We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Quitting Diet Soda

Tewsy87
Tewsy87 Posts: 55 Member
edited January 29 in Food and Nutrition
I need help! I want to quit diet soda. I have like 2-3 per day, but the recent research on diet soda has me scared. People who did quit it, how did you do it? And what products/drinks did you substitute for caffeine? For those who don't know what I talking about read the link below from CNN.

http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/10/diet-soda-may-do-more-harm-than-good/

Replies

  • diggswood
    diggswood Posts: 47 Member
    I am not surprised at this study. I gave up diet soda a couple of years ago and it was one of the best decisions I have made in my life.

    So, in order to quit, I decided that diet soda was hurting my health. I had headaches for about two weeks and cravings. I drank lots of water and still do. I also needed to sleep more for about two weeks after I quit so I allowed myself to do that.

    I feel so much better eliminating diet soda from my diet. On a side notes, my trips to the dentist are awesome - no more issues. The acid in soda wrecks your teeth. I don't drink any caffeine now and I get much, much better sleep which helped my overall health as well.
  • tinylightsbelow
    tinylightsbelow Posts: 85 Member
    Try substituting green tea! Contains caffeine, but undeniably healthy and also in more reasonable quantities.
  • c7eat2live
    c7eat2live Posts: 308 Member
    I tend to crave the carbonation more than anything...so I substituted kombucha!! It has the fizz, and a little flavor, is good to REDUCE adic in the body versus what soda does which is increase it, and its super low cal! I like Synergy Cranberry, Passionberry, Mango etc. Also substitue tons of iced (unsweetened!) tea especially green and mango black with lemon, and seltzer water. Good luck! Your body will thank you!
  • dwh77tx
    dwh77tx Posts: 513 Member
    I gave it up cold turkey. I had to for health reasons. I used to crack open a cold diet coke every afternoon with my snack. But, once I realized that drinking it was really hurting me (literally) I stopped. Same with coffee. If you really want to do it, you will. If you would suggest tapering off maybe. Reduce the 2 or 3 to 1 a day, then none. good luck!
  • EmilyMcD84
    EmilyMcD84 Posts: 46 Member
    I just had to quit cold turkey. I felt like I had the flu and was a walking zombie for a few days. Once I got past that and the headaches I was fine.

    The reason I chose to do it that way, was I couldn't wean myself off slowly. It was either I drank it all day or not at all. I realize my method isn't the best for everyone.

    I've heard sparkling water is a good thing to drink if you're going to cut back slowly.

    If you have the withdrawal headaches be careful of certain pain relievers as they have caffeine.
  • Tewsy87
    Tewsy87 Posts: 55 Member
    Thanks for all the help everyone!
  • kaseyAnne425
    kaseyAnne425 Posts: 230
    If you're craving that carbonated deliciousness, try Fruit Water (by the makers of Vitamin Water.) They have AWESOME flavors, they're carbonated, do NOT contain aspartame, and have 0 calories, fat, sugars, sodium. They're so yummy! That helped me.
  • Xoe4
    Xoe4 Posts: 38 Member
    Carbonated water. I just like the carbonation more than anything so sparkling water helps curb my cravings.
  • MarioLozano16
    MarioLozano16 Posts: 319 Member
    Coffee is tasty
  • reba020
    reba020 Posts: 55 Member
    Where do you find Fruit Water and how much is it?
  • kayemmgee5
    kayemmgee5 Posts: 86 Member
    I gave it up and just quit cold turkey. It wasn't easy! All I drank was coffee, water, and diet coke. Now I have 1 cup of coffee in the morning and then water all day and all night. Invest in a good quality water bottle and refill throughout the day. Sometimes I add fruit to mine to enhance the flavor, most the time I just drink it plain. It's one of the best things you'll do!

    I honestly thought I'd miss it more...I watched my husband crack open a can of ice cold diet coke (Diet Coke in a can was my all time fav) just this past weekend and didn't even want one sip. I was perfectly content with my ice water.

    I think once you change your habits, your tastes change.
  • erindh87
    erindh87 Posts: 94
    I gave up diet soda cold turkey on July 1st. Now in the mornings I drink either green tea or herbal tea instead. In the evenings, I drink flavored carbonated water (no calories or aspartame). I've also found the flavored water is sweet enough that I don't eat quite as much chocolate in the evenings. I still crave diet soda a little, but hopefully in the next month or two those cravings will subside completely.

    Good luck!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories