how to overcome soda craving..

[edelweiss]

Some of you will probably cringe at this...but I am completely addicted to diet soda. I drink probably 1 12 pack of cans every day I know, it's horrible I've been eating raw foods but haven't really stopped drinking the soda because it just feels soo good to wash down something salty with the sparkling carbonated feeling of soda. I feel like if I drink water after eating, I can still taste the food in my mouth, but if I drink something carbonated all of the tastes of the food become washed out much better. Of course, that's no excuse, it's just how it makes me feel.
I am just wondering why I just can't seem to stop this. I have quit drinking this stuff for months at a time but when I quit I always compensate by eating more and end up gaining weight, when I see the weight gain I immediately get back to drinking diet soda, it makes me fuller after smaller meals and I get back to my normal weight..
I have read tons of stuff about aspartame and how terrible it is for you, I am aware of all of that, but somehow I still cannot stop..
So I just want to know what some of you drink besides water?? Any suggestions for something quick I can drink large amounts of that is also refreshing?
I also noticed some of you drink tea and it made me curious: how can tea be considered raw if you have to leave the tea bag in boiling water?

[Revvell]

You can't stop this because of the sweetener that is put into the soda. They make it addicting. I had a client who was like you. Even though she was experiencing massive headaches and blindness from drinking the stuff she couldn't make herself stop. Unlike you she wouldn't admit she was addicted.

My suggestion, get some sparklin mineral water and add some fruit juice to it ~ orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit or cranberry. You can eventually wean yourself off of that.

I wouldn't worry about raw because tea is not likely raw unless you dry it yourself and KNOW at what temp it was dried and if it's green it contains caffeine.

Best of luck on this ~

Revvell

[Tenuho]

i went from soda to hot chocolate or those instant drinks, to tea and now to mainly juice......i still have tea later on in the day sometimes......

you could juice apples and ginger and add sparkling water, like a kinda apple ginger beer......

[DopeRawAbundance]

Try GT's Citrus and Ginger Kombuchas. There's more good kinds but those are a supreme introduction.

[contessa20]

Consider this another vote for Kombucha. The Gingerberry rocks my socks!!!!

[terry brown]

You can do it!!!

I gave up sodas years ago using sparking carbonated mineral water. That really helped ALOT!!!!!
You get that same sensation. I know just what you are talking about.

You will feel SO MUCH BETTER when you get over the diet sodas.

Looking back to my years as a diet coke drinker I realize now I had many awful symptoms that were the result of the aspartame. I did not know it at the time.

My mother died a sudden and painful death due to liver failure failure at the young age of 69. I believe it is because she drank a liter of diet coke each day for over 15 years.

Don't let that happen to you.
And kudos to you for starting this post looking for answers.

Try the mineral carbonated water!

Best Wishes to you.

[Dimond]

Since it's healthier not to drink anything with food, that resolves the drinking after eating something salty. Just get into the habit of eating without a drink and having water in-between meals.

Soda is the easiest thing to give up since it doesn't quench your thirst, but makes you more thirsty.

[Revvell]

Originally Posted by Dimond

Soda is the easiest thing to give up since it doesn't quench your thirst, but makes you more thirsty.

Actually, it really isn't ~ not diet soda. Aspartame is one of the most insidious things ever made. It should never have been approved by the FDA. Having something like that available is a crime imo. I had one client as I sad, was getting migraines from it and her co-workers called me one time to tell me she couldn't drive home because she couldn't see. Another client had a stroke at 42. Her husband brought her to me. When the session was over I told her to drink warm water with lemon juice. She said "no! diet soda". Her family couldn't stop her from going to the store and getting more. Bad stuff.

Revvell

[MangoMyst]

Kombucha, Kombucha, Kombucha!!

If you want the sweet taste along with the carbonation, then I would try the sparkling water with fresh fruit juice, too...It's really good!

Die-et cola is a slow poison and if you're eating to get healthier, your drink has to go right along with that...MAKE THE CHOICE to stop and if you can't stop cold turkey, then buy the smallest juice glass you can find...better yet use a shot glass. Only drink that amount any time you feel for a diet soda...only once a day...and dump the rest of the can out...Then go to 3 days a week, then 1 day, until you've weaned yourself off of it...You can do this!

And you can use all of the extra soda money to buy more fresh fruit and veggies...Let me know how you do!

[Re:Becca]

I also have had a terrible time quitting my diet coke habit. I also used to drink a whole 12 pack in a 'bad' day. I have gotten down to 1 a day. I know what you're going through...

I am also drinking sparkling water to kick the habit. La Croixx is a good brand with no added - anything, and great to grab for lunch. Shamefully, since i am still transitioning to raw diet - I still take caffeine pills with my water to get the caffeine kick as well. I expect to be able to also kick the caffeine habit and be able to get my needed morning energy boost from real live food soon.

hang in there and don't quit! in the words of Skinny Bitch: "soda is liquid satan!"

[edelweiss]

Thanks so much everyone!! I was a little embarrassed to share this to be honest, but I was relieved when I saw all the supportive comments!!

Revvell- I sound just like that client of yours!! At times when I run out of diet soda I go to the store to get some even if it's like 2 am, because I just feel like I can't live without it.

terry- I am so sorry for what happened to your mom. There have been many people who have told me stories of their loved ones who died of cancer or some other horrible disease and they suspected it's from their consumption of so much soda. It really scares me. I am 21 and I think I have been drinking this stuff regularly since I was 17 or 18...I hope I haven't done too much irreversible damage to my organs, but what's done is in the past and I will look for ways of fixing things that are still in my control.

Whoever said that at this point anything is better than diet soda was right, so I think I will just drink regular juice mixed in with water with tons of ice- like 1/10 part juice and 9/10 parts water...
Last time when I quit diet soda I used this method and it worked for a few months.

That kombucha sounds yummy, but I really can't afford to be drinking 2-4 liters of that per day of it. In fact, I probably can't afford to drink more than like 2 bottles per week.
Same with sparkling water, the stuff that is artificially carbonated isn't all that much better than the diet soda and the real spring sparkling water is pretty expensive.
But I think I will get some of the kombucha and some sparkling water to add juice to and keep it for times when I am craving a carbonated beverage badly.

[edelweiss]

Re:Becca

I am glad to see that I'm not alone in this!! As far as caffeine, I am very addicted to that as well. When I went cold turkey a few months ago, I felt dopey and sleepy all the time, I slept 12 hours a day..of course that was when I was eating SAD foods, so I hope it's easier this time

[terry brown]

You are on the right track!!!!
I drank those sodas for many years. If you can stop now you will be FINE!
If you need caffine, which I totally understand, drink your carbonated water and have some black organic tea too if you need it.
Alicia's book really got me going raw, because the message I got was do the best you can and you do not have to be perfect at the raw diet right off the bat.
I have been raw for almost 4 months now. I DO still have green organic tea in the morning. Frowned upon by the pure raw foodist, but this is something I need right now to stay on track.

Keep us posted on your success!!

[Aleesha]

your journey is your journey, there are no raw police. if drinking tea is what you need to do to assist you to be raw... then drink tea.

i look at it this way. i eat raw, i fast a lot... if i choose to have something that is not raw in my diet... then so be it. it's not like i'm eating SAD all day long after all. tea isn't going to negate all the healthy choices you are making daily.

as for being addicted to soda... you are the only one who can make that change. whether it's cold turkey or weaning yourself off slowly... summon all the "won't power" you can muster and make it happen.

[Green_Woman]

My birthfather experienced SERIOUS liver issues due to his steady consumption of Diet Pepsi for many years.

He now has the appearance of a man a decade older than he is, and has sallow, unhealthy skin. He looks on my dietary choices with amusement, but at least he's cut back on the Diet Soda.