Soft Drinks: Emotional Addiction
swanny320
Posts: 169 Member
So my problem is soda. I cannot stop drinking Coke or Dr. Pepper. I am so addicted to them but I realized it's totally emotional. When I think about NOT drinking one or having one in the morning or with a meal, I feel depressed. Sometimes when I drink them I catch myself thinking that I don't even enjoy the taste. How screwed up is this?
I've tried every trick in the book to quit but nothing works. Anyone else like this?
I've tried every trick in the book to quit but nothing works. Anyone else like this?
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I decided on Monday to stop drinking soda. I was drinking Coke Zero for the most part, so it wasn't a calorie issue. I realized that my main issue was I needed to stop my morning habit of stopping at Quick Trip, it wasn't really the soda, just more the routine. This is the best I have done with giving up soda in a long time.
I am going with just start a new habit that is healthier. Luckily I didn't have the issue with wanting the soda with a meal, I want water at that point.2 -
Have you tried diet soda?5
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That sounds like quite a challenge to overcome. Do you have any idea why you have such a strong attachment to sodas? Do diet sodas make you feel differently? Are you seeking professional help to determine what the underlying cause might be?0
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I drink green tea or water with one of those color packs in it. I never think about sodas. As long as it is a tasty drink, I am fine.0
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I found cognitive behavioral techniques useful when I wanted to stop abusing alcohol and find them helpful to manage problematic foods as well. What exactly have you tried already?0
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It may not be totally emotional. I was addicted to Cokes for years but really caffeine was the culprit. I didn't completely quit sodas but I started drinking more Sprite and having coffee in the morning and iced tea in the afternoon if needed. Eventually I got to where I didn't really drink sodas very much at all. I can't really remember the last time I had one. I'm one who tries to fit in the things I really love and not totally restrict any food or drink. For me that just makes me want it more. My advice would be to just gradually cut down. Maybe to just one per day and start replacing the others with something else, fruit infused water or unsweetened tea. If you wean yourself off slowly it will be a lot easier. And when you have your Coke or Dr. Pepper really enjoy it. If it becomes a treat that you know you can have occasionally you might have better luck than just trying to go cold turkey.1
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So my problem is soda. I cannot stop drinking Coke or Dr. Pepper. I am so addicted to them but I realized it's totally emotional. When I think about NOT drinking one or having one in the morning or with a meal, I feel depressed. Sometimes when I drink them I catch myself thinking that I don't even enjoy the taste. How screwed up is this?
I've tried every trick in the book to quit but nothing works. Anyone else like this?
Dude the best thing for me was to replace soda (and beer) with carbonated flavoured water. la Croix waters are my drug, I have like 4 per day and it's amazing. They don't use fake sugars, real sugars, no calories, and still taste awesome. I realized it was more about having an ice-cold fizzy drink than anything else. now I unwind after work with something healthy instead of something that can screw with my progress.2 -
I drink a ton of La Croix and also diet soda. Unless you're worried about caffeine intake, there's no reason to stop drinking diet soda. Just don't let yourself get in the habit of eating extra food when you do it.0
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queenliz99 wrote: »Have you tried diet soda?
Omg, I hate diet...lol. If diet soda was the ONLY one available, I'd have no problem quitting tomorrow!1 -
Cold turkey: The urge is too strong. I cave within a day
Habit replacement: I've tried replacing it with seltzer/soda water. I've tried juice, I've tried water (flavored and not).
Reduction: I've tried limiting my intake to just one a day or even less.
Reward; I've tried setting up a reward system where I can have ONE if I accomplish a certain calorie or workout goal
The thing is, as I mentioned, it's more of an emotional addiction rather than a physical one. It's probably a bit how smokers want a cigarette when they are stressed.0 -
OP how much soda do you drink, daily or weekly average?0
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How screwed up is this?
I've tried every trick in the book to quit but nothing works. Anyone else like this?
It's pretty screwed up, it's essentially an addictive drug that in design only harms your body.
There aren't any tricks, just quit it cold turkey and deal with the withdrawals until they pass.
It's not a withdrawal issue which is why I said "emotional addiction". I don't suffer from headaches or even cravings for the sugar. For whatever reason, it triggers something that must release dopamine. It's insane, I know...0 -
It may not be totally emotional. I was addicted to Cokes for years but really caffeine was the culprit. I didn't completely quit sodas but I started drinking more Sprite and having coffee in the morning and iced tea in the afternoon if needed. Eventually I got to where I didn't really drink sodas very much at all. I can't really remember the last time I had one. I'm one who tries to fit in the things I really love and not totally restrict any food or drink. For me that just makes me want it more. My advice would be to just gradually cut down. Maybe to just one per day and start replacing the others with something else, fruit infused water or unsweetened tea. If you wean yourself off slowly it will be a lot easier. And when you have your Coke or Dr. Pepper really enjoy it. If it becomes a treat that you know you can have occasionally you might have better luck than just trying to go cold turkey.
Thanks for the reply. It's just so insane how addicted I am. Smoking and drinking NEVER appealed to me but soda...omg, I feel the way a heroin addict must feel.0 -
How screwed up is this?
I've tried every trick in the book to quit but nothing works. Anyone else like this?
It's pretty screwed up, it's essentially an addictive drug that in design only harms your body.
There aren't any tricks, just quit it cold turkey and deal with the withdrawals until they pass.
No that's not what it essentially is.4 -
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I'm the same way with diet Dr Pepper. It makes me feel happy. I get sad, anxious & have no energy if I don't have at least 1 per day which is crazy right? I'm so confused on if it's harmful or not, there is so much conflicting info out there.0
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I've had a diet Mt dew addiction for 6 years. I know they're still not good for me but it's not all the calories of a regular soda1
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jami242424 wrote: »I'm the same way with diet Dr Pepper. It makes me feel happy. I get sad, anxious & have no energy if I don't have at least 1 per day which is crazy right? I'm so confused on if it's harmful or not, there is so much conflicting info out there.
It's not.
You're fine.
Enjoy.
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I felt the same way. Then I started logging my calories and realized sodas just wouldn't fit. I started using lemonade packets in bottled water and haven't looked back.1
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@swanny320 @jami242424, you might find this link interesting. It talks about caffeine's impact on mood, energy, etc - might be helpful to you in figuring things out. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/research/bpru/docs/caffeine_dependence_fact_sheet.pdf0
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I have the same issue!0
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How screwed up is this?
I've tried every trick in the book to quit but nothing works. Anyone else like this?
It's pretty screwed up, it's essentially an addictive drug that in design only harms your body.
There aren't any tricks, just quit it cold turkey and deal with the withdrawals until they pass.
OP, I used to drink a lot of soda...like pretty much 5 or 6 per day and it was basically the same kind of thing...couldn't imagine eating my lunch without my Mt Dew or sipping on a Dr. Pepper on the commute home. I pretty much just weened it down starting with allowing myself one per day...then one every other day...then one per week, etc. I replaced that with sparkling water...sometimes flavored and sometimes not.
I eventually came to the point where I didn't even really think about it anymore...I might have 3-5 sodas a year now...although I do like those Izze sparking juices for vodka mixers.5 -
Cold turkey: The urge is too strong. I cave within a day
Habit replacement: I've tried replacing it with seltzer/soda water. I've tried juice, I've tried water (flavored and not).
I think in breaking a habit it's useful to really understand it and whatever the triggers are. When you tried the replacement, what happened? Why didn't it work? Did you forget and order coke and then realize after the fact, did you not enjoy the replacements, what?Reduction: I've tried limiting my intake to just one a day or even less.
Maybe try this, but more gradually. I drink more coffee than I should often, and have cut cold turkey (which is not great because of the caffeine, which could be part of it for you too, although it sounds like it's also missing the taste and the routine, which is part of it with me and coffee). A better way for me to cut down is to have rules, like none after noon or 2 or drink one or two or three glasses of water for every one cup of coffee. Maybe see how much you are drinking in a day and then try to substitute for half and alternate? And then work from there.1 -
Another vote for more gradual reduction. I reduced the amount of sugar I put in my tea really slowly and don't even notice that I am now using less than half what I used to.0
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1. Start to wean yourself. If you have, say 3 a day, only do 2 a day. Then 1. Then only drink its 6x a week, then 5, etc.
2. Don't buy more than what you're allowed to have. So if you can only drink 5 a week. Only keep 5 in your house. If you over drink them then you have none left. Period.
This sounds like an addiction more then anything. You say you don't even like them? So tell yourself that when you want one. "Do i actually enjoy the taste? No." then move on, don't over think it. Don't make a big issue over it. It's just pop. Go out for a walk, read a book, call a friend. Something.1 -
No advice, just thanks for not calling it pop.1
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I had that exact moment when I realized I wasn't even enjoying the taste anymore and still kept drinking. Soda, Coke cola, was my everything. I felt I couldn't clean the house or do any activity with out having some ice cold Coke. I think I love the fizziness of it. My first step was to have ginger ale. And allow myself the Coke whenever I REALLY couldn't keep the craving away. It's been about 4 weeks and I don't really feel deprived. I encountered a very cold 2 little Coke this weekend but I just knew if I started I would end up having half the bottle so I had some Sprite (since it's not my first choice) I didn't feel the need to over do it The thought of it being forbidden is what make the desire greater.0
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Cold turkey: The urge is too strong. I cave within a day
Habit replacement: I've tried replacing it with seltzer/soda water. I've tried juice, I've tried water (flavored and not).
Reduction: I've tried limiting my intake to just one a day or even less.
Reward; I've tried setting up a reward system where I can have ONE if I accomplish a certain calorie or workout goal
The thing is, as I mentioned, it's more of an emotional addiction rather than a physical one. It's probably a bit how smokers want a cigarette when they are stressed.
The replacement/ reduction method is what I was going to suggest. Just keep at it, and dont beat yourself up about it. Small progress > no progress.
Even cutting down on two sodas a week is improvement!
Speaking as a fellow dr. Pepper lover
have you considered buying those cute little mini cans that come in packs? Much smaller portion (8 - 10 ounces I think?) And only keeling one in the fridge at a time, that way you arent tempted to have more. 1
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