I want to quit diet coke...

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Anyone done it? Any tips?
I don't drink tea and coffee. Not a huge fan of squash so my main drink is diet coke. I haven't had any today. I don't want to drink it anymore!

I'm did it a couple of years ago. Went cold turkey - felt like I had flu for about a week. I drank loads of sparkling water. Now I can't stand it, I've tried it a few times and find it revolting! Good luck.

Thank you! I was thinking of swapping to flavoured sparkling water but not sure thats any better.
Did you find you lost any weight? fingers crossed!

I’ve tried to stop many times but I end up feeling so awful I get straight back on it, I’m the same as you I don’t drink tea and coffee but drinking water all day gets a bit dull, I have cut down two three glasses a day which I’m really proud of. Good luck if you find a miracle solution please share!

I’m with you but rather than going cold turkey, why not try cutting it down maybe just to weekends? Have you tried herbal teas? I really like spiced lemon and ginger. How about sparkling water with some juice added?

Ultimately water is the best thing to drink. I don’t particularly like it so add a tiny amount of lemon squash.

I’m marathon training at moment and a high 5 citrus tablet in water is really refreshing. You could break the tablet in half if wanted it less concentrated.

I’m another who doesn’t drink tea and coffee. I drink mostly diet coke and a fair amount of water.

I’ve done it a few times - the first time for a month to check if the caffeine was affecting a medical problem and the last time for six months (decided at that point I could probably have the odd one but that turned into daily again)

I find a day or two is fine but around the third or fourth day I get a bad headache for a bit.

I get totally addicted to the stuff. I'll have it for breakfast and all day.

A couple of times, including right now, I've just stopped, and I don't even think about it. Whilst you're on it you just want more and more. Sparkling water is great. One bottle in the evening as a treat.

@Greenestgreen I may have one or 2 at the weekends long term but feel like I need to become less dependant on it first. Weekends will be hard as I spend my days stood in front of a drinks fridge full of it!

Colas are full of phosphorus, which is not good for your kidneys when taken in excess. I used to drink far too much cola, but I just stopped (cold turkey) and swapped to tap water instead. My skin is better, my electrolyte levels have improved, I sleep better and I am saving money! All good stuff.

Buy some sparking water (26p for 2 litres from Lidl) and some good quality cordials / squashes, and figure out which one is the best substitute for Diet Coke. As for losing weight, if you’re substituting one product which contains zero calories for another, the effect should be neutral providing to don’t change anything else.

Why not try caffeine free Diet Coke to begin with as caffeine withdrawal symptoms can be quite brutal so it might soften the blow... and then, once you're over that I'd recommend trying kombucha instead. It's significantly more expensive so would be an occasional treat - but it's fizzy, tasty and good for you! Also helps if you drink it out of a fancy glass (I have it as a wine substitute in a wine glass).

@IntentionalError IT's not about the calories in the drink its about the artificial sweeteners making you crave sugary snacks.

Caffeine withdrawal is an absolute bitch. The headaches are something else and painkillers wouldn't touch it for me. I would reduce gradually. If you normally have three a day, cut to two and half for two days, then two.

I just stopped buying it. If it's not there, I can't drink it.

@PlaitBilledDuckyPuss I work in a cafe serving it. I buy the stock and hold it in my van at my house. There is no escaping it! We ay have to switch to selling Pepsi!

Anyone who could hide the van keys for you so you can't get at it?

I’m working out how to do the same. I drink 4 cans a day, which has crept up over time. About six years ago, I maybe had two diet cokes a month.

I am going to try and switch to caffeine free Diet Coke (I do t drink caffeinated drinks save for Diet Coke) and also try delaying my first Diet Coke of the day until very slightly later and later. At the moment I don’t have one until after midday.

Not really, I have to drive it!

I went cold turkey. Lent 2012. After three days I reeeeally wanted one, which is when I thought "Cripes, if I want one that badly I had better not have it " Come Easter Sunday my lovely cold can of nectar was full of overly sweet brown fizzy water 😫

I'm a fizzy water drinker now. Am not a total addict but I have a very strong preference for it.

Interestingly, post cold turkey I had some sugar free mints. Some old school brand from B&M. I had the weirdest mood lift from them. On my third I actually stopped and looked at the packet. Same ingredients as Diet Coke except no caramel (colouring). So definitely some level of physical addiction there.

I wanted to stop. It was expensive and I didn't want to see myself as an addict.

I drank about 4 cans a day so first cut that down to one. I’d drink herbal teas, squash and water to replace it. Once I got to that I went cold Turkey. Get the paracetamol in because you’ll have the headache from hell for a while but it does pass.

A year later I tried a glass of coke and found it revolting. Not touched it since.

I was a diet coke addict too. 6/7 cans per day. I went cold turkey. The headache on day 3 was something else! But I persevered and I haven't had any for 7 years now. Actually, I tell a lie. At about the 6 month mark, I accidentally picked up my sister's glass and took a swig. It tasted horrible!

I am interested in your thread as I decided not to buy any Diet Coke on this week’s shopping and trying to work out if I already regret it as I have one can left and drink it every day… I usually have 2 cans a day if I’m WFH or one if I am in the office. Mostly at 9.30am or 10am and then post-school run. I also don’t drink tea or coffee and took up Diet Coke after DD1 was born for the caffeine. Upped to two cans a day after DD2!

I drink squash mainly otherwise but might try to up my sparkling water intake for the cravings. I also have some kombucha cans (although they were intended for instead of mid-week alcohol…!). Maybe without the alcohol I won’t want/need the Diet Cokes?!

@BadgerFace I was also giving up alcohol but DH just ought me cider from the shop so i'll try that tomorrow.

I switched to Green Cola when I was trying to get pregnant, it's sweetened with stevia instead of aspartame. Now I struggle to drink a can of diet coke and I used to drink at least 4 a day!

www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/green-cola-4x330ml

Recently I've cut that out by drinking Tesco flavoured sparkling water or squash, and just having green cola on the weekends 🙌🏽

Yes I used to be a real Diet Cokehead, but my dentist told me the enamel on my teeth is shot to pieces so I eventually weaned myself off: I now have two coffees a day plus either water or sometimes squash.. Very occasionally (Maybe once every month or two) have a coke or Diet Coke but always use a straw now!

I switched to Dash water. Expensive but, I drink only one can each day. I needed to kick DC as it was my last active link with my eating disorder (many years in recovery) and I needed to get rid of it and SF gum as I still had a tendency to use both to suppress my appetite when stressed.