The FastDay Forum

Why don't you enjoy water, is it because there is too much chlorine? Why not get a good water purifier and enjoy natures own.

Or if you can't hack that, I enjoy Chinese teas (herb teas lack oomph). You will get your caffeine and have none of the sugar or phosphate. It's a wonderful adventure, you can spend the money you save on a really good oolong...

Don't forget to have a bit of caffeine or you will get the headaches.

All the best

I think you know deep down what you're going to have to do...tough it out. Don't just substitute another bad habit like diet coke or diet anything. Cultivate a love of water, teas and great coffee. The fear of giving it up is probably more debilitating and demoralising than the actual withdrawal. Cold turkey is best, especially if you can do it when you have a change of routine. Years ago I forgot my ciggies when I arrived at the airport on my way to California. I was such an addict I would go outside to smoke until the last possible moment, and then suffer until the plane landed and rush out to smoke in the Californian sunshine (much to the horror of my healthy, raw food vegan daughter!! Anyway, I decided to go cold turkey on the spot and it's one of the best things I ever did! Not being in my usual routine helped enormously, the usual triggers were gone, and California is not exactly smoker friendly! OK it might not be practical to go all the way to California, but hopefully you get my gist? It really is a case of no pain, no gain - and you will gain, enormously!! (But not weight!)

Dhana, took the words out of my mouth - cold turkey! perhaps because I was a smoker too and it was the only way to kick that addiction. I pick up bad habits if not addictions very easily and this is a tried and tested method. Tell yourself you are only going to go without for 2 weeks, and keep moving the goalpost further away. It feels like you will always want it, but as little as a fortnight without could do it. You may even be able to still have it very occasionally as a treat but when you get to that stage you probably won't want to. Good luck.

I think you should start by weaning yourself off the coke first. Something like 1 coke, 1 water etc. Or buy the little cans. They are satisfying and half the amount. Your body is really telling you that you are thirsty so be nice to your body and give it water first then a little coke.

Personally I never overindulged on soda but my thing was sugar. I have been able to slowly get rid of it. And if I go back to shoveling it in my coffee it tastes sickening...yea!

I don't like tap water either bleuggh. I think it depends on where you live as to whether it is nice or not. Where I live it is as hard as nails and tastes foul. I like fizzy water, either the French or Italian ones but I tend not to drink much water as I have never liked it. I sometimes put a drop of lemon or lime juice from a bottle in. How's this though..... I have never been a fan of coke etc but for the past few weeks since doing 5:2 I have had a can of diet coke whilst cooking dinner on a fast day. Very strange. There must be a lot of salt in your diet to make you want to drink so much so hopefully, going forward and changing your diet you won't feel like drinking so much.

I really think that like the mindless snacking it is all habit based so like the others have said, try to wean yourself off the coke with interspersing other drinks in between each.

Please don't let it get you down. Don't be upset and make sure you come back and let us know how you're doing x

I learnt many words in 3 weeks but sometimes....
Can someone just confirm to me that "cold turkey" means stop quickly ? (thanks)

More like stop totally - in this case, do not have any more coke at all.

OK .We say "du jour au lendemain " here. (in Paris, Eiffel tower... )
A day yes, a day no, forever.

I love your Tink avatar Fee. We are kindred spirits

Don't hope having some of my magic powder with cute words, Wendy Darling.

We just need a Peter Pan to join in and make that love triangle!

I 2nd getting a water filter. I'm not a fan of tap water, but a pitcher of filtered water kept in the refrigerator is fine. I also started using Crystal Light drink mixes, and stopped keeping soda in the house.

My husband drinks soda water when he wants fizz. And now we can both occasionally treat ourselves to a full on sugary caffeine laden soft drink without making it a habit.

I hate to say it, but if you try to stop the sodas you might want to stay away from what triggers you to want them...the take-away or other junk food you are eating. At least until you get the coke/pepsi situation in hand.

Your post makes me sad because I had an older sister with a Coke/junk food addiction and she was always saying she was going to stop buying them (she never did). She gained a lot of weight and was in bad physical shape. She got pneumonia and she died within a week (at the age of 66, a year and a half ago). I have always thought that her body just didn't have the resources to lick it, even with great medical care. I have given up a Diet Pepsi habit--it took only 2 weeks at most before I stopped thinking about having one. I have bought them since, usually for the caffeine when nothing else was available, and they are now totally repulsive to me. I agree with those who say if you don't like water, add a little juice to seltzer or drink unsweetened tea. You will be surprised at how quickly your taste buds will change. And you will lose weight just from ditching the sugar drinks. You want to give it up; now think about how great you'll feel once you've done it.

I don't like water straight from the tap but have started keeping a bag of ice in the freezer and have water with lots of ice in and find it much more palatable. I think you have to just do something for a couple of weeks whether you like it or not and a habit starts to form.

I never was a fan of water, still not super but getting there AND I loved coke zero. I would stress out if my stash was getting low. I would grab a can soon as I got home from work, then another one with dinner. I never drank coffee so I thought it couldn't be that bad. BUT then I read about all the negative effects on your bones and teeth as well as the the artificial sweeteners effecting your weight SO i gradually gave up after a few weeks. My family can't believe I've stopped drinking it and I never buy soft drink at all. I do like the bubbles so now I drink sparkling mineral water or soda water. Sometimes with a squeeze of lemon. A friend did the same and she used a few drops of liquid Stevia with the lemon in soda "it's just like lemonade" she said.
I never thought I would give up Coke or Diet drinks. So take hope and good luck.