Saying goodbye to an old friend (diet coke)

[Anonymous]

I have had a serious diet soda habit for 35 years. I vividly remember being at a concert as a teenager where a vendor was handing out samples of a new calorie-free drink balled Tab. This changed my life. A sweet drink with no consequences!! Approaching my 50th birthday, I now drink one diet coke when I get up, and I drink them all day long. Probably 4 on average. I am hungry constantly and constantly binge on sweet foods and carbs, even when I have eaten good meals and shouldn't be hungry. I have put on a lot of weight in the last few years. I know it is time to give up my old, dear friend as part of a general health overhaul. I think it will be as hard as cigarettes for people who smoke. I don't think it's the caffeine -- it's the desire for a sweet taste. Anyway, as a gift to myself for my birthday, I want to to try one more time to do this (I have tried before and failed). Appreciate any success stories or motivation (eg, after I gave it up, I experienced the following wonderful things .... weight loss, craving reduction, better skin, whatever). TIA!

[Anonymous]

You will feel so much better! You will soon discover how bloating the carbonation is. I stopped drinking diet coke 5 years ago. Don't miss it at all.

[Anonymous]

Just think of the reduced chemical load on your body! I have an in law who drinks massive quantities of diet coke (double your intake, conservatively). There is limited evidence for fake sugars being very bad for you; I seem to remember from high school that aspartame breaks down into wood alcohol and formaldehyde, among other things, as your body digests it. My husband gave up diet coke and his blood sugar stabilized. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

NP here. There are few things I love more than Diet Coke. Just gave it up for pregnancy as part of caffeine rehab program. So sad.

[Anonymous]

I gave up all soda during pregnancy because it gave me terrible heartburn. My DD is 2 and I never went back. I don't miss it at all. Actually, it seems gross to me now. Nothing but chemicals! Yuck!

Try subbing in something else, like herbal fruit teas over ice. Add a dash of sugar or honey to bring out the sweetness. Drink lots and lots of water.

[Anonymous]

I used to be a Diet Coke addict and never drink it anymore. It started with a switch to Diet Dr. Pepper, which I drank interchangeably with Diet Coke at first, and then Diet Coke stopped tasting good to me and I was on Diet Dr. Pepper exclusively. The quitting process took a long time and had stops and starts. First I cut down to one a day, in the morning. Then I switched to iced tea (but I sweetened it lightly with an artificial sweetener). Most recently I have started drinking the tea unsweetened, which I don't love but can live with. (Like you, my palate was trained to like sweet drinks when I was a young child -- soda, Koolaid, juice). At a certain point I stopped drinking sodas with meals, which I used to do, and now prefer to drink water with meals because I can taste the food better. That preceded giving up the soda completely. Another thing I will say is that when I do have a Diet Dr. Pepper now, it does not taste anywhere near as good as it used to, so it has become not worth it to drink it. I'm not going to say I will *never* drink another diet soda, but honestly I cannot stand the taste of Diet Coke anymore and even Diet Dr. Pepper doesn't do it for me like it used to, and I don't buy them so the only time I would have one is from a restaurant or convenience store.

Sorry to be long-winded, I wish there was a quick and easy way to quit but for me the key was that by cutting back -- one per day, then one per week or so -- it stopped tasting good. Once you don't enjoy the taste anymore it will be so much easier not to drink them. I will also say that cutting way, way back on sugar in my diet was something that went hand in hand with quitting the soda. It is hard, but I have a family history of type 2 diabetes so I know it is something I need to do. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I used to be an addict too. Giving it up is HARD--I used to think I needed something carbinated to quench thirst--but once your break the habit, you will find that you can't stand the stuff anymore. Your taste will really change. Also, much better for your teeth to stick to water.

[Anonymous]

Oh god, Diet Dr. Pepper is my crack. Such a sweet, sweet elixir. I'm too weak. Can't resist...

[Anonymous]

It's sad that I to recall the day that my good friend dc was introduced to my life. I have severely limited my habit to maybe 2 diet cokes a week, feel so much better.

[Anonymous]

Good for you! I also have a DC addiction. I only drink one or two a day, but sometimes I'll have a diet Fresca or two in the afternoon. I really want to get rid of the diet soda. I'm quite sure that it makes me crave sweets all the time. *sigh* Please post on your progress. I need your inspiration to quit myself.

[Anonymous]

Diet coke is not your friend! Kicked it 7 years ago and don't miss it. That being said, it was hard. I used to fantasize about dc when I was trying to quit it. Substitute green tea or herbal tea. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I am 6 years off of regular soda. As of 4ths ago, I am now DC free. I don't miss it. And wonder of wonders, DH announced tonight that he's finally ready to quit it!

[Anonymous]

I'm on board. I usually have one a day at lunch. I've given it up before and felt great. I never buy it for the house, but it's free at work, so I went back to the habit.

I do think it makes me crave other carbs.

[Anonymous]

I typically drink one or two DC a day. Trying to substitute perrier/san pal. for one to satisfy the carbonation addiction. So difficult.

[Anonymous]

Switch to regular! Sugar is better for you than chemical sweetener, and you'll feel "fed" so you won't have the same cravings for junk food.

I lost weight when I made the switch.