Questions about giving up soda

[TheRatPack]

No weight loss here, and haven't had a caffeine soda in over 3 years. I just gave it up because it was getting really expensive. I do have a coffee every once in a while, and sweet tea if we go out to eat at a restaurant (two or three times a month). I drink Fanta if I want something to drink that is like a soda....it's caffeine free but carbonated. Most of the time I just drink water.

 

[Jenn4615]

I gave up soda (I only drank diet) cold turkey over the summer. I only drink A SODA... when I am someplace and they have nothing else to drink... It was much easier than I thought it would be...Looking back I drank a TERRIBLE amount of soda. No headaches or anything... I guess I got lucky! Good luck!

 

[Aristocath]

I gave up Coke about 3 1/2 years ago. I was drinking up to 3 or 4 a day sometimes. I started by limiting myself to one a day for a week or so, then to one of the small, 100 calorie cans or 8 oz. cans a day for a week or two, then every other day, working up the number of days between cans. My last soda was on September 25, 2007. Yes, my addiction was that bad.

The good news is I dropped over 15 pounds and I feel better. I only drink water and black coffee now, with the occasional caramel machiatto from Starbucks. And we have cut a lot of money off of our grocery bill. But the best thing is my kids don't drink much soda now. They will have it as a treat occasionally but they see it as an unhealthy choice!

 

[Holly324]

I gave up soda about a month ago. I still have coffee for caffeine, and sparkling flavored water for the carbonation. I realize that healthwise, I am not doing much for myself yet, what with the caffeine and carbonation from elsewhere, but it is a start! I had a rootbeer a few days ago, and it tasted bad to me! I was excited about that! I hope to slowly get myself off of carbonation, and then caffeine....however, when we go to disney in may, I will be back on all for 10 days! I will have to start over again, but I figure if I did it once, I can do it again!

 

[kidshop]

I think I have to give up soda, b/c I think diet soda is *giving* me headaches. A few months ago I was too cheap to buy any soda for about 2 months and I noticed I had no headaches during that time. I started having a soda or two a day and the headaches came back.

I don't really use any other artificial sweeteners, I think it is whatever mix they use now that doesn't agree with me.

I get my caffeine from coffee!

 

[mtblujeans]

I've been a Pepsi drinker for years. DH gave up all soda and never looked back years ago but I can't kick it. Part of the problem is I am home a lot and it is easy to keep filling that glass. I do get headaches when I try to stop. I am also thinking of trying iced green tea...anything's got to be better than soda!

 

[charming23]

I cut way back about a year ago and it has been going well. I usually only have pop now at parties, one glass or once a week at home. I have noticed a significant weight loss. In fact i lost 15lbs last year within 4 months of cutting back.

I did have terrible headaches when I tried to go cold turkey. I sloved this by having one a day with lunch then slowly making it every other day, every two days........ etc. I now drink a ton of water and unsweetened iced tea.

 

[disneyofcourse]

A little OT, but could save money in the long run...

Has anyone tried to give up soda? Did you do it cold turkey? Were there any bad withdrawl symptoms...bad headaches?

I gave up soda two+ years ago! Saves me money and its so much healthier to not drink that stuff. Personally, I went the cold turkey way and just stopped buying it. I'm sleeping much better now and have less skin issues. Weight loss or gain didn't happen as I just stay at the same weight since I guess middle school Some people do get bad headaches but I didn't get more after the 3rd day of no caffeine. However, I would only maybe drink one coke/pepsi a day.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

Diet Dr. Pepper Baby!

Just can't quit. I don't like coffee or tea in any size, shape or form, so I don't know how to replace it. Just need more self discipline!​

 

[MissBritt]

for me, it was a good three weeks before i didn't crave or "need" it but when that 3 weeks passed, i was golden. that said, i decided to have it again on occasion and do find myself craving it when i don't have it for a few days. dr pepper is my vice.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I very rarely drink soda.. I don't like the way I feel afterward. It's bad for your skin too. I think weaning down off soda makes more sense than cold turkey.. Very few people are successful at just stopping.

 

[defendthehill]

A little OT, but could save money in the long run...

Has anyone tried to give up soda? Did you do it cold turkey? Were there any bad withdrawl symptoms...bad headaches?

I went cold turkey. I still drink coffee so I didn't get the caffeine headache. I didn't drink a soda for one year. Now, in the right situation I will drink a soda. That happens about once every three or four months.

 

[Princess_Meghan <3]

I quit soda cold turkey- I was very addicted to caffeine due to my lack of sleep (I'm a college student), and I can't stand coffee. I got headaches in the beginning, and I was grouchy, but I went from 8 glasses of soda a day to none, so that was to be expected. Right now, I haven't had soda since december 18th. I've actually lost about 5 pounds so far just from cutting soda out of my diet.

 

[KayBella]

And this is why I love DIS! Thank you for letting me know (once again....) that I am not alone when it comes to things like this! I am addicted to Mt. Dew. It is a terrible habit! Normally 3-4 a day but I have cut back thankfully. I am not a water drinker, never really have been. However, I started to cut back on the dew by every time I had one, I had to drink a full glass of water. It was like forcing myself to shove it down my throat. It has gotten better though. I find myself drinking more water/milk. Last night, I blended up a yogurt smoothie to drink and I'd have to say it was pretty gosh darn yummy! I would love to kick Dew completely out but I haven't gotten to that part yet. I keep going back to thinking "Man, this is rotting my teeth!" and that seems to help! Seeing it on here that others are also trying to kick the habit is good support.

 

[mhsjax]

I very rarely drink soda.. I don't like the way I feel afterward. It's bad for your skin too. I think weaning down off soda makes more sense than cold turkey.. Very few people are successful at just stopping.

Actually there is no proof that it is bad for your skin. Sure water is better, but drinking soda and eating chocolate and greasy food is now off the list of things that cause breakouts. (if that is what you are talking about)

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I have tried quitting soda countless times. I always go back to it. I always say it's the trifecta of addictions: caffeine, sugar, and carbonation. Every time I try to quit, I can barely function. I know that when I've cut back and drink more water instead, I do feel better all around and I sleep better and wake up better. However, I think I am going to wait until Spring Break to make another attempt to fully quit. I will work on cutting back before than, but I need to at least function throughout the day. The state testing period is NOT the time to be drowsy. Proctoring is dull enough without a caffeine infusion.

Actually there is no proof that it is bad for your skin. Sure water is better, but drinking soda and eating chocolate and greasy food is now off the list of things that cause breakouts. (if that is what you are talking about)

There may not be any proof, but I have found a correlation in my case. I don't know what the root cause is, however. It may be because if I am drinking more soda, I am drinking less water. It also could be that I crave more soda and junk food at certain times of the month, and it's really the hormones at play while it appears that the foods are the cause.

 

[GinnyEmma]

I very rarely drink soda.. I don't like the way I feel afterward. It's bad for your skin too. I think weaning down off soda makes more sense than cold turkey.. Very few people are successful at just stopping.

Really? What data supports this?

Dh and I gave up diet pepsi a few years ago. He had a couple of headaches, but nothing to write home about. Just find something to substitute, and stay busy.

 

[LaughingSphinx]

DH and I have finally kicked the habit. He drank regular soda, I drank diet. We were both fairly addicted to Mt Dew. We used a combination of weaning off and substituting water and seltzer. Now we mostly drink water, tea, and seltzer. Getting a Brita filter & pitcher helped with the water consumption, as I'm picky about how water tastes and our tap water is unpleasant. There were a couple days of headaches and crankiness, but we both agree we won't go back. DH did lose a little weight after he stopped, and I've dropped some pounds too but we are also in the middle of a Whole30 program, so our weightloss is probably related to that.

If it helps, I do find that I don't get strong cravings for sweet things anymore, it used to be that I'd drink some diet soda, and want sugar for hours afterwards.

 

[GinnyEmma]

OP, it might be wise to chill a bit about this. It isn't a heroin addiction. Reading here, it sounds as though this is a huge deal. It doesn't have to be if you don't make it one. The more drama you add to it, the more it is going to prey on you.

Just my opinion, based on many years of dealing with people and addictions.

 

[torinsmom]

Really? What data supports this?

Dh and I gave up diet pepsi a few years ago. He had a couple of headaches, but nothing to write home about. Just find something to substitute, and stay busy.

I think it really depends on the person. Caffeine is a drug and just like some people can stop smoking fairly easily, some people can take caffeine out of their diet and do fine. I have a very high pain tolerance(took only ibuprofen 12 hours after brain surgery), and I live with daily headaches as well as occasional migraines. My withdrawal from one Diet Mountain Dew per day was like two days of hell--a headache that even prescription meds did not take away, to the point that I could not get out of bed for two days, as well as body aches and nausea. Once I stopped, though, I haven't gone back. I don't have cravings at all.

BTW, I stopped drinking caffeine because my doctor through my headaches may be related, but no such luck. I even gave up aspartame for 2 weeks and that didn't work either. Splenda IS a big trigger for a migraine for me.