Tips and Tricks for going Cold Turkey on Diet Sodas??

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  • BigMech
    BigMech Posts: 472 Member
    I kicked diet soda about a month ago. I switch to unsweetened iced tea when we are out, or Polar Seltzers if I still want a carbonated beverage. The Polar seltzers don't have any artificial flavors or sweeteners. Honestly, I can't really say I crave sweets less since I stopped drinking the diet soda, but I figure it's better for me in the long run.
  • gingerveg
    gingerveg Posts: 748 Member
    I just quit without weaning myself (last March) it wasn't hard. I drink tea so I still get caffeine and I carry an ungodly amount of water with me everywhere I go :)
  • Wenchilada
    Wenchilada Posts: 472 Member
    Did somebody say cold turkey diet soda?

    turkey-and-gravy-jones-soda-7.jpg
  • GenesisandEden
    GenesisandEden Posts: 338 Member
    I would drink about 64oz diet a day (all bubbly from a fountain). I had to quit cold turkey...started having massive headaches after an hour of drinking ~ it's been 5 months and no headaches. just do it and good luck
  • petitegreek
    petitegreek Posts: 144 Member
    Okay, 1-2 cans if I am at home. If I am at work, I drink about 24-32 oz. on top of the 1-2 cans I had at home.
    1-2 cans is a junkie? Damn son, I drink a gallon of diet soda a day.


    I've quit before, but then thought: Why?
  • Juashmom
    Juashmom Posts: 55
    I was drinking a lot of diet soda each day...one of the conviences stores had 42 oz drinks for .69 and I would stop once sometimes twice a day to get one...The first two days I was on MFP I gave it up completely but the headaches were unreal so day 3 when I felt the headache comming on I had a small glass (Maybe 6 oz). Did this for a day or two...Also, the couple times I've eaten out I get a diet soda but no refills...Now its been a few days since I've had one and no headaches.
  • petitegreek
    petitegreek Posts: 144 Member
    I've heard that even diet soft drinks aid in weight gain. I am trying to change one bad habit at a time. My next goal is to prepare healthy snacks/lunch in advance instead of grabbing something quick on the go. I am quite addicted to Subway. I really don't think it is that healthy, and it damages the wallet quickly.
    The main reason youl would "wean" yourself off of it is because Caffeine IS drug, and your body develops dependence and tolerenceto it. Most people who stop drinking soda tend to stop taking in caffeine cold turkey, so you will have withdrawal symptoms, especially if you're dependent on it. However, you would really only experience this if you stopped taking in caffeine. The same symptoms often times occur when people stop taking in artifical sweetners cold turkey as well too.

    However, if 1-2 cans a day is a junkie, then I'm definitely screwed. I generally have one can a day in the afternoons. Any specific reason you're looking to give it up? I'm always interested in hearing reasons why people eliminate things from their diet.
  • sobriquet84
    sobriquet84 Posts: 607 Member
    just stop buying them.

    the only time i would drink soda (which was diet soda-- i've never drank regular soda) was if i said yes to adding a drink to my lunch. i just stopped saying yes to adding to the drink and replaced it with my bottle of water. literally within 3 days, i felt so much better, and i never turned back.
  • DenyseMarieL
    DenyseMarieL Posts: 673 Member
    I was never a big pop drinker, but when the kids were small, I would always have juice or koolaid with them. One day it just clicked that I wasn't doing my weight any favors, and just switched to water. I set a good example for the kids, too, because now they drink more water and have milk with their meals most days.
    Now I love herbal teas. There are so many great flavors that they don't require any sugar.
  • Skinny_Beans
    Skinny_Beans Posts: 405 Member
    soda water + stevia + unsweetened drink mix

    My favorite is tamarind :p
  • jenniferinfl
    jenniferinfl Posts: 456 Member
    I quit drinking soda about 5 years ago. If you drink other things with caffeine like coffee or tea, then you don't have to worry about weaning yourself off of it. The cravings were horrible for about three weeks, but now I don't want soda at all. Seriously, I was given a Sprite instead of the water I ordered at a restaurant a few weeks ago. Old me would've been like, "yay, free soda!", but I called the waitress over to switch it over for water. It's actually funny because now I'm really sensitive to carbonated beverages. I simply cannot drink them without getting horrible stomach cramps. Now, if only I could get over french fries.. lol
  • sandkrain
    sandkrain Posts: 78 Member
    I did!
    I was a total addict - minimum two cans a day - NEVER missed a day (except during pregnancy).
    Then a friend said, what would happen if you just gave it up?? Try it for 30 days....
    And I did. I stopped drinking Diet soda that night and for the next 30 days. The first week was hard, but it got easier. Looked at my calendar and really focused on my commitment of the 30 days. It was a personal challenge - I REALLY wanted to proff this to myself; I reasoned, "If I can do this for 30 days, maybe I can really lose weight/stay on a diet/reach other goals"
    I did miss it, but I felt better, too. Drank lots of water/coffee/tea. Made a large pot of passion fruit (unsweetened) iced tea daily.
    Now - two months later, I do allow myself a diet soda if I really, really want it; but I am conscious not to make it a daily habbit.
    Feel proud of this accomplishment as I never thought I could do it!

    YOU can, too!!! Best wishes
  • chunkiedunker
    chunkiedunker Posts: 144 Member
    I use to drink sprite. regular sprite every single day, sometimes 2 or 3 20 ounce bottles. sometimes only one bottle. 5 days a week i was like this. i basically quit over night. i bought a water cup to work with me. i drink 1 to 3 of them a day now.

    your talking to a guy who HATED the taste of water. i use to make ice tea all the time. if my fridge ever went a day without a pitcher of iced tea it was because i wasn't there.

    today there is always a pitcher of brita filtered water. i still hate the taste of tap water. and if i am going to drink water, it has to be VERY COLD. but i have switched and went to water almost exclusively. i still drink tea at restraunts.

    today i can tell you i had a sprite a week or two ago. it was the first one in months. it tasted as good as ever, but i know if i want to make myself a healthier person i cant go back to drinking that every day. i need to do this. i need to lose weight. i want to. and pop isn't in my plan. do i still enjoy it. absolutely. but its a reward or treat to myself. and i log it and stay under my calories for that day with it.
  • chsmith79
    chsmith79 Posts: 240 Member
    I used to drink 5-7 cans of Diet Dr. Pepper a day. I quit cold Turkey. I drink water and Tea with sweetener(no sugar). After almost 2 mos. I had one and have drink a few since. Last week I drank about.....5-6 for the whole week and felt extremely bloated. Diet Soda=HIgh Sodium= Retain Water. The past few days I've "purged" with water. I've made more trips to the restroom than normal,but I feel better already. I first tried Crystal Light and will still drink on occasion, but the calories(10 per 16 oz.)did not seem worth it to me. For me, Cold Turkey is the only way to go.

    (I'm now thinking of leftover Fried Turkey sammiches)
  • eatcleanNtraindirty
    eatcleanNtraindirty Posts: 444 Member
    Tell yourself that you don't need it and don't want it several times throughout the day! Actually say the words out loud. It's all in your head, convince yourself that you don't want them.
  • ahviendha
    ahviendha Posts: 1,291 Member
    I went from diet to La Croix to nothing. Sometimes I use Arnold Palmer mix-ins if I'm bored of water. But that happens 1-2x a month.
  • danwood2
    danwood2 Posts: 291 Member
    Without reading all of the posts: I used to drink about 3-4 20oz sodas a day and then go home and drink a few 12oz cans during the night... yep, it was horrible - but the only thing that kept me going at work! :grumble:

    To get off of the diet soda fix, I started drinking more tea... started with sweet (artificial sweetner) tea and worked my way down to unsweetened tea... then changed it to water. I have been drinking water ever since. On occassion I will have a diet coke when my wife and I go out to eat but will not buy any for the house until just recently. Now, I can barely finish an entire can. It wasn't an overnight fix... it was a lengthy process but now it is easier to say no to a diet soda...

    Good luck
  • penrbrown
    penrbrown Posts: 2,685 Member
    Might I suggest getting those 0 cal drink flavor crystals to add to water to combat the 'sugar' desire?
  • dalh
    dalh Posts: 82 Member
    I am on day 37 of quitting diet coke cold turkey! AND I am a diet coke junkie! lol I'd been drinking 3 to 4 cans a day for years! I cut down to 1 can a day and increased my water intake. Went from just diet coke for my daily liquid intake to drinking at least 8 cups of water a day. And really? I found I was too full of water to really want a diet coke. Went for a couple of days without one. Then, when I did have a diet coke, it tasted funny. And it took me 3 hours to drink it. I haven't looked back. Now, will I ever have a diet coke again? Sure. I just don't NEED one now. And maybe I won't like the taste of the next one I try. I don't miss it. Just try to get a couple of days without one under your belt and go from there :smile:
  • petitegreek
    petitegreek Posts: 144 Member
    Well, I am proud to say that I survived day one lol. I had one cup of coffee this morning with stevia and 15 cups of water throughout the day :)

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