(Mostly) Giving Up Soda

[jennythereader]

Anybody who has known me for more than about a week knows that I'm utterly addicted to Coca-Cola. When I was really little it was an occasional treat, but as I got older I started drinking it more and more often, and by the time I was 18 I was drinking at least a liter a day. By the time I was 20 I was averaging 2 liters a day, and it's stayed at that level until very recently.

Several months ago I decided that the caffeine levels which kept me from sleeping, the ridiculous numbers of empty calories, and the 10-20 dollars a week weren't worth it. So, I started slowly dialing back the amount of soda I bought. I switched from buying a 1 liter on my way into work every morning to buying two 20 ounce bottles. Once I had reduced the amount I actually drank to less then half of the second one by the end of the day I stopped buying the second one (or still bought 2, but left the extra in the car or someplace equally inconvenient). It took over a month to get to that point.

Again, I slowed the rate at which I drank my daily bottle of soda. After a few weeks it was taking until late afternoon to finish so I decided it was time to step down again. The next smaller bottle available in stores is the half liter, which most grocery stores sell in 6 packs. This was where I really started to save money, because one 6 pack is about the same price as two day's worth of soda from the gas station. I took one bottle to work with me each day. If I finished it early I'd re-fill it with water and drink that. After a couple of weeks of half liters I was able to step down to 12oz bottles. At this point I'm bringing a refillable bottle of low caffeine iced tea (a roughly 50/50 blend of herbal and black tea). I plan on shifting the ratio of herb tea to black tea until I'm not consuming any caffeine at work at all.

Outside of work, my soda habit has also changed. I don't have Coke at restaurants most of the time, and I don't buy soda to keep in the house. I do occasionally have a glass of Tom's flavored diet Pepsi, but I don't like that stuff enough for it to be much of a temptation. I still buy a bottle of Coke for long drives, and drink it at parties/cons/assorted gatherings, but it's back to the place in my diet that it always should have held: an relatively rare treat, not my primary beverage.

Side note: I've lived in the northeast too long. I only just noticed that I consistently typed "soda" rather than "pop" all through this post.

Comments

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

This sounds very similar to how I removed caffeine from my diet. Slow dropdown so that I didn't get headaches and all that fun side-effect stuff.

[jennythe-reader.livejournal.com]

I wasn't too worried about the headaches (that's what advil is for), but I find it easier to change habits gradually rather than abruptly.

[medelle.livejournal.com]

You will probably find that you feel a lot better without it.

I had to quit cold turkey several years ago (I was up to a gallon a day) because I discovered I'm allergic to caramel color.

After a few mos of going without and thinking I missed it horribly, I tried one and found I didn't even like the taste anymore.

[jennythe-reader.livejournal.com]

I already do feel better and am falling asleep more easily.

Quitting cold turkey must have sucked.

[medelle.livejournal.com]

It sucked BIG time!!

I swear I went through total withdrawl. I was pathetic - trying to bargain with whoever to be able to have a Pepsi. LOL

But after about 3 or 4 mos I realized I didn't even miss it. Go figure. :)

[dwarven-brewer.livejournal.com]

Win!

[jennythe-reader.livejournal.com]

:-)

[jarien.livejournal.com]

Congrats. I went cold turkey on caffeine and bubbles, and they're slowly creeping back into my life... I'll have to be inspired by you to try to cut them back out again.

I use a lot of the flavor packets in water bottles at work. I buy a new bottle every few days (so that the water doesn't come to taste like plastic breaking down), and just refill it from the office cooler. That helps tons.

[jennythe-reader.livejournal.com]

That's the step I left out (sort of)! I knew I forgot something.

When I was doing the "stretch a single bottle as long as possible" steps I would refill it with water once I finished the soda. Usually I'd mix one of those single bottle packets of Kool-Aid into it. I've tried a few other brands of the packets, and they all sucked. Kool-Aid is the only one I can drink.

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

i remember when i asked for "soda" in the midwest... and got handed clear fizzy water....

i gave up coke for lent.... i hadnt realized ho wmuch my soda habit was up to....

[jennythe-reader.livejournal.com]

When I first moved out here I'd slip and ask for "pop" maybe one time in three. I'd get the funniest looks. :-)

I've tried going cold turkey before. I just can't change that abruptly.

[nounsandverbs]

No, you've lived in the northeast just long enough to learn to call soda by its proper name. :P

Caffeine was something I never thought I'd give up -- never wanted to. And since I did, you know I've been singing the praises of a caffeine-free lifestyle. Besides, the sugar in a 2-liter bottle of Coke is something no one needs on a daily basis. So -- go you!

[jennythe-reader.livejournal.com]

:P

Honestly, the sugar was my main concern. The caffeine was a nice side benefit, and was why I decided to quit almost completely, rather than just switching to diet. That and I can't stand the taste of artificial sweeteners.

[nounsandverbs]

Hey, depending on which study you believe, the high fructose corn syrup in sodas is worse for you than any foodstuff in the history of food, and the less we eat of it, the better.

[sioneva.livejournal.com]

I know it's a tough habit to break! My husband periodically weans himself off soda...and then goes back to it after a while, although he's usually limited his consumption to 2 20oz bottles/daily.

Sounds like a great money-saver (and good for your teeth, too - soda's about the worst foodstuff you can consume for dental health!)

[jennythe-reader.livejournal.com]

It's going to save me money directly (the soda itself) and indirectly (smaller dentist bills and better overall health).

I did it slowly and gradually enough that it didn't really feel very difficult. I also didn't/don't freak about the occasional slip. Not worrying about that makes it easier.

[(Anonymous)]

I would bet that you've also dropped more than a few pounds as a result of the less soda/more water change. That's what happened to me when I cut back so drastically a few years ago.....it was amazing.....and I came to really LIKE the water which was the amazing part! It's a good move no matter how you look at it! Maybe I'll be motivated to once again reduce my soda intake (it's crept back up again!) now that you're doing it?! Anyway, good for you!
Christa

[jennythe-reader.livejournal.com]

I haven't weighed myself lately, so I don't know if I've lost any weight. I have noticed some of my jeans aren't as tight though. :-)

I don't really like water unless it's ice cold, which is why I'm mostly using Kool-aid and iced tea as replacement beverages.