Following on from the diet coke/pepsi thread - would anyone like to join me in giving up or cutting down on this?

[tessieb]

I drink far too much diet coke - usually 3 cans a day. I went for 3 weeks without any at all last year and felt loads better for it - more energy, less bloated. I had a mild headache the day after I stopped, but after that felt ok (did miss it though, especially at lunch time at work). However, I started to have the odd diet coke when I was out, which quickly became my usual 3 cans a day.

I drink diet coke because I like the taste, like/need the caffeine fix and I guess it's a habit that I've had for years.

I know it's bad for me and I think it's time I stopped. Would anyone like to join me? Please, please, pretty please? Think I will need encouragement to do this for good!

Good on you!
There's a breakdown of the ingredients in this article

What it doesn't mention is that phenylalanine, which makes up 50% of aspartame, according to a doctor friend of mine, can't be fully broken down, and leaves deposits in the brain! I'm not a med or scientist - but that was enough to scare me off the stuff. What happens when it builds up???

Thanks for that Bessie, that's a very thought-provoking,scary article. And I've been drinking the stuff regularly for years, since my early 20's.

It's bad enough for adults, but really bad for children as they are developing. Fortunately my DS has never had any fizzy drinks and shows no inclination to do so either.

That's it then - no more! Anybody care to join me?

It's been a week now and I've had NO DIET COKE AT ALL!!!

I do feel a lot better. I have more energy and definately feel less bloated. Instead of diet coke, I've been drinking lots of water and fruit teas.

If anybody else is considering stopping drinking d.c. I'd recommend it. (Also, saves money as I was having 3 cans every day! )

What do you drink instead? I have a bad habit but don't like tea/coffee and do drink water/juice but get bored so I find that as my coke intake goes down my wine intake goes up which is not good - either for my health or my pocket!

Don't really like fruit teas either. Have you got a particularly fab one to recommend?

I really should join you as I too drink waaaay too much of the stuff.

Are all carbonated drinks bad for you, would fizzy water be an O.K. substitute ?

Bozza - I love lemon and ginger tea. I guess it's just a case of trying different ones. It is hard sometimes, but I just keep thinking of all the rubbish that is in fizzy drinks. I feel lots lots better for it.

Sitdownpleasegeorge - I think fizzy water is ok. I had some yesterday (my first fizzy drink in a week). In fact, fizzy water with a little fresh fruit juice is a lovely drink.

Good luck if you do decide to give up. Let me know.

Oh, and read the link from Bessiebighead. That'll put you off drinking it!!!

That is why I have not read it!

I guess you'll give up when you're ready. It's taken me years of saying to myself I really must stop drinking this crap, then I just did last week.

Just hope I can keep it up though.

I think I'm "on the wagon" with you girls.

I haven't had any diet coke or coke zero for 3 days. I'm drinking carbonated water, sometimes with lemon juice added for extra zing.

Wish me luck. If I can manage a week without DC or CZ it'll be a miracle !

I do remember avoiding it in pregnancy and I did feel healthier then.

Not joining you but just wanted to say well done! You seem to be doing really well!

It's been 5 days now and I'm not feeling any benefit, I feel crap with a permanent low grade headache.

I wonder if its all part of going cold turkey ?

On the plus side I am saving money as water is much cheaper.

It's now been two and a half weeks!!! I've not had a drop of d.c. since Tues 6th Jan. My tummy is definately less bloated, I'm not spending as much at the supermarket (surprising how the cost of diet coke adds up!)and I haven't missed drinking it too much.

Glad you're joining me with this Sitdownpleasegeorge. Sorry to hear you have headache. I've felt ok, not really had withdrawal symptoms amazingly. I do have a sore throat at the moment and think an ice cold diet coke would be lovely, but I'm resisting!

Good luck to anyone else who has given up!

Oh No I have slipped !

I had 2 small bottles of pepsi max yesterday. Couldn't actually bring myself to buy D.C. or C.Zero but I have a bad cold and wanted to try and taste something different.

I will start again today back on the fizzy water and lemon juice.

I haven't noticed any decrease in bloating but I'm going to drop to still water when I've been off the Diet Coke a bit longer.

Never mind, sitdownpleasegeorge, these things happen! At least you're keeping on trying. I have a cold too and feel that a really cold diet coke would be lovely for my sore throat, but managed to resist so far!

I have the Paul McKenna 'I can make you thin' book and used his techniques to beat cravings which I feel has really made a difference. I also keep looking at the link from Bessie (2nd post) if I feel my resolve weakening!