addiction, need help or advice please

I used to drink 1-2 cans of coke a day (and still remain skinny; gotta miss that metabolism!). I gradually cut it down by re-introducing coffee back into my diet. I tried sparkling water too but I realized I needed the caffeine fix. I would love to cut back on caffeine altogether, but at least coffee is healthier than all the chemicals in soft drinks!

I have an addiction to coke as well. I just fit it into my calories. It's not that difficult. Now, if you want to cut it out of your day because of high fructose corn syrup... mmmm


I got nothing for you. I love me some HFCS.

....Mom? Is that you...?

Try going back to Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Zevia Cola... basically, anything without the sugar. Then try replacing the soda with sparkling water (if you need more flavor, add lemon, cucumber, orange, strawberries, etc...) until you don't need soda anymore. I crave carbonation, but not soda, so I drink a LOT of sparkling water. Or if you're hooked on the caffeine, switch to coffee or tea and slowly work on reducing your intake of that. You need to figure out if it's the fizziness, caffeine, or flavor you're hooked on and try to find an alternative to that.

Cold turkey, doll. On both the smokes and the cokes.

Agreed.

I have dealt with friends with coke addictions before.... usually they go to rehab.


But seriously you gotta find something else that you like and can replace. what does Coke have...... caffeine and sugar. try some coffee for the caffeine and maybe some delicious mango juice for the sugar part. Its important to break bad habit rituals like smoking first thing in the morning, try to do some meditation or deep breathing exercises instead. If the "*kitten*" are your reason for the coke problem (still thinking about rehab) then stop smoking ftw

Will power. That's really what it comes down to. Change the habit via sheer will power and the addiction will take care of itself. Slowly change the regimen. Try this: Pour a half a can into a cup and drink only that with your *kitten*.....then slowly switch it up with diet...and then cut them all out together. Like weight loss, it's a slow process, but you can do it!

Addiction presents itself in all forms - it can be drugs, alcohol, sex, fast cars and soda. It doesn't mean it's any less serious.

I've never drank a lot of soda (apart from sparkling water) and never full fat soda so I can't really advise properly.

What I would suggest is cutting down slowly - like, really slowly. So instead of drinking 5 cans a day, drink 4.5 cans for 5 days/week. Then cut down to 4 cans for same time, then three, and so forth. Cut it down so gently that it is not as noticeable - don't go cold turkey because you are more likely to cave in to your addiction. I don't know if this would work, but could you dilute the coke with sparkling water? So drink "5" cans (but is actually 3 plus sparkling water).

I'd agree with the poster that said having a big glass of water beforehand may help.

I was addicted to alcohol (not full blown alcoholism, but very dependent on it) - I was fortunate in that illness prevented me from really drinking, therefore I stopped more or less cold turkey, but I've never taken it back up again and I feel so much better for not drinking.

My ex had an addiction to energy drinks - he drank 3+ a day and felt horrendous drinking them, but equally as horrendous off them. It won't be easy, but it WILL be a incredibly healthy step to make. The caffeine/sugar withdrawal will be the hardest part but you can do this - just think of how much money you'll save plus the health benefits. Set yourself realistic goals. Speak to a doctor or health professional about it.

Good luck x

methedone helped me...

put down the coke, give up the smoke, and start being awesome! I was a pepsi addict, first thing in the moring. one day I just stopped cuz I wanted to get healthy.

SodaStream!!! Less calories and less ingredients then regular cola. Plus you make it yourself and have more control of how much cola syrup you want to use.

Nooooo!! http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-stores-don-t-buy-or-sell-sodastream-3

Just power through, drink diet or zero. Yes you will have headaches and you will be mega grouchy for 2-3 days then you'll start to feel better, after a week or so you'll proli prefer diet coke again.

& yes you are right you will lose weight if you stop drinking it, just be sure you don't replace it with unhealthy stuff!!

I've been there going from full to diet, it is hard, but after a few days it is worth it.

I can't stand the taste of full fat coke now, it makes me feel sick and gives me heartburn. I used to drink around 4-6 cans a day. Now i have maybe 1 diet coke a day, sometimes 2!

drink the coke tons of it..the only way to "get rid" of that habit is to embrace it! let me knowwww

I have/had an addiction to Pepsi. I had a different problem than you do because the Pepsi would usually lead to more eating than I'd eat without it. Tried many times to reduce it down, but I would relapse each time. I finally had to just stop. I treated it as if I was an addict, because I was. I bought some Excedrin since it has the caffeine without the pleasant taste and when my headaches got too bad I would take one. It was hard and I didn't try to change my diet in any other way other than no Pepsi and no fast food for 3 months straight, but at the end I was done. I had built up new habits and Pepsi is not part of them.

I know that I cannot ever have another because I really am just one can. bottle, or cup away from craving it again. So if I want a soft drink, I'll get a root beer, Sprite, or 7-Up, all of which I like, but have never craved. No cola any more and I rarely drink a soda of any other kind. That's what I had to do.

quit smoking.... no need for a coke then.