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Is anyone else a bit addicted to fizzy drinks?

50 replies

AugustSeptemberOctober · 29/05/2022 07:28

Sat here at 7:30 with a big glass of Pepsi and thinking, this isn't normal is it! I just hate water and drinks that are not terrible for me... I'm 31 FFS! I only drink the sugar free versions and only allow myself one 2L bottle per week, but that lasts me a day and then I drink very little for the rest of the week (because I just hate other drinks). What is wrong with me?! How can I grow up and drink something that's good for me?! Ridiculous I know...

OP posts:
TheGlitterati · 29/05/2022 11:30

@Eightiesfan 1 can of Coke is the equivalent to the same amount of acid your stomach produces in a day. So there are lots of problems with it.

Ithinkwemightgetaholiday · 29/05/2022 11:31

I love Pepsi Max but buy cans and try to only have 1 a day. I have more at weekends. I do drink lots of water/squash too. Can you not force yourself to down a couple of big glasses of water a day so you are getting hydrated properly. As PP said, I'm not bothered about amount of Pepsi I drink, but you do need water too.

RightOnTheEdge · 29/05/2022 11:36

I'm terrible with Pepsi Max and Coke Zero. I don't like tea or coffee and water and flat drinks just don't seem to satisfy me. I feel like I need the cold fizziness.
I also get headaches that feel like a tight band going round my head and feel completely lethargic and exhausted if I try not to drink them which I assume is because of the caffeine.

I know that is terrible and I really need to try and stop because it's really bad for me and the boxes of cans are really expensive now!
I'm a single mum though and work so everytime I get that lethargic, headache feeling, I end up buying a Pepsi just so I can get on with everything.

Sounds horrifying written down 😱

FeeBeeBooh · 29/05/2022 11:39

I'm terribly addicted to Diet Coke. With help from a similar thread I got off them a few years ago. Unfortunately I'm back and worse than ever.

I just love the taste, the fizz and I don't drink tea or coffee

FinallyHere · 29/05/2022 11:45

because I just hate other drinks

There is literally 'loads of money' to be made in manufacturing and selling soft drinks, especially the carbonated, fizzy ones. The actual liquid that is poured into bottles and cans in the factory costs less 1p / litre. They do spend on advertising but the really important factor is that drinking it makes you thirsty so you think you are craving more.

As a commercial product, it is indeed genius. As a way of looking after the basic needs of your body, it's really not great.

How do I know? I worked for them for nearly ten years. In the offices, the drinks were available on tap (like in pubs). Smaller offices had fridges with cans which were continually restocked. Loads of new plus all the classic flavours. All free while in the office.

You could tell when someone new joined, they would be very keen to try all the different flavours, know which one they liked best etc. after a week, at the most two, we would notice the new joiner finally having a glass of water because they had twigged that the soft drinks make you thirsty.

It's only the ads which make you think they are thirst quenching.

So it's really no surprise that you are struggling. My advice is to go cold turkey for a month, water only and just notice how you feel about water in that time

Remember, we make those ads on purpose to make you buy the product, which in fact makes you thirsty so you go on to buy more.

Laughing all the way to the bank at your expense.

Commercially it's genius. The people making those ads are drinking water.

Gwenhwyfar · 29/05/2022 11:46

"But you can be addicted to the not so dangerous stuff too. People that say they get a headache if they don't get that first coffee in the morning etc."

Exactly. Caffeine is quite addictive, but still relatively harmless.

LondonQueen · 29/05/2022 11:47

BeautifulBirds · 29/05/2022 10:16

Love the "don't buy it" I wonder if that would work for all addictions!!

This, screw rehab just stop buying alcohol if you're an alcoholic? If only it was that simple.

DropYourSword · 29/05/2022 11:50

The thing is, there's WAY worse to be addicted to. Diet Coke is 99% water.

BeyondMyWits · 29/05/2022 11:51

I used to be addicted... fizzy pop, fizzy water, Pepsi etc. But I'm 58 now with crap teeth. Enamel erosion for years has left them sensitive and the biting edges no longer smooth... Carbon dioxide in bubbles produces acid in your mouth... the tounge tingle...

Would suggest speaking to your dentist. My teeth have cost me over £2000 in the last year.

DahliaMacNamara · 29/05/2022 13:23

I do enjoy fizzy pop. I don't usually drink tea or coffee, and it's not the caffeine hit I'm after. Not mad about the sugar either, though I know the acid in the diet versions is just as bad. In recent years I've trained myself to like really cold water outside of mealtimes to mitigate some of the damage. But I admit I feel mildly deprived if there's no pop to drink with my dinner.

LunaLoveFood · 29/05/2022 13:37

I'm addicted to Pepsi max. It's the caffeine for me, if I don't have 1 can a day I get the worst migraine withdrawals which last so long I always cave in and have a can.

I don't drink tea or coffee, just water or squash the rest of the time so I've just accepted that I'll 1 can a day, that I've limited myself to as I know it's not great for me.

Daydreamer7789 · 29/05/2022 14:19

I'm the same with Fanta! But as PP's have suggested I have now started having cordial with fizzy water (usually ribena).

Charlavail · 29/05/2022 14:24

I've known quite a few people addicted to diet versions of drinks. When I was pregnant I couldn't get enough of fizzy drinks which is awful as you are meant to cut down on caffeine.

pastypirate · 29/05/2022 22:17

RightOnTheEdge · 29/05/2022 11:36

I'm terrible with Pepsi Max and Coke Zero. I don't like tea or coffee and water and flat drinks just don't seem to satisfy me. I feel like I need the cold fizziness.
I also get headaches that feel like a tight band going round my head and feel completely lethargic and exhausted if I try not to drink them which I assume is because of the caffeine.

I know that is terrible and I really need to try and stop because it's really bad for me and the boxes of cans are really expensive now!
I'm a single mum though and work so everytime I get that lethargic, headache feeling, I end up buying a Pepsi just so I can get on with everything.

Sounds horrifying written down 😱

This is exactly my experience

nextone77 · 29/05/2022 22:25

@toastedbagiel Caffeine...

nextone77 · 29/05/2022 22:27

Tbh I don't know anyone who isn't addicted to caffeine in some form or another. Fizzy frinks, tea, coffee, energy drinks, pre work out etc

FirstAidKitNowPlease · 29/05/2022 22:41

You have to push through the hating water thing.

I never drank it ever as child. No one made me. If there was no option but water I'd go without a drink.

Drank squash for years through uni etc.

Aged about 20 I set about learning to drink water. Took a month or so but was sooooo worth it. Now I never touch squash and drink 2L water per day. I do have a liking for coke etc but that's always on top of the water.

SouperNoodle · 29/05/2022 22:45

I drink up to 4 cans of Coke Zero a day. It caused a stomach ulcer and I stopped for a month but I'm right back at it again.
I'm also 31 and it's a genuine addiction.

Eightiesfan · 29/05/2022 22:48

TheGlitterati · 29/05/2022 11:30

@Eightiesfan 1 can of Coke is the equivalent to the same amount of acid your stomach produces in a day. So there are lots of problems with it.

😳that’s quite scary, written down my cola consumption is horrifying. I have tried cutting down in the past, but it never lasts long as I love the taste, but maybe I should try a little harder.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 29/05/2022 22:50

I drink lots of water, 2l a day - but I have to have my one glass of Pepsi cherry max.

It's my only vice now. Don't drink, gave up smoking, gave up vaping. I'm not giving up my Pepsi!

WhenTheNightFalls · 29/05/2022 22:58

Full fat coke for me or cherry coke but managed to wean myself down quite a lot. I do love tea which helps

Shodan · 29/05/2022 23:09

I have a terrible addiction to Pepsi Max. Not even going to say how much I drink a day because I'm actually rather ashamed of it.

Stupid thing is, before I met my second husband I rarely drank any kind of fizzy. Tea, milk, water, orange juice- that was it. But he didn't drink hot drinks of any description so I got into a habit of joining him in his cold drink obsession. Ironically, now we're divorced, he drinks coffee...

I have managed to kick the habit a couple of times. Just need to summon up the willpower to do it again- but currently I'm trying to lose weight and it just feels like one deprivation too many.

If anyone can convince me giving it up would help with the weight loss that might help Grin

prediction500 · 29/05/2022 23:22

Yes, I love Pepsi and have it everyday. Want to limit it to weekends only but I seem to get really tired without it.

MarmiteOnToast · 30/05/2022 00:10

I ONLY drink fizzy, except the very odd bottle of water or a cup of tea. Have done since maybe 18? So 20 plus years.
Prob 2l plus a day

Thankfully no health issues, teeth issues etc and I have cut down drastically.
Diet coke dr pepper zero or Pepsi max.

And only cans. Never 2l bottles. When i have bottles i pour pint after pint and would drink even more.

I also always have to have a drink open or with me.

YetAnotherWalk · 30/05/2022 06:15

I've drunk full sugar Coke from as early as I can remember. Finally stopped this year and yes - totally just don't buy it. Didn't put it on the online food shop, don't go down that isle in the shop, order something else if eating out and it's worked so far (5 months)

Initially I bought some Sprite and Appletizer but I haven't even had any of that for a few weeks either.

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