Giving up Coca Cola

Posted on July 18, 2014

Hey guys,

so I have been drinking Cola and Pepsi for as long as I can remember. Almost 4 weeks ago now I stopped it completely. No easing out of it. No "just for the meals". Because I tried that last year. Want to know what happened?

It VERY quickly became my favorite drink again. Or just all the liquid I consumed in a day apart from milk. No, I did not drink water. There were days, where the only liquid I drank was pepsi. Sometimes even a whole bottle. Because I drank it like water.

And. I. Loved. It. I drank that like it was the last time for me every time. It gave me energy. It tasted good. Especially in the winter when I was far from dehydrated it tasted so good.

I noticed it making me feel bad more in the summer. When it was late at night, and so hot that I coud not go to sleep. So I drank pepsi in the middle of the night.

Of course my stomach was bloated after it. I noticed! But I didnt do anything about it. "It is how it is", I thought. Sometimes my coworkers would ask me: "Is pepsi all you drink?" And I proudly admitted to it. Like its something good. Because everybody has a thing thats not good for them, right? This one smokes, the other one takes in too much nasal spray or cough medicine. I had pepsi.

And I dont do any of that other stuff by the way (drugs, smoking, etc). I´m pretty clean.

When I went to the store I could not go past the aisle with the pepsi. It was so programmed into me to just take a bottle or two. That was a must-have in my shopping basket. And I always made room for it. And I started to worry when I saw the last bottle in the fridge.

Sometimes I was too lazy to go to the store on saturday and my pepsi ran out on sunday of course. Nothing is open except the gas station. So I go there and get a 2 litre bottle for way too much money because... I have to have it, right?

Turns out I dont.

Three weeks and 5 days without it now. I have to honestly admit, that I miss it. Especially for meals. To drink something sweet and cold and fizzy with it. YES, I absolutely miss it.

But I can´t let that make me fat anymore. I just can´t. Its not healthy. Especially the way I drank it. I think I was slowly killing myself. And I want to see the changes already.

I just need to remind myself everytime I have a meal. I dont want this as bad as I want to be thin.

Its not worth it.

tommy

Comment Now!

Nicole G.

07/18/2014 8:12AM

It's so hard to give up something that is so integrated into a person's life like that, way to go! I drink sparkling water or club soda with limes if I find I really 'need' something, perhaps that could help if you get fixated on it? Good job though, it's not easy by any means!!

Tommy

hey, Nicole! I try to add lime to my water every now and then to give it some taste and that helps. It sure wasnt easy to give up that addictive pop : (

mellie

07/18/2014 6:43AM

I used to drink a ton of cola. After I stopped, before long I could only stomach a few sips but would still be seduced by the image of a cold can of soda. Now even that doesn't attract me. What changed? I remember when I worked at various restaurants and noticing that if i drank water with lemon, I was having to run to the bathroom all day. But if i drank diet coke with a lemon slice all day long... I never had to pee. Where exactly was it going???? The longer I've stayed away from soda, the more I've grown to dislike it. I drank carbonated water for a while, which was a nice refreshing alternative, but now i don't even want that. I get my caffeine from coffee; i never felt coke was a very effective source of caffeine for me anyway. Good luck to you in staying away from it for good!

Tommy likes this comment.

Tommy

Thanks, mellie! I will try to find some other drinks that taste good, but dont have the calories or sugar. For now, its just water, but I know, that I can´t do that forever. I want some taste! : )

And the pee thing? I noticed that, too! When I started with the water. I think I went to the bathroom 10 times a day. My coworkers thought something was wrong with me. Never had that with pepsi

Emily D.

07/18/2014 6:26AM

Wow, that was a really great story to read! That's very impressive that you were able to cut it out and keep it out for such a long period of time, especially considering how much you were used to drinking. Now I do have a question, because you were drinking so much pepsi everyday, your body probably became used to all that caffeine, where are you getting that from now that you don't drink pepsi? I'm just curious :)

Tommy

hey Emily! I can tell you that my body absolutely HATED me in the first week. Because I just cut out everything he was used to. I did not only change my liquids but all my solid foods too! No sauces, no fats! So I got rid of sugar, caffeine and all the other stuff that makes your brain oh so happy : ) It was a hard first week, and I have no substitute for all the stuff. I´m kneedeep in water, fruits and veggies mostly. Hard times : /

Kim D.

07/18/2014 4:45AM

Did you know that you can clean a penny with Coke? Imagine that, then imagine what it is doing to your stomach.

I used to be addicted to caffeine, and mostly in the form on Diet Coke. I gave up caffeine January of 2013. Once in a while (less than once per month) I will have some if I am super tired or want to make it through a movie, but it is no longer a daily thing anymore. Life is so much easier. No more migraines if I don't have caffeine every day.

You're doing great and your post was very interesting to read as well. Good luck and congratulations to you and your stomach on this lifestyle change!!

Tommy

Thank you Kim! I heard diet coke is even worth! Could not do that for long either! If I drank, I went classic coca cola or pepsi

Julie G.

07/18/2014 4:27AM

Tommy, I'm so glad you have given up soda pop. It is so addictive, and I know how hard it is to stop. Sometimes I think I can have just one, but then that starts the cravings all over again.

Even better than being thin--I think about all the chemicals, the artificial colors and flavorings, the high fructose corn syrup. It's not just about the way I look, it's about being healthy and strong for years to come.

I hope you can find some healthy substitutes, so you don't miss pop as much. Do you like iced tea? I've found that it's very enjoyable to have with meals. If I want something fizzy, I've been drinking carbonated water. It takes a lot of getting used to because it is not sweetened, but after 6 months, I do like it. Good luck finding some other drinks that you do like!

Tommy

Hey Julie, thanks for your comment. I dont like carbonated water that much. Right now I just stick to normal water, maybe with a bit of lime in it! :)

Tanisha

07/18/2014 4:24AM

This is exactly what I went through Tommy. I went four years of high school not drinking any water. No kidding...4 years. I am amazed my organs did not shrivel up and die. I took those bad habits into adulthood and here I am. I still struggle with that same feel of needing something cold, fizzy and sweet at meals.

Thanks for writing this and congratulations on your 5 weeks!

Tommy

Thanks Tanisha! Its great to hear Im not alone in this!