Need to quit drinking Coke. HELP!!

2»

Replies

  • dj_stevie_c
    dj_stevie_c Posts: 270
    I know how you feel.

    I was drinking up to 4ltrs of diet coke or pepsi max per day.

    I found great success just going cold turkey, putting up with the headaches for 2 or 3 days and then... everything was fine. I don't crave it any more I know how much damage it does to me and I want to be healthy.

    You can get off it, just need the willpower :)

    If the headaches get really bad a good strong coffee should help take the edge off but also drink PLENTY of water.

    Edit: I haven't touched coke/pepsi for a month and a half now. I'm convinced that's part of why I feel so good right now.
  • Michaela722
    Michaela722 Posts: 68
    If your only concern is the caffeine withdrawal, just take excedrin or advil for a few days. I gave up caffeine once (before kids) and I took Motrin every morning to get ahead of the headache. It lasted about 5 days and then I was caffeine free.
  • stefdye
    stefdye Posts: 8 Member
    To keep he caffeine but lose the sugar and chemicals, I drink iced tea. Tea has more caffeine than soda but less than coffee. At work I steep a tea bag in a mug then pour it over ice. You control the sweetener. I prefer unsweetened tea, but you can use stevia, splenda, equal or even sugar and you're still better off than the amount of sugar, chemicals and carbonation in soda. You can also flavor your tea with lemon, mint or anything you choose.
  • beckbeck
    beckbeck Posts: 31
    You could try telling yourself, "I can have that can/bottle of Coke, but first I have to have an apple with a tall glass of water (or a cup of green tea, which has some caffeine to boost your metabolism and cancer-fighting antioxidants)." Chances are, you'll feel good enough after that apple and water that you will drink less of the Coke, if any. I've learned that with just about ANYTHING in life, food or otherwise, instead of focusing on what you can't or shouldn't have, you have to put something better in your sights and focus on that. Don't even think about that big, fat "NO." Focus on the "YES." Yes to feeling better, looking better, eating and drinking the things that nourish you, and doing what you know is right. :)
  • AmandaR910
    AmandaR910 Posts: 991
    I drink Diet Coke daily, usually just one size medium from a fast food place. This is actually a reduction for me.

    I also make sure to drink my water everyday instead of a second (or third) Diet Coke.

    I'm planning to slowly wean off. I bought some bottles of Caffeine Free Diet Coke and it has like 60 sodium in it. Not perfect, but I figure if I can get to one of those daily, I'll be much better off. :)

    Good luck! You can definitely do it! I know a lot of people who cut out regular soda and dropped weight pretty quickly for a while because of it.
  • flannan
    flannan Posts: 45 Member
    Coke junkie too!
    I tried Diet and Zero but always come back to real Coke. What I have been able to do is wean from several full size cans to 2 of the newer 7.5 oz cans per day. Now I don't even finish those!
    It avoids cravings and headaches for me. I've been able to cut waaaay down on what I consumed before.
  • sdineen
    sdineen Posts: 5
    I was addicted to Coke as well. It is the only thing I ever drank. I just slowly weaned myself off of it over about three weeks drinking one less can every couple of days. I have been soft drink free now for three months and I feel great. I suffered through some headaches for a few days, but none since. I now drink 100% water and nothing else and I don't have any Coke cravings.
  • 20carrots
    20carrots Posts: 279 Member
    Cans of flavored seltzer water have replaced my lunchtime soda and I don't miss it at all! The only bummer is that they are more expensive than cans of soda....ah well I'm better off I guess. :drinker:
  • dj_stevie_c
    dj_stevie_c Posts: 270
    Sparkling water & Sugar free fruit cordial.

    Win.
  • SeanMurphy
    SeanMurphy Posts: 62
    Its probably been mentioned, but that headache you have is withdrawal. If you suffer through it (take some non caffinated analgesics like tylenol or advil) for a day or two, it will go away. Keep hydrated with water during the withdrawal period. I've had those headaches so bad that i've been on my back.

    Physiologically, the withdrawal headaches from caffeine are migraines. Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it constricts the blood vessels in the brain. When you get used to this on a steady diet of coke, and then go off it, your brain blood vessels dilate, just as during a migraine attack.

    They will go away after less than a day, and in a couple days you will be physically free of caffeine's grip. You'll find yourself so much more alert once you get off it. Caffeine addicted folks use caffeine to bring them to a normal level, it doesn't give you a boost, it just brings you to where you should be. Once you're free of it, you'll find you have more energy all day and don't crash later in the afternoon like you do now if you skip a can.
  • Scorpiomom222
    Scorpiomom222 Posts: 1,462 Member
    What worked for me, and this may not even work for you, but........ I was super addicted to Mountain Dew. I thought there was no hope to stop. BUT....... I stuck it out for two days and flushed my system with 8- 8oz glasses of water per day for two days. I tried to drink some after the two days, and GAGGED!!! :sick:

    I couldn't believe I had been drinking something so disgusting! I have had MAYBE 10 oz of soda since I started on here and drink LifeWater and regular tap water now and couldn't be happier. For caffeine, (which I have also cut down on) I just drink one cup AFTER exercise.

    *Edited to add that I used to drink 1.5 liters of Mountain Dew a day, EVERYDAY!!!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories