I have tried to make this decision before, but now, I am going to put it on this blog, so that I have a better chance of sticking with it. I am going to stop drinking any fluids except water with the occasional milk, coffee, tea and 100% fruit juice. My kidneys have been bothering me lately and I know that it's because the bulk of my fluid intake involves artificial dyes, loads of sugar, and other bad things contained in sodas. The only reason that I drink soda is for flavor... definitely not nutrition. I want to make this a permanent change. No soda. Only water. Has anyone else made this change? How are you doing on it?
I did no soda as a New Year's resolution for 2008! You can do it! It was pretty tough some days, I just really WANTED a Coke and my job had them for free right next to my register. But I am happy I stopped drinking that stuff, it is one step closer to being a healthier person and a better example for your family and friends.
ReplyDeleteI have to warn you though, your body will start to get mad you when you do finally have high fructose corn syrup, artificial dyes, and carbonation! I get headaches and stomach aches if I have more than a few sips!
My best advice is to get a large cup (think, the Super Monster Huge Big Gulp 64oz size one's) and fill it with ice cold water. Tell yourself: I will drink all of this and then I may have ONE cup of juice/tea/milk.
Then, repeat!
You wind up drinking lots of water and one-two cups of other liquids if that.
If you wanna be lazy and just not finish your water, that's okay! You just won't have any juice (cheaper that way anyway).
Good luck! If my Taco Bell addict self can do it, so can you!
Thank you! Great advice!
DeleteGood for you!!! Unfortunately I fear its too late for me ~ I confess Im a diet coke addict and cant give up!!!! LOL Good luck though!
ReplyDeleteha ha ha! So funny
DeleteWow! Good on you! I have several people I know who have done it, and NEVER wanted to touch the stuff again. I'm stuck on Dr Pepper, *sigh* but I do limit my intake for sure. I find that I really feel a difference between when I've drank DP and when I've drank water. Like, I actually have MORE energy when I've had the water! You can totally do this!
ReplyDeleteI so agree, I can totally tell after I drink water that my kidneys don't hurt and I feel better overall. Our bodies need water. I think of if I were to feed a plant soda... would it thrive? i will have to google any experiments done like that.
DeleteAmy, I have tried so many times to give up soda and now I only drink it once a week. This has been a great for me because I used to drink like two a day. The first week I stopped drinking DIET soda, I lost 4lbs. Carbonation makes you bloated. Period.
ReplyDeleteThere are three things that really helped me.
1. Setting a "soda" day. I allow myself to drink as much soda as I want on Thursdays. Surprisingly, I usually only drink one soda and sometimes I forget. But it really helps when I want one so bad on Tuesday to think: "two more days!"
2. I found that I drank soda more out of HABIT than for flavor. I like having something to sip on when I'm on the go. For this reason, I bought one of those reusable plastic cups with a plastic straw from Wal-Mart. I can put in the dishwasher, but even better- I can go through the drive-through and get a REFILL of water for free. The habit is still there, it's just being replaced with something better (and cheaper). I also keep a small bag of lemon slices with me.
3. I don't feel guilty that I drink Diet Coke on Thursdays. Feeling guilty can make you feel like you are failing and make you regress. I am not failing by drinking Diet Coke every once in a while! I am SUCCEEDING in moderation!
Hope that helps? I'm excited to hear how it goes for you!
Thank you! I do feel like it's more for the carbonation and the taste for me. I have always hated water. I liken it to drinking my own spit ha ha ha. No flavor. If I get in the habit though, I end up craving it. I went a whole year without drinking soda. I can do it again.
DeleteI was never much of a soda drinker, so that is not difficult for me. But I can imagine that if you were used to soda, it might be a bit like going through withdrawal.
ReplyDeleteI drink a lot of juice mixed with (sparkling) water.... it's less calories than regular juice, but the drink still has flavor! (I have a problem with drinking enough to begin with...)
I like Izzie. I think that's all natural. I'll have to look, that might be my soda alternative once in a while for a treat. I have a problem drinking enough too. If I don't have something sweet to drink, I will opt on drinking nothing. Not good for me!
DeleteYES. I am having to quit Dr Pepper yet again because the caffeine really jacks up Lotus... so I can't intake it if I'm breastfeeding. I have been drinking some ocean water from Sonic but mostly water and milk. It's hard, but worth it. Besides... I want to be skinny and soda is not my friend in that venture. You can totally do it. I know it's cliche to say that, but you can... if you can ace college then you can quit soda... I promise you quitting soda is EASIER than college. :)
ReplyDeleteha ha ha!!!!! so funny! I love this. Thank you for the encouragement!
DeleteI do Snapple and sparkling water. The Snapple is too sweet, but when I mix it with sparkling water, I get half the calories, the Snapple tastes like an Izze (sp?), and it fulfills my soda craving!
ReplyDeleteOh, I totally understand! I'm so addicted to diet coke and powder juice! :/ I decided to give up on soda, but this past weekend, we had friends over so we bought a couple of bottles of Coke ... I still have half a bottle just for me :/.
ReplyDeleteI guess maybe you should try herbal tea. White tea is pretty healthy.
Best luck on this journey! ;)
So tough! Good luck! Right now I'm drinking a lot more water and avoiding other drinks. Not easy!
ReplyDeleteI never knew how bad soda was until my husband and I got together. When I was single I guzzled diet soda like it was going out of style.... Every. single. day.
ReplyDeleteWhen we got together I quit smoking, drinking soda and really started learning everything I could about healthy food. Now I am proud to say I eat almost exclusively organic food, TONS of veggies, animals only when they were raised happily and ate the food that is best for them and soda, only when it's organic, which means I rarely drink the stuff because it's SO expensive. Seriously, quality over quantity has changed my life.
You can do this girl!
I'm here in AZ cheering you on! No more soda!!!
<3 <3 <3 Mr.Biscuit
P.S. Also, I put tea bags in my water ALL the time. I try to use different teas to keep myself excited... It really works for me!