Quitting Soda

I am a huge coke addict. Last year I went cold turkey for 10 weeks. After the first week it wasnt too bad as I was doing a food program at the same time and not buying lunch, eating takeout etc made it easy. During this time I really focused on changing the habit of drinking with meals cause I'd always choose coke normally. I also tried to drop the grab a drink when filling with fuel, doing the shopping etc habit. I've quit before mainly to prove I could but it was the habit that was the killer, even after cravings had gone I was so used to grabbing a coke with lunch or while shopping I was often replacing it with something else while I quit and then would cwitch back to coke when I'd finished quitting.

As a replacement I drink mineral water. I started with the flavored stuff lemon/lime etc but now just plain mineral water. I drink plain water during the day but night and weekends its all mineral water which makes it feel a bit special and less boring.

I do find now that I've let coke back into my life it is a slippery slope to letting it get out of control again. But I have found times that I've bought a coke out of habit/ intention to have one and ended up not drinking it. I also am more likely to have 1 coke at the pub/dinner now and then switch to soda water more easily. I guess I am almost treating it like drinking alcohol. Sometimes and in moderation is ok. I often mean to have a coke free day as I know my addiction is still at a level where I wont suffer withdrawals but they happen less and less frequently.

moonchildisme wrote: »

Is diet really any better?

For losing weight, you bet it is!

I stopped drinking soda almost by accident, and now I only drink soda if it is in a mixed drink. I used to drink at least two cans of soda a day in high school, probably more, but I'm not sure as it's been almost ten years since then. I stopped buying it in college, only drinking it when I went out to eat or to the school cafeteria. Then I started ordering tea instead, and only had soda when I was craving it. Pretty soon I got to the point where I almost never craved it.

Now I'll have soda maybe once every two months, if a fancy bottle of root beer comes my way, but I can't drink all of it. I can really tell a difference in my body when I do drink even a little, I feel bloated and gross. I really noticed a change when I started drinking water all throughout the day. Take it slow and treat yourself occasionally. You'll start to feel a change!

I've never been a drinker of regular pop, always liked diet better. I have one or two cans a day. Not giving it up.

Kait3822 wrote: »

I stopped drinking soda almost by accident, and now I only drink soda if it is in a mixed drink. I used to drink at least two cans of soda a day in high school, probably more, but I'm not sure as it's been almost ten years since then. I stopped buying it in college, only drinking it when I went out to eat or to the school cafeteria. Then I started ordering tea instead, and only had soda when I was craving it. Pretty soon I got to the point where I almost never craved it.

Now I'll have soda maybe once every two months, if a fancy bottle of root beer comes my way, but I can't drink all of it. I can really tell a difference in my body when I do drink even a little, I feel bloated and gross. I really noticed a change when I started drinking water all throughout the day. Take it slow and treat yourself occasionally. You'll start to feel a change!

I have never really been much of a pop drinker, although I would have it occasionally when at a restaurant. I think this would be a great way to start limiting your intake. Give yourself a certain set of circumstances under which you allow yourself to drink it, but limit it to one serving at a time. The less you drink it, the less you want it.

One of my resolutions for 2016 is to not drink any pop all year (primarily due to calories). I am still going strong and don't miss it at all. But, as I said, I never really had a problem with it in the first place.

I quit cold turkey and got a nasty headache. I now only drink a soda when I have a theater night with my youngest and it takes like syrup. Drinking Diet carbonated beverages doesn't help. The carbonation is the killer here, and helps keep weight in the thighs... There is research to back this up. Now I drink coffee and water, and my reward is a latte about once a month. I'll drink tea also. But all that artificial sweetener does is give me a migraine. Doing your best is what counts. I used to limit myself to a Pepsi a day. I quit last January and have had about 4 Pepsi's in a year. Best of luck.

mommazach wrote: »

I quit cold turkey and got a nasty headache. I now only drink a soda when I have a theater night with my youngest and it takes like syrup. Drinking Diet carbonated beverages doesn't help. The carbonation is the killer here, and helps keep weight in the thighs... There is research to back this up. Now I drink coffee and water, and my reward is a latte about once a month. I'll drink tea also. But all that artificial sweetener does is give me a migraine. Doing your best is what counts. I used to limit myself to a Pepsi a day. I quit last January and have had about 4 Pepsi's in a year. Best of luck.

Regarding what I bolded:
"Keeps the weight in things" ... that is kind of ambiguous. I think you're trying to say it keeps people from losing weight? If not, please clarify what you do mean.

And please, point us to the research that backs this up. (Links would be really nice)

pottsoconnor881 wrote: »

Diet soda has been linked to cancer.

So has being alive. Sometimes people who are alive get cancer.