to be addicted to Pepsi Max & unable to give up even though I quit alcohol?!

[LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary]

Hello all,

Since I was a little girl, I have loved fizzy drinks. Since I became a grown up and able to buy as much as I want, I have pretty much drunk it constantly throughout the day. 2-3litres per day probably. I have tried to quit a few times but never managed. I just don't feel refreshed drinking water/squash. I think it's a combination of the fizz, the taste and the caffeine that I like. Soda stream doesn't cut it. Nor own-brand. It has to be Pepsi Max. Or Diet Pepsi. And, in a pinch, Diet Coke.

2 dentists have told me my teeth are fine (they think because I just neck it and don't swirl it near my teeth).

But: it costs a hell of a lot of money. And it's a PITA having to buy loads of bottles and cart them to work/up the stairs to my flat. It's a standing joke with my family/friends/colleagues.

I don't drink tea or coffee. I don't do drugs or smoke. And I quit alcohol in January after several years of increasing addiction to that. I see quite a few people in 12-step meetings toting some Pepsi Max so maybe it's like catnip for alkies?!!

I'm not even sure I DO want to give up Pepsi. Just interested in other people's thoughts.

Thanks in advance.

Caffeine free Diet Pepsi is actually quite nice, you can get it from Sainsbury's.

I've been trying to cut back on fizzy drinks and caffeine, supermarket own-brand flavoured sparkling water is a cheaper alternative, doesn't have as many chemicals or colouring etc. If you are finding it difficult to go "cold turkey" on the fizz then they might be a good stop gap?

I'm trying to cut back too - it's hard! If I could cut back to 1 or 2 cans a day I'd be happy and have more money

I just find it embarrassing to be addicted to something

I love a cold can of Pepsi in summer (or 5), and a total coffee nut as soon as it gets winter. However, being pregnant has meant I've seriously had to cut down (I was drinking up to 7 cups of coffee a day, and full Pepsi on top, can't stand the Max/Diet stuff). I found that switching to cold water really helped, you don't need to keep buying it - just get a couple of 1lt bottles and fill them with tap water when they're empty. Everytime you want a fizzy drink, take a big swig of the cold water - it's just as refreshing, 'fills' you up quicker, and I have found cuts a craving pretty quickly (was also a smoker beforehand, so obviously have a somewhat addictive personality myself).

Friend had this. Constantly drinking coke. Very healthy in every other way. She began to suffer anxiety and poor sleep. Her doctor said it's coffee. She doesn't drink tea or coffee. Doc said it's something you're drinking and she confessed to the constant coke. Told her to quit completely. She doesn't know herself and didn't realise how jittery she had been. As he sort of frightened her she quit cold turkey and never looked back. It just can't be helping you.

LeftMy I'm the same, Pepsi max is all I drink. No hot drinks, not much alcohol. I live off it. I have for years. People buy it when they know I'm coming over now!

I'm not overweight (size 8/10 and losing at the moment, despite the Pepsi), my calcium levels are good, I don't get headaches. I don't get withdrawal symptoms either, but I will be thirsty until I start drinking it again because nothing compares.

I've started making myself drink a pint of weak squash every day for hydration purposes. I'm not going to give it up, though, I don't think.

I am addicted to it, have been for over 12 years.

I don't believe aspartame is evil and there is no real studies saying it is but plenty saying it is safe. The scaremongering over it is ridiculous. I have never had a filling so i'm not going to give it up any time soon.

I probably drink around 5-6 cans a day. I always have one with me.

People also buy it for me when I go round theirs to visit I am also not overweight, but was once and lost five stone while drinking it.

The thinking is that some people who put on weight while drinking it do so because they think that because they aren't drinking calories they can make up for it in food and therefore eat too much. Again, no real scientific studies proving the link between diet drinks and weight. As for the calcium link, that is most likely because those who drink diet drinks are much less likely to drink other drinks that contain calcium.

Well, in the grand scheme of things it's not that bad a vice compared to alcohol addiction, but yeah amount of sugar / sweetener and colour and flavourings is nerve going to be good for your body, let alone all that gas.

Why not buy yourself a BPA free fancy water bottle that you can fill with water and carry around with you to drink instead. Prob best to go cold turkey for a week to get over the caffeine withdrawal. You could flavour it like they do in the fancy London restaurants with slices of cucumber / lemon/ ginger / mint etc. Just keep repeating the "my body is a temple" mantra and stick to natural water rather than all those chemicals!

I've switched from normal Diet Coke to caffeine free Diet Coke which helps a bit. I still crave it, but don't have the withdrawal symptoms I was getting before which is a relief.

I am a Diet Coke addict - not as keen on Pepsi.

I made a 'rule' for myself I only drink it at home. The problem is that I do end up dehydrated as to be honest I do have to force myself to drink water.

I watched Secret Eaters this morning (never seen it before). They said there's evidence suggesting that artificial sweeteners in diet drinks result in weight gain because the body tastes it, expects to receive sugar, and so you crave it.

Blue - your work banned it?! Where the heck do u work?! (Maybe a school...?)

Yes I am 4st overweight! I drank shitloads when I was skinny too (including anorexia at age 16).

Weirdly I don't like the cherry one!
I mean I do enjoy it but I agree that something I feel compelled to do in this way can't be good.
Thanks for the tip re caffeine free Pepsi. Didn't know they did that. Caffeine free dc is vile imho!

Yeah when I've tried to quit I've just ended up dehydrated cos I cba to drink anything!

Same here though I'm not as bad. Go through 2-4 liters a week but some days all I will drink could be Pepsi. My teeth have been affected and I had to have work done.

Other drinks seem so boring compared to fizzy but I noticed I'm only satisfied with fizzy drinks which contain caffeine so...

Did anyone watch that program about sugar with Jamie Oliver? One of the things that shocked me the most was the piece about a place in Latin America (I think) that have limited access to clean water so instead drink Coke all the time. They even put it in their babies bottles. It was very very scary how the Coca Cola cooperation had infiltrated themselves very cleverly into the heart of this community. They consider it the equivalent of Holy Water.

If people in here boycott Nestle because of their immoral practices in third world countries regarding bottle over breast. I think there's a good argument to suggest Coca Cola and most probably Pepsi are equally as culpable of destroying health with their toxic drinks.

If you can't quit for the sake if your own health and well being then it might be worth considering how you are helping to fund a billion pound business that has zero interest in anything other than profit.

Yes, a school. All fizzy drinks, and energy drinks, are banned. Staff and students alike. Though on desperate days where we know we will need the caffeine and never get to the staff room we sneak one in. That and the chilled coffee drinks

I used to drink 6 litres a day of pepsi max and for me it was the caffeine that caused problems. I'm now down to 2 litres per day and after I get through that (usually by mid-afternoon) I move on to the diet versions of 7-up or sprite. Just as much aspartame but less caffeine. I didn't find it too hard to make the switch although the first few days were tough.

Update: I made a snap decision today in Tesco to stock up on flavoured fizzy water (no added sugar) and just cut the Pepsi Max & caffeine out.

I have the next week off work so it's a good time to deal with the withdrawals.

I actually have the dentist on Monday so maybe I subconsciously am aware he's going to notice some damage?!!

I think the caffeine had been giving me hot flushes!

Good luck! I quit diet coke 3 years ago and literally haven't touched a drop since. First week was horrific but so worth it. You can do it!

Thanks, MissDuke!
I reckon I will save a shitload of cash! About £25/week maybe?! Blood hell!

SNAP! i have gone cold turkey many times… however my craving never goes away and I always end back on it. Like you my dentist says my teeth are fine.. but like you want to stop due to the expense! When you have a solution please tell me. The worst thing is the fact I have now got my husband addicted

I'm on the Pepsi max tonight, I'm on a night shift and I find it very difficult without my fizzy friends!
Incidentally flat cola is very good if you've been vomiting and need to replenish your salts and sugars. The only time my mum drinks cola is if she been vomiting and she swears by it, therefore it must be true

I briefly had a thing for Pepsi max, then swapped over to black coffee and sparkling water. I felt like I was breaking it down to its constituent parts! Now I don't worry about my bones fizzing away, and it's much nicer too.

Hello,
Well I've been off it for 2 weeks and so far, doing ok!
I drink water from the watercooler at work (with no added sugar ribena).
I keep bottles of sparkling water in the fridge for taking with me when I go out. And keep some of those in the car boot as well.
Then, when I'm at home, I just fizz tap water with my soda stream.
Hasn't been as hard as I thought and I've saved about £50 already and not had to lug massive bottles around and go out at lunchtime to stock up even if it's raining!
I do feel a bit thirsty sometimes because I've not got the same impetus to drink water as I do to drink coke.

Op can I ask whether you got headaches, any sort of "withdrawal" symptoms? I feel a bit funny asking that as it makes it sound like drugs or something but I've been a Pepsi max addict for years. I couldn't touch another cola and can tell the difference just bringing a glass to my mouth! (Softer bubbles). I've got myself down to about a litre a day but I'm aware it's not ideal so thinking of jumping on your bandwagon. Maybe . I might not be ready...

Hi
No I didn't have any withdrawals. I'm not really a headachey person tho altho I have had them slightly on prev attempts to quit. Good luck if you decide to quit! Feel free to post your progress here!