I'm totally addicted to Diet Coke

[cadburyegg]

I just don't know how to give it up. I've never had an addiction before really. It's so, so difficult because I crave it all the time. I've had 5 cans today and that's a good day.

I didn't mean to end up with this addiction. What was 1-2 cans a day has just escalated. Also I'm sure it's hampering my weight loss despite it being 0 calories (I'm obese too hooray).

I can't really give it up cold turkey because the headaches would be horrendous.

Does anyone have any tips? I'm thinking of switching to caffeine free to soften the blow...

Cut back slowly and replace with sparkling water ?

Switching out one can a day with caffeine free and then two cans would definitely reduce any symptoms.

Could you add in ice cold water in between cans?

Other, more serious suggestions would be get your HbAC1 tested in case this desperate thirst is a symptom of T2 and make a dentist appointment for the acid erosion this will be causing to your teeth.

Go cold turkey. Honestly it's the only way otherwise it's too easy to slip back into having too many cans a day.

Interesting article on quitting

Headaches are only for two days ime.

I know you said you don't want to go cold turkey so you probably have to reduce can by can. I used to drink 2l of coke/pepsi a day as I was so addicted and I cut it off on one go. Yes it was horrible in the beginning but once I had detoxed I felt great. And I have screwed up my teeth permanently so it's high price to pay to drink fizzy drinks on large quantity, good luck!

Swap 5 normal size cans for 5 mini cans? You’ll automatically decrease the amount you’re having probably by half but still feel like you’re having it. Then work to cut out one small can at a time? I buy the mini cans now because it’s enough for me to get a little Diet Coke fix!

%3D%3D

I sympathise. I don't like Diet Coke but I love Pepsi Max Cherry and Fanta fruit twist.

I eat well but those two drinks are the work of the devil.

Totally sympathise but mine is full fat coke. Absolutely dreadful and I can't seem to cut it out

Go cold turkey. Swap it for sparkling water, even mixed with cordial would be better than coke.

I get seriously addicted to diet coke so now I just don't buy it.

I drank 2l of Diet Coke for around 5-7 years, from aged 14/16 to 21.

Now many years later I rarely touch it. But if I do then I’m straight back to needing 6 cans a day.

What worked for me is getting into speciality coffee!!!

That means I’m likely consuming more caffeine each day, but less liquid. I get through 60 grams of coffee beans a day.

Try reading ultra processed people.

Is it the Diet Coke or the carbonated drink? I’ve never been addicted but I was drinking it everyday. It took me a while to realise it wasn’t the Diet Coke / Coke Zero etc it was the carbonated drink. I now drink cans of flavoured sparkling water or sparkling water with sugar free cordial or squeezed lime and lemon. I drink Diet Coke rarely now and would say that I don’t even like it anymore.

So my friends and family joke that I had a full on coke addiction back in the day (diet coke that is), was consuming a bit more than you on a good day, a lot more on a bad day. I went cold turkey and honestly it made me really unwell for a little while, not just headaches I felt really crappy for a week or two. If I had my time again would definitely have phased it out a bit more slowly over a week or two.
That was about 15 years ago and havent ever gone back and have been pretty much caffeine free since. I would say it took a little while to settle but I am much happier not having caffeine these days, perversely I feel have much more energy.

I got to the point where just drinking one can gave me awful headaches the next morning, so bad I’d throw up.
I would have at least a litre of Coke Zero a day.
I had two days of awful headaches when I stopped then the threat of more headaches stopped me wanting it. I haven’t had any for about three years now.

Why do you need to give up? Just keep drinking it. 👍

I'm definitely addicted to DC. I try and limit myself to 3 cans a day. I do think it messes with your system and am more successful losing weight when I'm not drinking it. Like others have said, cold turkey is probably best if you're stopping. I do find that if I start up drinking it again, it's very much full bore consumption again straight away.

Read Ultra Processed People. It was enough to make me quit anything with sweeteners in, including diet Coke. And yes, it was majorly hampering my weight loss efforts. I've lost a stone since I stopped sweeteners. The caffeine is just one part of the addiction, the caffeine free version is just as bad.

I used to be addicted to it as well, five cans a day. It made me jittery and I knew I had to cut it out. That was 18 months ago. I just stopped overnight and also gave up caffeine in coffee. I haven’t had a Diet Coke or caffeinated coffee since. I don’t miss it at all. I swapped for decaf coffee, sparkling water and low sugar squash. I wish I could do the same with healthy eating but that’s much harder!

Replace with sparkling water with squash to give the sweetness and then stop with the squash and just drink sparkling water.

Hi I feel your pain as was addicted for years and finally swapped for sparkling water which worked but it was a battle - good luck you can do it

Same

Could be worse

I used to drink a lot of Pepsi max. A can a day. The thing that stopped me was realising the damage it was doing to my teeth and bones. It is so bad for you. I just don’t buy it now and if I go the pub I have appletiser or sparkling water. Exciting I know.
also I told my kids they can’t have it and said reasons above so when they spotted me having one, they pulled me up on it. Can’t be a hypocrite really.

I was shocking but with full fat coke. I drank it for years and it always upset my tummy.

Finally after two bad upset tummies on the trot I stopped. I drank lots of water instead. I didn't really have withdrawal because I would be so sick even with half a can.

I think it's about getting in a place where you can or have to give up.

My friend is banned from drinking Diet Coke due to the kidney damage.

Can't remember whether that was a cause of one kidney dying but her consultant has told her to switch to transparent drinks to protect the other one. She used to drink a similar amount of coke per day and I guess it mounts up over 20 years.