Diet coke habit...to kick or not to kick?

[Anonymous]

I am a diet coke addict. I drink about 5 cans a day. I have been able to make the shift to 3 caffeine free cans and 2 "real" cans a day. Ive had this love affair/ addiction since I was 16 years old. At my best I was able to get down to 2 cans a day (pregnant and nursing) and at my worst I drank upward to 7 or 8. I know it's a lot of chemicaLs but I am resistant to give it up. I am slim and fit and have never had a weight problem, although I know many people credit diet soda with weight gain....maybe that will creep up on me? I just love the taste and find it very refreshing and a good way to break up my day. Anyone quit there pop addiction and really notcie a difference in their health? If so I would love to hear your inspiring stories! TIA

[Anonymous]

Yes. I started replacing soda with carbonated water and tiny amounts of other sweet things (fruit, dark chocolate) that were WAY less bad for me. You could switch to something else you enjoy drinking (for me, I love the carbonation, so carbonated water was a good sub), things like unsweetened tea, chai, coffee, rooibos, jasmine tea, barley tea (sweet and beer-ish tasting!), roasted corn tea (sweet and mello) -- all of which are better for you than soda.

Start by replacing the first coke of the day, then the first and second, etc. I found that the last one of the day was the hardest to replace because for me personally, my willpower is gone by the evening. Eventually you will be down to that last one. Then, set a date for your last diet coke.

Finally, allow yourself to have diet coke when you eat out for lunch, dinner, etc. That way you can still have it very occasionally (which will affect your health much less). Good luck!

[Anonymous]

^^ mello = mellow!

[Anonymous]

My mother stopped drinking soda and lost 10 lbs within a couple of months. She doesn't drink diet soda, just tea and water.

[Anonymous]

Kick it. I drank Coke for decades. When I stopped, I felt infinitely better. I can't drink the stuff now; I find it nasty. I drink coffee, tea, and still or sparkling water instead.

BTW, some people do better moderating (as 11:01 suggests), and others do better abstaining altogether. It can be helpful to know which strategy works best for you. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I'd kick it, or try to get down to 1 or 2 cans a day. I love regular Coke, but limit myself to once or twice a week. Of course, that's mostly because of calories, which isn't an issue with Diet, but the idea of drinking all those chemicals would definitely put me off and get me trying to cut back. Also agree with substituting other drinks instead - my go-to is green tea.

I wonder if there's something addictive about Diet Coke - I know many people who drink as much as or more than you per day, yet I don't know anyone who drinks that much regular soda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a diet coke addict. I drink about 5 cans a day. I have been able to make the shift to 3 caffeine free cans and 2 "real" cans a day. Ive had this love affair/ addiction since I was 16 years old. At my best I was able to get down to 2 cans a day (pregnant and nursing) and at my worst I drank upward to 7 or 8. I know it's a lot of chemicaLs but I am resistant to give it up. I am slim and fit and have never had a weight problem, although I know many people credit diet soda with weight gain....maybe that will creep up on me? I just love the taste and find it very refreshing and a good way to break up my day. Anyone quit there pop addiction and really notcie a difference in their health? If so I would love to hear your inspiring stories! TIA

I have never been addicted to the extent that you are (FIVE cans a DAY?) but I used to drink one a day. Now I am down to one in a blue moon. I drink iced tea instead.

Some links for you:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41479869/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/t/daily-diet-soda-tied-higher-risk-stroke-heart-attack/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/01/diet-soda-stroke-heart-attack_n_1247195.html

http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/4-health-side-effects-of-diet-soda.html

[Anonymous]

Kick it, definitely. I started when I was 14 and was drinking similar amounts - at least 5 cans a day. It was just a couple of cans in HS, worse in college and then sooo much worse when it was offered for free at my first job. I read a few articles about how awful it was and just totally stopped cold turkey. It's been 9 years since I have had a single sip of soda. I drink a lot of seltzer water (that's the unsweetened kind - no sparkling water) now.

Health effects I've noticed - lost about 5 lbs immediately (but I also totally stopped eating anything "diet" at that same time), skin looked better (assuming because I replaced all that with water?). Most interestingly - I used to get awful UTIs every few months. They have totally stopped.

Just do it!!

[Anonymous]

Yes. I was addicted - 1 or 2 a day but in an obsessive way and then some days - 5, 6 or 7 but it's easier when you order a large at McD and it does not seem that bad.

Gave it up as a New Years Resolution last year. Don't drink soda much at all now. I do think it matters. I am getting older and have to model good habits from my not so neurotypical kids.

[Anonymous]

Ugh. I'm with you, OP. Before my husband and I started dating, I drank almost exclusively water, and hated Diet Coke. My husband drank diet coke most days, and I started taking a sip here and there when I didn't have any water handy. Eventually I developed my own habit, not quite as bad as yours; maybe 2 glasses/cans per day. I would like to kick the habit, but the constant presence of Diet Coke in the fridge (for my husband) is making it difficult. It will have to be a joint effort, probably, but I don't want to guilt or nag my husband into giving it up on my account.

[Anonymous]

Kick it! You can do it! I grew up in a house where we drank soda almost exclusively--my mom even put it in my waterbottle for sports practice (how am I not dead)? Anyway, when I went to college, I just started drinking water and felt much better. It built upon itself and eventually I got to the point where I almost never have soda (like twice a year). If I can break free of my upbringing you can too!

[Anonymous]

Kick it. I'm sorry, I know, I like diet coke too. But it's not good for you. Health is not just measured by weight. I started drinking tea. Iced tea if you want something cold (but without the sugar).

[Anonymous]

I love diet coke and other diet carbonated beverages, but try to limit myself to one at lunch, and one at night *only* if I'm eating out. Other than that, I drink tea (caf and decaf), flavored seltzer and milk.

[Anonymous]

I gave it up this past New Years and, while I miss it, I am much happier now. I almost never get head aches any more (used to get 1-2 per week) and feel so much healthier since I almost only drink water (except now I am pregnant and have to drink ginger tea/gingerale in the mornings because of MS). It's very hard but you can do it!

[Anonymous]

Kick it! I gave up diet soda a year ago. I switched to regular once a day, then I gave that up. I lost 20lbs. Now if I want a soda I just have one, but it is an all natural, sugar sweetened one. Like Blue Sky or Hansen's.