Giving up fizzy drinks?

bargainbasement

sparkling water about 20p per large bottle and sugar free cordial suits my kids and my pocket!

Jay-Jay_4

I went cold turkey too. I buy fruit juice and have it diluted 1 part juice to 2 parts water. I actually dislike the taste of diet coke now as it's so watery and artificial tasting. I prefer the taste of ..... tap water

I do buy Vimto every now and again for a change but on the whole I found that the craving was for liquid rather than coke and once I'd knocked back a pint of water, vimto or juice I wasn't thirsty anymore and bubbly chemicals just didn't attract me anymore

Lucie_2

Am I the only person who doesn't like Diet Coke? I find the synthetic artificial flavour really vile. On the other hand I do quite like real (or "full fat" as it's known in this house ) Coke, but only ever have it as a bit of a pick me up kind of treat. We drink lots of water in this house - still, flavoured & fizzy as well as sugar free blackcurrant (C Vit, not Ribena).
Lillibet, have you tried buying a bottle of supermarket value diet cola? Hopefully it will be so horrid it will put you off. My sister tried a similar trick with her biscuit addiction - only bought value rich teas as an "emergency" measure!

lipidicman

Jay-Jay wrote:

I went cold turkey too....I actually dislike the taste of diet coke now as it's so watery and artificial tasting. I prefer the taste of ..... tap water .

Most people can learn to prefer water. Sounds strange but it is true. You just have to kick the sugar habit. I must have good willpower. I can buy coke on offer for the occasional Jack and Coke (usually drink most whisky neat) and have it last until we notice thay have gone out of date (which as MSErs we ignore!)

*zippy*

Hi lillibet

I'm a complementary therapist and coke addiction is becoming quite common. I have had success getting patients to cut down gradually. Everyone should be drinking 2 litres of water a day, your body needs 1 1/2 litres to carry out its basic functions.

an interesting book to read is

Your Body's Many Cries for Water: A Revolutionary Natural Way to Prevent Illness and Restore Good Health-F. Batmanghelidj

its quite popular so they may have it in your library

lipidicman

*zippy* wrote:

Everyone should be drinking 2 litres of water a day, your body needs 1 1/2 litres to carry out its basic functions.

This is simplistic, have a look at http://www.nutritionaustralia.org/Food_Facts/FAQ/optimal_hydration_faq.asp

...and dont feel like you have to force that water down. However it is better for you than that syrupy gunk!

sophiesmum_2

Hi lillibet
I cut down on drinking fizzy drinks by filling the glass up with ice cubes before adding the coke. The ice melts and dilutes the coke but you don't notice it as much as adding water right off. You will be using much less coke.
Diluting it helps with the withdrawal you get from the caffeine reduction, you can get raging headaches, aches and pains and feeling generally low when you cut down on regular caffeine fixes but it will go away after a couple of days.

Best thing we ever did was buy one of those big fridges with water and ice dispensers. Now we mostly drink cold filtered water, or diluting stuff choc full of ice cubes. A bottle of squash now lasts ages and we all definately drink more water, and no more lugging heavy bottles from the supermarket.
sophiesmum

Lillibet_2

Thanks everyone:T

So I'm thinking cold turkey is the way to go?:p Hubby is on board however we chose to tackle it, & cold turkey worked when I gave up sugar in my tea although not with chocolate (but then I never expected it to really:rolleyes:)

The caffine withdrawal won't be an issue, should have mentioned that it is the caffine free version anyway. My main concern is what to replace the fluid intak with ; I don't like sparkling mineral water or squash & only like still water if it is really really cold. My fridge just doesn't get it cold enough? I loved it when I was working as the water coolers were fab but I don't think one of them in my living room is ideal:rotfl:The only thing I can come up with is freezing bottles of tap water (can't be bothered with all the filtering business) & keeping it in the fridge to defrost slowly so that II can get it cold?

Just_a_Diamond

Lillibet if you find a way let me know. My main addiction is to P---- Max I love it & am totally addicted. I must have at least 2 litres a day. I go everywhere with a can of it (sometimes caffeine fee C---) I like you just do not like squash, or fizzy water & as for juice yuk!!
I do drink lots of green tea :A as well. i had the willpower to give up smoking (years ago) & I have gone from 5 bars of chocolate a day to none. I now hate chocolate, but just cannot give up my P---- Max addiction.

goonlord

I also had a cola addiction until I saw a nutritionist and haven't touched a drop since. It was the thing she was most horrified about in my diet!

Have some respect for your body and give up the rubbish fizzy drinks....if you need inspiration, take your favourite drink and put each of the ingredients into an internet search engine - it's frightening.

And don't think you're being good by having the 'diet' version...artificial sweetners are much worse than sugar and also linked to a variety of health conditions.

I went cold turkey and it's been fine. You've just got to remember that you're doing your body a massive favour!! Good luck.