For me the addiction is as bad as smoking. I've tried to quit numerous times but always fall off the wagon. So now, I am just trying to cut down on my daily intake.

We drink water with all meals (except for the very occasional glass of beer or wine - and morning coffee). Amazing how much better we feel! Helped with my 50 lb weight loss as well.

I have a HORRIBLE Pepsi addiction that I can't seem to break. I go cold turkey for about three days, then fall off the wagon again. For me, though, I think part of it's the carbonation. I like fountain Pepsi much better than from a bottle or can.

And I really couldn't until I found this product. I don't miss not having carbonation at all.

Believe me, I was so suprised! I had tried many of those flavored waters and drinks before and thought I couldn't stick with them because they weren't carbonated. Then I found these (especially the peach tea & the half lemonade/half tea one) and I haven't looked back.

If you've never tried these I highly recommend you atleast give them a try.

Last edited Sun Feb 19, 2012, 10:24 PM - Edit history (1)

because of too much stress in my life. But I like the links you posted in the OP. I think an iced tea/lemonade combination might be a good substitute for the Pepsi, since I like both those flavors. I'm ready to give it a try, anyway!

Giving up diet soda was major. It was tough but now I don't miss it at all.

I drink a LOT of water with crystal light (the aspartame doesn't bother me). Actually, I use the brand sold at Target. I also drink a lot of decaffeinated tea. No caffeine, no soda. It's made an enormous difference.

Or any carbonated water with no additives.

I got hooked on Diet Coke for a while and I still allow myself an occasional small bottle or can as a treat-sometimes. I guess it's like how some people really crave a beer. And I also drink club soda and sugar free sodas once in a while.

So,this year, I was given a Soda Strea as a holiday gift from my sisters and I am enjoying it tremendously. It makes really bubbly seltzer or you can select from one of a long list of flavors sodas (although I'm loving the plain sparkling water). Requires on electricity and is really easy to use. Recommend it highly if you are a fan of carbination.

Feel perfect, however when sometimes I have a very big desire to drink it - I may allow myself to be sure I do not punish myself with restrictions. I just know that I may drink it and do not want!

I have also given myself permission if I ever feel the desire. I just haven't had the desire yet. That tactic works best for me too but maybe it wouldn't for some others.

I still remember hurling up a Sprite back when I was 5-6 years old. It was some monthly social event at the local Lions Club. Ever since then I've never been a big soda drinker - I might drink about 8-10 cans a year tops (usually birch bear or old-fashioned root beer)

I've been keeping an eye on the Splenda debate too.

Did you know that that Duke University Study was conducted by The Sugar Association?

If I have to buy something pre-sweetened I would always go with Splendia first. However if I have to add a sweetener to something I would rather use something like Stevia/Truvia where I know it's made naturally and not thru chemicalization.

I mean this is the same country that decided to go with High Fructose Corn Syrup was a smart way to make food.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia

I have tried them and I can't stand the taste. So that's just not an option for me and my finicky taste buds.

Anyone who can stand the taste would be better off using a natural product like Stevia/Truvia, imho. On that I agree.

but it has improved. I like the taste you can get from Trader Joe's and Stevia in the Raw (from the folks that make sugar in the raw). Plus the Truvia is also pretty tasty too.

Fake ingredients get stored as toxins, which causes the body to store sugar as fat (or fat as fat) in order to protect itself from the toxins.

Why do it? Why wait for a study to tell you what you should already know?

EAT CLEAN!

I've done a lot of research on non-sugar sweeteners. The conclusion I came to was that splenda was the safest product available. I'm going to go back to the drawing board in light if this article, but I'm going to remain skeptical until I learn whether this is an extrapolation of someones preliminary findings reported as fact, or if this is peer reviewed science with good evidence to back it up.

As far as Stevia is concerned, be careful falling for the "it's natural therefore it must be good" fallacy. Ironically, Stevia has been shown to have mutinigenic properties (it can interfere and alter DNA). Having said that I don't believe that it's harmful, per se, and I'm aware that it has been used in Japan and So. America for quite some time with few if any side effects, but I'd suggest that you ingest your sugars, any sugars in moderation.

Altho I've lost 78 pounds since summer of 2010 (Thank you Sparkpeople.com)-
and I run/walk about 27 miles each week,
my blood pressure is still high normal.

I heard/read that diet soda might contribute to hypertension,
so as of May 1, I just stopped cold turkey.

I was surprised how easy it was, as in the past, I could imbibe lots of
diet coke/diet pepsi/diet whatevah, from dawn to midnight....

I drink more water and iced tea (home brewed)
and occasionally have a crystal light tea or diet snapple
but not with the addictive mindlessness of diet soda compulsion.
(My DH tells me if I'm drinking artificial sweetners, I'm not doing
myself any favors, but its hardly anything compared to soda.)

I see my doctor this next week... we'll see if there is a connection.
Or not.
So if my bp is still high, all bets are off.

and I can't believe how much better I feel! I was having a big problem with insomnia (duh--massive amounts of sugar & caffeine). I'm actually getting a full 7 to 8 hours of sleep now and it's made such a positive difference in how I feel throughout the day.

I was a several bottle a day Mountain Dew drinker for many years. Never thought I would be able to do without it. Quit cold turkey in March 2010, and am so much better for it.

The first few weeks were tough, but after that, the cravings went away, and I really don't miss it. I washed down a pill with a Sprite a few weeks ago and almost gagged. Way too sweet!

It is way better to use and drink plain water and juices instead of cold drinks,drinking and sodas.Because these kind of drinking direct caused to weight,health and other physique problems.I highly consist on plain water,juices and try to avoid cold drinks,sodas as much as i can.

I cannot stand the taste of artificial sweeteners, but stevia is pretty darn good!

I do like my coffee (unsweetened and with heavy cream, I don't absorb fats ) but try to get in at least 64 oz of some decaffeinated liquid each day.

I can't drink pop. It takes me about 5 days to drink a bottle (20oz) if I get one from the vending machine at work so it's hardly worth it.

aA
kesha