I am having a hard time giving up soda

The best thing I did was to quit cold turkey. It totally stunk because I drank at least 2 cans a day. I just love the taste of it - the bubbles, the flavor, the caffeine...mmm. It was really hard the first few days and as lame as it sounds, I drank water and imagined I was tasting coke. It is like the flavor is imprinted in my brain.

However, despite being so delicious, it's something that is definitely not healthy for you. Different things work for different people, but I would recommend finding something new. Perhaps carbonated water (if your into the carbonated drinks) or SAMS club/Walmart sells these flavored carbonated liter bottles (used to be called Free and Clear, now I think they are American something...not sure). They are better than soda - even diet.

When I gave up, I drank water like a fish. 10 plus cups a day. Then I started adding honey to my water - definitely helps boost your immune system, can't go wrong with the sweetness.

I wish there was something that is comparable to soda, but the truth is - there's nothing like an ice cold coke. Sorry I just went on a rant - but that is my 2 cents. :happy:

Perhaps carbonated water (if your into the carbonated drinks) or SAMS club/Walmart sells these flavored carbonated liter bottles (used to be called Free and Clear, now I think they are American something...not sure). They are better than soda - even diet.

Just wanted to add my thumbs up to the carbonated water thing. I gave up soda years ago (I loved me some Ginger Ale!), and I started out by drinking those Free and Clear things by the bottle. Black cherry I think. You definitely can't tell they're low calorie, and they're really fizzy. Eventually I switched from them to flavored water, and then to regular water. The carbonated water was a great stepping stone!

I have never given up soda, and I never will. I just drank a coke yesterday. With real corn syrup in it.

But I did decrease the amount that I consume. Instead of drinking one daily, I drink one now and then as a treat.

I find that mentality a little easier than thinking I must give up something I enjoy.

I do drink diet soda on a semi-regular bases. 3 to 5 times a week.

Cutting my soda intake was super hard for me! I used to be totally addicted to the stuff, and then just stopped cold-turkey and that's when I realized the addiction. I didn't drink one drop of the stuff for two straight months, and then I finally let myself have some and it didn't taste as great as I remembered. Now I can have it sometimes, but I don't need to drink it all the time. I usually just steal a few sips from my bf and I'm good.

I'm with Rebekah on the whole never give it up. My brother, a certified Coke nut, gave up soda altogether. He swears by that Mio water enhancer stuff.

I can relate!
I was addicted to Coke! (The dark fizzy drink not the white powdery stuff!)
I could knock back a 2L bottle a day! Add in potato chips, dip, McD's and here in Quebec: Poutine! I was slowly killing myself!
Of it all, kicking the pop habit was the hardest.
I missed it most during the hot summer months. To get by I started drinking plain soda water with a squirt of lemon or lime juice. This was a great refresher on hot humid days.
Now I might drink a small diet drink once every 2 weeks or so. Usually only when I am behind schedule and on the road where my only option is some form of fast food. At McD's I now eat a single grilled chicken wrap with hot sauce and a small diet coke. Down from my old routine of 2x Big Mac trios 2 - 3 times per week!

My Virus software gave me this when I tried to go to that link?

Warning: Dangerous Site

Whoa!
Are you sure you want to go there?
http://www.nutritionresearchcenter.org/healthnews/... may be risky to visit.

Why were you redirected to this page?

When we visited this site, we found it exhibited one or more risky behaviors.

i like low sodium club soda with different kinds of flavouring syrup or fruit juice. not as many calls at all. i also like pc 100% sparkling juice. sooo yummy!

I haven't had poutine in years! my ex introduced it to me - it should be called a delicious death!

i am also in the process of cutting out soda, i used to drink 2-3-4 a day, over the months i started diluting it with water and weening off. last week i cut down to 1 500ml bottle a day, drinking it straight in the morning because it was the buzz and the bubbles that i craved.i think we all pretty much agree it's an addiction and large consumption takes a health toll, not just unnecessary calories.

on the plus after a week of being on 1 a day i felt ready today to cut down to the smaller bottle, 380ml. my plan is to hold until after the holidays then go cold turkey. you are not alone

Lots of good advice on here. Giving up diet soda is something I haven't done yet. It's my vice - my coffee. I just refuse to do it!

nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh no... Coffee is definitely not something I plan on giving up... it hasnt hurt me yet - only when I have a withdrawal...lol... but there is nothing more luscious than a cup of Chocolate-Cappucchino coffee or Egg-Nog coffee by New England Coffee out of Malden, MA that makes the morning soooo much better! 8-)

http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/blogs/healthy-food/coke-calories-nutrition-labels-47100502

29 oz = 275 calories?

Eliminating non-diet soda should be one of the easiet ways to cut calories.

Took me awhile to give it up. I did it slowly over time. My consumption of soda would become less and less as I transitioned over to increasing my water intake. In the meantime I'd flavor my water sometimes. Lately I haven't even done that since I've gotten myself so used to drinking water I don't even care about it's tastelessness anymore. I just drink it like it's an everyday thing.

I am addicted to Coke (the beverage!), and I have a hard time leaving it. I stopped cold turkey, but then I just went back to it. Right now, I'm drinking a 8 oz. bottle a day, which is an improvement, but not that much, and it's still 100 empty calories on my tight 1200 calories budget.