Quitting Pepsi Max in 2021 Support Thread

[NoZoomAtTheInn]

Open to anyone who has already quit with their success stories or anyone who also wants to quit.

I’ve tried twice to stop in the past, once by just stopping and once by gradually cutting down. Both times the withdrawal headaches were awful. Have decided this time to speak to GP first to see if there is anything I can take - like smokers get nicotine patches/gum - while I wean myself off it.

@Toomanycats99

This is an interesting thread. My relative is addicted to Pepsi Max - 6 litres plus a day most days.

I didn't realise it was so common. It is a proper addiction with her she gets twitchy if she doesn't think she will be able to get any.

I certainly was addicted.

Back in the day it was my son, when he was younger, chiding me when I was putting the Pepsi Max into my shopping trolley, rather than me as the parent telling him something wasn't good for him.

this is my 5th day not smoking & i’ve stopped having (cherry) pepsi max too as i associate them with each other. was “only” on 2 cans a day, don’t have any other caffeine and hasn’t been too bad at all.

@ThisMustBeMyDream

It's interesting thay you moved from full sugar Pepsi to Pepsi Max. When I was drinking Pepsi Max someone told me that it was better to drink the full sugar version as the colas wth sweeteners were worse for you.

Saying that all the while I was knocking back the Pepsi Max, I would never give my son reduced sugar drinks. I always believed that sugar was better for children than artificial sweeteners. It is less addictive. Luckily he didn't have a weight problem when little and doesn't now as an adult unlike me!

When going cold turkey, I thought that if I just swopped to other soft drinks that I would be more prone to giving in and going back to the Pepsi Max. If I only focussed on having water, then there was less chance of lingering in the drinks aisle and walking out with the bad stuff.

Hi everyone,

Tomorrow it will be one whole week without Pepsi Max, for the first time in about 6 years?

I'm feeling great and I am proud of myself, I a week ago I thought it was impossible and I'd never be able to do it!

One day at a time though. I saw it in the supermarket today and didn't feel a thing. Like looking at an ex! Maybe I'll call it Pepsi- ex 😅
....yeah, I'm not funny I know!

Hope everyone else is getting on ok?

@bimbimbap

this is my 5th day not smoking & i’ve stopped having (cherry) pepsi max too as i associate them with each other. was “only” on 2 cans a day, don’t have any other caffeine and hasn’t been too bad at all.

Well done. You are doing really well giving up two vices at the same time. You must have a lot of willpower to even consider it.

@jumperweather

Soon it will be a month, six months then years since you last had some. Making the decision and the first day is the hardest. Then it gets easier each day. Just continue to avoid temptation and you and everyone else starting the journey will be fine.

@Gettinggrumpier thank you for your encouraging words :)

Next on my list is Dairy Milk! X

@bimbimbap - my hat is off to you! Two addictions at once - go you!

@jumperweather - I’m so happy for you! I aspire to get to your status this year. Dairy Milk should be a doddle for you!

It’s 10 days now since I started reducing. The biggest difference was definitely spacing the cans out and chugging down my caffeine free chai tea. I’m now consistently managing on 3 cans a day and I’m thrilled that I have no withdrawal symptoms (although I am peeing for England!)

We are doing this!

Morning. There’s nowhere else for me to go from one a day. So, I’m prepped with my 500ml bottles of fizzy water and from today I’m going for it!

@GwendolineWindowlene You can do this!

@GwendolineWindowlene you can do this! I promise soon you’ll look forward to your fizzy water like you did the coke!

Go for it gwendoline! We’re all here rooting for you!

Thank you all, I feel like I’m doing something much more heroic than giving up a drink of pop.

I totally get it ! I found it so hard. It’s an emotional addiction as well as a physical one. You’ll be so proud of yourself though. I’m 5 months clean now

1 day done.

Well done Gwendoline!

How was it? How are you feeling?

I feel rather a fraud for getting all this support over a glass of pop!

My head feels a bit thick, but I’m coming down with a cold so that could be part of it.

I’m doing this to help with weight loss, in the past I’ve definitely lost weight when I’ve given up Diet Coke. Anyone else found that?

Argh, head is banging. Just fallen off the diet waggon horribly but have stayed strong on the Diet Coke.

Oh the thick head feeling it’s so hard to function.

Do you like coffee? I’m not a fan of hot drinks so I know I wouldn’t get addicted but just one coffee when the headaches were really bad helped so I could do things I needed to do.

I would worry about the diet once you’re through the worst with the pop detox !

Paracetamol helped and I still haven’t crumbled.

No, I don’t drink tea or coffee. Once the Diet Coke is gone my body will be a temple.

Ah I suppose that’s a good thing
I have one coffee a week and just fizzy water now. I feel great. You will too soon!

Joining in. I have none left in the house. Do I try & go cold turkey or go to the shop for 'essentials'

Keep going everyone!!

Still no Diet Coke here. Have a miserable cold so DP has bought me some lucozade. Unfortunately that has caffeine in it, so that’s not great, but at least I haven’t fallen back to the Diet Coke.
Hue, how many do you normally drink in a day?