The giving up/cutting down on diet coke or caffeine challenge

Abie1

Hi all
I thought I should share my Diet Coke addiction story with you. I was getting through over 2 litres most days and my kids were drinking it too!
I have actually managed to stop drinking the dreaded stuff, I went cold turkey last September and it was hellish but my health is much improved!
I have suffered from depression a couple of times over the years but early last year I was spending a lot of time asleep, repeated trips to the Doctor over many months shed no light as to what the problem was, and I really felt it wasn't depression, anyway at about the same time I used the demotivator on the site and was appalled to see how much money I was wasting on Diet coke so I went cold turkey!
It took about a day for the headache and flu like symptoms to kick in but by the end of the week I was suffering from hot and cold sweats,racing heart beat and tremors in my hands, I didnt put 2 and 2 together tho, it was only when I went back to the doctor and he sat there scratching his head saying it appeared for all the world that I was having withdrawal symptoms from an addictive substance that it all clicked!
It wasn't the caffine withdrawal that was causing these symptoms its the ASPARTAME in the diet drinks that I was addicted to, it turns out that it is a addictive carcinogenic neurotoxin! Please google Is Aspartame addictve? I am sure you will be as horrified as I was (and still am!)
So anyway we now mostly drink filtered water and squash ( it took a lot of label checking to find low sugar without aspartame!) and occasionaly a bottle of full fat pop as a treat!
Good luck to all of you, its not fun to quit but it can be done!

moneypenny2k

Abie1 wrote: »

Hi all
I thought I should share my Diet Coke addiction story with you. I was getting through over 2 litres most days and my kids were drinking it too!
I have actually managed to stop drinking the dreaded stuff, I went cold turkey last September and it was hellish but my health is much improved!
I have suffered from depression a couple of times over the years but early last year I was spending a lot of time asleep, repeated trips to the Doctor over many months shed no light as to what the problem was, and I really felt it wasn't depression, anyway at about the same time I used the demotivator on the site and was appalled to see how much money I was wasting on Diet coke so I went cold turkey!
It took about a day for the headache and flu like symptoms to kick in but by the end of the week I was suffering from hot and cold sweats,racing heart beat and tremors in my hands, I didnt put 2 and 2 together tho, it was only when I went back to the doctor and he sat there scratching his head saying it appeared for all the world that I was having withdrawal symptoms from an addictive substance that it all clicked!
It wasn't the caffine withdrawal that was causing these symptoms its the ASPARTAME in the diet drinks that I was addicted to, it turns out that it is a addictive carcinogenic neurotoxin! Please google Is Aspartame addictve? I am sure you will be as horrified as I was (and still am!)
So anyway we now mostly drink filtered water and squash ( it took a lot of label checking to find low sugar without aspartame!) and occasionaly a bottle of full fat pop as a treat!
Good luck to all of you, its not fun to quit but it can be done!

Wow, I didn't know about that one. another reason to give up folks. I may have to keep reposting that post if I may abie to keep reminding us of why we're doing this.

An amazing first post

Many thanks.

moneypenny2k

I've been a very good girl and not touched the diet coke I bought yesterday. In fact I left it in the car, 3 floors down. I'll have to get dressed to go down and get it :rotfl:

Another cup of tea vicar? caffeine free of course.:A

dollybeads

feeling pretty pleased, bought 8 cans last night from mr A (on offer folks at the moment, please don't hit me). And not had any at all..................it may not last but this is pretty miraculous. Mind you reading Abie's post, I'm glad I am not drinking it now. Mind you the alternative tonight will be a glass or 3 of wine (anyone know how to turn wine into water ie make in enjoyable but good for you?). Its probably no better for you either damn it :mad:

rising_from_the_ashes

Well, I took Abie's advice and googled aspartame when the forum was down, oh dear, I knew it was very bad for me but, no idea that bad.:eek: Thanks Abie, that's given me even more incentive to cut down (after reading many sites, I'm certainly not going to try to go cold turkey - it's funny as I get really irritable etc if I haven't had any coke and I now know why! Also get dizzy/headaches).

Was chuffed with myself last night as had a teeeennnnnyyyy weeeennnny bit left in yesterday's bottle when I went to bed!:D

Went to MrA and bought 16 cans to do me at work until the end of the month! Also bought flavoured and sparkling water and lots of diluting juice .... Will be popping to Coop tommorrow to get 7 x 1L bottles (still on offer) to do me next week. (Was trying for a NSD but need a NOTW for the coupons anyway).

Hope everyone's having a good Saturday!;)

moneypenny2k

lilylass wrote: »

Well, I took Abie's advice and googled aspartame when the forum was down, oh dear, I knew it was very bad for me but, no idea that bad.:eek: Thanks Abie, that's given me even more incentive to cut down (after reading many sites, I'm certainly not going to try to go cold turkey - it's funny as I get really irritable etc if I haven't had any coke and I now know why! Also get dizzy/headaches).

Was chuffed with myself last night as had a teeeennnnnyyyy weeeennnny bit left in yesterday's bottle when I went to bed!:D

Went to MrA and bought 16 cans to do me at work until the end of the month! Also bought flavoured and sparkling water and lots of diluting juice .... Will be popping to Coop tommorrow to get 7 x 1L bottles (still on offer) to do me next week. (Was trying for a NSD but need a NOTW for the coupons anyway).

Hope everyone's having a good Saturday!;)

Well done that woman, a valid reason for a lsd rather than a nsd. (I hope Spoony doesn't see me saying that) lol

dollybeads wrote: »

feeling pretty pleased, bought 8 cans last night from mr A (on offer folks at the moment, please don't hit me). And not had any at all..................it may not last but this is pretty miraculous. Mind you reading Abie's post, I'm glad I am not drinking it now. Mind you the alternative tonight will be a glass or 3 of wine (anyone know how to turn wine into water ie make in enjoyable but good for you?). Its probably no better for you either damn it :mad:

One thing at a time Dolly. I'm finding it hard today, eating loads. I'm going to be kind to myself though and remind myself just how well I'm doing.



I'm proud of you all

Keiss_21

Just a quick one...when DS2 asked if we should have coke with tea tonight....I said NO!!!! :j

moneypenny2k

Keiss_21 wrote: »

Just a quick one...when DS2 asked if we should have coke with tea tonight....I said NO!!!! :j

Way to go:D

dollybeads

Keiss_21 wrote: »

Just a quick one...when DS2 asked if we should have coke with tea tonight....I said NO!!!! :j

Yaaay well done you, atta girl. No coke for me, but on my third small glass of wine instead starting to feel pretty good, but have early start with DS2 and OH tomorrow, for car boot selling all baby stuff, trying to get them into MSE ways too. So will regret the wine tomorrow morning, leaving at 6.30 am :eek:

moneypenny2k

Just found this on my weight loss forum, thought I'd share it with you. I'll be working my way down them trust me

It's an American forum so it's called Tips for giving up diet soda

http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/messageboard.asp?imboard=7&imparent=22491321

A lot of the posts mention crystal lite you can get it in the uk here http://www.americansweets.co.uk/crystal-light-87-c.asp

Keep it up folks. I'm off for a run, will bring up one bottle of diet coke when I come back in. Not had any since Friday so I'm being uber good.