Coke Addiction . . .

ADM1979

Haha Not that kind. . . I am struggling to give up diet cokes. I have about 3 a day, normally with my meals. I tend to take spells where I want the cokes at meal time and then spells where I could care less. Right now, I want them. I allow only one can per meal. And only at meal times.

The cokes are calorie free. So what's the big deal of having a coke? Do I really need to limit myself more or give them up completely? If I do give them up, what is a good substitue besides water. I am a diabetic. So I really don't have sweet tea unless it made with "fake" sugar. My doctor has not said anything about limiting cokes . . . yet.

CMmrsfloyd

Personal decision. I was really badly addicted to diet sodas (my favorite is diet mt dew) - to the point where it was all that I drank all day long and if I didn't get enough I felt physically ill. (headaches, fatigue, etc) So for me it became obvious that it was a problem. I dropped it cold-turkey for one month (only had 2 the entire month, a couple of days that I had headaches, b/c the caffeine helps). Then I started adding them back in (b/c I really do honestly enjoy them) and now I allow myself 1 or 2 a day but don't feel like I 'have' to have it. Now I can just enjoy it w/o feeling like I'm getting my fix. LOL Some people say it's really awful for you and no one should drink any at all, some people say it's no big deal. Like I said, personal decision. :-)

divainme

I am so addicted to Coke, have been since I was a kid. My dad used to drink it like water, he's been drinking it since he was 2 or 3. No joke, his sister gave him Coke because he didn't like milk and their parents owned a grocery store so it was easy to get. As of today his stomach is ruined, he's on serious meds to combat the pain. It hurts to even swollow foods.

I'm trying to combat my Coke addiction but its hard when you're exhausted in the afternoon and all you want is the sugar and caffinee combo pick me up....

Laces_0ut

I am so addicted to Coke, have been since I was a kid. My dad used to drink it like water, he's been drinking it since he was 2 or 3. No joke, his sister gave him Coke because he didn't like milk and their parents owned a grocery store so it was easy to get. As of today his stomach is ruined, he's on serious meds to combat the pain. It hurts to even swollow foods.

I'm trying to combat my Coke addiction but its hard when you're exhausted in the afternoon and all you want is the sugar and caffinee combo pick me up....

what about tea?

hojo94

I used to drink 4-5 Cokes (not diet) a day... I decided that #1, it really isn't that healthy and #2, it gets EXPENSIVE! SO, it was my decision to drop pop. I have had 1 in the last 2 weeks, and actually am feeling better (once I got over the headaches from the lack of caffiene)... Up to you, I think... I have been sticking to water, or water with Crystal lite...

LittleFootHafner

You are correct - the diet pop has no calories, so should not be going against your dieting. However, I remember reading somewhere they the aspartame in them actually make you hungry, where water would make you feel full.

I used to drink 2 diet drinks a day as well (coke, root beer, etc...), but decided that it's not healthy for me (saw a study that proves aspartame does not elave your body). Therefore, I slowly cut myself back to a couple of diet pops a week. And I do the opposite thatn you do - without the meals. I will allow myself a pop on a Friday night while watching a movie and having a snack, etc...

If you do want to cut it out, just try to cut it slowly.... one meal at a time. I know how difficult it is, but I can say that I crave it less and less each week. And I still get it now and then as a treat! ; )

As for a substitute, I honestly believe that you either need to have water or other calories (milk, fruit juice, etc...). If you just substitute it for another unsweetend drink (like Crystal Light), what's the purpose? You may as well just stay with the pop...

Good Luck!

hummzz

Well maybe tea or a light juice will be better. I love Pepsi. I've switched to Pepsi Max which tastes better than diet pepsi and lower in sodium but I only have about 1 or 2 a week. I try to drink juice or tea with my meals. I've never been a big soda drinker so that helps.

Good luck with it lady!

ninjapixie87

One year I gave up sodas for Lent, and by the end I didn't really miss them. I try not to drink sodas much at all anymore...every once in a while I backslide and have them more often (mostly when I'm feeling lazy), but I definitely try to limit myself to 1 per day. Diet or not, sodas still aren't good for you...whether it's all the artificial stuff going into your body, or the acid that eats away at your teeth.

For other sugar-free drinks, you could try Crystal Light (or somethign similar). Some flavors have more artificial sugar aftertaste than others, but I really like them and they are super convenient...just mix a packet with water and you're ready to go!

UponThisRock

I don't see the problem

CMmrsfloyd

You are correct - the diet pop has no calories, so should not be going against your dieting. However, I remember reading somewhere they the aspartame in them actually make you hungry, where water would make you feel full.

I used to drink 2 diet drinks a day as well (coke, root beer, etc...), but decided that it's not healthy for me (saw a study that proves aspartame does not elave your body). Therefore, I slowly cut myself back to a couple of diet pops a week. And I do the opposite thatn you do - without the meals. I will allow myself a pop on a Friday night while watching a movie and having a snack, etc...

If you do want to cut it out, just try to cut it slowly.... one meal at a time. I know how difficult it is, but I can say that I crave it less and less each week. And I still get it now and then as a treat! ; )

As for a substitute, I honestly believe that you either need to have water or other calories (milk, fruit juice, etc...). If you just substitute it for another unsweetend drink (like Crystal Light), what's the purpose? You may as well just stay with the pop...

Good Luck!

I replaced my ridiculous diet mt. dew habit with water flavored with stuff made by Archer Farms that's sweetened with Stevia. I just like that stuff better than Crystal Light, but it's the same 'type' of thing. And I guess in my mind it's better that Stevia is more natural than aspartame, so in my head it feels good that I'm cutting back on the aspartame. The main purpose is that it's not loaded with caffeine like the diet mt. dew was, so I'm not caffiene-addicted like I used to be. Plus I really hate plain water. This is the only way I can make myself drink it.

Cathy92

just fyi...there is such a thing as 'aspartame poisoning'...I know I'm addicted to diet pop...I allow myself one a day and am working on getting it down to a 'small sized' pop. I'm going to ask my doctor to test me for the poisoning. Don't want to scare anyone...but the stuff is awful. I hope to give it up.

ArroganceInStep

Haha Not that kind. . . I am struggling to give up diet cokes. I have about 3 a day, normally with my meals. I tend to take spells where I want the cokes at meal time and then spells where I could care less. Right now, I want them. I allow only one can per meal. And only at meal times.

The cokes are calorie free. So what's the big deal of having a coke? Do I really need to limit myself more or give them up completely? If I do give them up, what is a good substitue besides water. I am a diabetic. So I really don't have sweet tea unless it made with "fake" sugar. My doctor has not said anything about limiting cokes . . . yet.

But the other kind is way more fun to talk about.

sm423

When I was gestational diabetic, the doctor told me to switch to diet soda (because I drank a lot regular soda), but she suggested only one a day. This may have been more for the caffeine factor. However, I could never really get use to the taste and I can only handle drinking so much water. So I started adding the crystal light packets to my water. It's only 10 calories for a whole packet that you would add to a 16oz bottle and there is no sugar. They come in many different flavors, my favorites are fruit punch and lemon. Sometimes I even use half of the lemon and strawberry to make strawberry lemonade. They are pretty good, you should try it.

skinnygirl1965

Drinking pop is just not good for you. A natural path once told me Diet pop was the worst! I also went to a class on improving your metabolism and was told there Diet Pop is poison and both of these people told me you will not be able to lose weight while diet pop is still in your diet. Try water with lemon juice or make some cold green tea and sweeten with stevia or agave necter. Just get off the coke roller coaster!

Xbella

Water is natural and what your body needs. Diet Coke, while I too love it isn't good for you. It stains your teeth, it does nothing to hydrate you. Coke was used at one time as a cleaner for car parts and other industrial things. Google the uses of Coke. Then think...do you want that in you??

withoutaname

I used to drink coke very, very often. I used to drink diet coke daily, then I got sick of it and then started drinking ordinary coke just as much. Clearly that didn't do too well for my health and weight.

Since I've joined MFP I have noticed how bad it is for me and that I shouldn't really drink anything apart from water/tea/coffee - so that's where I get my caffeine from nowadays.

I still have a coke occasionally because I still love the taste, but now it's once a week or once every two weeks if my allowance that day is good. It's surprising how easy it is to just stop. I've also switched to 175ml cans instead of a whole 600ml if I do have one, so I don't need to have so much!

Lozze

I also went to a class on improving your metabolism and was told there Diet Pop is poison and both of these people told me you will not be able to lose weight while diet pop is still in your diet

Funny I still drink it and have lost 18kg/41lbs...

I've cut down on it significantly. (I'm talking liters of the stuff) Since switching to water and only having half a liter a day I feel so much better. Im cutting out completely at Xmas time. Your body will love you for it!

LouPeters

If you are not ready to let go of the whole dc with each meal maybe try cutting it down a little. Instead of having a whole can have half, pour the rest down the sink so you wont be tempted to go back and have the other half. Or even more scary dont have any in the house for one meal and test yourself. Good Luck I know it is tough, I used to have 2 cans a day, loved it. Never thought I would stop, now I have it maybe twice a month :flowerforyou:

nadiB

I drink about 2.5L of diet coke a day and about 5 cups of coffee (black with fake sweet). I know some may think this is really bad and it probably is....but it is much better than the 6L of normal coke I used to have. And as far as addictions go, there are much worse things one can be addicted to

AshinAms

I used to drink a LOT of diet coke, in fact while I was losing the first 20 kilos I used it as a sort of crutch (instead of food). Then I plateau'd really badly and gave up the Diet Coke to see if it would help get over the plateau and it did. Now I have them if I'm out, but I made a little rule for myself - try only have diet coke when I am out with friends and must drink 'something' and if we buy it for home i get caffeine and sugar free CANS, not bottles - as I can drink my way through a big bottle, but will stop after one can.

Depends if you are an 'in moderation' kind of person or not. I am most certainly not.

DWilbanks

I used to drink 6 to 8 20oz. diet coke drinks a day, and now I'm down to one 10.5 oz drink in the mornings so that I can get a kick start for the day. In all honesty, I haven't missed them at all. I think it's how we programmed ourselves to be and once you reprogram that you don't need it, well you actually don't need it.

keiraev

I still have Diet Coke occasionally, but I have it as an alternative to alcohol if I am in a bar or club and either driving home or not wanting to drink. Sometimes I have it in a restaurant with a meal.

Personally I don't see anything wrong with it in moderation but some people worry about too much sweetner being dangerous. I don't know to be honest, I am sure one or two a day (if you feel to drinki it daily) can't be that bad..it's drinking gallons of the stuff that is definitely harmful/unhealthy.

jellybaby84

I was drinking anywhere between 4 - FIFTEEN can of diet coke a day. Massively out of control.

I have gone through sporadic phases of giving it up and 3 weeks in to a phase now. I feel SO much better and after a couple of days of wanting to die I don't find I need it anymore.

I am still allowing myself to have it in pubs and restaurants but when I went out on Saturday and had some I then didn't sleep for the entire night (seriously, fell asleep at 9am eventually!). It may have been conincidence as I do suffer from sporadic insomnia but I had been sleeping really well so I blame the caffeine.

divainme

I said no to Coke twice yesterday and I so needed the pick me up because I was sooooo tired..... Drank my coffee instead and that didn't even give me jolt of energy.

4thehardman

I used to drink at least 1.5lt a day! I had to stop and go cold turkey. never looked back. I had 4 days of headaches. Finding new ways to get energy, oddly, by moving more. I have no idea how that works!

january179

I too was addicted to diet sodas. It was a personal decision to give it up. I gave it up cold turkey and was falling asleep everywhere for a week...LOL The sweetener in diet sodas is horrible for your body and I have cleaned up my diet tremendously. I had a craving for the carbonation in soda so when I had that craving I drank some pellegrino which is the less salty of mineral waters and put a little pomegranate juice in it. Not as flavorful as soda but it got me through. I now just drink water but I am sure I will add tea and coffee back in in moderation. Just a personal preference to drink water instead of anything else cause my caffeine addiction was very high.

Jeff92se

I too was addicted to diet sodas. It was a personal decision to give it up. I gave it up cold turkey and was falling asleep everywhere for a week...LOL The sweetener in diet sodas is horrible for your body and I have cleaned up my diet tremendously. I had a craving for the carbonation in soda so when I had that craving I drank some pellegrino which is the less salty of mineral waters and put a little pomegranate juice in it. Not as flavorful as soda but it got me through. I now just drink water but I am sure I will add tea and coffee back in in moderation. Just a personal preference to drink water instead of anything else cause my caffeine addiction was very high.

Notice any weight loss?

january179

I have lost a total of 9lbs since I started on October 30th

Jeff92se

I was trying to see if you attributed any of that weight loss to the discontinuation of the diet sodas. Along the lines of the artifical sweetner still resulting in an insulin response, thus hindering weight loss.

2012Kristin

Although it may not work for everyone, based on my experience with a Coke addiction, that for me it was best to quit cold turkey.

Once I quit I would have bad caffeine withdrawal for a day or two (migraines all day), but was fine after that... Until I went back to soda and got hooked immediately. The cycle just kept repeating itself. I feel it is a lot harder to try and drink it responsibly than it is to just not drink it at all.

Now I don't drink it at all (going on about 3-4 wks). I get a craving every once in a while, but I just have to do my best and ignore it.

Good Luck!!

janelle97msu

Have you tried Mio water enhancer? Comes in several different flavors and it's really good!!