Addicted to Coke

[Eileithyiaa]

I'm addicted to coke.

Not cocaine, bloody Coca-Cola.

I can't stop drinking it. It's making me bloat, I'm putting on weight, I know this sounds ridiculous but going cold turkey didn't work. I truly think I have some kind of strange pop addiction

Has anybody else been hooked on the fizz and how do I stop? I've tried substituting with sparkling water but it doesn't cut the mustard.

Help me!

Just a thought but I had a phase of craving ice cold coke and it turned out I was anaemic. Apparenty it's a symptom (well icy cold fizzy is, not necessarily coke)

I was addicted to diet coke. It was only one or two cans a day, but without fail, for years. I went cold turkey and day. I still had coffee, so I was getting caffeine. After about a week, I stopped craving it. A few years later, I started having the odd full sugar coke. However, I don't have it every day. Sometimes I can go a couple of weeks without it.

I drink drinks like appetizer, cawstons, and purdeys to get my fizzy fix.

Yep, I was addicted - one or two cans a day. About 6 weeks ago I suddenly realised I’d gone a day without any - so made a conscious decision to do the same the next day. And so on. After a while I didn’t want to break the run - I knew having one would just mean I was straight back on it every day. I did get headaches at first but not for too long. The last couple of weeks I’ve had a few diet cokes - just when I fancy something cool and fizzy. Like you op I don’t really like Diet Coke so I feel it’s safe!!
I’ve lost weight too which I guess isn’t a surprise when you think about all the sugar in coke!

Bethefittest on Instagram is amazing. He has done YouTube videos too. For exercise. He's quite advanced though

Joe wicks is good for a beginner.

Try reducing the amount you drink over a period of time, then eventually you will not want it anymore, don't go cold turkey straight away you will get headaches and nausea

I did this with pepsi max, was drinking approximately 3 large bottles a day, don't drink it anymore

I'm addicted to the bloody stuff as well.

I stopped drinking it for lent- i did really well, the first 3 days were a killer, I had headaches, felt dizzy and sick and generally awful.
Then I didn't miss it at all, until about mid April, and I thought ill treat myself i won't drink as much as a used to.
Well I bought 30 cans today, if there is any left by this time next week I'll eat my hat.
It does make me really bloated as well, so i need to do something.

I’m also addicted to Pepsi max, have been for around 5 years and I drink sometimes 3 litres a day, I drink water too though (often drink 6+ litres a day). I think it’s because the Pepsi does nothing for my thirst, I need to give up.

All though I love coke, I wouldn’t want to give it up completely. It brings me so much joy when I drink it.

If you have never had any fillings then please start thinking of your teeth and look after them! As someone who at 34 who has lot 2 teeth and has 6 heavily filled I was I was in your position! I never drink fizzy drinks, rarely eat sweets and chocolates and yet still seem to have teeth that are prone to decay.

Try drinking it through a straw OP - 2 benefits - 1 - protects your teeth from further damage and 2 - the straw prevents the coke from hitting your tastebuds, if you can do it for 2weeks, your tastebuds ‘forget’ the taste.

I had to go cold turkey
In the same way that I am not a smoker
I now don't drink Diet Coke
Before I was drinking at least 2 cans a day
It was one of the only things I could tolerate while Pregnant
I do prob drink more coffee than I did but I also drink more water

Right!

I have got some running kit and the C25K app ready.

I am on 2 cans of Coke Zero a day. It's absolutely vile compared to the real deal but it's better than cold turkey.

Tomorrow the running begins. I'm actually excited!! I used to love exercise, back when I was younger and child-free I used to have a PT and had so much confidence in what I wore and how I looked.

Now I just want to cry when I look at myself.

I can do this. Plus I'm due back in the office in July as I have a new member of staff starting, I don't fancy the idea of replacing my work wardrobe to accommodate my expanded self.

Have you tried reading The willpower instinct by Kelly Mcgonigal, brilliant book full of great ways to boost your willpower and change your habits.

I had a bad Diet Coke/Coke Zero habit until 1st January and I haven't touched it since.

I replaced it with soda stream water and no it doesn't quite hit the same spot but after 30 days you start to feel less cravings.
If I really want a can now I'll go for a ginger beer or something as I'm scared to have coke again and to restart the addiction.

Good luck.

Oh also I've gradually started to drink coffee with I never touched before. Took a bit of time to get a taste for it but now I have a nice black coffee which does similar things for me that the coke used to do.

Thanks Nevergoogle, will check out the book.

I might invest in a soda stream, any recommendations?

I can't remember which one I've got, I saw the Smallpeice trust had instructions for teens to make their own from cardboard

Another one saying have you tried Pepsi max of Pepsi max cherry? Both a lot nicer than Diet Coke

Yes I used to drink about 2ltrs per day of diet coke. Would get anxious if I didn't have any in the house.
Used to suffer with wind and bloating, irritable bladder, and horrible spots on my face because of it.

I had to go cold turkey as reducing it wasn't working. I would climb the walls with the cravings!
I am now 4 years clean!

DM is. Diet cola, but still not healthy. Since she still is, can't give you any advice on stopping. She gets through a 2 litre or more every day.

I on the other hand drink tea like it's a river. Probably healthier, but I still reckon I have a good few hundred empty calories a day in the milk.

Oh OP, I was in your shoes a few months back... been totally addicted to classic Coke since I was a kid (am nearly 40 now!). I especially loved draught Coke, tasted so much better! I would tell myself that I would only drink it when I went out socially but then I would walk past it in the supermarket and give in, thinking that I’d just have a can a day... realistically I wouldn’t stop there, I’d have 2 or 3. I was very lucky as it didn’t affect my teeth! Anyway, had a health check earlier in the year and I was told I was close to being prediabetic as I’d piled the weight on and stopped looking after myself. Really shocked me into stopping and I literally went cold turkey. Haven’t touched a drop since and have lost 4 stone in weight too (from drinking more water and watching what I eat). I haven’t really given much thought to it to be honest and I don’t miss it! First time in my life that I can say that and actually mean it, so it is doable! Hope you can kick the habit as it’s evil stuff (and so expensive these days!). Save the money you would have spent on it and treat yourself to something nice! 😊

Set yourself a 30 day challenge with a nice non coke reward at the end. I even award myself gold stars for each day I manage to stick with my behaviour changes. Sounds silly but it works for me.
I honestly think the cravings just vanish after 30 days.

Hi all

I just wanted to update because I know there are people who posted here who were in the same grips of fizzy addiction.

I've kicked the full fat coke completely, I drink fizzy water, cordial and tea.

I have taken up regular jogging and started using the My Fitness Pal App which has been a godsend, and treated myself to a Fitbit, which really does help because it keeps prompting me to get off my ass during the day whilst sat at my desk working, so I do a few laps of the garden to reach my steps goal.

I've not had any side effects of caffeine withdrawal, but I'm guessing the tea drinking helps with this, plus a powerful coffee each morning.

It is doable! I'm so proud of myself and it was the day I started this thread and all the replies that made the difference to me. It made it real.

Thank you all for the help!

Well done! That's a massive achievement.

I had my first can of Coke in 6 months this week and do you know what? I didn't enjoy it. Not a patch on a good cup of black coffee. Quite therapeutic to know that as I've been fearful that one can would kick start the addictive behaviours again.

It's very freeing isn't it.

I was surprised you didn’t say Diet Coke. I know so many people, myself included, who’ve been addicted to it.

Only pregnancy stopped me drinking so much