how did you get rid of diet soda?

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13

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  • NicoWoodruff
    NicoWoodruff Posts: 369 Member
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    Diet soda is even more yucky than the real thing.. after awhile off them they become unappealing. I grew up drinking lots of the stuff, now it never crosses my mind.

    My tip; what helped me get off them back when was - flavored seltzer water, check the health food store if your regular grocer doesn't have it. (Oddly it's hard to find in the southern US, maybe because it's more of a NY Deli type thing.) You could have a store order it for you if nothing else, there are generic brands, Scottish ones, and French flavored seltzer waters too.

    The Scottish orange flavor and French raspberry ones are my favorites. If you find them not sweet enough at first try stirring in some simple syrup like the stuff you can get to sweeten coffee at a coffee shop. Then cut back on the sweet over time until you need it less or not at all.
  • 366to266
    366to266 Posts: 473 Member
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    Do you have fruit "tea" in your country? AKA fruit infusions.

    I have blackcurrant ones and strawberry, and there are many others. No carbs, no calories and no caffeine.

    Put two bags into a half pint of boiling water and leave to infuse for a good half hour.

    Top up to the pint with sparkling water.

    Voila -- a fizzy, sweet, fruity drink for zero calories or carbs.
  • lawtechie
    lawtechie Posts: 708 Member
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    When you tried and failed , how long did you try? How much are you drinking per day? I used to have over 40 oz of Diet Coke per day, and even more at the movies. Over a month or so, cut back to where it was just 1-12oz every other day and then 1-12 oz per week (unless at movies). Now I'm to the point where I'll just drink it at the movies and you know what... I Don't really care for the taste. I'll drink water like no tomorrow -- over 150 oz some days.

    If you're eating healthy and watching the other sweets, I think cutting back over time and then drinking so little will help ween you off the taste. and drink more water.
  • Leslietheriot
    Leslietheriot Posts: 303 Member
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    I gave up Coke Zero ONLY because of the studies that I have ready about Aspartame. The digestive issues that it causes and the other health related issues were enough for me to quit. Now I only drink water and black coffee. It was hard but soooo worth it.
  • Textmessage
    Textmessage Posts: 387 Member
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    Personally, I just quit soda altogether. I was drinking so much of it on a daily basis, I felt that removing it was better for my health overall.

    Maybe I'll have some again one day, as a treat or something, but for now I'd rather just have water.
  • sgtbrown
    sgtbrown Posts: 58 Member
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    I am a Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi addict. I am going to try the water with fruit juice approach. My last 2-liter is in the fridge. When it's gone.....it's gone. Several people have told me that the artificial sweeteners are treated just like sugar in your body. Lots of recent press on this. Not worth the risk.
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
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    Lost a few pounds drinking it everyday and don't plan to quit anytime soon.. Have 2 or 3 a day along with my 120+ oz. of water..... Best of Luck.......
  • SueFromRI
    SueFromRI Posts: 206 Member
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    I switched to caffeine free diet Pepsi. When I went out to eat I would order a water with lemon. So that cut down my soda intake to about 10 a day. I was careful not to have caffeine soda once I broke the addiction. I substituted Diet Sierra Mist / Sprite when I could, or even root beer. Then diet Coke and diet Pepsi started tasting funny. I bought a Brita filter water bottle and started drinking from that. It took a year of actively trying to break the habit, but I have been soda free for over 6 months.
  • Judddilicious
    Judddilicious Posts: 7
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    Do you have fruit "tea" in your country? AKA fruit infusions.

    I have blackcurrant ones and strawberry, and there are many others. No carbs, no calories and no caffeine.

    Put two bags into a half pint of boiling water and leave to infuse for a good half hour.

    Top up to the pint with sparkling water.

    Voila -- a fizzy, sweet, fruity drink for zero calories or carbs.

    This is exaclty what I did when I quit diet fizzy.

    My fave is blood orange with cranberry by twinnings. Lots of ice and fresh mint!
  • 0hhCarolina
    0hhCarolina Posts: 14
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    I have come to suspect that diet soda is formulated to be quite addictive. I found that cold turkey was the best. Once I kept it out of the house and just said no, it became easy. It only takes one for me to cause me to crave more and more. I now drink a lot of green tea, of which there are different flavours, and it's healthy too. Good luck!
  • strings55
    strings55 Posts: 2
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    Ice tea with lemon juice has always been my drink (no sweetener). I also have coffee, but only once (in the morning). Also, water with lemon juice. Occasionally (for a meal) I'll make myself juice, or a smoothie. Also, considering that you can successfully clean your toilet bowl with any colas, and the fact that medical science has found out that diet sodas cause depression, and is possibly a contributing factor to Alzheimer's, if you're a heavy diet soda drinker, you may want to detox at a juice bar for a week (after a doctor's appointment, and his OK to do it).
  • DOElston
    DOElston Posts: 102
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    Sparking water with lemon got me over my soda habit. The bubbles really helped! :)
  • z_kickingkilos
    z_kickingkilos Posts: 15
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    wow, thankyou everyone for all the love and replies!!!! I'm cutting to one glass a day from tomorrow!
  • z_kickingkilos
    z_kickingkilos Posts: 15
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    Cold Turkey baby! If you don't have it in the house...you can't drink it. I only drink water and a 1/4 soymilk (in my coffee). Get rid of all the carbonated junk. Only makes you want something sweet.

    I agree, I crave something 'sweet' so do I eat something sweet then?
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
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    The first thing I did was to start ordering water whenever I eat out. I've done it so much now that it's a habit and I don't even think twice about it. Also, I know some people fear it, but I started drinking diet, generic koolaid instead. It tastes good, has no calories (or very few) and now when I drink soda, the carbonation kind of bothers my stomach so I don't even want it. In the summer I make my own fruit flavored water with fresh, crushed fruit, ice and water. It's pretty good.
  • z_kickingkilos
    z_kickingkilos Posts: 15
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    When you tried and failed , how long did you try? How much are you drinking per day? I used to have over 40 oz of Diet Coke per day, and even more at the movies. Over a month or so, cut back to where it was just 1-12oz every other day and then 1-12 oz per week (unless at movies). Now I'm to the point where I'll just drink it at the movies and you know what... I Don't really care for the taste. I'll drink water like no tomorrow -- over 150 oz some days.

    If you're eating healthy and watching the other sweets, I think cutting back over time and then drinking so little will help ween you off the taste. and drink more water.

    I tried for three weeks and then gave up.
    Second time, for 1 month but did have lemonade ,ade from lemons, splenda and sparkling water.
    So defeats the purpose!
  • TheRunningGuppy
    TheRunningGuppy Posts: 651 Member
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    I went cold turkey. But I wasn't a big drinker of it in the first place, so I haven't found it hard not to be drinking it. I grew up in a home where any kind of soda was rare, but my husband grew up having it on hand all the time. So he still drinks it, in moderation, but I have not had any in a month and it isn't bothering me at all. I have the occasional glass of crystal light if I'm wanting something besides water, coffee or milk.
    Good luck with weaning yourself off it!
  • z_kickingkilos
    z_kickingkilos Posts: 15
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    Thanks again everyone. Lets see how I deal with this now.
    It certainly gives me hope seeing that I'm not the only one here!
  • clarkeje1
    clarkeje1 Posts: 1,637 Member
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    I just stopped drinking it. At work we have a water cooler(one that actually keeps the water ice cold) So I just continuously refill my water bottle while I am working so I don't get thristy. I keep water in the refridgerator at home and I only drink that. I do not buy soda at ALL.

    THIS

    I just had to get used to it. Now I crave water and don't want anything else!
  • lbesaw
    lbesaw Posts: 267 Member
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    It can take some time. I kicked that monkey on my back at least 12 years ago. I might have 2 sodas a year--maybe. I switched to unsweetened black and green iced tea as my go to beverage. I don't want to drink my calories and I find it very satisfying. I try to drink only calorie free drinks and try to avoid artificial sweeteners so I opt for coffee/tea/water and 100% juices when I need something to drink. Good luck---

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