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Original poster

Giving up Diet Coke

46 replies

Irishmoma1 · 09/09/2018 21:15

Hi All,

I’m on a mission to give up Diet Coke once and for all. I currently drink minimum of 5 cans a day, I know that’s shocking. I know people say diet drinks don’t make you put on weight but I’m starting to think that’s incorrect. Has anyone given up diet drinks any tips for me?

OP posts:
boux · 09/09/2018 21:18

They can make you put on weight because studies have shown that they make you hungrier. So although you're not drinking any calories it will make you want to consume more.
Do you like sparkling water? You still get the 'fizzy' part but better for you.

domesticslattern · 09/09/2018 21:19

I couldn't cut down. I had to go cold turkey.
I took up sprite which I didn't like as much but which gave me the sugar hit and the feeling of opening a can.
Then I moved to fizzy water, sometimes with fruit in.
Finally I had given up but be warned! it is very easy to start again. You have to give it up everywhere- work, home, pub etc.
Use the money you save to buy flowers each week.
Good luck! Smile

Original poster
Irishmoma1 · 09/09/2018 21:20

Boux - good idea about sparkling I’ll defo give it a try. I’ve no energy at the moment and I know the coke isn’t helping

OP posts:

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Original poster
Irishmoma1 · 09/09/2018 21:21

Was it tough going cold turkey

OP posts:
Shutityoutart · 09/09/2018 21:21

No advice but I need to give it up too. I crave Diet Coke !! I think the way to do it is by cutting down, so I won’t have one before 10am, and not after 6pm. And I’ll allow myself 2 per day. I’m hoping this might work!

Bluntness100 · 09/09/2018 21:23

I've a shocking cola zero habit, I drink at least two litres a day. I know it's unhealthy, but I am addicted. I even take it to bed with me.

I don't think it leads you to put on weight though. Well it doesn't with me.

Prob because I'm too full of it to eat,,,🤣

Original poster
Irishmoma1 · 09/09/2018 21:23

I’m very bad I have a can some mornings when I wake Blush

OP posts:
AllAtHome · 09/09/2018 21:25

I was like you. I just went cold turkey. Interestingly, the waves of nausea I was having (and visiting the dr about) have vanished... plus I have less aches!

LashesZ · 09/09/2018 21:26

I had a major full fat coke issue to the point it was the only liquid I drank. Had to quit after having heart investigations due to postpartum infection. The only way forward is to go cold turkey as it's easy to relapse. Find a squash you like (for me it was the Robinsons creations) and treat yourself to a lemonade when out and about. Good luck! xx

Original poster
Irishmoma1 · 09/09/2018 21:27

Omg I often complain of a sick stomach and feeling generally unwell it never clicked with me it could be the coke

OP posts:
dancemom · 09/09/2018 21:27

I had a terrible Diet Coke addiction, used to wake up in the night do it, drink it for breakfast, always had a bottle in my handbag etc

Went cold turkey overnight and it didn't bother me! Went straight into plain water and haven't touched a drop of fizzy drink since, I still have my 4 emergency cans in the cupboard!

The thought of it now turns my stomach, the syrupy coloured poison! 🤢

domesticslattern · 09/09/2018 21:29

Yes it was hard to go cold turkey, but I was worried about diabetes (as drinking masses of full fat coke). Also it is probably worth researching phosphates and osteoporosis, as well as the effects of aspartame on the body.
You have to scare yourself into wanting to give up!

jenstarxx · 09/09/2018 21:31

I felt like I was addicted to Diet Coke at one point and would panic without cans in the house!
I was never bothered about bottles just the cans.
I decided to go cold turkey, and I have give up completely now and it doesn't taste the same but I was overly obsessive with it at one point Smile

SequinsOnEverything · 09/09/2018 21:31

I also had to just go cold turkey. I had squash with sparkling water if I really wanted some fizz.

After 2 weeks of not having any I started having the odd can here or there and now I can take it or leave it.

AllAtHome · 09/09/2018 21:32

I only drank diet cola, so no sugar hit. I don’t know how I went cold turkey, but so thing just clicked and that was it.

I've had the odd Fanta/ flavoured water, but not often. Now I drink mainly water or hot drinks.

Suzeyshoes · 09/09/2018 21:38

I also had to go cold turkey. In fact I gave up all fizzy drinks when I realised the bloating and cramps I had been getting every evening for years was down to the fizz I was drinking and not the countless other things I blamed it on (bread, dairy etc). I can't tell you how much better I feel since I stopped. The only time I allow myself to drink it now is as a mixer.
It also helped to scare myself into it: worried about aspartame, chemicals, reflux from the acid.

MiddlingMum · 09/09/2018 22:09

Try to think about how bad it is for you, how bad all those cans are for the environment, and how much money you'll save if you just drink plain tap water. Find a jar and put in the money you save, then treat yourself to something nice.

HariboHippo · 09/09/2018 22:12

So much of this rings true with me and I too have a Diet Coke addiction - just the cans.

This has prompted me to give giving up another go, thanks OP

Original poster
Irishmoma1 · 09/09/2018 22:14

Ok I’m going to try tomorrow morning and cut back on the number or cans I drink hopefully I’ll end up drinking none in a few days

OP posts:
MrsDeanWinchester75 · 09/09/2018 22:17

I really need to do this too, dh & I get through 8 cans of pepsi max cherry a day which at £3 per pack makes it £1,095 a year!

This thread has inspired me to try again and stick the £3 a day in a tin that needs a can opener, it'll be great to open it next September.

BrokenWing · 09/09/2018 22:24

Ex coke addict here, 4-5 cans a day and went cold turkey around 4 years ago, I had headaches for the first couple of weeks then it settled down. I now mostly drink ice cold tap water at home, chilled filtered water at work and water from travel bottle while out. I found keeping well hydrated helped and I now enjoy the taste of food more with a glass of wine water

I occasionally will have a diet cola or fanta zero when out but only 2-3 a week max.

bobow · 09/09/2018 22:27

I haven't had any Diet Coke (or other soda) since early May.
I was completely addicted, having up to 6 cans of Diet Coke per day.
I went cold turkey, it was tough, I ate too much chocolate!, but I'm so glad I did it. I allowed myself sweet treats for a couple of weeks, then I started eating healthily. I've lost 22lbs since then and I know I wouldn't have done that if I was still drinking Diet Coke. I have barely had any sweet treats and I don't miss them, giving up has helped break my addiction to sweet things.
I felt ill for about 3 days, but was fine after that. I drink loads of water now and feel much better for it. At first I was drinking sparkling water, but after a week or two I lost my desire for bubbles.

BabyItsAWildWorld · 09/09/2018 22:28

I gave up a bad diet coke habit.

I felt it was the fizziness I craved so switched to squash with fizzy water, and this worked!

I now don't like diet coke.

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 09/09/2018 22:31

I used to love Diet Coke. One of my daughters first phrases was ‘diet coke’ amd everyone thought it was hilarious...

I would drink a whole can down in one with a hangover and have one on the go most of the rest of the time.

In January I went cold turkey and I haven’t had one since. After about ten days I was over it, honestly. I haven’t even thought about it for months till I saw this thread and I don’t crave one at all.

TechnicalSergeantGarp · 09/09/2018 22:36

I went cold.turkey and feel so much better

I can't drink so have a pellegrino blood orange or this rhubard flavour thingy. I keep them in the cupboard so I don't drink them through the week.

Don't buy any, get water bottles for the fridge and when you're out and about.