Hi, My name is Sam, and I'm a Diet Coke Addict...

usmcpatience
usmcpatience Posts: 168
edited September 27 in Health and Weight Loss
Yes, sadly, it's true. It was an accident. It just happened one day. I went from never drinking soda to finding myself a sophmore in college guzzling diet coke daily. Since beginning MFP I've wrangled my Diet Coke Addiction down a bit. I no longer drink caffinated Diet Coke, but nevertheless, I'm still finding myself drinking two or three Caffeine Free Diet Cokes a day!

HELP! I WANT to stop, but it's even more difficult than I imagined! They're like a sweet freebie for me on my diet!

I know all of the millions of reasons why I should stop drinking them, but I've yet to free myself entirely. Has anyone out there freed themselves from this addiction? How? Did you find a replacement? Do you notice any differences in your weight loss since quiting?

Thanks for the input, guys. I love MFP and all of the wonderful people in it!

Replies

  • stepherjensen
    stepherjensen Posts: 49 Member
    Hello my name is Stephanie, and I too am a diet caffeine free coke addict...looking forward to the answers!

    BUMP!
  • LeonaB17
    LeonaB17 Posts: 304
    HI SAM! I'm an addict too - Diet Coke, Diet Sprite, Pepsi Maxx - yep it's bad for you - but I haven't quit either.
  • LilChickPea
    LilChickPea Posts: 122 Member
    I LOVE Coke Zero. I usually allow myself 1 a day. However, what I really love about it is the carbonation. So, I drink flavored, carbonated water. It so good!!! No calories or sodium. That's how I do it. Good Luck!
  • DerGraf
    DerGraf Posts: 40 Member
    I have come as your saviour....

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvFRLIjOLOU
  • bcpie
    bcpie Posts: 89
    Whenever i get addicted to something like diet soda, it doesn't go away until i become addicted to something else. D: good luck
  • popchex
    popchex Posts: 52 Member
    I'm with you. It's so hard. For me, it's helped a bit that my husband quit drinking coke/diet coke at all, so we stopped buying it by the case. Now if I see it on sale, I'll get a bottle or two, and then don't buy it again for the rest of the week. But I still want it. lol
  • chanstriste13
    chanstriste13 Posts: 3,277 Member
    i dig me some soda too, but not diet! why don't you alot yourself a certain amount of the real thing? i drink 8 ounces of the soda of my choice about 3 or 4 times per week. sure, it's not a freebie, but it's something i really look foward to, and i have to be accountable for it since it's not calorie free. because i have to count the calories, i'm mindful of it, but because i allow myself to have it and i know i can have more soon, i never feel like i need to guzzle it down. aside from that, i stick to water (about 96 ounces per day) and a couple glasses of milk. best of luck to you!
  • bjshields
    bjshields Posts: 677 Member
    Oh, I'm so glad I'm not the only one!! I really REALLY am working on food -- I think it's the key to weight loss & maintenance -- but Diet Coke and its ilk (including Coke Zero) call my name. Daily. My problem is exacerbated by the fact that my diabetic husband refuses to give up diet soda and drinks the equivalent of probably a six-pack a day (he gets large Diet Cokes from McD's probably 3X a day). Now my KIDS are drinking soda. UGH, if anybody has any great advice, let us have it! Thanks for the post, it helps to know I'm not alone.:smile:
  • spinjamen
    spinjamen Posts: 1
    Hi, my name is Ben and I am addicted to Diet Coke as well. I used to drink between 8-12 cans / glasses of Diet Coke a day. I was drunk...what can I say.

    I within the past two weeks I have cut my consumption down to one Diet Coke a day. I tried to go cold turkey and did for about 4 days but then came the headaches.

    Just cut back slowly.
  • cobarlo14
    cobarlo14 Posts: 582 Member
    This may sound silly but what if you watered it down (Alittle at a time).....So you can ease into Water...

    I know your all shaking your heads but I thought it might be a good way to wean off of it

    Treat yourself to it once a day.....

    Just a thought - Good luck!!!!
  • sbogemann
    sbogemann Posts: 3
    I was a fountain coke addict as well. (Not diet....ewwwww!) I swear McDonald's put something in them to make me crave them!! But I haven't had one since January when I started MFP. All I can say is I just quit drinking them all together. I don't even have one as a "treat" for myself because I know if I have one I won't be able to stop drinking them. It's like a bandaid.....just rip it off! I can honestly say, I don't even desire them anymore. But I have become a coffee addict, so I don't know if that is any healthier, a lot less calories though.
  • little_wolfie
    little_wolfie Posts: 91
    I'm on the caffeine free nectar myself. It is dangerous. I am going to try and go off it next week but I don't know how well I'm gonna do. I quit soda altogether when I was 16-19 but now I am back on it and addicteeeeddd. Maybe we should start a support group!
  • peanutrenee
    peanutrenee Posts: 179
    hey im renee and im addicted to diet pepsi, but ive kicked the habbit its been about 2 mo since my last full one.. i dropped it cold.. IT SUCKED>.. < but its do able... go down to one a day.. and ease in to water its better and ull honestly feel sooo much better.. and u honestly will loose weight from getting rid of it..
  • gillianjoon
    gillianjoon Posts: 96 Member
    I love diet Coke too but I have started drinking flavoured sparkling water not as bad as the Coke but you get the Fizzzzzzz and sweetness without the colorings and sodium try it.
  • Mrs_TrimWaistFatWallet
    Mrs_TrimWaistFatWallet Posts: 486
    *everyone* Hiii Saaamm...
  • cobarlo14
    cobarlo14 Posts: 582 Member
    I LOVE Coke Zero. I usually allow myself 1 a day. However, what I really love about it is the carbonation. So, I drink flavored, carbonated water. It so good!!! No calories or sodium. That's how I do it. Good Luck!

    Me too
    I'll have diet cherry coke zero 2-3 nights a week with dinner
  • PlanetVelma
    PlanetVelma Posts: 1,223 Member
    Hi, my name is Monica and I am a recovering Diet Coke Addict. LOL

    Actually I have been tapering myself down for about the last 2-3 months. I was down to 1 a day, than I started skipping days (I would have iced tea on the days I didn't have Diet Coke). Now I had a Diet Coke last Friday and that has been all for the last couple weeks (roughly).

    I did notice I'm not as bloated and I'm drinking WAY more water - which is a good thing. :)
  • PlanetVelma
    PlanetVelma Posts: 1,223 Member
    http://celestinechua.com/blog/5-reasons-to-quit-drinking-soda-drinks-and-how-to-do-it/

    I found this interesting.....this is just reason #1, copy/paste the link above to read the whole article. :)

    1. Counteractive to Weight Loss Efforts
    One 330ml can of Coke contains around 160 calories. Assuming you drink one can of Coke every day: that’s 4800 extra calories every month or 1.4lbs. In a year, that adds up to 57,600 extra calories or 16.8lbs. Granted, you will not be gaining an absolute 16.8lbs since our body metabolism adapts accordingly from consuming more/less calories, but you will clearly be gaining weight by drinking Coke/soda drinks over other healthier, lower calories options.

    Contrary to popular belief, Diet Coke/soda is counteractive to weight loss efforts as well. I used to think Diet Coke should be a diet staple when I was trying to lose weight, which I later I found out wasn’t the case at all. Diet soda has been found to increase possibility of weight gain by 41%. While there are many theories explaining this counter-intuitive finding, I thought to test this out for myself. I tried the following two scenarios in separate stretches of time: one drinking diet coke and another drinking just water.

    The result? I found a much higher tendency to go into binging attacks when I drink diet coke. The most plausible explanation I found is artificial sugar in diet sodas confuses your body when it tastes something sweet that isn’t sugar. As a result, it makes your body crave for actual, sweet food. So while you may be taking in 0 calories from drinking diet soda, there is a higher likelihood you will grab consume more food after drinking the soda, which then leads to weight gain.
  • youngph
    youngph Posts: 4 Member
    I used to drink 5 or 6 cans of Coke Zeros a day. As soon as I finished my coffee, I went straight to the coke.
    About a year ago I cut it back to 2 cans a day. I would purposely wait until at least lunch time to drink the coke, so once I was done with my morning coffee I would have to drink water or tea until lunch time. If I finished the first can too quick (like with my lunch) I would purposely wait until about 2 hours later so I wasn't running to the vending machine at work to buy another can, or worse a bottle.
    About 2 months ago I cut out the 2 cans a day and now I have about 1-2 cans a month, and that's just if I'm going out to run a day of errands (I tend to drink soda rather slowly so it lasts a while).

    So I guess my suggestion is to try and cut it out slowly otherwise you will go through some nasty caffeine withdrawal headaches. I went to the flavored water (even just using those powdered flavorings for some sweetness is good). Now my big kick is tea. I drink anywhere from 2-5 cups of tea a day. It's hard to cut it out at first, but eventually you don't miss it. I think right now, the only reason I'm still drinking what I have is because I don't want it to sit here for a year :)
  • DeathIsMyGift
    DeathIsMyGift Posts: 434 Member
    I have come as your saviour....

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvFRLIjOLOU

    thanks for this. I watched the whole thing.
  • DeathIsMyGift
    DeathIsMyGift Posts: 434 Member
    I was a Cherry Coke Zero addict. I'm talking I'd have at least 6-8 cans a day. I thought, "Well it's zero calories so I'm safe." Since I'm trying to lose 50 pounds in 5 months I decided to switch to strictly water. It's only been about 3 weeks and let me tell you.....I feel SO much better. My vision is clearer, I am not tired throughout the day, I feel mentally awake, I'm sleeping better. It sucked for the first few days but really after about a week it got easier and easier. I've had ONE diet coke in the past three weeks and that's because I was at the Rangers/Yankees game and had it with my nachos lol. Trust me, from someone who has been where you are, just STOP. It really is that easy. Don't buy them. When you go out order water, get lemon for your water to spruce it up. Seriously, you will feel so much better. Like I said though, you will have to push through that first week or two but once you do---you won't regret it. Good luck! (if I can do it, anyone can)
  • geokatjen
    geokatjen Posts: 11
    I quit drinking Diet Coke when I was pregnant and substituted with Diet Rite (caffeine and uses Splenda). Now I am still breast feeding and don't want my baby drinking the chemicals, and have quit drinking even the Diet Rite. Super tough! I'm still addicted! I CRAVE a Diet soda, especially when I eat out. I substitute with Ice Tea.......but once baby isn't on the breast I don't know if I'll have the will power to stay off the stuff. I agree with you saying that it is a calorie free treat when dieting. I love the crisp refreshing taste! Good luck!
  • Nolalee
    Nolalee Posts: 26 Member
    Hi Sam,
    I have never replied to any post before, but I know a lot about being addicted to diet coke. It was my drug of choice for about the last three years. It was all I drank everyday. Sad but true. Everyone in my life told me I should stop for many reasons, even my doctor. But I didn't, I couldn't. Until no week ago. On May 2, I made up my own mind I had to give it up. I found that when I drank it I craved sweets. Not so good when you are trying to eat more healthy. I've tried to quit many times by cutting down, but failed. I went cold turkey this time. My advice...excedrin migraine. I told it for about three or four days last week for the headache withdraws. So far so good. I drink so much water right now I can't imagine putting another liquid in my body! lol. Last week I lost 9 pounds. I think giving up diet coke actually made that happen. I don't really know, but I feel like it.

    Anyways, good luck. I know how hard it is! It totally sucks, and even though I'm done with it doesn't mean my mouth doesn't water just thinking about it!!

    Feel free to add me if you'd like :) I just joined last week
    Nola
  • cobarlo14
    cobarlo14 Posts: 582 Member
    I have come as your saviour....

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvFRLIjOLOU

    I saw it too.... I am checking labels...
    I don't use crystal light/great value powders anymore BUT I am using MiO

    Any Issues with MiO? I dont see aspartame in the ingredients but could it be masked under another name?
  • usmcpatience
    usmcpatience Posts: 168
    Wow! I certainly didn't expect to get all the responses! Thanks for the suggestions and support, guys! You're great.

    Someone asked me why I don't drink the "real" stuff in moderation, and the answer is, quite frankly, but I don't like the taste. The only reason I started drinking it was because there was a vending machine near one of my long evening classes in college that was out of everything BUT diet coke for a couple of weeks. It only took those couple of weeks to get hooked. The real stuff is way too sweet for me.

    I still drink plenty of water most days, but the pop I know is not good for me. Heck, even the carbonation is bad for you! I weened myself (reluctantly) off the caffeinated pop, but now I'm still stuck.
  • deadmittens
    deadmittens Posts: 536 Member
    I'm a diet pepsi addict. I can't even imagine giving it up lol. I know it's bad for me, but I'm losing weight and can't really substitute something as good that doesn't have any calories.
  • usmcpatience
    usmcpatience Posts: 168
    LOVE this.
  • usmcpatience
    usmcpatience Posts: 168
    I'm a diet pepsi addict. I can't even imagine giving it up lol. I know it's bad for me, but I'm losing weight and can't really substitute something as good that doesn't have any calories.

    I think this is my problem. I KNOW it's bad, but it's such a great "bad" habit. I fear getting rid of it will cause me to replace it with something much more caloric!
  • Kaye8395BTS
    Kaye8395BTS Posts: 159 Member
    I too, I am a DC addict. And yes, DIET coke - I have never been able to stand the taste of regular coke. I was brought up on the stuff unfortunately, my entire family drinks it and my sister in law calls it diet crack. It IS an addiction. I don't have a solution, but I feel your pain. When I first started losing in January 2010 I cut it out for 3 months and I forget how I ended up adding it back in, but I did. In moderation. I can ONLY have some if I have drank ALL my water for the day (and I drink A LOT) - so its usually after 5 PM. Instead of coming home and having a beer after work I look forward to my DC. I allow myself 2 glasses a day (24 oz) and factor the sodium in as well. So yes, I realize it is bad for you, but I haven't given it up yet. I've tried sodium free sodas and its not the same and no better or worse for you.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories