Comments on: How To Quit Soda

By: Deanna

Deanna — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 06:12:28 +0000

I want to quit drinking pop so very badly but when I try I find myself thinking about it all the time, like it is a happiness characteristic... How do I get past this problem???

By: ashley

ashley — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:52:05 +0000

Has anybody actually felt more bloated after stopping drinking diet soda cold turkey? I stopped drinking diet dew about a week ago, and i feel terrible. Not only do i have headaches, and am burning up. I also feel more bloated than ever. Will this pass?

By: David

David — Wed, 04 May 2011 20:50:09 +0000

I have been drinking diet sodas since I was a teenager. I have always excercised regularly and stayed healthy. Now I'm 40 years old and realizing that I have been drinking gallons of diet coke everyday for the last 10 years.(and very little water) Over the past 4 years I have had some really random and strange medical issues, most recently I went to the doctor and he is suspecting type 2 diabetes and kidney problems. I am afraid. Thats my motivation. and today is day 2 without Diet Coke.

By: Joanna

Joanna — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 16:14:28 +0000

I drink at least two 20 oz bottles and one 2-litter bottle per day at a daily cost of $3.55. The ironic part of my 20-year Diet Coke addition is that I started drinking Diet Coke to lose weight after a pregnancy. I joined weight watchers and you could drink as much Diet Coke as you wanted, it was a free food/drink. Before that I was addicted to Coke. So at this point Caffeine has been an addiction for 24 years and artificial sweeteners 20-years. Now most of the research I see shows that artificial sweeteners cause people to gain weight. I’ve decided to kick that habit due to health concerns such as bone loss and weight problems. I’ve been exercising heavily for 2+ years and haven’t lost any weight. I’ve tried quitting before but never made it more than a few days, this time I’ve decided it is going to be different. I’ve educated my self on what to expect and I’m going to stick to it. This website had been great, I found reading everyone’s posts helpful and motivating.

I quit Diet Coke cold turkey 7 days ago. Wow, what a roller coaster of withdrawal symptoms I’ve been on. I’ve experienced irritability, depression, huge sweet cravings, low energy levels, chest pains and headaches. Today day 7 I sit here with a headache. The research I have found seems to support withdrawal symptoms from caffeine lasting 2 weeks. As of today I have saved $24.85. I am going to use that money this week to reward and pamper myself by getting a pedicure.

Experiencing these withdrawal symptoms has proved to me just how bad Diet Coke is for my body. I’ve read hundreds of magazine articles about the horrors of diet soda but I needed these 7 days as a wake up call.

By: Kayla

Kayla — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 18:23:12 +0000

I usually drink between 3-6 (sometimes more) diet sodas per day. My mom has been tyring to get us off sodas, but it hasn't worked very well. A while back I tried to stop drinking soda and went through caffiene withdrawls for about 3 days. I felt wonderful after that, but after a few weeks I started drinking diet sodas again. Yesterday, after I heard that diet sodas can lead to brain tumors, weight gain, and birth defects, I decided I was going to quit again. I am currently experiencing the withdrawls, but I am stickin to my plan! The short term negative effects are better than long-term life altering effects.

By: Addicted in Iowa

Addicted in Iowa — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 23:05:24 +0000

I just read all 133 posts and I want to thank the author of the article and everyone for posting- I’m glad its not just me! I sit on my butt in an office all day and would embarassingly bring a 2 liter in every morning and drink the whole dang thing by 5pm- and packed on the pounds. I’ve tried to quit over and over for the past 5 years. I originally drank regular Pepsi, switched to Diet mt Dew to avoid gaining more cubicle weight. Once I got used to that I switched to Caffeine free Dt Mt Dew.. and everyone said ‘what’s the point?!’ To this day the the bubbles are what i miss the most but I’m hanging in there so far. I’ve scoured the internet for tips and have tried alot of them- here’s what I’m doing now, and its working so far: 1. Warning– and I know firsthand: Be careful of lemon water– it works as a moderate substitute beverage, but it gave me 4 cavities in 6 months and I had only had 2 ever in my entire life before that (I’m 27 yrs old). Its acidity ruined the enamal on my teeth– should have just stuck with the Dt Dew. If lemon water works for you- BE SURE TO RINSE OR ALTERNATE WITH REGULAR WATER! 2. Crystal light can help get you off the sugar and caffeine- but its really no different than diet pop. Still has fake sugar (aspertame, splenda, etc). Flavored water does too. Fake sugars are worse for you than high fructose corn syrup- more addictive, makes you crave actual sugar/sweets, and breaks down into nasty nasty by-products in your body. I told my mother that if I kick the bucket before her that she better get a discount from the mortician b/c I’m probably 1/2-embalmed by now from all the diet soda. 3. Holy crap- think of all the MONEY you will save. I figured out that 2-liters are the most economical way to buy soda… hi, can you say addict? That’s like the nicotine addict driving across the state line for a carton of cigs to save on tax. Even buying it by the 2 liter, $1 a pop- and I’d drink one a day- that’s $365 a year, MINIMUM- if buy it the CHEAPEST WAY POSSIBLE. 4. So the only thing that’s actually worked for me this time- is to have fun with my substitutes. I use frozen fruit for ice cubes when I’m drinking plain water- peaches are my fav. And I drink it out of a big quart jar with a straw like they used to serve drinks at this resteraunt my friends and I would go to in high school. Without the fruit flavor- I wouldnt drink it- plain water is boring and tasteless to me. And the jar makes it fun. And if I struggle and miss the bubbles– soda water. It doesnt taste good- so it doesn’t take much to get my fix and move on without risking everything. I also went and bought a ridiculously expensive ($13) reusable (thank god) thermal cup. Its cute, I love it. So i put my hot tea in that and it makes it special and i’m more motivated to drink it. They do make decaf tea folks- in all kinds of flavors, I should write the ppl @ Lipton a thank you letter. 5. I’ve lost a little weight (wasn’t overweight to start).. .but my face is soooooo much clearer. Somedays I swore I was mid-teens, not mid20s. 6. Drink lots and lots and lots of other fluids. 7. Chew gum when you get a craving. 8. Sleep. No joke. 9. At least walk.. if not actually work out. It gives you energy, i swear. 10. And eat (healthy). I was hungry at first– but then I got over it. The transition is the worst. GOOD LUCK!

By: Cranky Jim

Cranky Jim — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 05:06:42 +0000

Thanks everyone for the help. I've quit Soda 3 times in my life. The first time I didn't last 24 hours. The second time I made it almost a week. Finally I did it. My girlfiend told me it would help our sex life and since I'm 60 and she is 30 I thought this might keep me last just a little longer. So I replaced it with some really great physical activity if you know what I mean. Anyway my gal is happy and I am constantly finding new ways to explore my gal without soda.....lots of water, lots of KY, and lots of love!

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 05:27:34 +0000

Thank you everyone for your comments and experience. I am a single mother of 3 kids one is special needs and I am very addicted to Dr. Pepper. I myself have psuedotumor cerebri more then likely due to extra weight gain due to drinking so many Dr.Peppers. I have already had the migraine headaches for two straight days part is due to my condition. I only drink Dr.Pepper or sweet tea so many Dr. Peppers I couldnt' tell ya how many I drink a day. SO I have decided Im going to quit drinking Dr. Pepper and Im going to get in shape. My dad has been smoking for over 30+ years and hes going to quit smoking also. So he and I are going to quit our addictions together and I have some ideas from all of your comments and experience that should help him and me both. Thank you everyone.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 22:49:11 +0000

I'm going to keep this page open for motivation. Today is my first soda-free day. I'm used to drinking 3 or 4 20oz Pepsis a day, and work is a big trigger for me because the vending machine is right there. I took a bottle of sparkling mineral water to work to help me get past the psychological dependency. At home I loaded up on bottled water, apple cider, orange juice and soy milk.

I'm in okay health, but I hate the caffeine/sugar highs and crashes and I hate feeling like I don't have the willpower to stop. Also, my teeth and skin aren't that great and soda isn't helping. Hopefully I can come back on December 1 and report some progress.

By: LeopardGirl

LeopardGirl — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:41:24 +0000

I am giving up cokes cold turkey starting today. I usually drink anywhere from about 2-10 12oz cokes a day depending on my mood. I realized last night the damage I am doing to my body. It hit me like a ton of bricks. My digestive system is out of whack and my sleeping schedule is terrible. I found myself taking laxatives more than anyone should because the caffeine made me so constipated. I have also gained like 10 lbs in the last few months after quitting my job and I know it's because of my diet. I have also read that cokes can damage coins and cause throat cancer among other things. I decided to do a little experiment. I put two very dirty pennies in a plastic cup and poured a bit of regular coke from one of the cans I had left and put it on the counter. I want to show myself what corrosive properties it has. If plumbers can use it to clean drains and airline maintenance men can use it to clean oil lines, then what is it doing to my insides? I plan to go to the drug store tonight to buy some Excedrin so I am ready for when those withdrawal headaches come. I am starting to feel one already and I am sipping some Tazo Awake tea. I hope this works! I hate coke!