Help, I am addicted to Caffeine

I am on a diet.. clearly.

I was introduced to the wonderful taste of diet coke when I was 5. I became a heavy diet coke drinker in college. I was off it for about a year, I was able to have one glass of soda every once in a while, while out to eat or something and not crave it.

I have since started back up in August 2008. I saw my mom for the first time in a while and she stressed me out. I started drinking it again hardcore. Not just like 1 or 2 glasses a day but like 2 or 3 liters a day. I just got back from vacation. I weighed myself and I have gained 40 pounds in the past 2 years. It is time for a life change, I mean I am 21! I should not weigh 155!

I stopped the diet coke cold turkey and threw away all of my bottles. The first day I had a horrible headache, I didn't drink anything with caffeine. The second day I woke up with a headache, advil wasn't working, lots of water wasn't working, fruit wasn't working. I finally broke down at 5 PM and got an ice coffee. My headache didn't go away that much but I felt great, I was no longer sluggish.

Now today... the third day I don't have a headache YET (it is 6pm here) and I am praying that I do not get one, I have been doing everything in my power to not get one. But I have this horrible craving for another ice coffee, ( I don't even like coffee). I don't know how to kick this habit/craving.

What do you suggest?

Seriously, the only thing you can do is not let yourself have it.  The headaches will go away.

Beyond that, my general rule when it comes to soda is I'm not allowed any until I've had my water intake for the day.  Then I can have either Diet Root Beer or Sprite Zero (caffiene wrecks havoc on my stomach...hence having to cut it out almost entirely years ago).

I occasionally have a Diet Cherry-Vanilla Dr. Pepper or (when I'm bad) a grande caramel mocha from Starbucks.  Although I normally pay for the coffee :(

The diet soda is not what causes weight gain.  Its everything else...the pizza and other junk food, the random snacking, the partying :).  Everything in moderation.

Hope this helps!  And as for the coffee craving, maybe get decaf? 

So I am glad you stopped your diet coke habit... but that doesn't mean you have to omit all caffeine from your life... caffeine is not what was making you fat... so if you are seriously in pain from those head aches (I get them all the time when I drink less caffeine than usual... and let me tell you I drink A LOT of it daily)... drink green, black or oolong tea (there are some yummy flavors out these these days) without anything except HOT WATER or you can have BLACK coffee sweetened with STEVIA a natural food additive with no calories! 

I commend you for trying to get rid of caffeine. You can do it! I still struggle with it too but it helps in the long run to get rid of all addictions to reduce the cravings in your brain. They're all related- food, stimulants... Drinks lots of water, exercise, stick it out. it will take a while to detox, also from the aspartame in Diet Coke- that stuff is poison. Nice job trying this. caffeine is usually the one addiction people don't give up.

Thank you for your responses.

Today is day 4 of no caffeine. It is hard and I am so exhausted (even though I had 10 hours of sleep), I fell asleep twice today at work, good thing I don't have a boss!

I will take some of your suggestions!

Thanks again!

Have a good holiday

Jacqueline