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.

@NoZoomAtTheInn brilliant well done

Headache still there but im not craving coke, drinking plenty water seems to be helping but I'm peeing for Great Britain 🇬🇧

Well I’ve certainly had a lot less today than I’d normally have. Just a few sips as I finish off the last bottle. Still got some left. Can’t face chucking it so decided weaning myself off was better than cold turkey.

@NoZoomAtTheInn that's great! Well done! You must be really happy 😃

I kicked diet cola drinks for about 18 months 5 years ago, then slipped back into them after drinking dc with vodka when the pub had ran out of tonic water to go with gin. I did lose about 1.5 stone.

I’m drinking 2 cans for Coke Zero a day. One mid morning then, one mid afternoon.
Kidding myself that it’s not contributing to my lethargy and being overweight because I feel sharper after a drink and then tell myself it’s better than a biscuit.

I too don’t drink tea or coffee but have been forcing myself to have a slice of lemon in hot water in the morning with a view to making that my go to pick me up.

I do love a vodka and dc with a squeeze of lime and I’m sad at the thought that I won’t be able to drink that if I truly want to rid myself of my habit once and for all.

Erk, this is something I need to do so can I tentatively join the thread and see how I go?!

What day is everyone on? I'm on day 3 & still have a banging headache. On the plus side my appetite has reduced

hue - lol at the peeing, I had that too! Guess the positive is though that our bodies must have been so dehydrated

covid well done at reducing and for deciding to wean yourself off gradually

hilarious Welcome! Nothing but support here! Use this thread however you want to help you. Posters have been very honest with their experiences. There are definitely those who can do cold turkey and those that can’t (inc me!)

hue and jumper thanks for the support - I am feeling good and have noticed that my sleep quality has improved. I’m doing the same today, have started with an instant coffee and am now on the second of my chai tea (am using 0.5l cups so I can track).

hue Today is day 19 of my reducing and I honestly never thought that dropping from 6 or 7 cans a day Down to one would be possible in that time with no withdrawal symptoms! I’m feeling very positive that I can kick this horrible habit in next 60 days!

I’m so glad I started this thread, it’s been so helpful to hear success stories from those that have already kicked it and to hear day to day journeys from other’s that are kicking it

I’m on day 6 of no Diet Coke but I had caffeine on days 3 and 4 due to DP buying me lucozade to make me feel better due to a cold.
I’m feeling confident I can do it.
The small bottles of fizzy water in the fridge have been v helpful for when only something cold and fizzy will do.

The other great thing is that several months after giving it up you think it tastes pretty rank!!!

DH lost a lot of weight after giving it up because it massively reduced his cravings for sugary shit.

Keep on every one!

I’m really hoping stopping it helps with weight. I tend to drink it at the same time as eating biscuits but I’m also trying to cut down on biscuits.

Today has been a struggle for me. Just craving fizz. I've taken all the tips from this thread & been out & bought small bottles of fizzy water & put them in fridge. Also trying vanilla chai tea which I quite like. Just hope i can stick with it despite the headaches...

hue sending strength - I can vividly remember those headaches and shudder when I think of them - that’s why this time I knew I wasn’t strong enough to go cold turkey. You’re on day 3, tomorrow might be the breakthrough. Are you going to stick with it or have a can and reduce?

I didn't actually plan to do this now but I ran out of cans & saw this thread & thought why not try. Im going to persevere for now & see how it goes. Feel better prepared now I have some alternatives in the house

Ok I did ok until 4pm and then had a small glass. My fault, I went out on a long bike ride and should have drunk more water both during the ride and when I got home. But didn’t.

Still I guess getting to 4pm is progress.

hue good for you, glad you feel prepped now!

covid - 4 pm is great progress! I think you’re on to something there re: hydration. in fact, I wonder if my previous bad headaches were not just due to caffeine withdrawal but also because I was so dehydrated?

My quick update - I haven’t had my can today. Full disclosure though, I’ve had two instant coffees and about 4 litres of vanilla chai tea And 500cl of sparkling water No symptoms as yet so hoping I can get through the night now

Well done today NoZoom. Thanks for the Vanilla Chai Tea tip, it's lovely

hue glad you like it:). I like it that we’re all sharing tips :)

Good news is, I didn’t have any withdrawal symptoms through the night so I’m following the same pattern as yesterday, already had my coffee and a few glugs of sparkling water and just finished my first vanilla chai. Aim to just keep making one after the other

Can I join, I'm a huge diet coke addict. Have about 2 or 3 cans a day and if I've bottles in of caffeine free diet coke I drink that the rest of the day! The amount I get through is crazy!

The annoying thing is that I gave it up twice when pregnant but literally went straight back to it due to the sleep deprivation and needing the caffeine!

I don't like tea or coffee so it's my caffeine crutch!

Would love to stop drinking it.. can't imagine the trouble it causes my body and my teeth!!

I've started by buying a soda stream... Hoping fizzy water may be the way to go. But at the moment I'm still having three pint glasses of coke as I bought the syrup!! But I am drinking water all evening so that's some progress.

Really want to stop but when tried before the lethargy and headache stopped me.. think will try to have 2 glasses today, 1.5 tomorrow and 1 the next day or something!!

So pleased that there are more people doing the same thing!!

I've started writing down whenever I have some. It's remarkably motivating. Also, keeping a diary of other things too (food, exercise) so I can see how mood is affected.

Another thing that helps is 'streaks'. You want to maintain your streak of one a day/none, so you tend not to slip up as much. And delaying. My first day of none, I 'postponed' my first as long as I could. Then it was nearly bedtime!

How's everyone doing today? Day 4 for me & the headache seems to be easing off 😊 I'm feeling pretty tired but as I'm on furlough & only got the dog to walk I can cope with that. Maybe getting up through the night to pee after all the water/chai tea is contributing to my tiredness

Well I just had one, so... not brilliant! But it's a lot less than I would have had last week so I won't grumble.

Welcome vicky and pickle - nothing but support here. Like the sound of the streaks pickle

hue - so glad your headache is lifting a bit, maybe tomorrow your day 5 will be even better - you’re being so strong.

My end of day update - I’m on day 20 of reducing. I’’ve managed another day with no cans!

Yes! We can kick this horrible stuff!

Be warned DH gave up the Max, lost weight and is now running 100km per month to raise funds for UNICEF 😳

I think I’ve done a week!

When I stopped my one can an evening, my ocular migraines reduced from weekly to occasionally, I do think they were connected.