stopping a soda addiction?

Question

I drink about 5-8 sodas a day, when i don't have them i get awful headaches and just feel really weak, so i'm going to try to stop (even though i loveee them) :( Problem is, i hate water! It makes me sick to my stomach, i've never had the taste for it, i just think it tastes awful. same for the flavored water, it has a funky aftertaste. any ideas on something healthier i can drink that isnt water but will help me stop drinking soda?

Answer 1

I had this same prob a few years ago with MT DEW. The one drink that worked for me was Propel Sports Water, but only berry flavored. My best friend likes the little packets of crystal light. You pour it into a bottle of water and shake it up to make a flavored drink. You could also try drinking fruit juices..but they have a high sugar content..so limit those as well. I also hate to drink water, but I found I could drink it better when it was ICE..ICE cold bottled water..never tap.

The ONLY thing that worked for my headaches from caffeine withdrawal was Excedrin Migraine. Be aware that Excedrin contains caffeine-thats how and why it works- so you will have to wean yourself off those to be rid of the headaches without having to rely on a daily source of caffeeine. Theres not as drastic of a drop when you stop taking them so it won't cause the severe pain that no soda does.) Keep in mind that more water=less headaches as well.

When I finally quit drinking soda I lost about 15 lbs over two weeks, my skin and eyes were a little brighter. I just felt tons better when I didn't even know I felt bad to begin with. Believe it or not I had more energy and for longer periods of time. (I felt great into the evening hrs and slept well at night. Before I would just "crash" around 6pm and feel yucky and tired the rest of the night.

My Advice:I
If you are able to kick the habit..don't EVER drink another can of your favorite brand of soda again. If you must have a soda..drink a diff kind. Three years after I quit drinking Mt Dew I had a can at work to bring my blood sugar up quickly. It was stress, lack of sleep and forgetting to eat that had caused it to drop. I needed to get sugar in my system quickly so I thought why not at least get the kind I like? I had that one Mt.Dew and was right back to my old habits by the end of the week.

Its hard to kick a caffeine habit--but it will be SOOO worth it in the long run. Good Luck to You! Hope that helps.

Answer 2

Try Orangina -- it's far from water, but carbonated like soda. At some point, you'll then be able to switch to orange juice, then other juices, etc.

If you're having headaches, you may alternatively have a caffeine addiction. Excedrin is good for headaches when you have this sort of addiction, because of the small amount of caffeine included (also some forms of Midol/Pamprin). It'll be enough to ween yourself off. However, be sure to only use amounts indicated on the directions, and never more. Also be aware of how many you are taking per day, and how long you've been taking them. Excessive use can lead to serious health problems. Take these headache medications carefully.

Answer 3

The reason your probably getting headachs is becuase of the caffiene in the soda. slowly go down to only three cups of soda a day.

Also, there really isnt anything much healthier than water...unless you want to go out and buy a juicer and juice fruits to make your own juice.

Try adding a fresh lemmon to your water. I'm a person who loves water, I hate any juice or soda or milk....... but even for me, water does get quite boring.

Anyything though is really healthier than soda. 100% fruit juices arent that bad, they still have a lot of sugar and calories...but at least they have nutritional value.

Or maybe you can get some recipies for slushie/smoothie type drinks..... throw some ice in a blender, some different juices...that way you're getting SOME water by drinking the ice (becuase water is really important)...

Good luck!

Answer 4

There are a few possibilites -- you're addicted to the sugar, the caffiene, or both. Try diet sodas, then transition to Gatorade or the like after a week or so.

I know you hate water, but it really is a good way to beat any addiction. It flushes out the system entirely, and there's nothing bad in it for you. Every time you want to take a drink of soda, chug an eight-ounce glass of water, and you'll be over the addiction in a week or less.

Answer 5

I have that prob. too, so I drink water instead.. Now, before you go all yuck.. Add a crystal light packet or another water flavoring thing and drink that. It's still not as bad as soda. Or drink juice or gatorade or crystal bay or... uhmm.. i have many diff. options i use instead of soda. I'll only have a soda every once in a while now.. before i used to drink like 5 a day! now its only 1-2 a week tops i swear it.

Answer 6

I have the same problem. I went to the doctor a while back because or depression. The doctor told me too much caffeine can cause depression. I know crazy. anyway she told me not to stop sodas completely. I was to work my way off of them. Like one week drink five a day. The next drink four a day and so on.

Answer 7

I used to hate water too and drank WAY too much soda. I just powered through it. Try different bottled waters and find the one that you hate the least and force yourself. It took me about 2 weeks to get over the soda thing and now I can't stand not having a bottle of water around. I prefer Aquafina myself and drink about 5 20 oz bottles a day. I love it now.

Answer 8

You just have to power through it. You are going to have to drink more water. It will take a few days to get past the caffeine withdrawals. That's all you can really do. Water does not make you sick to your stomach. It's all in your head.

Answer 9

my husband was the same exact way. But he had the will power to try the flavor water and he now only limits himself to 1 glass a day. all that soda is really bad for you in the longrun...if you really dont want to start with water I would say try light juices...like apple juice. then graduate to flavor water

Answer 10

mmm... don't drink soda. Put the money you save from not buying soda into a jar. Once you have enough money go out and buy something. Then, every time you use what you bought, think "I wouldn't have this if I hadn't stopped drinking soda".