A question for people who have stopped drinking diet drinks

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Replies

  • musicboxes
    musicboxes Posts: 133 Member
    Personally I have always just liked coke, but switched to diet when my husband & I started cutting down on sugar. Since I'm trying to drink more water daily, I realized I don't drink coke as often, nor do I want it, but I do still drink them occasionally. I saw a Martha S show where she added different fruits each day to water, so I tried some. My fav water is with strawberry chunks, which I sometimes add to my water bottle. The last few weeks, I found a detox apple cinnamon water drink which I love & it seemed to have immediate results..I don't feel as bloated & it keeps my weight from flip-flopping. So try out your own & find your favs, as it has worked for me.
  • Brige2269
    Brige2269 Posts: 354 Member
    I use to drink diet coke everyday, 2 to 3 cans a day about 5 years ago. I needed a change for my weight, so I cut it down little by little. I replaced it with iced tea, so I had one soda and drank iced tea. Then I stopped the soda and only had iced tea. I have now cut all drinks but coffee and water. I felt much better, wasnt bloated and started losing weight. The artifical sweetners in it is really bad for you. You can do it, just cut down the amount week by week, you not miss it. Trust me.
  • greenmm25
    greenmm25 Posts: 175 Member
    I had to just say NO more. Cold turkey, I am so addicted to it (or i was) that If i had one I wanted more I went all of 2012 without one soda then 2013 I thought I could get it back but just a few here or there but it turned out to be just as bad as it was before. I didn't want to drink anything but Diet Coke, no water to really speak of. So Jun 1 st I just stopped again no more soda at all not a year forever if I have to. I really liked it but it makes me feel awful. So, now three months and no soda and counting. I just Have to make it an all or nothing thing. I hope this helps.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    the only effect was a loss of a general "bloat" and gassy feeling.


    but, hey, wasn't big enough for me to WANT to stop drinking diet sodas. :)

    *sips diet root beer*
  • julieharrell1
    julieharrell1 Posts: 29 Member
    I was in a plateau for probably 4 years. I would get down to a certain weight and just couldn't go down any further no matter what I did. I kept reading reports that artifical sweetners were linked to obesity. I always I thought " okay your study concluded that fat people drink diet pop. No ****, Sherlock" Well, I gave up all artifical sweetners. I had been drinking Sweet-n-Low in my coffee every day for 30 years. I didn't think I could stand coffee without it, but I can. It took a few days, but now I drink 3 cups a day black. I love it. If I get a taste of an artifical sweetner, I can't stand it. It's disgusting to me. I was below my " glass floor" weight within a week of stopping.
  • rabblerabble
    rabblerabble Posts: 471 Member
    For a long time (before dieting) I started off the day with lots of coffee (with loads of flavored Coffeemate) and then the rest of the day would just be lots of non-caffeine diet soda. Now it's black coffee in the morning and then nothing but plain water. Helps a lot if it is iced cold.

    I try to avoid any artificial sweeteners of any kind and any sugar-free products. Would much rather put in real sugar or honey (and count the calories) when a recipe calls for it.
  • dibasketcase
    dibasketcase Posts: 5
    I'm not a cold turkey fan in any way shape or form, so like some of the others here I have cut back significantly on the old diet soda. I don't particularly like coffee, so the DC was always my morning caffeine from my local fast food joint that sells them for $1.00. I still will do one in the morning, and then I switch to flavored water, fruit infused water or just plain water throughout the day.

    I also used to order a DC every time I went out to eat. That has pretty much stopped. It's really helped the wallet!

    As for benefits, less bloating and greater weight loss so far...definitely worth the sacrifice and change in lifestyle!
  • Hunnib23
    Hunnib23 Posts: 61 Member
    When I switched to diet soda a few years ago I thought I was doing something healthy. Now I don't drink any soda.

    I feel a lot better, my stomach is flatter, I don't get the same headaches I used to, I don't have a caffeine crash (I still have a cup of coffee in the morning but I use Stevia as a sweetener).

    Also the artificial sweeteners are linked to causing increased appetite and cravings for carbs, and stimulate fat storage and weight gain.
  • NonnyMary
    NonnyMary Posts: 982 Member
    I really want to stop drinking diet coke, but it's just so hard to do! I've been drinking it regularly for the last 20+ years and usually have 3-4 cans a day. I'm looking for motivation to stop drinking it altogether - those chemicals can't be good for me and I hate being so addicted to a drink!

    So, my question is what effect on health/weight loss has stopping drinking diet drinks had for you? How do you feel you have benefited?

    The BEST benefit is that I am no longer addicted to Classic Coke, which I personally beleive it is addicting. I know because when i used to drink 2 a day - when i was very hot and sweaty, that Coke was so dang refreshing, and I craved it.

    It took about 2 weeks with no Coke and that's how long it took to remove the craving. I think going cold-turkey is the best quickest way to destroy the hold of an addiction like that.. but you'd have to see how it works for your own self. Yours could be quicker or slower, i dont know. But wouldn't it be fun to try and see what you could do if you tried to lay it aside?
  • RunningRichelle
    RunningRichelle Posts: 346 Member
    RuningRichel: that's the first time I've heard of kombucha - I've just googled it to find out more.

    Have you noticed any health benefits due to stopping the diet soda?

    Definitely health benefits from not drinking diet soda- the biggest being that I crave less sugar. On the days when i would have a soda, I would invariably either eat some form of sugary 'treat,' or have to battle through intensely craving one.

    Also, less stomach upset from the absence of the carbonation. That one may be more specific to me, though!
  • carrie1610
    carrie1610 Posts: 54 Member

    Definitely health benefits from not drinking diet soda- the biggest being that I crave less sugar. On the days when i would have a soda, I would invariably either eat some form of sugary 'treat,' or have to battle through intensely craving one.

    Also, less stomach upset from the absence of the carbonation. That one may be more specific to me, though!

    Actually, I'd have to agree with you about less stomach upset - certainly feel much less gassy! :blushing:

    I still crave sugary treats, probably because I'm not having a diet coke so I want something else instead. Think I need to work on that one......
  • AnninStPaul
    AnninStPaul Posts: 1,372 Member
    I stopped 6 years ago, and quickly lost 5lb (sodium and caramel coloring retain water). I now drink water, sparkling water, and iced tea. My skin is better and I've saved a lot of money over these six years.
  • carrie1610
    carrie1610 Posts: 54 Member

    It took about 2 weeks with no Coke and that's how long it took to remove the craving. I think going cold-turkey is the best quickest way to destroy the hold of an addiction like that.. but you'd have to see how it works for your own self. Yours could be quicker or slower, i dont know. But wouldn't it be fun to try and see what you could do if you tried to lay it aside?

    I'm not sure about going cold turkey. After 24+ hours I've started with an awful headache which won't shift with painkillers, but will with a diet coke - not good! So this week I'm going to try to go a bit longer between drinks. Actually, I feel rather proud of myself cutting down to one can a day.

    Thanks everyone for all your words of support and encouragement. I keep looking at this thread to keep me going when I feel I'm about to give in to the curse of the soda!
  • carrie1610
    carrie1610 Posts: 54 Member
    I stopped 6 years ago, and quickly lost 5lb (sodium and caramel coloring retain water). I now drink water, sparkling water, and iced tea. My skin is better and I've saved a lot of money over these six years.

    Yes, I've noticed I'm saving money too which is great!
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I haven't read all the replies so sorry if this is a duplicate, but if you are trying to give up a cola habit I'd suggest including something with caffeine, at least for a while. Your body will likely miss it, so you might need to wean off it.
  • NonnyMary
    NonnyMary Posts: 982 Member

    It took about 2 weeks with no Coke and that's how long it took to remove the craving. I think going cold-turkey is the best quickest way to destroy the hold of an addiction like that.. but you'd have to see how it works for your own self. Yours could be quicker or slower, i dont know. But wouldn't it be fun to try and see what you could do if you tried to lay it aside?

    I'm not sure about going cold turkey. After 24+ hours I've started with an awful headache which won't shift with painkillers, but will with a diet coke - not good! So this week I'm going to try to go a bit longer between drinks. Actually, I feel rather proud of myself cutting down to one can a day.

    Thanks everyone for all your words of support and encouragement. I keep looking at this thread to keep me going when I feel I'm about to give in to the curse of the soda!

    if you cant bear the pain of cold turkey method, then wean yourself off, at a better pace for you. it may be slower but be more tolerable. Each way is better for each person depending on how they can tolerate or not or handle the detoxing as your body does without it. Coke is really as bad as drug addiction. But in any case, work toward giving it up as you can.
  • carrie1610
    carrie1610 Posts: 54 Member
    Coke is really as bad as drug addiction. But in any case, work toward giving it up as you can.

    Nonnymousse1 - I agree with you, it is a really bad addiction! If I could tell my younger self something, it would be not to drink sodas as one a few times a week quickly becomes a 3 or 4 times a day habit. It's worrying thinking how many young children think nothing of drinking a diet soda. I'm so glad my 11 year old doesn't like soda and has never been inclined to try any even though there's always been plenty in the house (up till now!).
  • javadazed
    javadazed Posts: 31 Member
    What is fizzy water?
  • carrie1610
    carrie1610 Posts: 54 Member
    What is fizzy water?

    Sparkling water.
  • astange83
    astange83 Posts: 105
    When I quit diet soda I lost 10 lbs fairly easily, but also it relieved joint pain I was having in my left ankle. Don't get me wrong I still have pain, but not to the point of not being able to make it up the stairs. My lower back pain diminished quite a bit as well. And don't think it was because of the weight loss because I'd been up and down those 10 lbs for years with the pain consistent in the ankle.

    Now I drink A LOT of water about 128-160 ounces a day. I try to drink Diet Green Tea when I'm needing some flavor.
  • stevenleagle
    stevenleagle Posts: 293 Member
    I significantly have reduced my intake of diet soda (or as known in Australia soft drinks) and yes it has made a difference. Im not sure whether its the fact that I now drink more water (or clear teas) but I have noticed (tmi warning) less urine flow issues and I feel better generally. More water has definitely made me feel better hydrated and helped me with my WL. I do of course still occasionally have soda, fruit juice and alcohol. But not so often as I used to. I DO seem to love diet cola when gorging on pizza (why do the unhealthiest foods taste so good together lol.)
  • Vivian06703188
    Vivian06703188 Posts: 310 Member
    I used to drink a lot of diet coke. Several 44oz glasses a day and it absolutely stopped my weight loss. If I drink diet coke I will not lose weight. I knew this about myself and knew in order to get the weight loss results I wanted I would have to stop drinking diet coke after more than 25 years of it daily. I was very addicted to it. I mixed it up drinking sugar free koolaid, those fruit flavored seltzer waters, tea and basically anything calories free except diet coke. I even had ginger ale on occasion. I have been told that the clear sodas don't create the same problem.

    I am now completely off Diet Coke. One of the things that helped me was I have back issues and the doctor told me that diet coke causes crystals to form in your spinal canal at the base of your spine. In addition to this Diet Coke leaches calcium out of your bones. With my back issues I can not afford this extra damage to my back. There is a very long list of the damages drinking diet coke can do to your body.

    Congrats on kicking it!!! It is right up there with smoking!
  • carrie1610
    carrie1610 Posts: 54 Member
    Sorry to bring this thread up again, but I just wanted to update you all. It's 2 weeks since I started trying to kick my diet coke habit and I've really managed to cut down thanks to the support and encouragement on this thread. Last week I was having one can a day, this week I've only had 4 cans in total, not full cans either!

    So, it's now 48 hours since I last had any diet coke and I feel fine. Actually, I think I'm going off it now - never thought I'd say that! :smile: The positive effects I've noticed so far are less bloating and my shopping bill is a little less. No weight loss at the moment, so that's what I need to work on next..
  • MercenaryNoetic26
    MercenaryNoetic26 Posts: 2,747 Member
    ETA: (lol! double post! sorry! I thought it was like Dejavu... just saw I already posted on this! had to make sure I didn't contradict myself!)

    2nd ETA: I missed your update! :laugh:

    You don't have to quit the things you love!
  • NonnyMary
    NonnyMary Posts: 982 Member
    Sorry to bring this thread up again, but I just wanted to update you all. It's 2 weeks since I started trying to kick my diet coke habit and I've really managed to cut down thanks to the support and encouragement on this thread. Last week I was having one can a day, this week I've only had 4 cans in total, not full cans either!

    So, it's now 48 hours since I last had any diet coke and I feel fine. Actually, I think I'm going off it now - never thought I'd say that! :smile: The positive effects I've noticed so far are less bloating and my shopping bill is a little less. No weight loss at the moment, so that's what I need to work on next..

    oh Good for You!

    After awhile if you do have a little soda pop, it will prolly taste nasty!

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