How did you quit soda?

2

Replies

  • elsie6hickman
    elsie6hickman Posts: 3,864 Member
    I just quit cold turkey. I started drinking carbonated water.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    edited September 2018
    I didn't (and never will) quit soda. I switched to diet soda many years ago, and drink it in moderation. I also drink a lot of water, coffee, skim milk and iced tea.
  • Evelyn_Gorfram
    Evelyn_Gorfram Posts: 706 Member
    edited September 2018
    I went to Australia.

    No, really. I visited Australia years ago and (while having a great time in a wonderful place) really enjoyed the Aussie style of flavored fizzy waters that were only about half as sweet as the US soda brands I'd been used to. Then when I got back home, all the sodas seemed way too heavy and syrupy. Given that and their relative high price and high calories, sodas just didn't seem worth it; and I just started drinking ice water most of the time.

    (n.b. There's nothing wrong with my tap water, and it tastes okay. But there's a place near my house that dispenses purified water for $0.33/gallon, and I find I like the taste much better. If you don't like the idea of drinking water, or you don't like the taste of the water you're drinking, it could be worth looking around for a different drinking water source.)

    I also really like coffee drinks, so they have taken over some of my (often) high-cost, (frequently) high-calorie, (pre-4 pm) caffeinated beverage needs.

    I also like iced tea and lemonade. On hot days, I like to mix fruit juice half-&-half with selzer or club soda for a fizzy hydration drink. And I do still drink the occasional soda - my Mom and I have a running joke/deal where I work on her lawn and garden for a few hours and she "pays" me with a can of root beer. B)
  • Crafty_camper123
    Crafty_camper123 Posts: 1,440 Member
    I started drinking those crystal lite flavor packets in bottled water. That got me off of soda for a while. I also drank sparkling waters too. I try not to drink any soda too frequently (moderation and all). But when I do I prefer to drink diet anymore, (zero calories), and the taste doesn't bother me. I'll drink regular if it's something I like and cant get diet, or if diet is unavailable. Often, when I want something fizzy I'll reach for a seltzer water like Lacroix, Perrier, or Arrow head. I just love the taste of those, and they are just water and flavoring.
  • rileyes
    rileyes Posts: 1,406 Member
    OP: When I started craving it, I quit drinking it. But that was sugar-filled Coca-Cola, Pepsi, etc. I never liked the diet stuff so... I occasionally drink mineral water and have no craving. If I were you I might try going cold-turkey for three weeks or so to see if that helps.
  • TrishSeren
    TrishSeren Posts: 587 Member
    Coke No Sugar, omg tastes EXACTLY like full sugar coke. They're fazing out Coke Zero here in NZ and replacing it with Coke No Sugar.
  • gstaubs1
    gstaubs1 Posts: 200 Member
    I started drinking Pure Leaf unsweetened black tea. Found I really like it and 0 cal, 0 carb, 0 sugar...Haven't had a cola in months and I used to drink like a 2 liter of Mountain Dew a day...
  • UncaToddly
    UncaToddly Posts: 146 Member
    elsie6hickman wrote: »
    I just quit cold turkey. I started drinking carbonated water.

    My wife has issues with artificial sweetners (GI doesn't tolerate them well) and went off all of those diet packets and such we had so many of and now gets the carbonated water with no sweetners in it. I have tried, I really have, but I just can't do them. It is like sushi for me. Even if I like the ingredients I just can't do it because of the vinegar in the rice. :)
  • Crochetluvr
    Crochetluvr Posts: 3,339 Member
    I didn't quit. I have diet Coke with lemon when I am out and I have an occasional Coke Life at home.
  • Burcar86
    Burcar86 Posts: 23 Member
    I stopped cold turkey an now if I even try it tastes awful, the carbonation alone burns an hurts. My advice would be try different drinks an juices until you find something you enjoy just as much. I also lost a good deal of weight once I stopped drinking soda.
  • debtay123
    debtay123 Posts: 1,327 Member
    i drink a diet pepsi each night- this is one of my treats- I drink water or hot tea etc
  • PowerliftingMom
    PowerliftingMom Posts: 430 Member
    Cold turkey. The only time I drink it now is when we eat out, but even then, I'll have a couple of sips and then I'm done. I never thought I would be able to stop drinking soda daily.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,308 Member
    I guess the answer depends on why you want to quit it.

    If it is for calories, which everybody seems to be assuming ( fair assumption since this is a calorie counting site) then yes, just switch to diet version. Play around to find one you like.

    If it is because carbonation bloats you - wean to non fizzy drinks. Or drink it after it has gone flat.

    If it is because of the caffeine (is that why you quit while pregnant?) change to non cola versions. as most sodas do not have caffeine only the cola flavour ones.

    If it is because of the cost, gradually reduce your consumption to affordable levels (or buy them on special ;)
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    kg000 wrote: »
    I drink Spark instead. Find a drink that works for you, I want the caffeine and vitamins so I use Spark.

    Not going to spend my money on that MLM stuff.
  • arcadiasailor
    arcadiasailor Posts: 6 Member
    Gave full cal soda and ice tea up for lent. I try to stay away from carbonated beverages because it gives me the burps.
  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    Stopped buying it.
  • vegmebuff
    vegmebuff Posts: 31,389 Member
    I love my Soda Stream machine - a bit of stevia and lemon or lime yum
  • Sippin_on_gym_n_juice
    Sippin_on_gym_n_juice Posts: 42 Member
    I never was a soda fan, but if i'm craving that sweet soda taste, I'll grab a Monster. Seems to do the trick. And, it helps that they have zero calories!
  • pegaso6957
    pegaso6957 Posts: 2 Member
    Instead of soda, I add mio (flavoring drops) to water. I don't like to drink plain water so adding the flavor helps me drink more water. If you need the caffeine, mio comes in a caffeinated variety. You also can put it in sparkling water if you miss the carbonation. It has helped me a lot
  • reflectionofme
    reflectionofme Posts: 310 Member
    I switched to diet soda years ago so no calories but that is all I would drink. So about 6 months ago I started adding in caffeine free/diet soda till I was only drinking the caffeine free ones. Once I was able to get over the caffeine addiction I found it much easier to drink water. I bought a big water bottle and it's always beside me. No cal flavoured water drops or lemon wedges give me some variety. I have the odd diet pop if we go out somewhere but that's it.
  • yukfoo
    yukfoo Posts: 871 Member
    edited September 2018
    Just finished a diet Coke but try flavored water. Nestlé Variety Pack 24 × 500 mL at costco, walmart ect. just plain water with a great taste. A nice break from soda. Very addictive!
  • CheekyChiq88
    CheekyChiq88 Posts: 109 Member
    I have to lock myself in a room and swallow the key...lol but seriously the struggle is real
  • VUA21
    VUA21 Posts: 2,072 Member
    SabrinaJ89 wrote: »
    I'm definitely an emotional eater and when I'm stressed at work or home soda is like my go to stress reliever. I've quit drinking soda in the past when I was pregnant but I had a different reason to then. Anyone have any tips or advice on how to kick the habit?

    I switched to diet soda. Diet soda doesn't inhibit weight loss as it has virtually zero calories.
  • barefootcassie
    barefootcassie Posts: 27 Member
    I was a hard core diet soda drinker until I started having lots of vertigo episodes. Then the hearing loss started. I finally was diagnosed with menier's disease. After some elimination diets I discovered that caffeine was my big trigger for the vertigo episodes. Rather than switch to caffeine free, I decided to cold turkey it. I feel so much better without it! I never realized it was making me feel so crappy.
  • SabrinaJ89
    SabrinaJ89 Posts: 20 Member
    Sorry I havent responded to anyone, crazy week so far!

    For the most part I feel like quitting soda altogether would drastically reduce my calories in. Some days at work i drink 3 20oz sodas (mt dew is my downfall.) I quit drinking soda while pregnant because of the caffeine.

    Now I feel like I have myself tricked into thinking soda helps with energy or making me feel better. I've tried drinking diet and its just gross to me, I did good for a little while with flavored water but keep coming back to soda
  • goals15000
    goals15000 Posts: 18 Member
    If you don’t like the idea of diet drinks maybe you’ll enjoy carbonated waters, they come in flavours too. I like mine in a can it gives me that feeling of drinking soda.

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  • competeagain
    competeagain Posts: 770 Member
    Stop buying it
    Don’t allow it in your house
  • kq1981
    kq1981 Posts: 1,098 Member
    edited September 2018
    I haven't given up anything, just make more informed choices that fit in with my allowance. I failed weight loss soooooo many times before because i "gave things up". I drink sugar free soda, tastes better to me now 😊
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