scientists that optimize potato chip crunchiness and such.) It may serve to trick your brain, at least in part.
Another option is to get into a SodaStream or something. Add a squeeze of citrus and/or some cocktail bitters and you have a really pleasant soda alternative. Try: LaCroix/Kroger brand coconut sparkling water, a squeeze or more of lime juice, and a few dashes of Angostura bitters. It's like a magical mocktail.
Granted, anything carbonated will be still be slightly more acidic than regular water. Make sure you're taking care of your teeth.
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I just cut soda out of my diet and it was easier than I thought because I weaned myself off of it slowly. I used to drink about 3 Monster energy drinks a day and maybe 60oz of soda on top of that. I stopped drinking energy drinks altogether on my doctor's orders, and cut the soda down slowly week by week until I was only drinking one 12oz can a day. I was still drinking one can a day up until the week before last, just because if I didn't drink one in the afternoon I would tend to get a headache. I fought through that for another week and now I don't crave it as much as I did before. I drank one the other night and I didn't even really enjoy it, it was too sweet for me all the sudden.
Just take it one step at a time, that way it doesn't feel like you're giving up so much.1 -
CoffeeandPie wrote: »I recently started drinking kombucha, which is amazing for gut health and is naturally effervescent. I am addicted!! It’s delicious and low calorie. Synergy brand is my favorite.
Kombucha is really easy to make at home also -- and homemade will save you a ton of money. There are YouTube tutorials galore on how to do it.0
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