To switch alcohol addiction to sparking water addiction?

[Pikaso]

I have an addictive personality and unfortunately one of my big addictions was alcohol. I’ve finally managed to ditch it but now I’m obsessed with carbonated water. I’m drinking gallons of the stuff, I’ve just drank a 1.5L bottle in the past hour and now I’m craving more.
I’m worried it’s bad for me?! Is it? Is it just water or have I switched one unhealthy habit for another?

Get a sodastream with all the money you've already saved. Good luck!

an addiction is bad BUT id rather be addicted to healthy things than unhealthy things ya know :)

@Whatayear81
Fair play. I agree

@Whatayear81

Now is not the time to deal with drinking too much sparkling water

How long have you been sober?

One week. I know it’s early days but I’m so proud of myself and see glimpses of who I used to be. The sparkling water is helping with the habit of mindlessly downing one drink after another. Plus I bloody love the stuff, always have but now the alcohol is gone it’s taking over that need to have “a special drink” if that makes sense?

@Restlessinthenorth

How much water are you drinking OP? It can be dangerous too drink too much water. Totally possible to dilute your electrolytes to a dangerous level. Read about hyponatremia. Well done on the booze but take it easy on the water!

Around 6L a day. It’s also replaced my coffee addiction

Congratulations OP - great swap!

@Pikaso

I have an addictive personality and unfortunately one of my big addictions was alcohol. I’ve finally managed to ditch it but now I’m obsessed with carbonated water. I’m drinking gallons of the stuff, I’ve just drank a 1.5L bottle in the past hour and now I’m craving more. I’m worried it’s bad for me?! Is it? Is it just water or have I switched one unhealthy habit for another?

YABU

Sparkling water is not an addictive poison like alcohol

I love sparking water and used it to get over a cola addiction.

I would consider getting a brita filter jug once you are weaned off the alcohol and maybe switch up the sparkling water for still water occasionally. Water from a brita jug tastes lovely.

It is an excellent substitution for alcohol and anyone who tells you otherwise is ridiculous.

It is a far healthier substitution than vaping for fags, for example, as that maintains a nicotine addiction.

One week!!

Firstly huge congratulations

Secondly, hide this thread. Walk away with your head held high (and a glass of sparkling water in your hand)

Ignore any and all comments about teeth

@Whatayear81

One week!!

Firstly huge congratulations

Secondly, hide this thread. Walk away with your head held high (and a glass of sparkling water in your hand)

Ignore any and all comments about teeth

Thank you! DH is still drinking, I’m not sure if he’s disappointed that I’m no longer a drinking partner so I’m trying not to go on about it too much - but I want to shout it from the rooftops! It started off as dry January but I never want to go back to it, ever. I’d forgotten how amazing it feels to be sober. I feel alive again

I have this addiction too but I add robinsons sugar free summer fruits cordial to mine and lots of ice - it's lovely, try it!
It can be dangerous to drink too much water (it dilutes the healthy salt levels in your body) so look that up.

Well done on stopping the booze.

Congratulations on your sobriety!

Don't worry about the sparkling water. You're doing great. No, it's not the best for your teeth, but you'll be fine. Yes, it's a lot better than alchohol, and a fairly harmless addiction, so you should absolutely drink all the sparkling water that you want, pat yourself on the back and feel proud of yourself. Truly.

Better than booze. Well done for kicking that addiction! Drink it through a straw if you're worried about your teeth but you've done great.

You've done amazingly becoming sober. There's no real comparison but sorry, these cut and dry responses stating that you're at no risk whatsoever aren't quite accurate. Look up water intoxication. The kidneys can't deal with more than around a litre of water in an hour. So if you've drunk 1.5 ltrs quite quickly and are now wanting more then you are at slight risk. But it's likely to have way less of a hold over you than alcohol and you've kicked that!

Congratulations OP. Enjoy your water!

You're doing amazingly. Drink all the sparkling water!

Drink your fizzy water!! Well done on a week sober

You are doing really well.

I know it’s hard. I’m a week into Dry January. I’m eating more sugar at the moment in the evenings. Not going to stress about it at the moment. Next month I’ll cut that back.

So my advice would be to just carry on and in a few weeks see how you feel. You may not carry on drinking so much sparkling water when you adjust a bit. It’s certainly not something to worry about at this stage.

Check the salt content, some brands are high in salt, and that could be what’s making you thirsty and drinking more?

It's better than alcohol

But also be careful. Its also dangerous to drink too much water and you need to make sure to keep your electrolytes up as well.

You can get false teeth, you can't get a false liver.
Been off the booze for years, will never go back to it, you really don't realise when drinking the knock on effect it has in your everyday life.

6 litres is quite a lot but okay if you are spreading throughout the day. The recommendation is no more than a litre an hour I think so just be a bit careful if it's mostly drunk in the evening

This is amazing. Drink the water. I ate loads of sugar (which I don't anymore). Do what you need to do and what works for you.

The euphoria you're feeling might last forever and I hope it does! I hope you're also getting support in other ways, such as forums or real life groups. It's also called the "pink cloud" and sometimes wears off after a while. I'm not trying to burst your bubble AT ALL, just wanted to you be aware this might happen so you're prepared for the next stage if it does.

Well done, keep going .