Addicted to coke a cola?

[Tartanbedspread]

Perhaps addiction is not quite right but I have a real habit around craving and drinking coke, the full sugar kind. I suffer with regular migraines and a can of coke can really help either with treating the migraine and making the meds work faster or as a pick me up after a migraine giving me a much needed easy energy boost as migraine medication can induce fatigue.

It’s not just the migraines though it’s that drinking coke is tied up in my mind with the Friday and Saturday nights of my childhood, of summer holidays, sunny days, finishing Uni for the week. I don’t drink alcohol or smoke so I think coke is my de-stressor.

It’s not good for me though, I don’t drink it everyday but I have it several times a week sometimes just a can sometimes I have three cans. I’ve gained a lot of weight from my habit and I know it causes mr stomach issues. Also going to the shops to buy a cold can means I’ll often pick up a bag of crisps or a chocolate bar to go with it which is just more junk and calories I don’t need.

Recently I’ve been finding I just don’t enjoy fruit anymore as it’s not sweet enough to satisfy me, I need sugary or salty things like crisps to feel satisfied. I am spending too much money on this stuff, at least £40 in January was spent on coke and snacks outside my normal supermarket shop when I buy general snack foods for the house. I tend to not eat those things except at the weekend with other family members as I do conceal my coke and snacking habits from the rest of the family. I feel embarrassed at the local shop now going in to buy get more coke so sometimes walk much further to buy things in different shops so I don’t seem so obvious to my local shops. I make excuses in my head in case people challenge me about what I’m buying!

I was in the shop the other week, looking at reduced cakes and next to me were two other women one younger one older both with baskets full of coke and treat snack food both were very overweight and I felt like we were all probably the same addicted to coke and crap food.

I’m trying to stay off the coke this week at least and haven’t had a can since Saturday but it’s hard!

Hi OP, I don't have much to add I'm afraid, but coincidentally I read this very interesting article this morning which you might want to read: www.theguardian.com/food/2021/feb/02/the-real-thing-my-battle-to-beat-a-27-year-diet-coke-addiction

I was addicted to Diet Coke, if I didn’t have it by 10am I had a stinking headache. I actually found giving up smoking easier! You’ve done well to get this far, you can do it! If it’s any consolation even the smell of coke makes me queasy now so the feelings do pass.

I was addicted to full sugar coke then swapped to Coke Zero, now I'm addicted to that!
I was drinking up to 5 cans a day but I realised the acids are wrecking my teeth so I've cut right down to two cans of Coke Zero a day.
Two cans is more manageable & realistic for me.

I read the Guardian article this morning about Diet Coke addiction and it really made me think about my consumption of Diet Coke. I drink 4 cans every morning before I eat my breakfast at 12 noon (I am doing the 16/8 diet). When I was working I used to drink 2 cans when I arrived at work in the morning and 2 cans in the afternoon, so it has been going on for quite a few years. I have noticed that I am getting acid reflux and a strange tightening sensation in my throat which Dr Google tells me is linked to my acid reflux (something called GERD apparently). I have decided to cut down to 2 cans a day and drink them after I have had a cup of coffee or something to eat. I drink decaff coffee so I suspect that part of the problem is the caffeine hit which I get from Diet Coke. I might change to having one normal coffee first thing in the morning to try to overcome the urge to have a Diet Coke.

As a fellow migraine sufferer, I’d say keep having it to help your migraines. If you can build that association and avoid the rest of the time you are winning.

@Martinisarebetterdirty It is really true that coke helps migraines, even in the hospital I was told by my neurologist have a can of coke! Go on any forum for migraine so many of us find coke helps but the problem is I get so many migraines it means I’m reaching for the cans of coke daily at times! I think it would be easier if my migraines were less frequent!

@LilyRose88 I just read that article now I was thinking the Diet Coke fiends had it easy as it was sugar free but apparently not! Yes I think what ever is in coke totally messes up your guts. I think trying the coffee might be an idea I don’t like coffee but have thought green tea or some might help. I do drink normal tea but usually decaf.

@Bert2020 that’s great you manage to give it up!

@Sparticle thanks for the link to that article, I wish I was imagining Diet Coke would be better and not addictive but it seems I am wrong. I hate the taste of artificial sweetener so that make it easy for me. I used to love Irn-bru but gave it up overnight when they started putting sweeteners in it, of course my coke intake increased to compensate!

@Tehmina23 That’s a big improvement and at least you don’t have so many calories with Diet Coke. My teeth have been ok so far but I’m sure I’ve damaged them.

Can you get anything from your doctor to help your migraines? Or could you try the mini mixer cans as a way to cut down?

@Tartanbedspread I did ‘cheat’ the only successful way I gave up was food poisoning, I couldn’t stomach anything for 6 days and by that time I was over the craving.

@Martinisarebetterdirty I’ve been under the care of a neurologist for 10 years and tried everything they have including many off label / unlicensed treatments they say now I’ll probably improve after menopause!

@Martinisarebetterdirty I will try the mini mixer idea though

@Bert2020 ah I see, I’m not sure I’d get food poisoning on purpose but it would be a silver lining!

Same here. I don’t drink alcohol often (special occasions) and Coke is my vice. I’ve cut down to one glass at night but struggling to cut that out. The diet and zero versions taste like Satan’s butthole to me so still on the full sugar version.

I used to drink Pepsi Max thinking it was better then drinking full fat but became really ill with headaches constantly, gave all diet drinks up in December 2019 and felt so much better for it. But that meant I went back to drinking full fat coke and would have one a day. I was going to the gym (when it was allowed) and always trying to diet but still having the coke a day until the start of January when my 6 year old daughter begged me to start making better choices. I’ve not touched it since. It’s only a month but it’s been ok, the first 3 days were the worst. Like you though I’ve found it’s the only thing that kicks a migraine so I will have one when I get one but didn’t have one last month.

Every summer I get re-addicted (if that’s a word!) to coke. It’s the ice cold fizz that I need. Then every Autumn I take a weekend to get over the horrendous withdrawal until I start again the following Summer.

Lasy year I switched to fizzy water for the cold fizz, and caffeine (in tea or in paracetamol pus tablets) to treat headaches.

Whoever said that they were doing the 16:8, the sweetener in Diet Coke raises insulin which cancels the benefits of fasting.

I'd limit yourself to 4 cans a week and try to buy a four pack in your regular shopping and not replace (cheaper).

Coke is awful for you. I know how bad it is so I don’t buy it. And then DH will get a few cans and I find once I start I can’t stop. I literally salivate at the sight of it. Funnily enough I don’t do that with carrots. I’ll then have to work hard to limit myself to a can a day until it’s gone then resolve not to let it back in the house again.

A few days without it and I’m back to being disgusted by it.

I suffer with reflux and it makes it so much worse. But j can’t stop drinking it regardless.

Ditch it!! Have a coffee or a caffeine pill for your migraines.

On behalf of pedants everywhere, I'd like to thank you for using 'full sugar' rather than 'full fat', to describe your Coca-Cola, OP.

Good luck battling your addiction.

I used to have a similar issue with Diet Coke. It was hard, but I don't touch it at all now. I weaned myself off by moving onto carbonated water. For me, I realised it was this fizz that I liked as well as the ritual and the noise of opening the can. I had no interest in drinking a bottle of DC. It was IVF that made me decide to kick it for good, but the withdrawal from the caffeine was awful.

I read this morning's article and thought it sounded familiar. There have been several Diet Coke addiction stories in that paper over the years. So I do believe that is a hard habit to kick.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/oct/29/healthandwellbeing.health

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/21/how-i-quit-diet-coke-my-favorite-vice

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jun/11/diet-coke-addiction-coca-cola-life

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2007/apr/24/healthandwellbeing.health

I have the same issue. I force myself to have no more than one a day, and not everyday, but I find myself longing for it. (Today is the day for me, but I have to wait, as I want the sugar/caffeine boost for a evening meeting.) It also helps with my hormonal migraines - it’s like magic and much better than the tablets that took away the migraine, but left unbearable nausea.

When I was trying to kick it I would drink a glass of water before having any cola. It’s very effective because it quenches thirst and you therefore drink less, but there isn’t a sense of denial either as you can still have cola when you want it, and as much as you want.

Overtime I’ve found that when I’m thirsty I desire water now, which I didn’t think could happen because I never liked the taste of it. But I think the coke was acting as a reinforcer for drinking more water. It wasn’t my intention but it’s a healthy benefit.

I only take it medicinally now (for migraines) and can shake the cravings in a day or two.