Freakin' sodas....

[CriticalCrittles]

I have an addiction to sodas. I mean, BAAAAAAAD. And I know they're horrible for me, and I know they're part of what's making me gain weight and so on. I drink about half a case of Mountian Dew a day. That's how bad I've got it. So that's like, as much soda as a normal healthy person should be drinking water wise.

I absolutely HATE water. Why? Most people don't get it, they say why hate water? It doesn't even have a taste! THAT is exactly WHY I don't like it.

Others suggest diet sodas, or that Coke zero stuff....ew. I can't drink that stuff. It seriously makes me feel like I'm gonna barf. Ick.

I've tried giving up sodas before, but I couldn't because of one thing. I'm seriously addicted to caffiene. I went a few days soda free, and started suffering from horrible headaches hardcore to the point I couldn't even stand it. It just wasn't worth it.

I'm going to try again though. Going to start forcing myself to drink a bottle of water every time I'm thirsty. But when the headaches come....what should I do? I can't just pump myself full of asprin...I have a feeling that wouldn't work on these kinda headaches anyway. Maybe....just start slowly limiting myself to 3 sodas a day...then 2....then 1.....then none? Think that would work?

Suggestions are awesome....I hope this works.....

[Leonardo]

Don't switch to diet. The artificial sugars are usually even worse for you in many people's body chemistry. The carbonation and other stuff is bad, too.
Try a half and half approach for a while? Don't drink out of the can or bottle, get a glass so you can better measure what you're doing. Drink a small glass of water, then finish with the same small glass with soda. That way you're not giving up soda at any one time that you're addicted to, but you can maybe scale it back over time. Then you might get to the point you just drink one can a day or something, and treat it like dessert.
And it might help prevent the headaches by evening it out until you're drinking more water than soda?
Not saying this will work...
Best wishes to you!!

I gave up sodas years ago. I don't even have them in my house. I only enjoy them occasionaly at a party as a treat. For me it's water and tea.

 

[moronqueen]

Yeah, I would cut down slowly...I'm addicted to caffine, too. If I don't get two cups of coffee a day, I end up getting those headaches, too. Cutting back slowly has helped me cut it out of my diet before, but the lure of coffee is just too much when you're at a brain numbing job day after day...

[HUN]

Ooh! True confessions! I love it!
Leo definitely has the right approach to this one. I tried to quit coffee cold turkey several years ago.  
Bad idea! The headaches and hallucinations were so bad I wanted to die!
It's definitely better to moderate your servings over time until you find yourself not having a craving for them eventually. An occasional soda for a treat's not bad; sometimes, you gotta spoil yourself!  
I got this thing about Kool Aid! I've been hooked ever since my fifth birthday party. I love that stuff! As their spokesperson would say, "OH YEAH"!

[Leonardo_Mystic]

I like Coke Zero. I didn't at first, but I adapted to it, and now regular coke in a can tastes like pure sugar. I buy it most of the time for my soda choice. I do still like Coke as well, and will drink it if I'm at a restaurant or someplace.

My soda intake anyway is probably pretty low. At work, I drink a 20oz cup of Coke, but half of that is ice, so about 10 then when I'm on break. When I get a drink break after lunch rush, I choose fruit punch and follow it up with water. When I come home, I usually grab a can of Zero, and drink on that one can throughout the evening. That is, if there's any available. My roommate drinks those like water, and I'm lucky if I can get to have two or three out of a twelve pack within four days time. -_-

Crittle, dear, another reason why you may get headaches and the like is you're not drinking enough water. Sodas take water away from the body, and you're not replenshing it. I know you're not too keen on it, but it would help if you did drink more water. Another alternative, if you'd like, is drinking maybe Gatorade or Powerade.

[Leonardo the 2nd]

Uh, I don't really like this stuff. I only drink it in a restaurant.
It doesn't only make you having more and more weight, in the length of time it can damage your gastric, too.
My bf is drinking it all the time....can't understand it.

I myself prefer milk, apple juice, green tea   and sometimes water....

[CriticalCrittles]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I think I'm going to take the approach of slowly starting to replace soda with water...or even tea or lemonade or kool aid. Thanks everyone!

[Leonardo the 2nd]

No problem, CriticalCrittles. Oh and if the water is too distasteful, you could put a vitamin C or calcium fizzy tablet in it I like it's taste...

[Absaraka]

And now a word from the guy who lost ninety pounds...

If it's caffeine you need, you might want to consider coffee (fewer calories) or iced tea (fewer calories).  Sweeten with Splenda, and you're all set.

Also, there's a company called 4C that puts out a product called Energy Rush.  You mix a packet of the stuff with a 16.9 ounce bottle of water, and it's the equivalent of two energy drinks (suggested serving is half a bottle of the stuff, save the other half for another time).  That only has ten calories per full bottle, but is sweet enough to get down, and should keep the headaches at bay.

Also, if you need to kick caffeine, you can try using an alertness aid (Vivarin, No Doz) IN PLACE OF (not in addition to!) a soda to at least keep the headaches away.  Then gradually step yourself down and off of that.

Let us know how you're doing.

Absaraka Windholder