Questions about giving up soda

[njmomtoone]

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?

 

[ksloane]

I haven't had a soda !!

I used a 2 month phase out period as I did get headaches as I cut it down. When I tried to go cold turkey the headaches were BAD!

I phased down to 2 a day the first week, and then 1 a day for a couple weeks, and then a half a day, and then stopped.

You can do it. It's good for the pocketbook and your health/weight.

 

[girli565]

I give it up for lent every year hoping it'll stick (it doesn't so far lol). I usually start off by having coffee at least 2 times a day to replace the caffeine I normally got from a coke zero. That staves off the headaches and then slowly I stop the coffee until I'm off completely. When i feel any effects from caffeine withdrawl I will usually stop for coffee or an espresso and get my fix. I don't miss the sugar because I rarely drink non-diet soda.

The problem is that Easter sunday i always end up getting a coke at brunch or dinner and it ruins me!

 

[njmomtoone]

I haven't had a soda !!

I used a 2 month phase out period as I did get headaches as I cut it down. When I tried to go cold turkey the headaches were BAD!

I phased down to 2 a day the first week, and then 1 a day for a couple weeks, and then a half a day, and then stopped.

You can do it. It's good for the pocketbook and your health/weight.

Good for you!! Did you notice any weight loss?

 

[Dismom55]

I did cold turkey several years ago, just plain water at the time. I did not have headaches, some do tho. I do occasionally have a diet soda, but only one serving for that day. I find after having a soda, I more thirsty, odd.

If you have headaches you can try getting your caffiene elsewhere, even a no-doz will give you the caffiene without needing to resort to the actual soda.

 

[RoundtownGirl]

My husband used to be a die hard Mtn. Dew drinker. He had a kidney stone and the Dr. told him to lay off the Mtn. Dew. He gave it up for Lent that year and I will tell you it was a rough time (for him and me). I think it had more to do with the caffeine than the soda.

Both times that I was pregnant I gave up soda cold turkey. I am a diet soda drinker and I was worried about the sugar substitutes. I don't remember it bothering me. In my case it had more to do with the carbonation than the soda. I need the "fizz." I just switched to mineral water like Pellegrino. I didn't save any money though. My dentist has always said that it is the carbonation that damages teeth as much as the sugar.

Another suggestion that I read in a magazine and have tried with success is to mix frozen Welch's juice mix with a bottle of seltzer water. My girls call it "fruit pop." It would be a good way to step down from soda.

I wish you luck! It would be great to give it up and drink more water.

 

[KristinU]

We haven't had soda in several years, so I can't remember if we went cold turkey or not...but I do still drink coffee in the morning, so that staves off any headaches. DH on the other hand went caffeine-free 2 months ago and weaned off of it over maybe 4 or 5 days, no headaches doing it that way for him.

It really is liberating to just drink water. Now if i think of drinking a soda it doesn't even sound appetizing to me. If you want more than just health benefits, think of the carbon footprint of soda - all of that manufacturing and trucking around. And all of that refrigerator space!

Best of luck - you can do it!!!

 

[usnuzuloose]

I like zeevia which uses the sweetner from the stevia plant. I still like my diet dr pepper. But to drink less I will stick with the zeevia. It is on the expensive side so it wont be to often.

 

[jedijill]

I gave up my 25 year Diet Coke habit (6-8 cans/day) last May on my Med cruise. I hate the taste of Coke Light (European Diet Coke) and I had a couple of days of withdrawal and then I was fine. The hardest part for me was giving up the habit....that's why I always failed when quitting before. I've replaced my Diet Coke habit with Iced Green Tea from Starbucks but figure it is much better for me!

Jill in CO

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I have cut down to one a day, for now. I'm hoping to completely quit but I probably won't. My husband drinks Mt. Dew and has no intentions of quitting, otherwise it would be much easier for me because it wouldn't be in the house. So now I buy it, but I only put my one can in the fridge a day because I only like it cold, but DH will drink it warm. That way I get my fix and I'm done. So my advice would be to make it difficult to get to.

I also carry a bottle of water with me everywhere, including outside of the house. That way I'm sure to drink enough water during the day because I will sip on it while watching the kids' sports or waiting in the carpool line.

I have lost weight, not alot on the scale, but my belly doesn't "pooch" out as much anymore. TMI, but I'm also less gassy and have less problems with IBS since I've cut back.

 

[C_leen]

I just gave up soda three weeks ago in an attempt to eat clean (well at least cleaner than I was).

I went cold turkey off of Diet Coke. I know it has made a huge dent in my work food budget & eating out! I never thought about the environmental impact. What a nice angle! I'm also getting green!

As for weight loss, there was no impact for me.

You can do it!

 

[Disneefun]

I went cold turkey two years ago. I started drinking unsweet tea in it's place so I still get some caffeine, but not all the other chemicals.

I have lost weight without changing any other aspect of my diet, even though I mostly drank diet soda. When I do have soda (for example at a fast food place or a party where options are limited) I notice I'm much hungrier in the following hours. That's why I was putting on weight even though I was drinking diet. For whatever reason, soda gives me the munchies.

 

[semo233]

Withdrawal will depend upon what kind of habit you have right now. Another health benefit is that many sodas have a chemical in them that leaches calcium out of your bones (I can't remember the name of the chemical).

I gave up soda many years ago for lent and have never gone back. Every now and then, I have a diet creme soda or root beer, but colas reek havoc on my digestive system!!!

Good Luck!

 

[Sadie22]

I had no trouble giving up soda when I learned I had type 2 diabetes.

Give up the liquid calories. You'll be glad you did. Plain water is so much healthier.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Gave up soda a year ago this month, and have gained 7 pounds since. There have been no side effects, other than plain water makes me thirstier.
Maybe that's due to my new sweet tea addiction.

 

[ksloane]

Gave up soda a year ago this month, and have gained 7 pounds since. There have been no side effects, other than plain water makes me thirstier.
Maybe that's due to my new sweet tea addiction.

I lost about 5 pounds (and I've kept it off), but I replaced my soda with almost all water and when I do drink something else, it's unsweet tea so I took away a lot of sugar.

 

[stazmatic]

I gave up soda 2.5 years ago after the birth of my last child. It was just something I decided to do since I had a c section and wasn't hungry or anything anyway. I already didn't drink coffee so my only caffeine is from the occasional piece of chocolate.
I did not notice any weight gain or loss. But I agree with PP that stated they got the munchies from diet pop.
There are still days when I would KILL for an ice cold can of pop. But I haven't caved yet.

 

[brockash]

When I was a teen, all I drank was soda. I just stopped cold turkey and it really wasn't too bad. Now, every now and then I'll have one (which I think makes me start wanting to have more,) but usually I don't drink any.

 

[Happiest mommy]

We gave up soda couple years ago we were die hard pepsi Drinkers we solely drink water and occasionally Iced Tea I saw a significant change in my body ,lost weight and a flatter stomach we did it cold turkey and never went back

 

[JusbKoz]

I gave up my Coke a Cola addiction over a year ago. My family would go through a 2 liter or more a day.

We drink filtered water, Kool-aid(sugarfree),juice and milk for our everyday drink choice. If the kids want a soda when we go out to eat they can have it.

It was a decision that I am so glad we made.