Trying to kick the soda habit...

DaisyKate30

I've always been a diet dr pepper addict... I got sick last fall and then things started going down hill around Thanksgiving and I stopped eating/drinking. It turns out I was having kidney failure. I was in the hospital for 7 days and when I got out... I just didn't drink the soda and now I'm 6 months soda free.

You can do it... it's hard but normally easier to just go cold turkey. There's tons of things you can drink... sparkling water (Wal-mart's American clear is my favorite), ICE sparking water - so many flavors to pick from, flavored water, crystal light, lemonade, light or diet juices, and then there's always good ol plain water, too.

Good luck!! Just keep thinking about how much better you will!

Also, my fiance will buy a diet coke sometimes when we are out and about... I've had a sip here and there and it's just god awful! I still can't understand why I was so addicted in the first place.

dt3312

Would it help to drink Club Soda instead of Diet Soda? I don't drink soda but if my stomach feels a little funny, I drink Club Soda and it often helps. Club Soda does not have any sugar in it. It does not have any artificial sugar either.

Aaron_K123

Don't drink diet- cancer chemical soup.

Well first be able to back up with peer reviewed clinical study (not an article or a blog) that diet soda causes cancer.
2nd, ALL food and drinks are comprised of chemicals.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

This

austepants

I don't buy it! If its not in the house I cannot consume it! I also started making fruit infused water that was always in the fridge ready for me when I needed something to drink. It has been over 2 months now and I'm loving it.

SideSteel

Don't drink diet- cancer chemical soup.

One reason I stay away from the diet stuff!

^ This would not be a valid reason to avoid diet soda as it's nonsense.

I'm finding it hard to kick my soda habit. I usually drink regular soda--never diet. I've tried diet soda before, more out of curiosity than for lack of calories, and never liked it. I wouldn't even consider using it as an alternative to help me stop drinking the regular stuff. Does anyone out there have any tips to help kick the habit? Thanks!

^ But the bold would be.


And while that doesn't change your situation, the distinction is worth mention.

Aaron_K123

Hi OP. Id recommend considering the fact that there are many artificial sweeteners to choose from and although you may not like the taste of those that name brand soda companies have chosen to use you may like the taste of others. In your shoes is buy some club soda split it into a bunch of glasses and stir in sweeteners until I found one I like. If there is literally nothing but sugar that will satisfy try stirring in half as much as store bought. If you find something you like get a sodastream or some other home-soda machine and make your own.

Personally I prefer aspartame but everyone's tastes are different.

fiyahwerks

I'm a Pepsi addict. One day, my dream is to say former Pepsi addict. But I'm still fighting for that title.

I'm trying those "detox" waters. Water with fruit to curve my Pepsi addiction. I've done it in the pass by quitting cold turkey and going 1-2 months without a soda. Then that evil little voice in my head starts saying "oh, this would be so good with a pepsi, yadda yadda". Then I try it and start my vicious cycle again.

Some of the things that helped me curve my Pepsi addiction is:
-Drinking water with lemon. I love water with lemon. But I like the smell and taste of lemon too.
-Always and only drink water when dining out. Soda definitely makes the wallet lighter at restaurants nowadays.
-Drink water as soon as I get up (20-40 oz.)
-Try to drink water with all meals. (My hardest fight).

As I stated in the beginning, I am still a work in process. I drank a Pepsi today and felt sick after I haven't had one in 10 days. It left a nasty taste in my mouth. I felt so bloated. I really just wanted to taste the "bite" of the Pepsi when I first drank it, which is only about 2 oz at the most. It's definitely not worth it, so I hope I can get over this addiction soon.

You are not alone in this fight.

maidentl

I'd have it at every meal and never ANY water. None.

Ah, but ya did, though. Diet soda is 99% water.

kdeaux1959

If you want to kick any habit that is non-essential to life (obviously, eating is not among those which makes weight-loss more of a challenge), the best method over time is cold-turkey. Just stop it and eliminate it all at once. It can be re-introduced after a few months if you prefer in moderation but to eliminate the habit all at once is the best method IMHO.

cookjl124

i am a die hard sweet tooth so i cut out soda but replaced it with 50% apple juice and 50% water... I did that before i really started dieting now i just went straight to water.... with an occupational glass of 50% juice....

HMonsterX

I'd have it at every meal and never ANY water. None.

Ah, but ya did, though. Diet soda is 99% water.

Heresy!! Once you add bubbles it ceases to have any water content at all!

wannakimmy

Honestly, you just have to want to do it bad enough. Are you logging your soda? For me, I look at the calories in everything... Do I want to waste "X" amount of my allotted calories on a drink? Or would I prefer to eat something? So I weigh it out in my head... IE. Pizza or soda? I do it with all foods too... 2 cups of fresh veggies vs. a bite of brownie? Which will be more worth it to me.... Don't get me wrong, sometimes the bite of brownie wins.... I just log it and move on.

Good luck in your journey

howardheilweil

Logging the calories in a can of regular Coke did it for me. I don't really care for the taste of diet soda either, so I pretty much stopped drinking any soda.

100missy

I had a six can a day Mountain Dew habit. What worked for me was a fast taper (week 1 - three cans, week 2 - one can) more because of the caffeine withdrawal than the sugar. After that, I stopped buying soda entirely. In order to really break the habit, I didn't allow myself juice or other sugary drinks as a substitute because the idea was not to trade one terrible habit for a different one. Once the habit was good and kicked, now I have the occasional juice or lemonade.
Instead, I made myself drink ice water and found that I really liked carbonated waters like H20, Mendota Springs, La Croix, Klarbrunn, Ice Mountain. I look for brands that use natural flavors and contain no artificial sweeteners or preservatives. Soda Stream uses My Water flavorings so you could make your own and adjust the amount of flavoring.
Three years later, I rarely drink soda. I bring water to work. It can be very hard when I go out to eat as their table water may not taste very good and they may not have many other alternatives, so every once in a while I get a Sprite or root beer.

snapehbp

I stopped cold turkey almost 2 years ago. Caffine has no effect on me, I just liked the taste over water. If I do have a pop, I only do regular (used to drink 4 cans of duet a day for probably a decade). In the past 2 years, I have consumed 24 cans of reg sprite if that. I only drink pop when I have pizza and didn't break my "no pop" until I made it to one year of cutting it out cold turkey.

It was hard, but worth it!

donjessop

July 31, 2013, is the last time I had a Dr. Pepper or any other soda. The substitute? Really cold water or sparkling water. No diet soda as I get headaches when I drink it so I really had no choice. Since then the weight loss has actually been a good reminder as to what I was putting in my body.

lemurcat12

I quit coke by switching to diet, years ago, less about calories than it being considered weird for girls to drink regular (I was a jr in high school, so I suppose that does go back to weight, sort of). Once I got used to diet I didn't even like regular--tasted too syrupy, but I got to a point where I was drinking a ridiculous amount of diet, so I am skeptical that it's about an addiction to sugar or, usually even caffeine. I think it's habit and taste.

Anyway, I quit soda for Lent a couple years ago just by replacing it with water, tea, and probably a bit more coffee. A more direct replacement is probably iced tea or flavored waters, but I'm picky about iced tea I don't make myself and didn't make it as often as I should have. Since then I try to drink it sparingly and quit again when my consumption starts creeping up (it's free at my office, I don't buy it or drink it at home). One thing is to grab a water at the same time and drink it plus another before getting soda again. Since I mostly drink it for hydration that ends up with me craving it less.

Since it is a habit, though, just stopping is the best way to kick it. I know logging those calories and thinking about what I could have instead would make me stop.

Rachel_Louise85

I know what you mean. I was a complete soda junkie, it was hard to kick the habit. If I feel like something fizzy I either opt for a Polar Frost or get Seltzer/Sparkling water and add some 100% juice to it. Yummy!

yorkshiregoal

Sparkling water is AMAZING!

If you add half a fresh squeezed lime or lemon, plus some Stevia if you are craving the sweetness, it is a great alternative and so much more refreshing than sodas! Try it, it's delicious