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.

http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/1/12981/07_2008/kombucha.jpg

[contessa20]

Consider this another vote for Kombucha. :D 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]

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! :p

[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 :D

[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 Sattva]

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. :)

[Revvell]

Here ya go ~

http://www.emofree.com/Articles/turbo-tapping.htm

I'd be willing to work this with (one) someone for free.

[Raw.N.It.Out]

Here ya go ~

http://www.emofree.com/Articles/turbo-tapping.htm

I'd be willing to work this with (one) someone for free.

That was a really interesting read. It sounds like some of the mindfulness skills that are practiced. :)

~~~~~~~~~~~

I did the coke thing too, for awhile. I got quite drawn into drinking it all the time, I must have felt like I was in much more stress during that time period, because drinking it to that amount wasn't something I always did. It was more of a *treat* occasion.

A couple of years ago I started to slowly incorporate juices into my diet to ween myself off of cola/pop. I didn't drink much of the *diet sodas* though. I drank regulars. It took about 1-2 years for me to stop drinking pop & juice. I than started adding more water (which was yucky to me) lol :p Than I would add some ice tea mix to my water, than I started adding tea bags to my water, till one day I forgot to add any tea bags. :D

This past year I've had maybe 1-2 cans of coke & a few sips of someone else's because, MAN is it EVER SWEET!! My taste buds were completely desensitized to all of the SAD foods.

I Know You WILL & CAN Do it too!! Baby Steps. :)

[terry brown]

Here ya go ~

http://www.emofree.com/Articles/turbo-tapping.htm

I'd be willing to work this with (one) someone for free.


Just want to say tapping works, I would take Revvell up on it!!!

[Revvell]

Thank you for the support Terry. It really does make a difference. :)


Here ya go ~

http://www.emofree.com/Articles/turbo-tapping.htm

I'd be willing to work this with (one) someone for free.


Just want to say tapping works, I would take Revvell up on it!!!

[JennaHoneyBear]

[I]Here ya go ~

http://www.emofree.com/Articles/turbo-tapping.htm


I agree about tapping, I'm the EFT Specialist at my work!! :cool:
I had a patient that felt instant relief right after she tapped on just one or two places!

[DopeRawAbundance]

I read that tapping article and... didn't quite understand what went down.

[JennaHoneyBear]

I read that tapping article and... didn't quite understand what went down.

basically, you tap on acupuncture/pressure points to get the energy free-flowing when it is clogged (when you get a craving, negative emotion, etc.)
that's the short of it :) i could show you ;)

[DopeRawAbundance]

Well see I... I have this cramp... its... its right on my butt please tap.

[skier2]

To be honest, I drink Kombucha EVERY DAY so I can attest to the benefits, but the addiction you have is as much an addiction to the carbonation as to the aspartame. I quit soda cold turkey almost 4 years ago now, and after some time I decided carbonated water was alright, but it made me eat more and I got addicted to the carbonation, so your best bet is to just bite the bullet, pour your extra cans down the drain (I've been there) and drink water. In other words, go cold turkey. It works.

[Revvell]

I read that tapping article and... didn't quite understand what went down.

It's considered "acupressure without needles" as we tap on certain meridien points on the body. I do it on my early UStream shows. Will be doing it again today for excess weight elimination.

[Revvell]

Well see I... I have this cramp... its... its right on my butt please tap.

O.k. Bubbles. You want that lil area above your tail scritched too? :p

Now, put your human back on, 'k?

[edelweiss]

Revvell thanks for that article. I am not sure I understand it, I saw that it's something to do with acupuncture with no needles. It is fascinating that the woman was able to dislike soda!!
I'm not sure I have the time to try something like this though. I'm in college and I am kinda stuck in this town, so I can't really go anywhere and this is a problem with finding food too, there aren't any health food stores here :(
But anyway, an update on me I've gone cold turkey since I made that post on here. It has been easy but the first few days are always easy...

[Revvell]

I'm not sure I have the time to try something like this though. I'm in college and I am kinda stuck in this town, so I can't really go anywhere

You don't have to go anywhere and as the article states :30. Up to you.

[edelweiss]

You don't have to go anywhere and as the article states :30. Up to you.


I'm not sure I understand what you mean can you explain in more details?? I really appreciate your offer to help!!

[Revvell]

We can do it by phone. If you've read the article, you don't have to be in front of each other.


I'm not sure I understand what you mean can you explain in more details?? I really appreciate your offer to help!!

[terry brown]

Yep..... the EFT, it is so freaking easy, it is hard to believe!
The proof is in the results!!!

[JennaHoneyBear]

another way to "get over" soda cravings...

I was reading that soda is linked to pancreatic cancer. And if you get that...I don't even think raw food can bring you back :(

[Tirza]

Here I am - the biggest soda addict of you all, I'm sure. I was actually scared that I really could not beat it. I prided myself on not smoking, drinking, doing other destructive things, but that soda had me by the throat. :(

It got so I would have to down 2 or 3 "Jolt" sodas (You know, the one that has TWICE the caffeine as Coke?) just to feel an effect from the caffeine. I was taking caffeine pills as well. One day I got so spaced and jittery that I was honestly wondering if I was going to have a heart attack. I looked at my kids and thought - NO! I went off it all cold turkey. Later, it got me again. It was gruesome.

I started adding Club Soda to juice so I could get the burn from the fizz. That was okay, but it sure was piling on the calories. I still took a caffeine pill when needed for alertness, but ever after that scare I limited myself to 1 only. 2 in case of emergency (like if I was driving and couldn't stop and people's lives would literally be in my hands). After that stopped working I just gave over the steering wheel to my husband who would have gotten a bit of rest by then - or found a place to pull over.

My daughter got all healthy and started adding fresh lemon juice to filtered water. That's it. My husband caught on to that one too. He's never been that much of a soda drinker. He takes this liter of filtered water with a lemon squeezed into it to work with him and is never thirsty. It helps in so many ways.

I like it too, but I still really crave that fizzy burn sometimes. So we buy a 2 liter bottle of Club Soda (which is VERY cheap) per week. Sometimes if we have company or it's really hot, we do buy 2 of them but we try to keep it the 1. Whenever we are out, I always get Club Soda or Perrier or the like.

I used to make "Sun Tea" in the summer. I'd fill a jar with water, put in a bunch of mint and sometimes sweetener and let the jar sit in the sun. It steeped and was so refreshing. THAT was raw tea.

I can't believe how much less fizz I drink now compared to before. I sip away on it over several days until it's gone. I find that if I limit myself like that I really do enjoy the smaller amount I drink that much more.

Unless I was REALLY hot and thirsty, I often found a whole can of soda to be too much. I'd finish it, but by the time I got near the end of it I was tempted to just leave it. So by taking a smaller glass of my club soda now, ICY cold, sometimes with lemon or lime juice squeezed in, really hits the spot.

I'd like to get right off it and just do the water and lemon. I can see that being possible because I do like that. But if I do break down and need fizz, I won't beat myself up over it. Same goes with stealing a gulp from my son's soda if I really want some, rather than getting my own. Just a sip is great sometimes. I know people warn against "teasing" yourself with little bits and that cold turkey is much better, but I do what I have to do. I know how bad it is for me. I know I have an addictive personality. But I am responsible enough to do something about it if I really want to. Falling off the wagon now and then with this isn't near as destructive as it would be with alcohol. I don't intend to fall off, but if I do, I'm jumping back on. No sweat. No hysterics about how useless I am at keeping resolutions, how bad a person I am, etc. Just see my "break" for what it was and get back to business.

Same for my whole healthy diet regime. Get on, do my best to stay on - if/when I blow it, get back on. In the long run, staying on MOST of the time is better than giving up in despair. I do believe that we eventually train ourselves to new habits. I know I don't like things as sweet as I used to, or as salty. So there is progress. I don't see it happening in 21 days as they say. We get a start then, but we still have our old cravings jumping around our ankles trying to get a bite of us so we should just expect it and take it in stride.

[freshlight]

Here ya go ~

http://www.emofree.com/Articles/turbo-tapping.htm

I'd be willing to work this with (one) someone for free.

wow, thanks for the link...and for the ustream yesterday,- this is completely new to me and looks a bit funny:)...but I'm sure it helps! Keep up the good work!

[Revvell]

.... and looks a bit funny...
Yeah, I know. So many of my students embarrassed themselves doing it they'd only do it in the shower. They called themselves "shower tappers". :rolleyes:

[freshlight]

Yeah, I know. So many of my students embarrassed themselves doing it they'd only do it in the shower. They called themselves "shower tappers". :rolleyes:



cute :) I wouldn't find it embarrassing,- there is no such thing unless you decide there is, right? ;-) - but it just is something VERY new to me. Thanks so much for spreading the good news, you genius!

[EZ rider]

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.
Possibly take a look at your salt consumption habits.

[janetc]

I was addicted to coca-cola big time. My new love is mineral water with a whole squeezed lime or lemon.

The sugar wasn't as addictive as the bubbly. So mineral water suits me just fine!