Cutting out soda

palmermarc

Like most Americans, I drink a lot of soda. I actually had cut it out for about a year. I got strep, and it hurt to swallow. A week or two later, I was used to not drinking it. But now I try not drinking soda and get massive cravings for it. I don't drink coffee, or energy drinks, so other than soda I basically consume little to no caffeine, which is probably why my brain wants it so bad.


How have you guys been able to cut out the soda from your diet? Any advice would be great!

ChantalGG

Try over dosing on diet pop and then you wont want any of it anymore. I still drink diet pop once in a while.

auticus

Soda is poison. Period.

I used to drink coke like it was going out of style. Surprise surprise I was also heavily overweight and diabetic.

Cutting soda out of my life dropped me 10 lbs and 200 points off my sugar count.

Diet soda is equally toxic and counter productive to weight loss. You're better off mixing water with cigarette ashes and dropping in some monkey scat and drinking that.

AngChambers06

I would phase it out... Ive never been able to myself though and diet is still not good for you but thats what I drink. Even 1 diet drink a day would probably be better than going through bottles and bottles of it.

thats just my thought process though.

CountandBaxter

I have cut out regular soda, then diet soda- now I drink sparkly water. Ozarka sparkling or Perrier is really good and I have it daily. Just feels a little fancier than regular water.

bcarter0218

I too struggle with soda. I've been drinking soda for 45 years and trying to give it up is IMPOSSIBLE! I too would appreciate any help I can get!

palmermarc

@auticus Thanks for your comments, but being told something I know over and over seems counter productive.

My only problem is that when I try to phase something out, my consumption of something else spikes. I drink a LOT of water every day, and honestly I only drink soda for the caffeine, and just to drink something besides water.

meowow

Honestly, after finding out how awful any kind of soda is for my body/how much it bloated me (I hate that bloat feeling so much, ha) it was VERY easy for me to cut it out completely. Now, I drink nothing but water. After a while without something, your taste buds change and you no longer desire it.

H_Factor

I phased out soda. I went from 2 or more cans/day to 1 can/day to nothing (and I don't drink coffee, tea or other forms of caffeine). With the phase out process, the withdrawal headaches weren't bad and they lasted only a few days. I haven't had soda since late April and I haven't missed it one bit. I don't take any caffeine, but I have more energy. I realize caffeine only led to crashes and you needed more and more caffeine to experience the same "benefit" it provided.

Almost exclusively, I drink water and sobe lifewater. that's it. and I feel a ton better for it.

Cooriander

I don't dring water, mostly soda - diet soda. I am still alive, European and I am middle age and feel great. I will check back in when I am 101. I also love coffee.

tbudge

I do drink diet soda, it's like my treat. But I found that replacing soda with green tea or snapple really helps. My favorite is the Diet Trop A Rocka snapple that Bret Michaels made on Celebrity Apprentice. It tastes good, and it helps with the blood sugar levels. Give it a try.

CJK1959

I have never like drinking plain water, and instead was a Diet Coke fiend. Three years ago I started drinking water with Cyrstal Light in it for flavor and I was able to give up the soda completely. The headaches were really bad for a little while, but they do go away and you can substitute other things for the caffiene.....more rest, take some vitamins...especially the "B" family for increased energy.....I feel so much better for not drinking the soda, it's more of a mind thing that anything else. Your body doesn't need it.

alleyag

Just stop it. It's in your mind. No I will not have soda. Don't open it don't reach for it and you won't drink it.

Masterchef2000

I had a real problem with soda. I drank it and NOTHING else for months at a time. I did this for years. I actually felt like I would puke drinking water. Before I started my exercise, I knew I had to get right of my Mountain Dew. Otherwise, with as much as I drank, I knew I would go no where and get frustrated and then give up all together. So in June I stared to quit. To be honest, it took me until the end of August to get where I am with drinking my water (with Crystal Lite Lemonade added) and if I were really craving it, I would give in, buy a bottle, get my fill then dump the rest down the drain. It's what I had to do to quit. And I think I can safely say that I have. I don't crave it, I reallllly like my water.

Someone else said something about being bloated due to soda. They weren't kidding! You will be amazed at how bloated you are on soda. My kids started to tell me that I looked pregnant. My stomach went way back down and they haven't said anything about a baby in my belly since.

jarrettd

I'm not sure diet soda is toxic. Mind you, I'm not sure that it isn't, either! (This year's wonderful thing is next year's class action suit, after all!)

I do think that it keeps your palate acclimated to sugar. You don't get used to tasting things without sugary additives, natural or artificial, because your mouth is being bombarded by the perception of "sweet". So you have to have the sweeteners in other things for them to taste "normal".

If you can eliminate ALL added sweeteners to your diet for a period of time (a few weeks?), I think you would not like them anymore, because your "normal" will have shifted. If you must have carbonation, try club soda w/ a twist of lemon, perhaps.

I am getting ready to put this theory into action for myself. I like sweet. A LOT! But for me, i think it must be all or nothing.

alleyag

I'm not sure diet soda is toxic. Mind you, I'm not sure that it isn't, either! (This year's wonderful thing is next year's class action suit, after all!)

I do think that it keeps your palate acclimated to sugar. You don't get used to tasting things without sugary additives, natural or artificial, because your mouth is being bombarded by the perception of "sweet". So you have to have the sweeteners in other things for them to taste "normal".

If you can eliminate ALL added sweeteners to your diet for a period of time (a few weeks?), I think you would not like them anymore, because your "normal" will have shifted. If you must have carbonation, try club soda w/ a twist of lemon, perhaps.

I am getting ready to put this theory into action for myself. I like sweet. A LOT! But for me, i think it must be all or nothing.

The ph content in diet soda is closer to battery acid than water.. toxic?

dietpop

I used to drink two 2 liter bottles of Diet Pepsi a day for like 15 years. The regular wasn't strong enough, so I drank lime and cherry flavored DP.

Just like you, I got sick last spring ( flu - high fever, sore throat ) and pop tasted horrible. I quit pop cold turkey.

Find a new source of caffeine and you will be fine. Now I drink Chai tea and crystal light (once in a while) for caffeine.

BTW - Pop isn't natural. Now I can see it for what it is, a bad habit.

HMonsterX

For me it's one of the things that makes this sustainable!

Mind you, I've never been a huge drinker of it. Just a pint of either cherry tango or 7 up free with my dinner. Account for the calories, no need to cut it out.

jarrettd

I'm not sure diet soda is toxic. Mind you, I'm not sure that it isn't, either! (This year's wonderful thing is next year's class action suit, after all!)

I do think that it keeps your palate acclimated to sugar. You don't get used to tasting things without sugary additives, natural or artificial, because your mouth is being bombarded by the perception of "sweet". So you have to have the sweeteners in other things for them to taste "normal".

If you can eliminate ALL added sweeteners to your diet for a period of time (a few weeks?), I think you would not like them anymore, because your "normal" will have shifted. If you must have carbonation, try club soda w/ a twist of lemon, perhaps.

I am getting ready to put this theory into action for myself. I like sweet. A LOT! But for me, i think it must be all or nothing.

The ph content in diet soda is closer to battery acid than water.. toxic?

Orange juice = 3.5ph, kiwi = 3.0, grapes = 2.8, vinegar 2.4. Toxic? Ph value won't determine a food product's toxicity, except to your teeth! ;-)

scraver2003

When I want something bubbly - I do 12 oz of seltzer with 2 oz. of cranberry juice (100% juice). I had to start half and half with the juice selzter and work my way down. Now drinking straight juice is like a sugar punch to my face.

I know this is so weird, but I wish they would do lower sugar sodas. Like HALF the sugar... or even a quater. (But with NO artificial sweetener to compensate) Sometimes I want a soda, but why does it have to have a 1/4 cup of sugar in 12 oz? That is just gross.

It is my understanding that the artificial sweetener in diet soad affects your blood sugar like it was real sugar - so your body releases insulin and then there is no sugar for it - so then you blood sugar drops low and you crave sugar. Therefore making diet soda just as unhealthy.

Sometimes when I want a little something for a treat - I go for the Honest Ade or the Honest Tea. They are still about 85 - 100 calories for a bottle - but compared to tother things that are 240 - 360 a bottle, it seems like a good deal.

MandaJean83

I seriously wonder how much of my "podge" is due to drinking carbonated beverages every day. I have tried to give diet soda up so many times in the past, but have never been successful. I crave it like a drug. Haha.
Hello, my name is Amanda, and I am a diet soda addict... LOL!

fairygirl716

I seriously wonder how much of my "podge" is due to drinking carbonated beverages every day. I have tried to give diet soda up so many times in the past, but have never been successful. I crave it like a drug. Haha.
Hello, my name is Amanda, and I am a diet soda addict... LOL!

I too am a diet soda addict. I chose at this time to focus on my other faults and will eventually stop the habit all together. However, I'm not ready for the 12 step plan yet. I've over come my food addiction and I will address the other issues I have slowly. Until then, I know my body is healthier because I fill it with better food while at the same time, I know I'm not doing it any good with the diet pop.

Baby steps for me!

bens_mommy

I cut it out completely, cold turkey (along with other forms of caffeine). After three days of horrible sugar/caffeine withdrawal migraines, the urge to drink it completely subsided. This weekend I had fast food (ICK) with a massive Dr. Pepper (DOUBLE ICK) and I've been bloated and gross-feeling ever since. Once your body gets used to not having it, you don't want it anymore.

Luckily for me I'm a big tea-drinker as well (I love me some Tazo tea, oh dear that sugar content!) so if you're craving something sweet, try some organic iced tea. It's better for you by far AND you won't get a caffeine crash later.

shannon_stallone

I've cut out soda and switched to La Croix...I'm obsessed with the orange flavor...Its the carbonation I love so much with soda so the La Croix helps with that...I always crave an occasional fountain Coke and just have a small glass here and there

Pollywog39

When I want something bubbly - I do 12 oz of seltzer with 2 oz. of cranberry juice (100% juice). I had to start half and half with the juice selzter and work my way down. Now drinking straight juice is like a sugar punch to my face.

I know this is so weird, but I wish they would do lower sugar sodas. Like HALF the sugar... or even a quarter. (But with NO artificial sweetener to compensate) Sometimes I want a soda, but why does it have to have a 1/4 cup of sugar in 12 oz? That is just gross.

It is my understanding that the artificial sweetener in diet soda affects your blood sugar like it was real sugar - so your body releases insulin and then there is no sugar for it - so then your blood sugar drops low and you crave sugar. Therefore making diet soda just as unhealthy.

Sometimes when I want a little something for a treat - I go for the Honest Ade or the Honest Tea. They are still about 85 - 100 calories for a bottle - but compared to other things that are 240 - 360 a bottle, it seems like a good deal.

I agree with you 100%! I, too, do the 'bubbly' water and a bit of juice - just for a slight sweet taste. I think it's the bubbles in pop that I really crave, so I often will drink that just straight (no flavor whatsoever.)

I was never a HUGE pop drinker - and NEVER a diet pop person. Ugggh. But I have dramatically cut down my pop drinking - had a regular Coke on the weekend, it seemed TOO much!

Has anyone here tried the Canada Dry Green Tea Ginger Ale? It's really tasty - and I'll have one of those on occasion (it's a good drink mixer, too I figure it's not as horrible as some, and it has antioxidants in it lol.

Darkness2120

I'm not sure diet soda is toxic. Mind you, I'm not sure that it isn't, either! (This year's wonderful thing is next year's class action suit, after all!)

I do think that it keeps your palate acclimated to sugar. You don't get used to tasting things without sugary additives, natural or artificial, because your mouth is being bombarded by the perception of "sweet". So you have to have the sweeteners in other things for them to taste "normal".

If you can eliminate ALL added sweeteners to your diet for a period of time (a few weeks?), I think you would not like them anymore, because your "normal" will have shifted. If you must have carbonation, try club soda w/ a twist of lemon, perhaps.

I am getting ready to put this theory into action for myself. I like sweet. A LOT! But for me, i think it must be all or nothing.

The ph content in diet soda is closer to battery acid than water.. toxic?

Orange juice = 3.5ph, kiwi = 3.0, grapes = 2.8, vinegar 2.4. Toxic? Ph value won't determine a food product's toxicity, except to your teeth! ;-)

This right here. Plenty of healthy foods that have low pH hence why your body has the bicarbonate-carbonic acid buffer system in it. The toxicity of food is determined by multiple things, and yes your teeth are the only things that may have to worry about the pH. But I consume 1 can of regular soda everyday before working out, my teeth are fine and so is my overall health. Once again the key here is moderation or not going overboard.

saugustin07

If you really can't cut out soda make your own version but as a treat once in awhile. Take equal parts of sparkling water and your favorite juice.

strongnotskinny121

I am also struggling with soda. I have cut down from 2 sugar drinks a day to 1. In a few weeks, I will try none, but as I am also quitting smoking right now, if I stay at one a day, I'll be happy. I don't want to take too much on and fail it all. But what I have decided is I'm allowed one can of soda, or glass of tea or koolaid. I've been doing this all week now and I haven't had any headaches. If I start craving something sweet to drink, I think I might try juice and sparkling water. That's sounds really good!

HMonsterX

but as I am also quitting smoking right now,

If you're doing this, successfully so far, stick to that alone and focus on it. You have my utmost respect for doing it, and that should be your main goal atm.

strongnotskinny121

but as I am also quitting smoking right now,

If you're doing this, successfully so far, stick to that alone and focus on it. You have my utmost respect for doing it, and that should be your main goal atm.

Thank you I am, but I'm kind of looking at this as a lifestyle change. I'm tracking my foods and exercise, but I don't stress out if I go over. I just use it to help me make smarter choices and be more conscientious about what I put into my body. I'm at Day 31. I figure when I hit six months, I'll get super serious about losing weight.

strongnotskinny121

but as I am also quitting smoking right now,

If you're doing this, successfully so far, stick to that alone and focus on it. You have my utmost respect for doing it, and that should be your main goal atm.

Thank you I am, but I'm kind of looking at this as a lifestyle change. I'm tracking my foods and exercise, but I don't stress out if I go over. I just use it to help me make smarter choices and be more conscientious about what I put into my body. I'm at Day 31. I figure when I hit six months, I'll get super serious about losing weight.