Kicking my Soda pop habit

[Galaxy]

Having a rather bad addiction to regular soda pop (Pepsi/Coke), I started Sunday and went cold turkey.

While it is only the fourth day, it's not "quite" as bad as I had hope. The second day was tough. A light craving comes on every once in a while, but it comes and goes.

Anyone have the same problems? How long does the initial phase of those cravings last? Did this alone create changes to your body and mental state?

The hard part was finding a substitute beverage. I found mine in home-made cold green tea (that I might throw in a handful of raspberries or grapes at the bottom to try to add some sort of flavor). No calories and is a healthy choice. Not to mention all of the water that you make the tea out of.

The only "made" beverage I had was I picked up a bottle of Lipton's Honey Green Tea today while I was out of town yesterday.

[Greyroofoo]

[Ksyrup]

Have you seen the Freaky Eaters ep with the chick who drinks over 30 pops a day? That's insane.

[Draft Dodger]

I went cold turkey once, but missed it too much. it was a little extra hard because I don't drink coffee and soda was my only significant source of caffeine.

now, I am down to 1 a day with lunch (down from 6+ a day). I still get my soda itch scratched, but consumption is way down.

[Neon_Chaos]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

Having a rather bad addiction to regular soda pop (Pepsi/Coke), I started Sunday and went cold turkey.

While it is only the fourth day, it's not "quite" as bad as I had hope. The second day was tough. A light craving comes on every once in a while, but it comes and goes.

Anyone have the same problems? How long does the initial phase of those cravings last? Did this alone create changes to your body and mental state?

The hard part was finding a substitute beverage. I found mine in home-made cold green tea (that I might throw in a handful of raspberries or grapes at the bottom to try to add some sort of flavor). No calories and is a healthy choice. Not to mention all of the water that you make the tea out of.

The only "made" beverage I had was I picked up a bottle of Lipton's Honey Green Tea today while I was out of town yesterday.

I've been there... really tough.

Always have a bottle of water handy.

You really just have to manage it one urge at a time. Every single urge to have a soda is a negotiation that you have to win. Once you do that, you're on the way to being soda-dry.

As a note: I stayed soda-dry for about 2 years. Then, I fell off the wagon thanks to one quick sip. Hoping to stop drinking again next year.

Addictions are addictions, unfortunately... and this is no different to smoking/drinking.

[EagleFan]

I have tried this before and was successful for a while but it's like a drug to me. It took just one can and I was back on the stuff.

It is my only source of caffeine as I don't drink coffee. Tried to go with ice tea instead but something just isn't the same.

[k0ruptr]

i need to do this. I'm at about 9 cans a day.

[stevew]

I'm addicted to red bull. It's the only thing that makes me feel non-sluggish.

[Scoobz0202]

I'm addicted to the five hour energies. Started to have one before work every morning, now I HAVE to have one before work.


Have my cigarette addiction down to a cig a day thanks to an electronic cig. I'll just work on these addictions one at a time

[illinifan999]

I stopped drinking pop cold turkey in April and I was a BIG pop drinker. Literally with every meal. Never really had any urges to drink it once I said enough was enough. Now, I just drink water, gatorade, milk, lemonade, and juice with a heavy emphasis on the water.

[Greyroofoo]

I'm addicted to internet porn and I keep beating myself over it.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by Greyroofoo

I'm addicted to internet porn and I keep beating myself over it.

[MrBug708]

Good luck! I didnt think anyone under 70 used the term pop anymore

[Danny]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

Good luck! I didnt think anyone under 70 used the term pop anymore

While I have never called it pop (being from LA as well), I'm pretty sure we've had several discussions about this being a regional thing.

[Jughead Spock]

Yeah, it's regional. I'm from Montana, it's called pop there.

I've never had a big pop fixation, but I do get it with my fast food (now that's a fixation).

Anyway, as far as substitutes go, I dig Crystal Light, esp. since they came out with the individual size packets.

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

Good luck! I didnt think anyone under 70 used the term pop anymore

In Western NY, we call it pop.

[RainMaker]

It was too hard for me. I need some flavor throughout the day and the caffeine fix helps too. But I did switch to Diet drinks. Took me a few weeks to get adjusted to diet, but once I did, regular just tastes weird to me now.

My theory is 3 weeks on any major change in diet is what it takes for your body to accept it. Whenever I've cut something or added something new, that's around the time where I start thinking of it as a change and start thinking of it as the routine. Give it a couple weeks and you won't even think about it. Or just go diet and enjoy yourself without the calories.

[wade moore]

I used to drink probably 3-4 20 oz sodas a day at minimum.

My biggest problem was I have relatively bad acid reflux and the carbonation was a huge trigger for it.

I had my last soda on August 26th, 2008.

For me, it was cold turkey or nothing - I didn't do well when I tried moderation.

The first couple of months were tough. My substitute was sweet tea at times (so obviously I didn't get the kicking sugar benefit), but I slowly moved to water. I used to be the same as others with the "I NEED FLAVOR!", but I slowly grew out of that and I mainly drink water nowadays, especially during the day at work.

The cravings were bad for a couple of months, but then they subsided. Every now and then I get a craving when someone pops the top on a can of soda, especially if I can smell the sugar/carbonation, but that's pretty rare. For the most part the cravings are gone.

[Greyroofoo]

I think "Pop" is mainly used in the North and "Soda" is used in the south, at least based on informal study of military people I did a few years ago.

Some wackos call everything a coke (they were mainly from Texas or Florida IIRC).

[sterlingice]

SI

[Ksyrup]

My wife and I have an ongoing battle over soda/pop. When the kids ask if they can have one, I say, "You can have a pop. You cannot have a soda." Pisses my wife off.

I'm from Michigan, she's from South FloriJersey.

[Matthean]

It's actually pretty easy for me to cut down on it as I have gone whole months without drinking one. I vastly just sub in water. I also mostly drink juice, or Gatorade. There might be times I need Advil, but that's about it. I've even have No Doz for a just in case kind of thing, but I can go from normal shifts to overnights and back without it.

Once you get your body off of pop, you realize just how horrible it is for you. Just drinking water covers so much that we think other drinks will cover. I think a lot of people get sluggish and they sub in pop when the real reason is that they are dehydrated on some level so water in the end will be better to drink. When I'm regularly working out I have been known to drink 120oz. of just water in a day pretty easily. I think my high one time was 160oz. It's funny, I couldn't stand water growing up and I almost only drank Kool-Aid and pop. One time I was thirsty and water sounded like a good idea. Been hooked ever since.

If anybody ever needs to lose weight, start with pop intake. I cut mine down to 3 days in a month and I was losing over a pound a week.

[Alan T]

Galaxy, good luck on your attempt. I used to drink 12-15 sodas a day myself.

I didn't go cold turkey, but instead I did it in stages. First thing I did was cut down to just two a day (with meals). That was a challenge telling myself that I didn't need it at other times.

The next stage I did was switched those two a day to diet drinks which wasn't that bad as I had feared. (It seems my biggest addiction need was the caffeine more than the sugar perhaps).

The final stage I'm on is where I cut them out completely. I actually started doing it myself recently. The first three days I had bad headaches, almost to the point of migraines. Also had weird joint pain in my knees. No idea why but it was pretty miserable. I'm still suffering though now in the sense that I can't find anything else I like drinking. I drink only water right now, but it just isn't doing the trick. I've purposely not bought any sodas and that's helped me stay off of them, but I'm afraid about next week on my next business trips. It is far too easy/convenient to get a soda at hotels.

Hope this process goes easier for you than it has for me.

[Gary Gorski]

I could never give it up but I have tried to cut back greatly on my pop drinking. My biggest problem is that I need flavor in something I drink and the answer for me has been Vitamin Water. Low calories, vitamins and most importantly taste. I've been able to lose 13 pounds in 2 months and while cutting out a good number of fast food value meals accounts for some of that cutting back on the pop is a major factor too.

[JPhillips]

I rarely have more than one soda a week unless I'm having mixed drinks. I started drinking water more a few years ago and gradually I got to a point where I didn't want the syrupy coating in my mouth. I never planned to cut out soda, it just worked out that way.

Of course no soda is easy, cutting out bacon on the other hand...

[Fidatelo]

I used to drink way too much pop, including (but not limited to) a large Slurpee every day. Over the last couple years I've slowly weened myself down to 1 can of Coke Zero at work, and then maybe a medium Slurpee in the evening. My replacement beverage is generally just water, although for my morning caffeine kick I've moved to a home-made Iced Cappuccino beverage that isn't exactly a healthy drink either.

Over the summer I had kicked the Slurpee habit down to 1-2 a week, but in the last month I've fallen off the wagon. I intend to hop back on shortly, but we just had a new baby a couple weeks ago and I'm finding it hard to focus my willpower.

Pop is evil.

[Easy Mac]

I used to be fairly bad with soda, normally about 40 ounces per day, at least. I eventually had panic attacks for likely unrelated reasons, so I cut it out completely to see if that would help (lower caffeine/jitteriness). I probably went about a year without one, though I never noticed a change through cutting it out. About 1 year ago I started drinking it again. I generally have about 3/4 of a 12 ounce can a day and/or a soda if we go out to dinner. I'd like to cut back, but right now I'm content. Otherwise I only drink water.

[spleen1015]

I used to be a hardcore pop drinker. I bet I went 7-10 years and 99% of what I drank was Mt. Dew. I had indigestion all of the time. Stopped drinking it like that about 8 years ago and started drinking more water. I kept drinking soda, maybe 4-6 cans a day. When I started my weight loss last year, I completely cut it out and now I only drink water and milk on occasion.

I have kicked smoking, soda and obesity. In every case, I was able to quit because I wanted to. I didn't need any tricks. I just decided it was what I wanted.

I sleep 5-6 hours a day, exercise 4-5 times a week and eat 1800 calories a day. I have never felt better in my life.

[lungs]

Drink Milk!

[Passacaglia]

I've been feeling like I need to cut out pop for a long time. But my average is 1-2 per day, so you guys are making me feel like I'm not so bad! And that map is awesome.

[Rizon]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

Anyone have the same problems? How long does the initial phase of those cravings last? Did this alone create changes to your body and mental state?

The first time I quit I had constant headaches, fatigue, and couldn't sleep for a month. I felt great after.

The second time it went on for a couple of months without going away, so I started drinking it again.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by Greyroofoo

Man, I loved this game.

[BillJasper]

Have never been able to kick the habit. Have stopped for several weeks at a time on multiple occasions but always fall back in.

I feel like Barney Gumble, one sip and "it begins!".

[Passacaglia]

I wonder what's up with those counties that are labeled as 'other' -- what are some of the other names used?

[Rizon]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

SI

Weird, I've never heard a single person in NE call it "Soda". I've only heard "pop".

I've also never heard a single person call it "soda" on the west coast, it's always been "coke".

I must live in a cave or something.

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by Rizon

Weird, I've never heard a single person in NE call it "Soda". I've only heard "pop".

I live in New England and I call it soda. I grew up calling it coke as I grew up in Georgia, but started calling it soda once moving here since I confused everyone to death. After the last decade, I've gotten used to calling it soda like most everyone else I know around here in New England.

[Danny]

Originally Posted by Gary Gorski

I could never give it up but I have tried to cut back greatly on my pop drinking. My biggest problem is that I need flavor in something I drink and the answer for me has been Vitamin Water. Low calories, vitamins and most importantly taste. I've been able to lose 13 pounds in 2 months and while cutting out a good number of fast food value meals accounts for some of that cutting back on the pop is a major factor too.

This was as if I posted it, but with soda in place of pop and 6 pounds in about 5 weeks instead of 13 in 2 months. I actually haven't changed my diet that much, just changed the drinks and started exercising a lot more.

[B & B]

Thought about this thread as I cracked open a beverage.



Probably have 4-5 a week. Always keep cans in the house as flat sodas are disgusting.

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by Gary Gorski

I could never give it up but I have tried to cut back greatly on my pop drinking. My biggest problem is that I need flavor in something I drink and the answer for me has been Vitamin Water. Low calories, vitamins and most importantly taste. I've been able to lose 13 pounds in 2 months and while cutting out a good number of fast food value meals accounts for some of that cutting back on the pop is a major factor too.

Vitamin Water isn't much better for you than soda (Like Gatorade as well). I believe a judge recently allowed a class-action lawsuit to go forward against the company for its name and its overstated claims of its health benefits.

[lighthousekeeper]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

SI

i'd like to know what 'other' name people are calling it in those random counties in NC, NM, etc.

[sterlingice]

Soft drink? Horse piss? I don't know- I didn't do the survey

SI

[Rizon]

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

i'd like to know what 'other' name people are calling it in those random counties in NC, NM, etc.

They call it Other. What would you like to drink? I'll have a Diet Other.

[azjoe_02]

I haven't had a soda in a year and half. I would easily drink three 44oz fountain drinks a day - and even more on the weekend.

Not drinking soda is the best (health related) decision I've made.

Oh and when I was growing up in Ohio it was definitely called "pop". Where I've lived since I was 11 years old, Arizona, it is called soda. I still remember getting made fun of in grade school when my brother and I called it pop.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, the WORST part of kicking the habit was going through the caffeine withdrawals. I would get massive, pounding headaches.

[PraetorianX]

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

i'd like to know what 'other' name people are calling it in those random counties in NC, NM, etc.

In NC they may call it Pepsi, since Pepsi is from the area (like Coke is from Georgia).

I've heard it called Coke, Pop, Soda and Soft Drink around here, but then again it seems like most people here in NC are from somewhere else originally.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

Vitamin Water isn't much better for you than soda (Like Gatorade as well). I believe a judge recently allowed a class-action lawsuit to go forward against the company for its name and its overstated claims of its health benefits.

Lot of sugar in regular Vitamin Water. They make one called Vitamin Water Zero which is actually not bad for you and 0 calories.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by Rizon

I've also never heard a single person call it "soda" on the west coast, it's always been "coke".

I must live in a cave or something.

WTF, everyone calls it Soda in CA.

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by Rizon

They call it Other. What would you like to drink? I'll have a Diet Other.

So that is what the 'Other' button is for on these things

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Rizon

Weird, I've never heard a single person in NE call it "Soda". I've only heard "pop".

I've also never heard a single person call it "soda" on the west coast, it's always been "coke".

I must live in a cave or something.

It's always soda in the northeast.

[Kodos]

Bump. I'm on day six without soda. So far, so good. I have had some weak moments, but have stuck with water. I'm noticing it does make me feel better. No heartburn.

I've tried a few times before and have always fallen back in by slowly allowing more and more exceptions until I'm drinking two twenty ounce bottles and a can each day.

Baby steps.