What should i do about Soda????

Brat3073

Alright, so here's my horrid situation......June 21...the first day of summer, i signed up for "No Soda Summer" on facebook. I am very proud to say, I have not had soda since. Tomorrow is officially the first day of Autum. So summer is over and I can finally drink soda if i choose. My problem? Not sure if i should go back to that old habit! While i would LOVE to run down to the corner and get a Dt. Rootbeer, maybe i should just stay away and continue my weight loss, Any thoughts?:drinker:

H_82

I guess it depends on how "addicted" you were to soda before. If you think you can have just one, go for it. It can be like a treat for you. We all have our indulgences. I'm not a big soda person myself. I'll very occasionally have one if we're out to eat.

iplayoutside19

Alright, so here's my horrid situation......June 21...the first day of summer, i signed up for "No Soda Summer" on facebook. I am very proud to say, I have not had soda since. Tomorrow is officially the first day of Autum. So summer is over and I can finally drink soda if i choose. My problem? Not sure if i should go back to that old habit! While i would LOVE to run down to the corner and get a Dt. Rootbeer, maybe i should just stay away and continue my weight loss, Any thoughts?:drinker:

There are two pretty divided camps on this. I can see where both sides are coming from. I've experimented with No Soda, and Diet Soda, and I really can't tell the difference with the weight loss given all other factors are the same.

I drink Dt Mt Dew pretty regularly.

IMO, if you want a Dt Root Beer go for it.

erickirb

Soda is bad for you even diet. If you have gone this long without I would not get back into the habit.

SP0472

Congrats on making it through the summer without soda.

Why go back??? It has no benefits at all to us. I'm speaking as an ex-addict [12 bottles a day] - don't go back to it. Stick with the water the body needs.

shnnd19

Wow, that's a long time w/out pop. That's my downside is that I drink too much dt Pepsi. Maybe you could treat yourself on the weekend & for the rest of week stay away from it.

gupton11

I haven't had soda in months, and personally have no intentions of drinking it regularly ever again. I personally no longer like the taste of it.

melodyg

Congrats to you for not drinking soda all summer!

Hmmm... well, I think you could go either way. You may find that since you haven't been drinking it you don't even want it anymore. I gave it up for a little while... and now I am at the point that I drink it every once in a while but nowhere near as often as I did. And I find it so sweet that I don't drink much even if I do drink it.

But sometimes it is good to just give in to a craving too... and make it an every once in a while thing (saying this as I am drinking a latte from Starbucks... it is good... but not as good as I had built it up to be after telling myself I had to wait to drink it!) I'm a huge fan of "everything in moderation", so I think it is a success if you can chose whether or not to drink it every once in a while!

nataliestout

I stopped drinking soda a few weeks ago and I've lost 5 pounds since then.. I used to be really addicted, but now I just drink 4 huge glasses of water a day and if I get a soda craving, I have a can in the fridge that I will take a little sip from every now and then, but never the whole thing in one day. Just keep a can or a small bottle in your fridge and do the same, it really worked for me. Also keep a bunch of juice in your fridge too.. Not juice cocktails, because that is pure sugar, but actual juice. Hope this helps.

angelascott919

I gave up soda at the beginning of June and I honestly will have to say, I don't miss it at all. I have tasted a couple of sodas since and have found that even the diet is just way to sweet for me, so I went back to my water bottle.

It is, as others have said, a personal choice. If it is something that you want than go for it. If you want to have it as a treat once in a while, even better.

blh_1010

I only drink Soda when we go out to eat...before that I drink water, tea, and milk, that's it. NO Soda unless out to eat....going out is a treat so drinking soda will be a treat as well

rosef17

I would not have any - I was addicted to soda and gave it up - it has been YEARS since I have had one and do not even think of it anymore, it has been so long since I thought about it. You will get to that point too :happy: :flowerforyou:

platoon

If you've already purged your system, why go back?!?

fit2sit

I haven't had regular soda in about 9 days. Still want it and will go back to it eventually. I've been to countries where the water isn't safe to drink, so soda was your ONLY option, so I got used to it back then and view it as sort of a lifesaving buddy from back in the war. The choice is all yours.

arnoldnagy

If it's something you are craving it would be a mistake to deny yourself completely. It's not reasonable to ignore things that you enjoy. You just need to come to a conclusion that allows you to enjoy it in moderation. Find a balance that works for you. The people that are telling you never to drink pop probably don't enjoy it and so it is easy for them to avoid it completely. I know beer and a plate of nachos isn't good for me, but to say I will never have them again is a recipe for failure. The key to everything (even things that are good for us) is moderation.

~Arny

Lyadeia

Alright, so here's my horrid situation......June 21...the first day of summer, i signed up for "No Soda Summer" on facebook. I am very proud to say, I have not had soda since. Tomorrow is officially the first day of Autum. So summer is over and I can finally drink soda if i choose. My problem? Not sure if i should go back to that old habit! While i would LOVE to run down to the corner and get a Dt. Rootbeer, maybe i should just stay away and continue my weight loss, Any thoughts?:drinker:

Good for you for giving it up!!!

And here's some food for thought. If you decided to give it up anyway, then you realize that it is not good for you. Going back to your old habit would be like giving in to something that you know is not good. And you wouldn't start eating pizza everyday would you?

I don't think you have to cut it out completely, though. I don't. I think that it is a good idea to drink water and lots more water. But I also agree that we should never have such a strict plan that anything is cut completely out of it. That's why I always have a cheat meal once a week (not a cheat DAY, but just one MEAL). I eat 5 times a day, so 1 meal out of 35 in a week is not going to halt my progress. Normally with my cheat meal, I have Mello Yello or Coke. I consistently progress towards my goals as well.

IceFaith

Several years ago I decided that I had become addicted to Dr Pepper. So I stopped drinking it cold turkey for about 6 mths. Then I would drink it if I was out to eat. I feel that I'm one of the lucky ones that can drink it or not. i'm fine if I just drink some while I'm out to eat. I rarely have it at home but on the rare occasions that I do, a 6 pack can last for over a month.

I haven't even drank the diet sodas consistantly. I don't like the taste of them and most still have an aftertaste to me. Someone posted above about the sweet taste and then the body expecting some calories....that makes alot of sense to me.

I would say that if you want a soda, have them in moderation...just like anything else in your food intake.

LJCannon

Speaking for Myself only, I am SHOCKED at how easy it was for me to drop Soda. I don't crave it and I can NOT imagine going back to it again.
But, as others have said, if you are craving it, the WORST possible thing is to Deny yourself. Just enjoy it in Moderation.
Good Luck with either Decision!!

littlems

i don't really drink soda anymore. i had switched to dt. pepsi then the dt decaf pepsi - then just don't drink it at all. but what I do do maybe once a week with the kiddies is have "movie" night - we have popcorn/snack and some soda. this way my kids are not drinking alot of it either. we just by 3 cans - one for me, one for my daughter and one for my son -

but you will find once you have a soda - you won't really like it anymore even if it is diet. good luck to whatever you decide!

tawny7

Hi there! I had surgery last December and had to stop drinking soda. A few weeks ago I was on vacation with my niece and decided to get a diet coke with dinner...well...I didn't like it at all! It was so weird to not like the taste. I don't even miss it now. I drink crystal light now.

hplvt

I think everyone has some great points! I was always told if you have drank all your required water for the day then you can "treat" yourself to 1 diet soda.

Curtism1234

There are two pretty divided camps on this. I can see where both sides are coming from. I've experimented with No Soda, and Diet Soda, and I really can't tell the difference with the weight loss given all other factors are the same.

I drink Dt Mt Dew pretty regularly.

That's been my experience as well. I don't believe diet soda in and of itself causes weight gain. Soda can trigger hunger but it can sometimes do away with hunger depending on the flavor - at least in my experience.

Everyone makes fun of me drinking soda first thing in the morning at work. I always respond that diet mountain dew is the closest thing to orange juice we have :ohwell:


All that being said though:
If you went several months without soda, running out the first chance you get probably isn't a great idea --- we'll call that Lindsey Lohan syndrome.

If you go out to eat, go to an event, on the road and thirsty, etc --- then grab a soda. But I wouldn't buy packaged soda and take it home. It sounds like no soda is working for you and you might as well keep it up as much as you can.

littlems

All that being said though:
If you went several months without soda, running out the first chance you get probably isn't a great idea --- we'll call that Lindsey Lohan syndrome.

:laugh:

Mindful_Trent

First - congrats on going the whole summer without soda! That's a great accomplishment. Regarding your question - Like someone else said - if you've already detoxed off soda, why introduce it to your body again? You know it's bad for you. It's like telling a smoker who hasn't had a cigarette in 3 months that it's okay for them to have one "as a treat." You'll be much better off if you just keep it up and find other ways to quench your thirst (as you have been doing).

You may even find that you don't like it as much anymore. I tried to drink a soda because the place I ate at was out of tea, and I couldn't take more than a couple sips. Way too sweet.

Jennili7

I gave up soda in July of 2009..I didn't really have a reason and I wasn't dieting at the time. I tried several times in the past to give it up and taco bell always got me with the baja blast mountain dew (my fav!). This time I know I've kicked it for sure. Of course there are days when I smell or eat something and a soda would be awesome with it but at this point it has become a game for me! Someone offers me a soda and I cringe at the thought of breaking my record. My advise to you is do what makes you happy...if we do things while we diet or when we're just living that don't make us happy then we won't stick to it. Of course there are benefits to quitting soda..better for you and your teeth and so on. I like the suggestion of it being a "treat". I know it's hard when the diet sodas are no calories..I wish beer was no calories! :drinker: Whatever you decide I wish you well and good luck with your soda dilemma!

austindperry

This is the way I look at it,

1. Soda is empty calories. You gain no nutrional value from drinking one.
2. Soda is bad for your teeth and can also do damage to the rest of your body.
3. Soda is expensive! Why pay $5 for a 12 pack when you can have water for free!

I struggled with soda addiction for years. I feel like I have finally broken it and my best advice is that soda has no positive effects. However, it is your decision and if you can drink it moderately and not go overboard then that may be the best for you.

Good luck!

Melora

Of course dont go back to soda!! Why go back?

Brat3073

First - congrats on going the whole summer without soda! That's a great accomplishment. Regarding your question - Like someone else said - if you've already detoxed off soda, why introduce it to your body again? You know it's bad for you. It's like telling a smoker who hasn't had a cigarette in 3 months that it's okay for them to have one "as a treat." You'll be much better off if you just keep it up and find other ways to quench your thirst (as you have been doing).

You may even find that you don't like it as much anymore. I tried to drink a soda because the place I ate at was out of tea, and I couldn't take more than a couple sips. Way too sweet.

lol....funny you mentioned Smoking....i have been smoke free for over 2 years now......i cant stand the smell of it now and i cant believe i put my kid thru that smell! However, i know that if i decided to "treat" myself to one now. id be hooked again!Lung Cancer isnt a treat......so i dont look at it as a treat really. I guess the soda would be the same.....

roskyjen

i am a PEPSI fanatic however i replaced that with Diet Dr Pepper or Diet a & w, and it tasts just like the regular! try it! good luck

Brat3073

thanks to all of you! Many good points made and i appreciate the different views. i guess well wait till thursday and see what happens.:flowerforyou:

NeuroticVirgo

If you've gone this long without I would just stay away! lol Its not good for you at all, not even a little bit. So if you made it through the summer, I would just keep on going.