Quitting (Diet) Soda

• EricLA
  
  Posts: 3461
  
  
  Jul 07, 2010 12:10 AM GMT

  I'm always working towards healthier habits. Years ago it was moving to non-fat milk. Recently it was moving to brown rice from white rice. Now I'd like to eliminate soda, specifically Diet Coke, from my diet. I don't drink much, about a can a day, if that. My basic reasons for drinking it is: to give me an after-lunch energy boost, I like the sweetness without full-on sweetness of regular Coke, and I like to drink something with flavor (again, sweetness doesn't hurt).
  
  I can't imagine drinking water all day. Tea doesn't quite cut it. For those of you who used to drink sodas, diet or otherwise, what have you replaced it with? I'm trying to remove aspartame and High Fructose Corn Syrup from my diet, so don't want to replace sodas with something similar. I'd love to eventually give up on sugar entirely, but I think that's likely a long ways off.
  
  Any suggestions to how you quit and how you made the transition would be appreciated.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  Jul 07, 2010 12:29 AM GMT

  I drink milk when I'm tired of water. sure it's got some calories but nobody ever got obese from too much milk.
  
  sounds like you're already on that gravy train though.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  Jul 07, 2010 2:27 AM GMT

  I'm in the same boat, but for me its regular coke. I swear I could drink 4 or 5 cans a day.... I LOVE it.
  
  lol... in any case... I think i just enjoy carbonated drinks a lot - so I've decided to get one of these handy dandy machines:
  
  http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/sodastream-pure-sparkling-water-maker/?pkey=x|4|1||4|sparkling%20water||0&cm_src=SCH
  
  They have smaller, less expensive ones if you go to the sodastream website.
  
  You can simply squeeze a lemon into them and enjoy. That's pretty much as satisfying as a coke, for me....

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  Jul 07, 2010 2:32 AM GMT

  Mixing 100% fruit juice with club soda is great and all naturally sweetened and could be a good choice if it's the carbonation you like (I know I do!).
  
  Though carbonation (with or without sugar) does weaken the enamel on your teeth.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• calibro
  
  Posts: 8888
  
  
  Jul 07, 2010 2:46 AM GMT

  i like carbonated water with lemon

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• jlly_rnchr
  
  Posts: 1759
  
  
  Jul 07, 2010 2:46 AM GMT

  My vice used to be Diet Dr. Pepper. It was kind of obscene, especially the Diet Cherry Vanilla variety.
  
  One day, I just stopped drinking soda. I basically switched to light sports drinks at first. Propel, coffee, water (and dirty martinis) make up most of what I drink now. I'll have a can of soda maybe every six months.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  Jul 07, 2010 2:49 AM GMT

  I'm in the same boat. I feel like it's not dinner without a Diet Coke or Diet Dr. Pepper.... so bad. I second the carbonated water method... I've been drinking LaCroix instead and that works for me, for now.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  Jul 07, 2010 3:51 AM GMT

  First I mixed in some decaffeinated diet coke, then when I didn't need the caffeine anymore, I switched to refrigerated tap water with fresh lemon squeezed into it.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  Jul 07, 2010 4:03 AM GMT

  FOR YEARS I drank diet soda (Coke cuz I don't like Pepsi) despite getting warnings from folks who knew their stuff about the ingredients in those diet beverages. But finally, I came around in recognizing what they were saying all along that I finally quit, though gradually, and I'm glad I did.
  
  I saw a great difference in my midsection and didn't feel as bloated from drinking diet soda all the time. I easily replaced that carbonated feeling with mineral water, preferably Trader Joe's Mineral Water with Lime (a cool $1.59 for a 4-pack!!). It tastes great and you don't get that bloated, sodium feeling like you do from sodas.
  
  But when I want to opt for something different than mineral water, especially with my lunch or dinner, I love mixing fruit juice drinks, like Ocean Spray Grape Light and Minute Maid OJ. Pour 3/4 of the Grape Light juice into a glass with 1/4 of the OJ, and it tastes great!! Vodka is optional. ;)

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Celticmusl
  
  Posts: 4330
  
  
  Jul 07, 2010 4:21 AM GMT

  There are tons of fruit "spritzers" out there, meaning cans or bottles of carbonated fruit juice. They also have "light spritzers" which is fruit juice, carbonated water, and a little bit of stevia leaf. The light spritzers have about 60-70 calories a can.
  
  I'm becoming more of a fruit juice fan. I used to think it was empty calories, but now I think if you're not eating the fruit it's the second best way to get the nutrition and anti-oxidants. Also, it's a great way to get your potassium.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• dannyboy1101
  
  Posts: 977
  
  
  Jul 07, 2010 5:07 AM GMT

  I actually love to have water with lemon mixed in (the more the better). Perhaps that or other fruit mixed in could give you some flavor.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• natiluv
  
  Posts: 50
  
  
  Sep 21, 2010 2:36 AM GMT

  Too much sugar and acid in soda. Try different things, the less sugar the better, fruit juices, soy/almond milk, smoothies, green/black/white teas, cocoa...go for it but maintain a good water intake with the rest.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• natiluv
  
  Posts: 50
  
  
  Sep 21, 2010 2:38 AM GMT

  You might dilute the fruit juices with water as they still have natural sugar. They taste better to me with a little water, more refreshing...ahhhhh.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  Sep 21, 2010 2:39 AM GMT

  
  
  
  NEVER!!!
  
  I don't get my Diet Sunkist, I'll cuttabitch!

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• HankFit247
  
  Posts: 205
  
  
  Sep 21, 2010 2:45 AM GMT

  Almost Never!
  
  Water, Skim Milk, Muscle Milk, low sodium V8, or OJ w pulp.
  
  If I'm at a FF rest. typically I opt for a bottle of water, or a little carbonated prune juice aka Dr. Pepper.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  Sep 21, 2010 2:52 AM GMT

  Sugar free Kool Aid.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  Sep 21, 2010 2:55 AM GMT

  Hank247 saidAlmost Never!
  
  Water, Skim Milk, Muscle Milk, low sodium V8, or OJ w pulp.
  
  If I'm at a FF rest. typically I opt for a bottle of water, or a little carbonated prune juice aka Dr. Pepper.

  
  
  I'd like to think the aspartame and other chemicals are what give me my edge when we play darts.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Kinneticbrian
  
  Posts: 231
  
  
  Sep 21, 2010 3:04 AM GMT

  I had to give up diet soda altogether. I loved Diet Coke, Diet A&W Root Beer and Diet 7-Up. I am prone to having very bad headaches, and about two years ago they began increasing in severity and frequency, to the point where Migraine Strength Excedrin wouldn't even dent them.
  
  Going to the Doctor, I feared the worst. After the usual tests and X-Rays the doctor came back and asked me if I had been drinking diet soda, to which I told him "yes". His single word advice? Stop.
  
  He told me I would be better off health wise drinking none of it, but that regular soda is less damaging and toxic than the diet stuff. Apparently there is some chemical in the diet stuff that can accumulate in the brain and cause headaches. I stopped the stuff and feel much better.
  
  I drink Propel, Aquafina Flavor Splash and Vitamin Water Zero. Plus just regular tap water with some lime or lemon is great for me.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  Sep 21, 2010 3:11 AM GMT

  I have some serious willpower and can't shake this habit.
  
  What did work initially was reducing by 125 ml/daily for a week and then up to 250 ml the next week, until I gradually just stopped.
  
  The longest I have lasted without diet sodas has been about a year. Shamefully, I am back up to about 2 liters a day. I have tried the non caffeinated and it's the same way. I'm curious to know what ingredient makes it so horribly addictive.
  
  Hypnosis is my next step.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  Sep 21, 2010 3:20 AM GMT

  Drink coffee or green tea instead or better yet, water. I drink pretty much only water and coffee, with the exception of protein shakes.

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM
• Posted by a hidden member.
  Log in to view his profile
  
  
  Sep 21, 2010 2:48 PM GMT

  I use to drink a two liter bottle of coke a day. not diet either regular coke. I hate the taste of diet drinks, Over the last 6 months Iv managed to go from the two liters a day to 16 oz a day. I can't manage too give it up all together

  QUOTE REPORT SPAM