coke (soda pop).... JUNKIES? HELP!!!

To anyone out there who is a coke or pepsi addict is there a way to cut my cravings and is crystal light and diet coke as a substitute really that bad, I hate water! Any ideas are welcomed. Thank You.

While diet coke or coke zero aren't all that good for you at the very least they have 0 calories and compared to drinking a regular coke is probably the better choice. Coke Zero is sweeter than diet coke so you might find the transition a little easier. I use to drink a lot of coke, but I'm down to just one coke zero a few times a week by simply  never keeping the pop nearby.

i dont think you 'hate' water.  You just arent used to tasting nothing when you drink.  If you have access to a water filter or steam distilled water i suggest you drink that, otherwise think about investing in a filter.  It will remove any slightly weird tastes from your tap water and make it way more enjoyable.  After a while you simply get used to the 'no taste' and it's actually THE most thirst quenching drinks out there.  Diet coke is ok in moderation though i think.

tracey, Im with you.  I hate water too.  It either has to be really hot with lemon in it or really really cold before I can drink it.  Its not about the taste.  Ive always been that way.  Mom use to have to put sugar in my bottle when the doctor told her to give me water.  If she didn't I would end up throwing it up.  I don't know why, I just did.  I still do if its not really cold or hot with lemon.

I spent years drinking as much Mt Dew in one day as I was suppose to drink water.  Two weeks ago, I discovered Lipton White Tea.  Diet version has no calories,  Regular has 60 per serving which is 50 less than a serving of Mt. Dew.  Even drinking regular, I was saving myself around 300 calories a day.

It comes in two flavors  Raspberry and Peach Papaya.  The regular tea has calories because it has High Frutous Corn Syrup.   The Diet doesn't.  I'm not really sure what they use to sweeten it.  I know its not Nutrasweet or Saccryn.  It doesn't have the same after taste. 

It has the added bonus of being white tea which if your say taking Hydroxycut or some other form of weightloss pill that uses Tea, I would recommend you stop, lessen the dose or at least remember to take the pills with water and not the tea.   To much of the tea at once can give you a doozy of a headache.

I haven't really noticed the loss of the sugar but I have noticed the increase in my energy levels.  I was in binge and crash mode with the sugar. Which isn't good since my mother has Hypoglocimia and My father had Diabietes.  Both blood sugar problems just on opposit ends of the spectrum.   I tend to lean more toward my mothers problem and knew sooner or later I was going to crash and not get back up for a good long while. 

The tea has saved me that.  I don't feel the least bit deprived having switched.

I keep trying to quit too.   i don't like water unless it is very very cold.

how about all the bad things in soda that adversly affect your body?

Drinking soda is bad for your teeth. Soft drinks can eat away the protective enamel on your teeth, causing tooth decay. If you sip sugar-sweetened drinks over a long period, you're increasing exposure to acid and the risk of damage leading to tooth decay.

Can too much soda cause brittle bones? In studies, soda drinkers of all ages have been shown to have higher rates of broken bones and fractures than their non-soda-drinking peers. And for years, scientists have suspected that soda's caffeine, phosphorus and carbonation may interfere with calcium absorption.

Science and medical research point their collective finger at soda, and blame it for everything from diabetes to tooth decay, hyperactivity to childhood obesity. But is soda really that bad for you? When asked if soda is inherently unhealthy for people, board certified nutritionist and author Jonny Bowden, PhD, CNS, said, “Yes. Simple, unequivocal answer, yes. Yup. Affirmative. Absolutely.

and check this site: http://www.healthbolt.net/2008/02/07/dangit-n ow-diet-soda-is-bad-for-you-too/ 

with all this bad new on soda, it's a wonder why it's still on the market (beside the fact that i'll buy it    :o   )

I'm the same as you guys. The only way i can drink water is if its just above becoming an ice block. I used to drink a lot of coke but i'm not really allowed as i have no tooth enamel on my front two teeth and the coke has started to make my teeth the bluey colour. It sucks so now i don't drink it...

I'm not much of a water drinker either, but adding lemon has really helped. If you like the fizziness of the sodas, you can try the sparkling waters. You have to find the ones without any sweeteners, but they come in a lot of flavors. Canada Dry makes a raspberry one that I really like. I've also tried a lemon/lime one that tastes a little like 7Up, if you try really hard to pretend.

I'm a diet coke addict.  I know it's bad for me, and I'm trying to cut back, so I know how you feel.  I don't know if diet is better for you than real coke, but it certainly has less calories (when I log a 20 oz. bottle it actually shows up with 1 calorie, so it does have a little).  I also know the sodium is not great, as well as other stuff.

It's hard, but I'm trying to supplement my habit with water.  When I'm at work I try to have a 20 oz. bottle of water for each 20 oz. bottle of Diet Coke.  I've been pretty good about that, however, I totally fail when I'm at home.  At home I drink Caffeine Free Diet Coke -- because I'm addicted to the taste.  I am trying to do better at home, but it's really tough.   I do always drink out a glass with lots of ice, so maybe that helps

You folks who "hate water" also probably used to "hate salads".  You guys seriously need to learn to love the water like you have with your veggies.  NOTHING on this planet is better at flushing your system than good plain water.  You take a shower every day.  If you don't, you become stinky and nasty.   Drinking water is like giving your insides a bath.  It keeps them from being in a foul state too.

Tea doesn't cut it.  Diet coke sure as heck doesn't cut it.  My mother nearly sent herself into kidney failure because she wouldn't drink anything but Dr. Pepper or Diet Dr. Pepper. 

You MUST have water.  The notes on here about water do *not* mean "fluids", it means real honest to goodness WATER - unadulterated H20.  It does not mean tea or juice or cokes.  It means what it says - WATER. 

Why?  Well, you see there's thing called tonicity.  Plain pure water is about the only thing that's hypotonic and therefore capable of carrying things out of your body. 

Okay, I don't "hate" water, but I love my diet coke.  I know it's not the best for me, and I do try to drink water and have ice in my sodas. 

However.  For virtually the last 30 years I have been drinking diet coke.  Yes I would add ice cubes.  I didn't drink ANYTHING else.  I didn't drink coffee, tea, juice, or water. 

I am not saying this works for everyone.  Obviously everyone's body is different, so YMMV.

I have had no problems with my teeth, my kidneys, my digestion, or any health problems except my weight, herniated discs in my back, and allergies.  So I'm sorry, but saying "You MUST have water" is not 100% true for everyone. 

Clipped....

ARA) - It's a simple fact. As the weather heats up, your thirst for fun, refreshing drinks increases. We all know it's important to stay hydrated, especially when we're outside working or enjoying ourselves under the hot sun. But with so many choices and so much news swirling around about what's safe and what's healthy, choosing the right beverages for you and your family's lifestyle can seem complicated.

"There's a lot of inaccurate information out there about beverages and the role they play in overall health and well being," says registered dietician and nutrition-culinary expert Kim Galeaz. "It's important for people to have the facts so they can make informed choices."

Here are five common beverage myths that you may have heard. Quench your thirst for knowledge and you'll find that you have even more healthy options for refreshment and enjoyment.

1. MYTH: Only water hydrates. Contrary to popular belief, water isn't the only beverage that hydrates. In fact, most beverages, including soft drinks, tea, coffee, sports drinks and milk are at least 85 percent water. And that Diet Coke you enjoy in the afternoon? It's more than 99 percent water!

Choose beverages that you enjoy. Several studies show that children and adults consume about 45 to 50 percent more liquid when it's flavored versus plain water.

2. MYTH: Caffeine dehydrates. While caffeine can have a mild, short-term diuretic effect in individuals who don't normally consume caffeine, studies have shown that this is not the case for people who regularly consume caffeine. In fact, a report on water needs released in 2004 by the Institute of Medicine found that all beverages, including those with caffeine, contribute to hydration needs.

Enjoy your morning coffee. Moderate caffeine consumption for adults -- the amount contained in 2 to 3 cups of coffee or 5 to 6 cans of caffeinated soft drinks -- has not been associated with adverse health effects or dehydration.   3. MYTH: Low-calorie and no-calorie sweeteners aren't safe. According to taste researchers, sweetness is one of our first flavor preferences, yet some people believe the secret to losing weight is eliminating sweetness from their diets. That's not necessary. Low-calorie and no-calorie sweeteners have been thoroughly tested and used throughout the world for many years, and are approved by the FDA.

Reduce your caloric intake without feeling deprived by drinking light, low-calorie and no-calorie versions of your favorite beverages.

4. MYTH: Carbonated soft drinks cause tooth decay. While all common sugars, including those in bread, cereal, juice and soft drinks, can contribute to the development of cavities if they stay in contact with the teeth, your teeth are exposed to a beverage for only a short amount of time. Also, the saliva that constantly bathes the teeth prevents erosion from acidic drinks like orange juice and soft drinks. Due to improved dental hygiene, tooth decay has declined significantly over the last 20 years, even as soft drink consumption has increased.

Bite back. Visit your dentist regularly and follow recommendations for daily dental hygiene. The widespread use of fluoride in drinking water, toothpaste and mouthwash has greatly improved dental health, making teeth more resistant to acid attack from plaque bacteria.

5. MYTH: All adults must drink 8 cups of water a day for good health. While there is no scientific evidence to support this long-held belief, many people still refer to this as the standard. The Institute of Medicine estimates that Americans get an average of 80 percent of their daily fluids from water and other beverages and about 20 percent is provided by foods. Larger people require more fluids. The IOM recommends 13 cups of fluids daily for adult males and 9 cups for adult females.

Get the facts. The specific amount of fluid you need each day depends on many factors, including your gender, age and weight, your environment, your health, and your activity level. One way to determine your needs is by using a hydration calculator like the one available at www.makeeverydropcount.com. Enter some simple information and you'll receive all the information you need to quench your thirst this summer.

Howard University The District Chronicles

Hello to everyone who wrote a great deal of ideas THANK YOU!!! But to educate the person who wrote that her mom almost went into kidney failure because of soda that is probably incorrect.  Dont get me wrong your ideas were great and I do appreciate the info but I have had kidney disease for 15 years and am not as much of a junkie as I thought I was hearing some of your stories.  The point is I have seen a specialist for kidneys for the duration and you would have to drink more than 5 gallons of soda a day not diet but full on soda to put your kidneys in that kind of risk.  This is not from one doctor but serveral and I have the doctor bills to prove it.  Although soda does not help a preexisting kidney condition at all it does not necessarily cause it.  Think about ot something you put into your mouth everyday can cause some kind of health ailment.  Also to compare drinking water to taking a bath in it was not really relative.  I hope your mom is okay though and do not wish this problem on anyone.. I am going to try everyones ideas and thanks for the support.

Hello to everyone who wrote a great deal of ideas THANK YOU!!! But to educate the person who wrote that her mom almost went into kidney failure because of soda that is probably incorrect.  Dont get me wrong your ideas were great and I do appreciate the info but I have had kidney disease for 15 years and am not as much of a junkie as I thought I was hearing some of your stories.  The point is I have seen a specialist for kidneys for the duration and you would have to drink more than 5 gallons of soda a day not diet but full on soda to put your kidneys in that kind of risk.  This is not from one doctor but serveral and I have the doctor bills to prove it.  Although soda does not help a preexisting kidney condition at all it does not necessarily cause it.  Think about ot something you put into your mouth everyday can cause some kind of health ailment.  Also to compare drinking water to taking a bath in it was not really relative.  I hope your mom is okay though and do not wish this problem on anyone.. I am going to try everyones ideas and thanks for the support.

Hello to everyone who wrote a great deal of ideas THANK YOU!!! But to educate the person who wrote that her mom almost went into kidney failure because of soda that is probably incorrect.  Dont get me wrong your ideas were great and I do appreciate the info but I have had kidney disease for 15 years and am not as much of a junkie as I thought I was hearing some of your stories.  The point is I have seen a specialist for kidneys for the duration and you would have to drink more than 5 gallons of soda a day not diet but full on soda to put your kidneys in that kind of risk.  This is not from one doctor but serveral and I have the doctor bills to prove it.  Although soda does not help a preexisting kidney condition at all it does not necessarily cause it.  Think about ot something you put into your mouth everyday can cause some kind of health ailment.  Also to compare drinking water to taking a bath in it was not really relative.  I hope your mom is okay though and do not wish this problem on anyone.. I am going to try everyones ideas and thanks for the support.

Hello to everyone who wrote a great deal of ideas THANK YOU!!! But to educate the person who wrote that her mom almost went into kidney failure because of soda that is probably incorrect.  Dont get me wrong your ideas were great and I do appreciate the info but I have had kidney disease for 15 years and am not as much of a junkie as I thought I was hearing some of your stories.  The point is I have seen a specialist for kidneys for the duration and you would have to drink more than 5 gallons of soda a day not diet but full on soda to put your kidneys in that kind of risk.  This is not from one doctor but serveral and I have the doctor bills to prove it.  Although soda does not help a preexisting kidney condition at all it does not necessarily cause it.  Think about ot something you put into your mouth everyday can cause some kind of health ailment.  Also to compare drinking water to taking a bath in it was not really relative.  I hope your mom is okay though and do not wish this problem on anyone.. I am going to try everyones ideas and thanks for the support.

There is nothing on this planet that can replace your fave soda... Let's face it...

However, I've found that I can tolerate the "Clearly American" carbonated/flavored waters that Wal-Mart sells if I'm craving something fizzy... It just takes a few tries to find the flavors you like... They have 0 cals, 0 sugar, 0 nutritional value and are basically water and citric acid to flavor....

good luck!

Mmmmm.....Coke.....I miss it so! :) I used to drink soda all the time, and Coke was definitely my favorite. When I stopped drinking it a few months ago, I had nasty headaches every day, and was even having dreams about drinking Coke, haha! The dream was that I'd go to the fridge to get a drink of water, but when I'd pour the water from the pitcher into my glass, it would turn into Coke...how sad is that? :)

It took some time, but the headaches and cravings finally faded away. I weaned myself off the sodas with flavored waters, and now don't really want those much either, just regular water. I broke down a few weeks ago and got a soda at the movies, and it didn't taste good at all....sickeningly sweet and thick tasting....yuck! Hang in there....it will get easier!

I can't stand the plain taste of water either so I usually drink flavored sparkling water. It has 0 calories and it tastes really good (almost like soda), the only downfall is it's carbonated so it's not that great for your teeth.

Try not to drink 'diet' versions, or no sugar versions because the additives are really bad for you and sweetners can make you gain weight:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7233459.stm

If you really don't like water here are some things to try:

water with a generous sqeeze of lemon.

Sparkling water with some cordial (no sweetners tho!)

The other thing that is so bad about fizzy drinks (diet or not) is the acid in them ruins your teeth, so try and make them a really occasional treat.

Natural sparkling water with a flavouring of your choice is the best way to go.

I am so so so fed up of being lectured by folk on Diet coke and sodas and stuff.

"ooh all those sweeteners are so bad for you!!"

They can not honestly be that bad for you or they would not be allowed in put them in products. That BBC article is SO inconclusive, it even says so at the end of it.

I have been restricing my diet for so long now, it is hard, and I miss all those delicious things I used to eat.

But Diet coke is the one thing that I will always love and it has NO calories- so just let me freaking enjoy it!!!

You just eat veggies and water?

Aspartame is in so many food products from drinks to biscuits to chewing gum. So unless you actively seek to cut it out of your diet, stop with the lectures.