Giving up Diet Coke

[Irishmoma1]

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?

My bloody fridge has 12 cans of Diet Coke in it so tempting

I was addicted needed as soon as I woke up, anxious if we were running low at home or if we went to eat somewhere that had Pepsi etc was horrible and gave me health problems.

I cut down over a couple of days but had a day in mind that I was going to have any more after Friday at all and then about 8 months later it was all my friend had at hers to drink so I thought one can wouldn't hurt and all the problems came back I was up all night with an upset stomach so haven't touched it since.

Since I've given up I have lost weight much easier, found it easier to give up smoking and also to eat healthier it just all clicked into place

I quit Diet Coke a couple of years ago. I used to drink it all the time. I actually hate it now, think it tastes disgusting. I do still occasionally drink diet drinks but more as a treat a few times a week, not as my main drink like I used to.

I was drinking 4 litres of the stuff a day, went cold turkey, it’s evil stuff and although it contains no calories apparently the body reacts as if it’s sugar, just recently I have been dabbling with a small bottle of it every couple of days and don’t want to get addicted again so am cutting it out again from tomorrow

I think I’ve found my people! I had no idea so many of us have this problem.

I drink DC as soon as I wake up in the morning, have probably 5 cans a day and panic when it’s not in the house (it always is, though, I’ll make a trip to the shops just for Diet Coke if I’m running low).

It’s the first thing I reach for in the morning. That’s terrible, isn’t it? I also have nausea really quite often. I’m quite slim but do think it can make you hungry.

I think we need a support group! I might try and join you when I run out and stock up on fizzy water - great advice from PP’s.

I’ve always tried to convince myself that I’m no different from those who are desperate for a cuppa in the morning and likened my Diet Coke habit to tea and coffee drinkers, but actually I can imagine it’s far more damaging overall.

I gave up DC 5 years ago. I was on a bit of a health kick and cut out fizzy drinks and changed diet to lose weight as well as doing some fitness stuff too. In a week of stopping DC I stopped feeling bloated although it could've been a combination of diet change. I just felt better, slept better and it was the first step in the health kick. I just gradually cut bad habits out one at a time. Now I can't touch coke at all. I don't like the taste of it more than anything. I just drink water or a cordial on occasion. You won't regret it. Good luck

It really is addictive stuff. When I had a desk job I’d sometimes have one with breakfast, and then have 2 or 3 during the day. Although it’s lovely while you’re drinking it, the caffeine gives you awful headaches eventually and the artificial sweeteners are so bad for you. I was also really worried about my teeth and found that they were getting more sensitive over time.

I cut down to one a day which I’d have after lunch, which got me over the post lunch slump. The rest of the time I switched to fizzy water just to get the same sensation. I also realised that a lot of the reason for my addiction was just boredom. Going to the machine for a Coke kept me occupied. So I still took a little walk just to get away from my desk for a bit.

I Thought I was dying when I gave it up. The headaches were blinding. Lasted about 10 days

Love it but I think it does irritate your bladder and mess with your digestion. It also makes me crave savoury food.
(Still have a can every other day or so )

Take them out of the fridge and put them in a cupboard upstairs.

"One study, though, points to the fact that sparkling water can increase hunger and cause weight gain. ... The rats that drank diet or plain carbonated drinks ate more and gained significantly more weight compared to the rats that drank flat soda or plain water."

I'm addicted to Coke Zero & trying to stick to 2 cans a day but it's very hard.
I've bought some fizzy water but it's just not the same!

Cold turkey four years ago from mind. 5 cans per day. Did it when on holiday so my habits were different anyway then didn't start again when I got back. Pint glass on my desk for water. Tea or coffee for caffeine. If I have the sweet urge appeltiser (no sweeteners or added sugar).

Can't drink things with aspartame now. Taste foul.

Two cans per day at 60p is £438 a year.

There's no good time to quit. You can do it.

I found giving up DC harder than giving up smoking. I was drinking maybe 2 cans a day. You may feel worse before you feel better but it's worth it. Diet drinks can contribute to weight gain as they trick the brain into thinking it's getting sugar and then triggers an insulin response which isn't needed (something like that anyway!) good luck!

I gave it up about three years ago and it was pretty tough. I went cold turkey because I couldn't have it in the house or I would drink it. After the physical cravings had gone I still had situational cravings, for instance I would always have a can when I came in from the school run and I kept wanting that for about 4 months. You have to just keep going though, I knew that if I lapsed that it would be just as hard going through all the physical cravings again.

Try to find a thing that you like as a replacement. I found that coconut water with lots of ice and water (sparkling usually) gave me the slight sweetness and mouth feel that I liked. I diluted it about 1/4 coconut water and 3/4 water.

Also Fevertree do a cola that is low-sugar but doesn't have artificial sweeteners. I occasionally have it now as a treat and it doesn't trigger cravings, whereas if I have even a sip of DH's Pepsi Max I have to hand it back to him to stop myself from drinking all of it.

The only thing that worked for me was getting silent reflux, which was so annoying that I finally accepted the need to ditch the DC. Did it over the summer hols, haven't had any for 8 weeks and the reflux is gone. Feel so much better for it. Good luck!

My problem is I don’t drink hot drinks so when I’m out and we stop for ‘coffee’ I always have a Diet Coke. What can I substitute it with that isn’t fattening?!

I have a serious Pepsi Max addiction, probably drink 1.5- 2L a day. Like a PP, I don't drink tea or coffee so it's harder when out and about to find something to drink, but I know that's just me making excuses. It's the only caffeine I have, but I know I need to cut it out as I need to start looking after my health and wonder if my irritability is down to my PM addiction. I do find I get headachey and don't function properly when I stop drinking it, and at the moment can't afford to lose a couple of weeks to headaches whilst I go cold turkey. Has anyone had any luck cutting down gradually?

Try Green Cola. It changes everything!