Soda

JazzyLea1993

I've been told numerous of times that Soda causes belly fat/weight gain. I was wondering if that is true. I have a soda addiction and it's hard for me lay off of them. If I don't drink at least one a day, I get a headache. I need a few pointers on this situation. HELP!

darkrose20

I can't talk about cause and effect much, but what I can say is my personal experience. I used to get headaches when I cut out soda/caffeine, but I was drinking, like 6 Mountain Dew's in a day. The headaches will stop with time.

Since I've joined MFP with the goal of losing weight, I noticed when I started drinking (diet) soda again, my weight loss stopped. In fact, I gained about 5 pounds then they just wouldn't come off.

I stopped drinking soda again last week, and the weight is starting to come off again. I'm still consuming the same amount of calories on average.

Hope this helps!

(edited for typo)

garethbridges

A 330ml can of Coca Cola contains 139 calories. If you're drinking several per day, it's conceivable that you will exceed the number of calories your body needs; which will lead to weight gain.

Do you drink coffee? If not, it's probable that the headache is from caffine withdrawal. Maybe have a shot of espresso to stave off the headache. It might also be something as simple as dehydration caused by lack of fluids. If you cut out the sodas, do you substitute it with water (or anything else)?

Have you considered the diet versions of the soft drinks? I don't drink soft drinks anyway (1-2 cans per month), but people tell me that they quickly become accustomed to the slightly different flavour of the diet option.

JazzyLea1993

That sums it up! It's good to have someone that basically went through the same situation I'm currently in. This helps a lot!

I usually drink both coffee or a bottle of Gatorade if I don't have a soda in sight. I've been also told that I need to drink more water. I've came to the point where I dislike drinking water which I'm trying to break out of. I also try a few diet soft drinks every now and then.

amy8400

I drank loads of diet pepsi for years, thinking I was clever. Turns out the sweetness of the soda increased my cravings for food. I gained 50 unwanted pounds over 20 years until I woke up last summer and realized I had to start by getting rid of the diet pop. I did that first before starting my weight loss and fitness program (one challenge at a time ; ) I am so glad I did. No longer do I have crazy food cravings all the time and I've lost about a pound a week over the last 5 months. And I don't have to lug home 7 two-litres from the grocery just to restock my pantry for the week!

xsmilexforxmex

Soda has a lot of sugar which can lead to carb craving (something I'm fighting right now)
If you want a better alternative, try the water flavor's.. I use Kool-Aid or Mio squirters for a quick flavor but you can also let fresh fruit sit in a pitcher overnight for a lightly tinted flavor.

missomgitsica

That sums it up! It's good to have someone that basically went through the same situation I'm currently in. This helps a lot!

I usually drink both coffee or a bottle of Gatorade if I don't have a soda in sight. I've been also told that I need to drink more water. I've came to the point where I dislike drinking water which I'm trying to break out of. I also try a few diet soft drinks every now and then.

Drinking water definitely helps. For a really really long time I drank nothing but Dr. Pepper. When I first started trying to get healthier, I knew I wasn't going to be able to cut it out completely, so my first little step was to drink as much water as soda a day, then more water than soda, and so on. Now I'm at a point where I'll actually crave water more often than a soda. But I know how you feel . . . the caffeine withdrawal headaches are freaking awful . But they do stop eventually, so don't give up!

It also helps to really look at how many calories it's adding to your diary. I have 1430 calories a day to eat; each can of Dr. Pepper is 150 calories. So if I drink 3 cans a day, there's 450 calories that I could have had in actual real food, if that makes sense.

JoJo__Fit

I drink coke zero all the time and I don't get sugar cravings and I'm very flexible in the way I eat, meaning I don't cut out any foods, I have everything in moderation.

However I should make the switch to zevia or flavored water.

RamonaFr

I've been drinking a diet coke every day for probably 40 years. It doesn't seem to be stopping me from losing weight, and I usually buy the caffeine-free coke, so no caffeine headaches. I don't think diet coke is a problem, don't plan to quit drinking it.

kingscrown

Drinking diet soda never stopped me from losing weight. It stopped me from keeping it off. If it gives you a headache to go without maybe slowly start weaning yourself off of it and on to something else. I never thought I'd ever enjoy ice tea, but I actually found one I like. I enjoy having ice tea and hot tea now.

Rocbola

Soda is pure calories with no fiber or micro-nutrients. It will definitely add to your belly. There is also the issue of the phosphoric acid. Soda will clean your toilet, or clean rust off chrome, but it's best for your health if you never consume it.

It is best, in my opinion, to end any habit suddenly. The "cold turkey" approach.

Bluibeth

I am totally addicted to Diet Pepsi and really want to quit. I just cut out my candy & crap so one day at a time!!
:bigsmile:

jeansnpearls84

Soda is pure calories with no fiber or micro-nutrients. It will definitely add to your belly. There is also the issue of the phosphoric acid. Soda will clean your toilet, or clean rust off chrome, but it's best for your health if you never consume it.

It is best, in my opinion, to end any habit suddenly. The "cold turkey" approach.

Just be careful with the cold turkey approach. I absolutely advocate for quitting or significantly reducing the amount of soda you drink and significantly increasing your water intake....but you may want to do it slowly. I was drinking several diet cokes a day and sometimes a coffee or two as well. I stopped drinking all caffeine about 6 weeks ago (cold turkey) and I had insane headaches for the first 4 or 5 days and then had minor headaches for a few more days after that. I feel great now, and I'm proud of myself for doing it, but it may not have been the best idea. It's all about what works best for you!

knra_grl

I would agree with the comments about gradually reducing over a period of time if you drink a lot of soda.

You could pick up some of those flavored water enhancer drops to increase your water intake - 8 cups of water per day are recommended - if you drink 4 X 500ml bottles of water per day that meets that recommendation - it doesn't seem like that much when you look at 4 bottles of water

mom2kpr

I would agree with the comments about gradually reducing over a period of time if you drink a lot of soda.

You could pick up some of those flavored water enhancer drops to increase your water intake - 8 cups of water per day are recommended - if you drink 4 X 500ml bottles of water per day that meets that recommendation - it doesn't seem like that much when you look at 4 bottles of water

Also, if you like carbonated drinks, a lot of the flavor enhancers tastes really good in carbonated water. The grape flavor mixed with Mendota Springs Water tastes like grape soda.

kj26boys

Next Tuesday (3/18) is my one year anniversary being off soda. I used to be addicted to Diet Pepsi. My kids called it liquid gold. I really needed one every morning. I drank about 32 oz a day, sometimes more, sometimes less, but that's a good average. Last year one day I just decided to quit and never looked back. You can do it. For me it was the financial issue. But I will say I am apple shaped and have always carried weight in my belly. Quitting soda had no effect on that. It's still there.

marissanik

I used to drink a CocaCola every day. I'm now able to enjoy one every once in a while. I started with alternatives... First, switched to a soda called "Zevia". They have it here in Canada but I'm not sure about anywhere else. 0 calories. Then I moved onto mixing carbonated water with 100% pure fruit juice. Eventually quit that. I drink only water now. If I need something sweet, I get a blueberry tea bag and mix it with water, ice, and stevia. Best of luck

jlynnm70

Hello - my name is Jlynn and I'm a Dr. Pepper addict. I was drinking at least a 6 pack a day. I pretty much gave it up the first of the year (except for a stint where I was sick for 3 days and I gave in).

I did have headaches for a while - but drank an extra cup of coffee in the afternoon and that seemed to help.

I have noticed that I have lost most of the weight (13# so far) off my belly/hips/thighs - which is where I needed to lose it the most.

A client brought me a 12 pack over 2 months ago - and it still sits in the fridge at work - with only ONE gone and I gave that to my daughter one day when she came to visit.

Water alone at first was really hard for me - try getting some Mio or Crystal light and add a little for flavor - I like the lemonade ones. Now I rarely add that - unless I just really want something different. Also - I've made a rule - "If I want to eat, I have to drink" - that means every time I eat something I down a glass (8-12 oz) of water first - for starters it keeps me full - and two it guarantees I get at least 4-5 glasses in a day - over and above what I sip on at my desk.

I wish you the best of luck. Soda is a tough one for a lot of us. (It was easier for me to quit smoking!)

scottsgirl4lyfe2004

i am addicted to pepsi i have cut down drastically from where i was at but still have 1 or 2 12 oz a day soon i am hoping one day i can just say no and never look back i deff need to drink more water i drink a small ammount a day do you like water?

LosingItForGood13

yes it does as I am struggling with breaking away from the pepsi I noticed that when I don't drink it for say like a few weeks my stomach is less bloated if u are needing that fizzy taste in ur mouth oceanspray and starbucks have little drinks in the can to help with that I have bought both so I feel your struggle

littleandysmom

Yes...agree with that! I'm down to about 2-3 cans a week (usually on the weekend) In the morning during the week, I buy from QT, pineapple papaya green tea. Drinking green tea has now become a habit so I don't think about coke or dr. pepper like I used to.

Good luck, you can do it!

caellen518

I am a huge diet coke addict - HUGE. I finally admitted to myself that drinking it was doing me no favors and have cut down to about 1 can a week, if that, and I always follow it up with a ton of water. After a couple of weeks I've lost weight must faster than I was previously, I've also noticed I've had much less tummy bloat at the end of the day.

Green tea (with lots of lemon) has been helping with the caffeine withdrawal and sparkling flavored water drinks (Fruitwater is my favorite) help with my craving for carbonation.

jamesisaac108

Tea helped me all but get rid of table sugar for good. Teavana stuff is so incredibly tasting that you don't really want to ruin the taste with sugar. It's a bit of on the expensive side compare to other teas but still cheaper than cans of sodas.

ElectricDame

I've never been a big soda drinker myself, but I have a hard time just drinking plain water. I recently started drinking seltzer water with lime and splenda.. tastes fizzy and little sweet like sprite with no calories

*edited for typo

kingscrown

When I quit soda that first 6-8 months I got so sick of water, but now 2 years out I don't really no what my problem was. One just needs to get over the addiction. Now I love my ice tea and an occasional seltzer with lime, but I have no craving for the fizzy any more.

benlambrou

Growing up we never got pop in our house other than once a week as a treat on pizza night. As soon as I had a job I would drink it nonstop. I would get a 2 liter every morning and it would be gone before lunch. They where cheaper than water. 99cents for a 2 liter or $1.50+ for a liter of water ( I still cant figure that out ) . Than pretty much just drank it all night. 6+ cans. So I know how hard it is to stop. I did though. I started with cutting back on how much i drank each day. Than switched over to diet pop. Orange and wierd flavors like that that did not taste like diet drinks. I even started using those drink flavoring packets for water bottles. Eventually I switched to ice tea. Now the only thing i drink is water and milk ( regular and almond). I do how ever will get a coke zero every once in a blue moon as a treat if we go out to dinner. I got kinda cheap over my years and hate paying $2+ for a soda when water is just fine for me. Main thing for me as I go through losing weight is just to make sure what ever i drink is calorie free other than milk of course.

dancer2u

To be honest....I was drinking several cola's a day beofre MFP, but down to 1 a day now. I am still loosing, & doubt I will ever give up my one cola a day. If I plan on sticking to this, I don't want to give up all my cravings. If I stop loosing, then at that point will I consider loosing the pop.

Soapfan777

I used to drink 2-2 liters of regular Pepsi a day. Later, I fell for the misconception that diet soda was better because it didn’t contain calories and a person couldn’t get fat. So I brought a case of Diet Pepsi from Sams which contains 24 – 24 oz. bottles and drunk 3 a day. I did this weekly and along with bad eating and exercise habits, I topped the scale at 202 lbs. All sodas will make you gain weight. I am down to one every couple of weeks. Yes, you could get headaches because your body is withdrawing from caffeine but stick to your plan and the headaches will stop.

Chickee8586

Try adding some lemon juice and/or lime juice to your water just to give it a fresher taste. Less than a teaspoon of either helps me a lot when I get tired of water.

I drank a diet soda with lunch for the 1st time in about 4 months. I felt bloated for the rest of the afternoon. Learned my lesson. If I need caffeine, it's iced tea for me.

zacsmommy101010

Soda is definitely something that can cause someone to gain weight or have difficulty losing it. I used to drink 3-4 sodas a day to get through my day at work, thinking that I needed the sugar boost and the caffeine. I just gave up soda for lent (started March 4th in the evening) and I've already lost 9 lbs just by switching to water and making sure I get enough water every day. I did have headaches, but that's the caffeine withdrawal. I don't have caffeinated stuff at home because my husband can't have caffeine, and I don't like coffee, so it was really hard the first week when I really really just wanted a can of coke. BUT, now that it has been over 2 weeks since I had a soda, I feel better than I have in a long time and I really think it's because the soda isn't in my diet anymore and I replaced it with water. If I need something with flavor, I get a fruit juice or a vitamin water, but mostly I don't mind drinking water at my desk each day. I drink decaf tea at home and every now and then I reward myself with a McDonald's sweet tea because I do love sweet tea and still want a little caffeine here and there.

If someone like me who drank at least 3 sodas every day can quit cold turkey, I mean it when I say ANYONE can do it! Good luck!

corbridge

I drink a lot of Kool-Aid sweetened with stevia. And if its caffeine you crave I do the same with my brewed tea, I just add a little stevia while its hot, so it mixes in good, then pop in the fridge for the next day. But the Kool aid quenches my soda urge. I havnt had a soda in over a year and don't miss it at all. I drink about 2 quarts a day.