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MyFitnessPal Community

How do I give up diet coke??

twentyxthree

Has any one out there given up diet coke? If so, how did you do it?

It's sad to say, but I'm addicted to it. I have been drinking it for over 10 years now and know how bad it is for me, but I just can't stop drinking it. I consume at least 8-10+ glasses of water a day and drink at least 2-3 cans of soda with meals. I rarely drink coffee, if I do, it's probably once or twice a month and I get a large iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts.

I am starting weight watchers again next week and hope to finally get on track and lose weight.

Replies

sudmom

Ok-here is some help... check out what Diet Coke does to your teeth! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/28/diet-soda-teeth-similar-to-meth-photos_n_3348158.html

Mokey41

Why do you want to give it up? If it's diet it isn't going to help your weight loss and if you are used to the caffeine and you want to quit then you probably want to wean off or go through a couple days of banging headaches.

amlyrod

I just had to cold turkey. I started replacing it with other options like an unsweetened tea or indulged in something like lemonade with my meals. it is really hard at first, but I am finding the longer i go without it, the less I want it.

Ninkyou

I drank full calorie/sugar soda before my journey. When I started on MFP, I gave it up cold turkey and switched to 100% water. It;s worked well for me so far. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and do it.

vypeters

Stop drinking it. Don't buy it. Don't keep it in your house. Don't keep cash for soda machines. You'll have headaches a few days and it will be over.

I am not being snarky. This is how I did it in January 2011. So far, so good.

MyFreakingNameIsScott

It wasn't diet coke for me but Squirt. I "had" to have it. Decided one day I was done with soda, completely. Dropped 5 pounds alone from cutting it out in the first couple of weeks avoiding it. That was eons ago and I've definately found a myriad of ways to get that 5 pounds back and not in a good way. I can honestly say that through the course of a year however, I can probably count the cans of soda I have on two hands with fingers to spare.

For me it was one part health, a lot of parts modeling better habits for my kids and my athletes.

ScatteredThoughts

Ok-here is some help... check out what Diet Coke does to your teeth! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/28/diet-soda-teeth-similar-to-meth-photos_n_3348158.html

Wow. A 3 person study. I'm sure lack of dental hygiene was not a factor.

MamaCatO

I am a recovering addict, ex smoker and ex soda drinker. If I can do all that, you can stop drinking diet coke. You have to WANT to do it. I haven't done drugs in 7 years, had a cigarette in 6 1/2 years and I gave up soda a year ago. I drink sparkling waters because I crave the bubbles. I recently had to give up coffee as well because I have IBS problems and coffee sets them off and makes me sick, so I'm pretty much caffeine free as well. If you REALLY want to do it, you can.

H_Factor

In April 2011, I gave up soda (diet mountain dew was my preference). Also, I have never had coffee in my life...so, essentially, I was cutting out all caffeine at the time. The first few days, I had some hazy caffeine-withdrawal-related haze/headaches...but once I got past those first few days, I was good. And, once I started drinking more and more water...and getting further removed from caffeine and other crap they put in soda....I started having MORE energy during the day. You see, most folks don't realize that caffeine may give you a boost, but it also brings you down. So...gone with caffeine and gone with the up and down energy roller coaster that it brought.

Anyway...you asked how...the answer is that you just have to do it, know its going to suck for a few days (maybe even a week), and believe that you will feel much better after that initial crap 3-7 days.

WendyTerry420

If you want to quit drinking it, then do so. The only physical addiction here is the caffeine. You can choose to drink black tea or coffee to avoid withdrawal. If you enjoy it, then drink it.

goshnames

I was actually JUST about to walk to the store to get a diet coke...but after looking at those teeth in that link....I think I'll just have some water.

WendyTerry420

Ok-here is some help... check out what Diet Coke does to your teeth! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/28/diet-soda-teeth-similar-to-meth-photos_n_3348158.html

Wow. A 3 person study. I'm sure lack of dental hygiene was not a factor.

Comparing it to meth is beyond absurd.

nibblesbunny

Don't buy it anymore. Drink water instead. If you need something flavoured, try adding a slice of lemon or lime to your water, or some fresh raspberries.

doomspark

I quit cold-turkey. Before that, I was drinking 1 or 2 cans a day.

Mariposa_Lily

One idea is to buy a soda stream machine and make your own carbonated water; then at least you can get your fizzy fix while you're trying to deal with the caffeine addiction part. (I researched a bit to double check; multiple studies seem to indicate that plain carbonated water is not harmful to your teeth or to the rest of your body. It's the stuff that's often mixed with it--like the cola concentrate--that does the nasty stuff.) The company makes water flavorings, but I quit using them after a while and just started putting my own fresh lemon or lime or orange juice in. And, now I usually just drink it plain!

(For times away from the house, there's always canned carbonated water like La Croix. But, that can get pricy for home use....)

yoscarlino

I went cold turkey! started bringing water with me. Head aches for a few days and then I was good.

sharonfoustmills

I gave up diet mountain dew after 30-something years of drinking nothing but diet mtn dew; I just quit cold turkey because I found if I even drink one of them then I go on a binge and end up drinking nothing but them again-- you must have a plan, you must have lots of other drinks on hand to consume-- the caffeine withdrawal is completely gone after three days, so you only have to make it 3 DAYS! after than anything you are experiencing is psychological

mlreyes_09

Watch "Hungry for Change." It's a documentary about the American diet & food industry. They talk a lot about how bad diet soda is for you - and how bad aspartame is for your body.

sharonfoustmills

Why do you want to give it up? If it's diet it isn't going to help your weight loss and if you are used to the caffeine and you want to quit then you probably want to wean off or go through a couple days of banging headaches.

because those artificial sweeteners in diet soda are death in a can, that's why!

danarod23

agreed!

sharonfoustmills

In April 2011, I gave up soda (diet mountain dew was my preference). Also, I have never had coffee in my life...so, essentially, I was cutting out all caffeine at the time. The first few days, I had some hazy caffeine-withdrawal-related haze/headaches...but once I got past those first few days, I was good. And, once I started drinking more and more water...and getting further removed from caffeine and other crap they put in soda....I started having MORE energy during the day. You see, most folks don't realize that caffeine may give you a boost, but it also brings you down. So...gone with caffeine and gone with the up and down energy roller coaster that it brought.

Anyway...you asked how...the answer is that you just have to do it, know its going to suck for a few days (maybe even a week), and believe that you will feel much better after that initial crap 3-7 days.

I also found it gave me more energy once I quit them, and it stopped my crohn's symptoms and my osteoarthritis symptoms

pbrahan

In the words of Bob Newhart, "Just stop it"

I'm curious why you're starting WW. MFP takes out the step of converting to points and is free!

daniellemm1

It took me three months to get off the diet pop. I had to sloowwly cut down and add water. Now I drink a ton of water and only have a diet pop sometimes at a restaurant if I forget to bring my own water or that's not appropriate (that's because I don't drink tap water and don't want other sugary drinks). I thought that I would miss it since it has been a major staple in my life (at least a 2 liter a day)since college almost 20 years ago but I don't miss it at all. Good luck!!!!

redheaddee

To start with, stop buying it.

Coke eats corrosion off batteries & scum out of toilets. Imagine what that does to your teeth.

pippywillow

I gave up diet pepsi cold turkey.

I used to drink 2 liters a day, and usually 1 or 2 energy drinks. Then I went a day without it and the headaches were horrible. I realized it's unnatural to be so dependent on something as silly as a beverage. It's not substance, I don't need it to survive. So I just stopped drinking it. (I also gave up all caffeine)

Now all I drink is water, and occasionally flavored seltzer water or juice as a treat. Now that my body's used to going without caffeine I realized I never really needed it to begin with.

Last week I thought I'd treat myself to a diet pepsi while out to dinner, it was gross. I can't believe I used to think I needed that.

ChrisLindsay9

I gave up an 80-100 oz diet pepsi habit by slowly weaning myself off of it. I bought the mini 8oz. bottles. And would drink 1/2 bottle at a time, a couple-few times a day. Then I would try to go a little longer without drinking it, til I was drinking a 1/2 bottle only twice a day. What usually prompted me to start drinking it was when I would start feeling the beginning of a headache coming on. Usually a half of a mini-bottle was sufficient to ward off the headache. Over time, I could go 2-3 days without having any diet soda. And eventually, I stopped all-together. It took me about 3-4 weeks of weaning. And after about 5-6 months, I no longer missed it (nor remembered how it tasted).

I now drink water almost exclusively. Low-Cal Lemonade or Sobe Lifewater on occasion with a meal.

Good luck!

If you're in a state where there's a deposit on the cans/bottles, the best part of giving up soda is no longer having to return that crap to the store. Heh!

jmreich30

Don't buy it and leave it in the house. I was once like you, drank a 2 liter or so of diet a day. That helped the most and make sure you don't substitute it with sweetened drinks like juices or ice teas either. For caffeine I have my coffee in the morning with two truvia and fat free half and half. Every once in a while I'll have a gatorade or powerade when working out in the heat just to try to get the necessities back up. But at this point I don't crave sweet drinks like I used to.

Everyonce in a while when I go out I'll get a diet coke because I want one. But after being soda free in the house for the last 6 months I don't feel like I need one.

Lili0817

Forget the artificial sweetners, just drink water!! Or water w/ lemon or a slice of cucumber. Like others have said, you have to REALLY want it, like bad.. officially decide you are quitting... like really decide and make up your mind, like FOR SURE. Otherwise, you will go back to your soda drinking ways. I think decreasing your soda intake, to eventually zero soda might be easier on you. Good luck, do it!!

sevsmom

I am just over 4 months "free" of diet Dr Pepper (my transition soda from 20 years of diet Coke addicition). I love soda. I love carbonation. I love the taste.

When I make a big change, I have to have a plan. In this case, I decided to use unsweetened home brewed iced tea as my caffeine replacement. I bought a neat leak-proof pitcher that I could transport back & forth to work that allows you to steep the tea in a little basket. I bought some flavored tea bags to included with standard tea when I brew for some flavor variety.

Then, I had to just stick to the plan. Eating out? Iced tea or water. Friends house, iced tea, water or nothing. I had to eliminate it. I can't have one here or there or I'll be right back at it. My multiple failed attempts at ditching diet soda taught me that!!

Make a plan. And then stick to it. In a few months, you'll be amazed that soda had as big an impact on you as it does right now.

carolachristensen

I stopped drinking diet coke more than a year ago. I did it gradually. I had been drinking more than 6 a day and sometimes even more. Since I don't like coffee, I would start my day a diet coke. That was the last diet coke I cut out. I first cut out the ones that were easiest for me: the evening ones and the ones with dinner. I took very small steps and I did not have caffeine with headaches. I did find I craved carbs less and I even lost 15 pounds without trying too hard. I feel so much better knowing those bad chemicals are no longer being poured into my body daily. Good Luck!