Giving up diet soda..............

[Minnie_me]

I'm 46 years old and have been drinking diet soda for over 30 years. There was a time when I was drinking 6 or more a day, but I attended a health & wellness seminar and got scared down to drinking only 2 a day.

But now I want to give it up altogether. I'm down to 1 a day, for the past 2 weeks. I have one left in my fridge, and I'm telling myself that it's the last one.

Has anyone else done this? Did you experience withdrawal symptoms? Health benefits? What drink did you replace your diet soda with?

 

[Plantlady]

I have successfully given it up. When I did so, I drank a ton of water, and that caused the caffeine headaches to subside. I successfully went many months without a soda.

That being said, I am right back drinking them again. But, I plan to stop, again. I do feel drinking a ton of water is the key.

 

[mtemm]

yep! I used to drink it in my teens, then gave it up in college and was that way for years. sometime in my 30s I picked up the habit again, and have quit off and on over the years. I find when I don't drink it, I mainly drink water (a little oj in the morning, and some milk here and there). I feel healthier and sleep better and my skin looks amazing. I also find that if, after some time I do have one, I don't even like it.

sadly I am in an "on" phase right now, and I am planning on giving it up again when the kids go back to school.

good luck!

 

[corgi_monster]

I used to drink 3-5 diet sodas a day. I gave up ALL non-organic beverages (except for coffee), including diet soda, regular soda, most juices, etc. I also do not drink any organic sodas because of the calories.

I NEED my fizzies, though, so I now drink lemon flavored mineral water. For a bit treat, I love fresh watermelon juice. And I drink vanilla soy milk with my cereal - so sweet and yummy!

I had major withdrawals when I gave up soda cold turkey. It was worse than when I quit smoking - sinus headaches, cravings, constant thirst/cotton mouth, and I was quite unpleasant. This lasted for about two weeks. As for health benefits, I did have one major change - my keratosis pilaris has all but disappeared!!! The red dots are still there (but much lighter), but the bumpy texture is gone.

 

[hambirg]

I have successfully quit my very bad diet coke habit before. I mostly switched to unsweetened iced tea so I didn't really suffer any withdrawl headaches.

That being said, I am back to drinking diet coke after about five years of not drinking it.

 

[mickeysgal]

We drink very, very little soda of any kind anymore. Occasionally we will buy a case but it lasts us forever. We order water at restaurants. I do drink coffee - about 2 cups a day. The rest of the time is either juice, water, or crystal light.

What scared you into cutting down the diet soda? The chemicals that make it diet?

 

[SookieStackhouse]

I have kicked the habit... I don't know what all is in them besides aspertame that will hurt you, but I know there is nothing good in there, I just hope I haven't done any (or much) permanent damage. I too used to be in the 6 a day club.

My big thing is cutting out aspertame, and that really limits my choices on diet soda replacement. My replacements include:

Sparkling Water... (San Pellegrino, Perrier, LaCroix) can even find store brands for cheaper. Plain is great, and they also make flavors like lemon, berries and stuff that don't have any sweeteners.

Tea...I found that you can make drinkable iced tea in a coffee maker, it isn't good but I can drink it with enough ice in it. I make decaffeinated at home, but if I am out, I will just drink regular and I haven't had any ill-effects from the caffeine in it. I ALWAYS do unsweetened.

Regular soda... I still allow myself an occasional regular soda, Sierra Mist, 7up, or Sprite. I am really trying to minimize the caffeine.

 

[satorifound]

I did it. I think my cravings have finally gone away. It has been about 4 months. I have quit before and always go back to soda... LOL

Right now I basically only drink water. I do have a daily Starbucks, but I was trying to get rid of the Aspartame so I avoid the diet water drink mixes too.

 

[azdizzymom]

I was like you 3-5 a day of diet coke or diet pepsi....didn't matter which one. I finally saw all cans on counter waiting to be crushed and knew it wasn't good. I am down to one a day. I find myself drinking lots of iced tea or water now. I was drinking a diet coke at lunch the other day and thought it didn't even taste good anymore.

I am going to try flavored seltzer and see if I can totally give up. I didn't get the headaches this time (have been down to 1 can a day for 6 weeks).

 

[corgi_monster]

Another yummy fizzy drink is club soda mixed with organic fruit juice. It's a lot more palatable than flavored mineral water. When I first made the switch, I thought mineral water tasted like pipes . . . and it's SUPER expensive where I live. I can go through $10 of mineral water in 2-3 days.

If you don't want to pay for organic juice, just make sure you avoid anything with high fructose corn syrup and any ingredient that sounds like a chemical, preservative, or dye. I heard juicy juice is not bad, but I haven't read the label or tried it myself.

 

[vettechick99]

I drank diet sodas for about a month last year. Then I realized it made me hungrier. I was snacking so much I thought something was wrong with me. I googled diet drinks and I was right...it triggers hunger. So the sooner you cut them out, the better.

Be sure you just replace it with something you enjoy. I like low-calorie flavored water so I drink those. Good luck!

 

[LukenDC]

I drink diet Coke only on Friday, Saturday, and Sundayn usually 2 per day). The other days I have one cup of coffee in the mornings and water the remainder of the day. Since I hate the taste of beer and do not like other alcoholic beverages enough to spend money on them, it's unlikely that I will give up sodas altogether.

 

[MELSMICE]

I wasn't a huge diet soda drinker.........about 2, sometimes 3 a day. About 18 months ago I started replacing it with water. Even when we go out I drink water, which cuts down on the restaurant tab too.

I still drink diet soda occasionally........such as when we have pizza & occasionally when we go out, but otherwise I try to stay away from it. I find that water quenches my thirst much better anyway & is healthier for you.

 

[lucas]

Subscribing..... I'd like to give up caffeine free diet coke.

 

[jenny105]

I used to drink soda all the time, it was my drink of choice. One day, I just got tired of the taste and the bloaty feeling the carbonation gives you so I switched to water and iced tea. I'll drink soda ocassionally (sprite since it's caffiene free) but coke or pepsi? If I have a sip, I cringe. I can't stand the taste anymore.

 

[dislaney]

I gave up soda and replaced it with water initially. Now I will occasionally have an iced tea, glass of fruit juice (grapefruit or orange usually), or raspberry lemonade. Maybe 2-3 glasses a week of something other than water.

 

[Squidgyness]

Big Diet Soda drinker (Pepsi Max) I drink about 6 cans (330ml, not sure about the ounce ) a day.

Gave up for 2 weeks at the start of my diet, noticed no benefits from it, went back on it. I find it keeps hunger away actually. I snacked like crazy when I gave it up, and I was really tired all the time. Flavoured water costs a fortune, normal water is even worse and fruit juice or diluted concentrate gives me a sugar high and heartburn...

There is only a small amount of caffeine in it anyway. I find it especially hilarious when people tell me to give it up, then go for a cup of coffee...

 

[momrek06]

I love my caffeine free diet pepsi. I have two 12oz. glasses, (no cans) a day, one at lunch and one at dinner. I buy all 2 liter bottles esp when on sale … last week Albertson's was 10 for $10.00. A few weeks ago CVS had .69cents for 2 liters and I stocked up.

I am not giving it up. I have tried and that was when I switched from regular DP to caffeine free. I don't drink coffee but I do drink tea in the a.m.

Maybe I will try a day. My DH has cut out all soda and all alcohol (was having a glass of red wine every night with dinner) and has literally LOST 25 lbs. He started this in May. He looks amazing. He drinks tons and tons of water all day long.

 

[Robmom]

I have been thinking of giving it up. I have noticed that my memory is not good anymore, and I'm only 43. I have read that aspertame can cause memory loss, so it does worry me.

 

[Squidgyness]

I have been thinking of giving it up. I have noticed that my memory is not good anymore, and I'm only 43. I have read that aspertame can cause memory loss, so it does worry me.

To be honest, if it really did do all those things people say it does, as a conclusive fact that is, it would be taken out of all products. Often some of these 'benefits' from giving it up are psychological - people EXPECT to feel better, so they do.