Help breaking the diet soda habit

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Replies

  • pamtabulous
    pamtabulous Posts: 5
    I, too, went cold turkey on July 1!!! I was planning to do 20 days without and then have one....but I did this once before, and I remember that on day 21...I was very excited to drink it but it just didn't taste as good as I had thought it would.( if u can bellow that lol)
  • maddicrawf
    maddicrawf Posts: 13 Member
    I'm cutting back on diet soda too. I'll still have the occasional diet coke, but not nearly as often. I just drink a lot of water, coffee, green tea, and vitamin water. I also put fresh fruit in my water sometimes. Hope that helps.
  • specialemy
    specialemy Posts: 141 Member
    Muscle cramps? I get those ocassionally (maybe once every 2 months or so), and I drink a bit of pickle juice - poured straight from the pickle jar. This helps relieve my muscle cramps almost immediately. Here's an article for reading entertainment, you can scroll down to read the pickle juice part: http://www.health911.com/cramps_(muscle)
  • iuew
    iuew Posts: 624 Member
    i can think of worse habits to have than diet soda.

    /justsayin
  • Colexlovely
    Colexlovely Posts: 133 Member
    I have gone back and forth so many times giving up soda then going back. The first 3 days of giving up soda were the worst for me because of the headaches and pain killers didn't make them go away. I Think I finally gave up soda for good. I don't crave it anymore like I used to. Best thing is cold turkey for me at least. But Tips... or Tricks.. for me its all in my head. I'm so Determined to Drop this weight and keep my calories right and knowing Soda is so bad.. my mind tells me no. So my body listens.
  • missymuffet459
    missymuffet459 Posts: 162
    Good luck to you!

    I personally have not given it up for good (not sure if I ever will). However, I have gone from 3-4 cans a day to 1 (occasionally 2) per day. It was really hard at first but with all of the water I am drinking I just cannot stomach it. I usually have it with lunch.

    I will say that I do not crave it as much anymore and I definitely think it is not as good as I use to think.

    Let us know how it goes!
  • BeckyRayJohnson
    BeckyRayJohnson Posts: 88
    Great idea!! I just went to putting mine over ice and drinking it slow so I guess that is what is happening to me too. One can a day is what I crave. Weird because I stopped cold turkey for a medical treatment last Feb and went back to drinking it a month ago when I got done. Dumb me. But great idea. thanks.
  • kenyajae
    kenyajae Posts: 48
    I'm trying to give up the diet soda a day habit too. I haven't had a soda in a week. The worse is when a co-worker opens one in the office in the middle of the afternoon. I wish you a lot of luck and let me know if you find The Secret to Success on this!


    Agree! The sound of a soda can or bottle opening makes me crave it like crazy! Good luck giving it up, I can't ... not yet. I don't smoke, rarely drink and am kicking the junk food addiction. I can't go without my diet coke or coffee right now!


    My friend gave up diet soda months ago, and he says he feels so much better. I've given it up before for months at a time, but never felt any improvement in my health, tastebuds or ablitly to lose a pound or two. I wish some universities would do more research on the impacts of the chemicals and sweetners in diet sodas. I know some studies show a link to weight gain, but the "cause" isn't clear.
  • fishergreen
    fishergreen Posts: 109 Member
    I stop drinking diet soda on a regular basis months ago and I feel a ton better with it out of my system. I used to get headaches from the artificial sweetner and it would make me really tired in the afternoon due to caffeine withdrawal. Now, I have my coffee in the morning and then it's water the rest of the day. If you get sick of water then put some mio liquid to your water for a different flavor (right now I'm doing sweet tea). I also didn't tell myself that "I can't" drink soda, I told myself "I don't" drink soda. You wouldn't believe what a different a postiive word does for you. But that being said now if I really want a soda I have one, but I also know i"m going to feel like crap after I drink it so it normally persuades me not to drink it. Good luck!
  • 20shan08
    20shan08 Posts: 219 Member
    Well first off, I'm really proud of you for quitting soda. I had a really bad problem with juice that I kicked last year.
    Here's some of the things that helped me.
    1. I didn't look to replace my juices with teas and other sugary drinks. I decided if I wanted to prevent further addictions, I would cut out ALL liquid calories. (Those that you drink, that is.) That being said, if I was thirsty, I would have no choice but drinking water.
    2. Think of it from a financial standpoint. A soft drink at a restaurant will cost you 2-3 dollars. Water is free. Name brand sodas at the supermarket are also wallet busters. Take a moment to estimate how much money you will save in a year by not buying.soft drinks. Then, reward yourself with that money saved. If buying healthy food was always difficult for you because of the price (
    That's the case with me!) Maybe you can use that money for groceries.
    3. Grapes. I swear, when I have that thirst that water won't quench, I reach for a bag of grapes. Delicious!

    I hope this helps somewhat!

    This is what I did as well! Only my addiction was energy drinks! It was HARD, I used to have about 3 day, then only 1 in the morning at work, I'd make it last most of the day. But now, I've cut everything out. I only drink water. Fruit usually helps if I feel I need something.
  • DreamSM85
    DreamSM85 Posts: 38 Member
    Hey!

    I think I'm going to join you and slowly cut out diet soda! I think I will do 1 soda a day for 2 weeks then try every other day for another 2 weeks. So, hopefully in a month I will stick to Water! I drink 1 cup hot tea in the morning but I think I'm going to keep that...less chemicals at least.

    Good luck!

    ~Stephanie
  • Jenni129
    Jenni129 Posts: 692 Member
    I went cold turkey on the diet soda. I felt like when I drank it, I was sabotaging my diet. It made me crave sweets and junk all the time. I never felt full after eating meals and I think sipping on the soda all day had something to do with that, too. It has made my teeth sensitive and my stomach would hurt. It's just bad for your body. I drink water now... no artificially sweetened water either. Yeah, it's boring so I chew gum when I need some flavor in my mouth. :flowerforyou: Good luck to all of you who want to quit!
  • MaryRegs
    MaryRegs Posts: 272 Member
    Let me start by saying that I love Diet Coke. Having said that....I had a can in my fridge, and decided to treat myself last night. I have all but eliminated DC from my life...and I really did not enjoy it. Didn't even finish the full 12 ounces...and used to almost chug a 20 ounce bottle without batting an eye.

    I was rather surprised...but not entirely sorry about it. I know it contains some chemicals that I can do without-but now that I am really watching my overall intake, it seemed like a liveable vice. Guess not so much anymore. Yeah, I drink lots of water...and some days that can be a real drag....

    Hope this helps....onward we go!
  • sheila569
    sheila569 Posts: 269 Member
    It wasn't terribly hard for me because I LOVE seltzer water (I know most people think its nasty). I mixed diet with seltzer and little by little it became all seltzer. Havent had soda since November. I don't miss it at all.
  • TXCC
    TXCC Posts: 56
    It has taken me a long time to break the diet soda habit. I try to drink all of my water before I allow myself to have a diet soda. I also stopped buying it and don't keep it at the house. Now I have a diet soda about once every 3 or 4 months if I go out to eat. I find that I don't really like them as much anymore.
  • kenyajae
    kenyajae Posts: 48
    HI
    Ok we all know soda diet or otherwise is bad for you. all the empty calories, all the chemicals, no nutritional value....caffeine, wonderful & evil :devil: Caffeine... Yet I have just like so many have consumed enough in my life to drown an elephant.:noway: I tried to quit drinking it about 6 months ago &through terrible headaches & withdrawls I managed to cut back, but I didnt completely quit....

    So now I am here to say Im going cold turkey, with my trusty bottle of Advil in hand.:drinker:


    Just wondering how you're doing with this. I'm another week in, and I haven't had a diet soda, so about 2 weeks now. I still completely hate it when I hear someone in the office open up a can.
  • Bobby_Clerici
    Bobby_Clerici Posts: 1,828 Member
    I went with fresh brewed green tea over ice as well as lemon juice and water.
    It's took some time, and after a month, the cravings ceased.
    And more than that, I just developed a dislike for soda.
    Sometimes when I went out, I'd have a "diet" soda, and they tasted horrible.
    Other times I would order a sweetened soda, and it tasted like drinking syrup.

    I could never go back to either.
  • meglynne1987
    meglynne1987 Posts: 382 Member
    I joined the diet drink war this week. My advice is have some fruit on hand, watermelon, grapes, etc. That's what has helped me. And for the headaches.... i don't have them.... i still have one cup of coffee in the morning. :( It will get better but you just have to make a habit out of choosing water over the soda. Hope this helps!
  • didianadop
    didianadop Posts: 4
    I lived on Diet Pepsi and giving it up was hard. I did it slowing cutting it down bit by bit to avoid the headaches. I hated drinking water too so replacing soda with water? blehhh but I did it. I've been off soda now since Christmas. I drink water with every meal even in restaurants.
  • emilynyman00
    emilynyman00 Posts: 25 Member
    This is what i did, i cut my soda down to 7 a week, one per day for 2 weeks, not getting any soda from a fast food restraunt, or even a sit in, always water, just me and the can.
    Then after a while you cut it down to 5, then you choose 5 days a week ( mon - fri for me )
    Then cut down to 3. Any days
    Then down to one. the day you need it most

    then. bam! No more soda, drink alot of water when you normally drink soda, also try drinking tea instead, its healthy and alot of time, not cals! And it still has caffeine but way less and it good for you with everything in it
  • nuttyfamily
    nuttyfamily Posts: 3,394 Member
    I quit again.

    We have free fountain soda at work in both Pepsi and Coke products so it is tempting.

    I go through spurts of stopping and starting the bad habit. I find it best to go cold turkey.

    The thirst part goes away. I feel like that is more of the craving part kicking in than real thirst. I really know what you are talking about.

    I can't cut back to quit, I have to go cold turkey. Just sipping on it, makes me crave it all that much more.

    I am currently on a water only kick and feel so much better.
  • Platinumrachel
    Platinumrachel Posts: 1
    I decided to quit about three weeks ago...It is VERY bad for you. I'd say maybe treat yourself to a small bottle or can once a week, but other than that, the stuff is nasty (once you realise what the chemicals can do to you)....Read this link, I guarantee if you care about your health & future you will be only too happy to quit with no cravings or longings. ~ If it doesn't show up as a clickable link, plz copy & paste into your address bar..V informative..xo

    http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-side-effects.html/
  • clairegreen1974
    clairegreen1974 Posts: 121 Member
    Try looking at the 7 Side effects of Soda pic:

    http://getrealitychecked.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/7-side-effects-of-soda.html

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