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.

Well done Hue - love the big grin! How are you feeling?

covid - well that’s just one can in a week then? Excellent going in your quest to reduce!

ani, it’s great to hear another success story, thanks for sharing. It’s good to know that it does taste horrible if you can stay away from it

My daily check in
Days since started to reduce - 25
Days since no cans at all - 7

Good to hear another success story animum.
I’m almost 6 months free now and hoping I make it last. This is by far the longest I’ve quit for since starting drinking it 15 or so years ago. I feel it’s going to stick this time and I’m so happy I quit.
Keep going everyone it’s worth it I promise.

It’s scary how addictive this stuff is for some people.

Well done everyone! 12 days for me.

That's great, OP, well done! I've blipped a bit- just finished a 2L bottle DH mistakenly bought Thursday.

But I'm confident now it's gone! I'm aiming for less than one a day, then stretching the days between cans.

I think it may have been giving me silent reflux. Anyone else had a slight chesty cough, that's eased since reducing the cola?

Ok apologies in advance for tmi but where else to ask this buy on an anonymous forum??

Does anyone else find the caffeine keeps them regular? Tbh when I had a can the other day I was really constipated & it did the trick I get the same with coffee but I very rarely drink it as it gives me migraines. So.......what do I replace my caffeine kick with? Been drinking plenty water & chai tea so it's not dehydration.

Well done to everyone for keeping going & sorry about the subject matter

Ha ha yes I do, but I have a morning cup of coffee every day which sorts me out.

I’m not sure what else to suggest, sorry.

I have managed to stop drinking pepsi max in the past but it's been because I've been on holiday and have had to hide from do how much I actually drink. When I get home I slowly slip back again. The recycling bin is full of my cans and bottles. I hide it when I buy it, hide when I drink it. I am ashamed to admit I have it for breakfast, it's almost my first thought of the day.
The money I spend on this drink is scary, I could take the family on holiday it's that much. I have put on so much weight. I have decided to save the money I would spend on pepsi max, maybe in a bank account as seeing the amount grow will be horrifying and and incentive!
A little tip that has helped me cut down a bit is to have my 'new' drink in a metal bottle, it's a Tesco copy of Chillys. I like the metal, the feel of it is a bit like a can, its is nice to drink from and keeps my drink cold for hours. I'm drinking squash mainly, I don't think I'll ever just be a water drinker. I have never drank tea or coffee and have been kidding myself my pepsi max drinking is the same as tea or coffee drinkers (having for breakfast etc)

pickle - you go girl! You sound very determined. No, sorry, no reflux here

hue - your question dug up a memory of watching some kind of health show (embarrassing bodies?) where a poor woman had become addicted to caffeine enema’s and was unable to have a bowel movement without the enema. Apparently, 29% of the population find that caffeine stimulates peristalsis (the process of muscular contraction in the intestines which encourages the movement of food along the intestine. Pepsi Max contains a moderate amount of caffeine (42.6 mg per 330ml can), so it’s not surprising you have noticed a difference now you’re reducing. Maybe worth a chat with your pharmacist or practice nurse? The last thing you want is to keep on with Pepsi max only because it makes you go

dandelion - welcome, nothing but support here! I like the idea of a metal bottle to replace the feeling of a can. Please don’t feel ashamed, my first waking thought was also getting my hands on that first ice cold can of the day but now, like others on this thread, I’m taking the first few tentative steps into a new daily routine. I can honestly tell you that when I started this thread, I was averaging 6-8 cans a day and I never thought it would be possible within 26 days that I would be on no cans with no withdrawal symptoms.

Use this thread however you like to help you, we’re all sharing the good, the bad and the ugly

My daily check in
Days since started to reduce - 26
Days since no cans at all - 8

Well done @NoZoomAtTheInn keep it up 👏

Never even heard of a caffeine enema before but it made me laugh! Think that's a bit extreme.

It's about 10 days since I decided to quit & I've only had 1 can in that time. Feeling quite proud of all of us

Yes Hue - we’re all doing great!

Incidentally, @Hueandcry - it was Embarrassing Bodies! Here’s the link to the episode, the coffee enema bit starts at 5 min 21 secs

Holy sh*t!!!! That's just crazee 🤣😂

Well done OP!

I have successfully completed several weeks by gradually withdrawing and at the same time, introducing caffeine free to trick myself!

flitting - that’s amazing, well done! Did you suffer any withdrawal symptoms?

My daily check in
Days since started to reduce - 27
Days since no cans at all - 9

How’s everyone else doing?

None for me today

Might have had a wee dram for Burns night but that's allowed

No caffeine in a wee dram hue -enjoy! What’s your favourite Burns verse?

My favourite is from ‘ye bonie Lesley’. -
To see her is to love her,
And love but her for ever;
For Nature made her what she is,
And never made anither!

A man's a man for a that......had to recite it at school but it's still my favorite

Also it seems quite apt in current times

Some headaches the first two weeks yes but really mild as I gradually cut down.

All good here, 13 days for me! I’ve had the occasional pop (maybe 4 over this time) but non were Diet Coke or Pepsi Max.

Well done gwen! How are you feeling?

We are all doing so well! It definitely helps me to go through it with others

I’ve really seen a big improvement in my sleep quality and I’m certainly better hydrated!

Also bonus is there is a lovely retreat I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve put it off in the past because you have to be caffeine free but now I am I can do it once lockdown ends - so I’m really looking forward to that!

I think I feel good. I'm feeling a bit crap and listless emotionally (general lockdown fatigue I think) but I do think I'm able to resist sugary foods a bit more successfully than before. I've only had a couple of really belting sugar cravings.

@NoZoomAtTheInn the retreat sounds lovely, well done & good to have something to look forward to

I've discovered Rubicon Black Cherry & Raspberry is the thing that hits my fizz spot.

gwen that’s good news that you feel more able to resist sugary cravings

hue am off to google that, sounds delish

My daily check in
Days since started to reduce - 28
Days since no cans at all - 10

I’ve hit double figures! I’m pleased as well because I’ve started a new role yesterday, and normally that would have me chugging loads of the vile stuff but it didn’t even cross my mind ! I’m so happy

Well done us!

How’s everyone doing today?

My daily check in
Days since started to reduce - 29
Days since no cans at all - 11