Kicking the diet soda addiction

avabava
avabava Posts: 3 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Since I'm training for my first half marathon in Sept, I've decided that I should also start eating like an adult and try to kick my major diet soda addiction. Today is day 4 of drinking water with lemon instead of my usual 3-4 cans of diet soda. Have managed to lose 6 pounds and all of my cravings are gone! I hope this lasts. I'd love to lose another 10-12 pounds before race day, and the scale wasn't budging despite all of the running. Just wanted to share with those fellow diet soda addicts out there. Even though there are no calories, I think it does have a major effect on food cravings (for me, at least).

Replies

  • kellybean14
    kellybean14 Posts: 237 Member
    Wow, that's awesome willpower! Congrats on sticking with it and feeling better already!
  • rainbowcandy2004
    rainbowcandy2004 Posts: 44
    I am not a big soda drinker anymore. I do drink a Diet Mtn Dew once in a while and when I do I feel the need for sugar is around the corner so I agree. You may not be getting the calories but I think it affects what you crave. Great job on quiting diet soda, the weight loss and good luck on the run.
  • crodrigu73
    crodrigu73 Posts: 134 Member
    I have a major problem with diet soda to the tune of about 8 to 10 a day. Great job kicking it!
  • aimesylou
    aimesylou Posts: 5
    I'm trying to kick this too, I notice that I always crave salty foods to go with diet soda by kicking that maybe I'll be able to cut down on salt as well. So so hard though full on addicted to Diet Coke!
  • shimewazaMan
    shimewazaMan Posts: 413
    I SOOOOOO need to kick my Diet Coke addiction!
  • avabava
    avabava Posts: 3 Member
    Thanks, everyone. I just had to go cold turkey. After two days I didn't want the diet coke anymore either. The key for me is LOTS of lemon in my water.
  • ncpryor
    ncpryor Posts: 2 Member
    great job kicking the habit, I also love diet soda but have heard its not good because it makes you crave....it's hard to have water everyday though!
  • AKSmothers
    AKSmothers Posts: 8
    I was drinking minimum 3 32 ounce cups of Diet Coke every day for years. Once I decided to stop (with help from family and coworkers) I lost 15 pounds very quickly. The cravings were bad for the first week.....now just the thought of drinking a pop holds no interest for me whatsoever. I've not had any pop at all in several months. One of the best decisions I've made for my health in a long time.
  • jayeve1
    jayeve1 Posts: 2
    Do you really think that there is a connection between diet drinks and the inability to lose weight?
  • crimsontech
    crimsontech Posts: 234 Member
    Good for you! Diet Soda and I don't get along at all! It causes me cravings, increased appetite, severe lower back pain, and headaches/dizzy spells. It's all about water, water, water!
  • thatblueyedchic
    thatblueyedchic Posts: 128 Member
    I had a major diet Pepsi addiction and I am in week four of going cold turkey. I have to say, I've never felt better, and I don't just mean physically. I have always been a worrier by nature but I am also prone to anxiety attacks. Since being off diet Pepsi, I haven't had a problem, which made me wonder. So I thought back and I realized that I have suffered the most from anxiety during times when I have been drinking a lot of diet soda. I honestly think it's a contributing factor. My doctor agrees.

    So get off of it. You'll feel better all over. Just start drinking tea or something yummy and healthy when you are craving it. Before long, the addiction (and yes it is addictive) will wear off.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    Do you really think that there is a connection between diet drinks and the inability to lose weight?
    The correlation that I see is that people who drink diet sodas tend to be overweight people. But over 65% of the people in the US are considered overweight. That said, IMO people who drink diet soda and are overweight MAY be thinking that since they aren't drinking any calories from their diet soda, they can EAT other foods with calories in them since they comped with the diet soda.
    I've been a diet soda drinker for over 25 years and don't suffer the issues that many a blog, opinion or article states happens to diet soda drinkers.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • BrienJD
    BrienJD Posts: 541 Member
    I've been drinking Propel singles instead of diet soda. I used to love Diet: Mountain Dew, Sunkist, 7-up, coke and Sprite Zero. I could down a 2 liter in one day, but since I started with the propel (because I can't stand plain water) I haven't had the urge to drink soda any more.
  • andream1976
    andream1976 Posts: 77 Member
    I like vitamin water or the sobo lifewater, zero calorie version. To me, they remind me of the Kool-Aid of my youth! LOL They are much better than plain water with added nutrients. When I drink these instead of pop, I feel so much better and hydrated.
  • kschopmeyer
    kschopmeyer Posts: 1
    Use to be a DMD addict until I read the ingredients and saw it contained brominated vegetable oil. Probably safe to consume, but it really weirded me out.
  • biddy249
    biddy249 Posts: 76 Member
    Gave up soda 15 years ago, one of the smartest decsions I have ever made. Takes a little will power at first.
  • EllaScarlet
    EllaScarlet Posts: 165 Member
    Well done everyone who has given up! I still succumb every now and then.

    BUT.

    I worked on a sailing boat for a few years. One day in port the captain and I were doing some engine maintenance. Suddenly the captain asked me to go and get a few litres of Diet Coke. I thought he must be really thirsty. I got it and to my surprise he empties the lot into a bucket and plonked a load of grease encrusted engine parts in there too. An hour later those parts came out sparkling. And I thought - what the f*** is that stuff going to do to my insides??!!!!
  • YvonnePtm
    YvonnePtm Posts: 28
    I seem to have an addiction to coke - but the full fat one - can't drink the diet ones, as I get hyper and get heart palpitations. I will try the water and lemon instead. Thanks for the tip....
  • EricNCSU
    EricNCSU Posts: 699 Member
    Do you really think that there is a connection between diet drinks and the inability to lose weight?

    No... and calling this an addiction is an insult to anyone who has battled true addiction.
  • EricNCSU
    EricNCSU Posts: 699 Member
    Use to be a DMD addict until I read the ingredients and saw it contained brominated vegetable oil. Probably safe to consume, but it really weirded me out.

    The reason that is in there is because the flavors are fat soluble. It is a microscopic amount, and no, it's not harmful.
  • Thermogenic
    Thermogenic Posts: 11 Member
    Calories In/Calories Out is most important and is true for everyone. Things like increased cravings from sugar substitutes are going to vary by the individua, but no one gets fat from diet soda itself. Despite all of the fear mongering you see online, the sugar substitutes you see online are based in pseudo-science and conspiracy theories. REF: http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/health/az1229.pdf
  • ChrisGoldn
    ChrisGoldn Posts: 473 Member
    Funny there was just an article on Yahoo about extreme Coca-cola addiction was interesting to read.


    http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/woman-coca-cola-habit-cited-death-161323721.html
  • Laurieann137
    Laurieann137 Posts: 95 Member
    Is there something in Diet pop that makes you crave it even more?? I am SO addicted to Dt. Dew! As I'm drinking my 3rd can for the day as I type this! lol! I am kind of stuck right now weight wise, tired a lot, and have high anxiety....I wonder if I can get off of it, if I can help those things. Hmmm....
  • rachaela06
    rachaela06 Posts: 167
    Great job giving up the diet soda!! I have never been a diet soda fan, but when u give up all the sugar drinks, the weight really seems to come off. I recently read an article about diet soda that stated the artificial sweetners that are in them create a chemical addiction to sugar. You end up eating and drinking more and increase your chances of having diabetes. That was pretty scary to read. That stuff is in everything.
  • Jeanne78832
    Jeanne78832 Posts: 16
    I gave up my diet coke addiction about 4 months ago and I feel much better since doing so. I just substituted iced green tea and water for the diet coke and now i don't miss diet coke anymore.
  • ChrisGoldn
    ChrisGoldn Posts: 473 Member
    Do you really think that there is a connection between diet drinks and the inability to lose weight?

    No... and calling this an addiction is an insult to anyone who has battled true addiction.

    You couldnt be so wrong about this.... Any Addiction is tough to fight through.
  • VirginiaWoof
    VirginiaWoof Posts: 147
    bump for later :) i have a terrible diet soda addiction! i never have any in the house but if I'm at college the vending machine just calls to me...
  • IndyMode
    IndyMode Posts: 54 Member
    I drink Diet Sunkist a lot, I think I'm going to try to switch to lemon water like you and see if it helps my cravings. I get sugar cravings really bad at night.
  • caritiger
    caritiger Posts: 82 Member
    I am having a hard time giving them up-- I do great for a while, then gradually I start craving them, and finding excuses to drink one, especially Coke Zero. I have been trying to replace them with water and decaf green tea.

    Just got this in my email today, actually-- food, or rather, drink, for thought:

    http://www.everydayhealth.com/weight/is-diet-soda-making-you-gain-weight.aspx?xid=nl_EverydayHealthHealthyLiving_20120421
  • iceandfire212
    iceandfire212 Posts: 35 Member
    That much lemon water will destroy your teeth--it destroys the enamel of the teeth. Try not to make a habit of it for to long.

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