Hello, My name is Amanda and I have a problem.
I drink about half a gallon of diet coke a day. I have one first thing in the morning. I look forward to my coke breaks throughout the day. When I travel overnight, I make sure to bring along some diet cokes in case the place I am staying doesn't have any handy.
With subtle pressure from my husband (in the form of information) and not-so-subtle pressure from some friends, I've decided to kick the coke habit. Now, I don't plan to become a T-tolarer, but I want to be more in control of the consumption. I aspire to become a person who has an occasional coke when out for a burger or with popcorn at the movies. I aspire to no longer be that person who has to hide diet cokes in her suitcase.
I went back and forth on deciding between a slow weaning -- cutting back from four a day to three to two to one to half... but decided instead that method might continue my cravings for the sweet-that-isn't-so sweet. I instead quit cold turkey. I drank my last diet coke Friday morning. For my morning fizzy-fix, I drink orange juice mixed with ginger ale. For the headaches (from caffeine withdrawal) I take ibuprofen. I drink lots of water and have another OJ in the afternoons for another pick-me-up. Saturday, I took a nap while Caroline napped. It was like a drugged sleep -- I was restless and fidgety, but I didn't want to get up.
My reasoning behind suddenly giving up my habit has to do with the research John pointed out to me -- that diet cokes make you fat. The theory is that sugar consumption makes your body crave more sugar. You drink a diet coke, though, causing your body to continually crave more sweets but that original carving isn't satiated, so you crave even more sweets and end up consuming even more calories.
So there. It's in writing, published for all the world to see. And hold me accountable. Kicking the diet coke habit -- let's hope it continues to WORK FOR ME!
For more Works for Me Wednesday Ideas, visit Rocks in My Dryer.
With subtle pressure from my husband (in the form of information) and not-so-subtle pressure from some friends, I've decided to kick the coke habit. Now, I don't plan to become a T-tolarer, but I want to be more in control of the consumption. I aspire to become a person who has an occasional coke when out for a burger or with popcorn at the movies. I aspire to no longer be that person who has to hide diet cokes in her suitcase.
I went back and forth on deciding between a slow weaning -- cutting back from four a day to three to two to one to half... but decided instead that method might continue my cravings for the sweet-that-isn't-so sweet. I instead quit cold turkey. I drank my last diet coke Friday morning. For my morning fizzy-fix, I drink orange juice mixed with ginger ale. For the headaches (from caffeine withdrawal) I take ibuprofen. I drink lots of water and have another OJ in the afternoons for another pick-me-up. Saturday, I took a nap while Caroline napped. It was like a drugged sleep -- I was restless and fidgety, but I didn't want to get up.
My reasoning behind suddenly giving up my habit has to do with the research John pointed out to me -- that diet cokes make you fat. The theory is that sugar consumption makes your body crave more sugar. You drink a diet coke, though, causing your body to continually crave more sweets but that original carving isn't satiated, so you crave even more sweets and end up consuming even more calories.
So there. It's in writing, published for all the world to see. And hold me accountable. Kicking the diet coke habit -- let's hope it continues to WORK FOR ME!
For more Works for Me Wednesday Ideas, visit Rocks in My Dryer.
Labels: WFMW
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12 Comments:
Great work! I know that that is hard. I need to stop drinking them as well. I switched to diet cokes to lost weight but do realize that it may not be working. I will say a prayer for you!! :)
We'll be praying for you!
I could never acquire a taste for diet sodas. I preferred the regular ones. In June, I have up sodas too. A good alternative to drinking sodas is IZZE sparkling juice. http://www.izze.com/ They come in a variety of flavors and they are quite yummy (but, quite pricey). I also like the Crystal Light packets, but that would defeat your purpose of artificial sweeteners. However, for a nice change of pace in the water bottle, I like them. Good luck.
Yay for you! Seltzer water is a good alternative, too, when you want the fizz.
You can do it! I got "addicted" to diet coke when I started WW a few years ago. However, some medical things came up and I needed to go "caffeine free." I can honestly say I've had no caffeine in 2 years and I don't miss it at all! In fact, if I drink any now I feel all shaky and jittery and can't sleep for 2 days! Good luck getting through the tough time; I promise it will get easier.
HA! I think our husbands chat--I always get emails about how horrible diet coke is. I too am a diet coke addict--maybe we should start a group.
Post updates on this so I can follow along and hopefully kick the habit too.
Note--as I type this I drink diet coke. Just like I read diet and exercise magazines while eating ice cream. I just like to have the knowledge in case one day will power does come along.
Oh no! Not my one vice! LOL Actually, I have decided to allow myself two diet caffiene free Cokes a day. Kudos to you for kicking the habit. Think of all the cans/bottles that you are saving!
Ooh, best of luck. I am not a big soda drinker, but I sympathize with giving it up.
KUDDOS to you! You can do it! I didn't drink diet coke, but real coke and dr pepper. I can't tell you how much better I feel now that I don't drink them, and I do enjoy saving the money too!
Hang in there!
Good job! I kicked the caffeine habit right before I got pregnant with Addison. I do drink a caffeine free diet coke or Sprite Zero every now and then for the fizz, but I try to drink water the rest of the time. It's so worth it in the end! :)
I did this with just regular Coke because I gained 40 lbs from just drinking Coke (ok, and probably all the stress didn't help.)
I quit cold turkey for lent and it was so weird because the next time I did have a Coke when we were out to dinner. I DIDN'T like it anymore.
That did change a few weeks ago and I do drink Coke again but not nearly as much. Mainly when my throat hurts from allergies. It burns my throat and makes it feel better.
Good luck!!
Best of luck on kicking your Diet Coke habit. My brother had a tough time giving up regular Coke but he did because it was ruining his teeth and he wanted to loose weight.
You might try OJ + sparkling water...my husband drinks this and calls it an "orangina".
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