Cutting Soda

[ggardnerply]

Hello,

Girlfriend and I just started getting into trying to be a bit more healthy. First thing she does is try to cut Soda as she used to drink it frequently. I currently never had a problem as I mostly like diet soda anyways and I don't drink it often. Anyways, since she has cut it she has been feeling very weak and not well. I assume this is normal and I'm guessing it has to do with the lack of sugar that her body is used to.

Any suggestions on healthier ways for her too substitute the sugar so she doesn't feel so weak? I suggested fruits such as apples and grapes but I don't know a whole lot when it comes to nutrition other than the basics. Any help is greatly appreciated!

[SunsetRunner]

This is very interesting reading.  After reading all the posts on this subject that has taken a whirlwind, I tend to agree to alot of what each of you have said.  The way I am tackling my chronic diet cola drinking is drinking the good "ole" H20 for the most part.  If it's not my water, it's unsweetened fresh brewed cold ice tea.  I don't want to curve my taste buds back the old direction my tempting myself with sugared beverages whether they are artificial sweetners, natural sweetners.  After alot of what I have read on sugars, artificial, naturals or whatever, they are an additive to intice consumers to purchase their products.  Did you know there are about 63 different names for sugars; some including, (and alot are ending in "ose'), sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, barley malt, dextrose, maltose.  Per the World Health Organization, our diets are supposed to consume only 6 tsp. each day, and probably less is better.  So, as I continue down this lifetime journey of a healthy lifestyle, I've decided at this current stage to cut down the sugars and carbs. Thanks to all for great information and much success to all on this journey of health.

[SunsetRunner]

Thank you for your interest, support and information. The more information the consumer has, the better they are able to make informed choices. I wish you well on your journey to better health.
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Regards,
Jim Weil

[Jeroniymo]

MattB - You made a calim that sweetners such as Aspartame in diet sodas cause cancer.

This has not been proved and is a rumour from the internet that has circled for many years.  If it were the case then every diet soda would be required to show a medical warning or more likely would have been banned.

this is whatbthe American Cancer Society says:

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/athome/aspartame

and the national cancer institute:

http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/artificial-sweeteners-fact-sheetv

I do not deny it better not to use / take in these chemicals however the benefits of diet soda vs full sugar are far more clear.

As a method of easing off full sugar soda I would even suggest that diet soda is a good way initially rather than cutting it out entirely.

if you have any scientific studies that definitively link diet soda sweetners to cancer I would love to see them.

[SunsetRunner]

I believe these antidotal claims have been fostered that at one time faulty research indicated that saccharin caused cancer in the quantities used in food and was removed from all food products. This since has been recently disproven with new research. However the link still persists in the social network and even in some popular scientific and health literature as has been expanded that all artificial sweeteners cause cancer, which is equally incorrect. What has been researched is that diet drinks do not lead to weight loss as they create a craving for more sweeteners from other foods. While HFCS does not cause cancer or directly any other disease or illness, there is valid research to indicate that it may cause increased weight gain at a degree greater than regular sugar or other sweeteners. That is a very good reason in my opinion to avoid it. It is also my opinion that if cities or the government wants to tax soda, they should go after HFCS in all foods instead.

[Jeroniymo]

agree 100% with what you say here, as a long teem dieter I have heard all the myths and feel that it is a slowly slowly process, hence my belief that going from full sugar to diet to none is far more likely to succeed than going cold turkey and just giving up. 

The addictive thing is a very valid fact - all depnds on your overall aims and goals I suppose.

[LESLIE75]

I know this is an older post, but I recently started drinking water infused with pineapple.  It is so addictive.  I read also where is has a lot of health benefits as well.  It has totally eased me off of drinking diet soda.  I absolutely love it.

[nkotblove]

Weclome to the fitbit team I Been here since Dec 26, 2014

how are you sounds like you been trying to cut the soda out in your dites for me I can't do that yet!!

I get bad headaces if I don't drink my Coca- Cola drink...

this is so nice to have this fitbit communuity and friends who be helping us out

yes I get bad headaces and feel crappy girl and plus we don't need that I want to be a happy girl..

[SunsetRunner]

It possibly might be a caffeine withdrawal symptom. You might want to consider substituting coffee (hot or cold) with minimal sweetener as a viable substitute for you. Based on current reports it is much healthier for you.

[Purplepower]

I'm officially off soda now. No more cravings for it. I've had a few times when I will have one if I can't get tea, but I drink a lot more water now and crave it instead of soda. None in our house and my daughter doesn't ask for them either. Husband really likes the flavored waters that are soda-like but drinks only one glass of that with a meal. Very glad we are on our way to being healthy.

[SunsetRunner]

Congratulations on your achievements! YesterdayI actually found myself watching an episode of Dr. Oz discussing fatty liver disease. One-third of the population has it, even children. It has no obvious symptoms until it is almost to late to do anything about it. I did not know I had it until I had a sonogram to check the blood flow of some arteries and it was discovered. One of the main culprits mentioned and focused on was HFCS. The show also discussed reversing the disease. A primary method was to eliminate or reduce the intake of… You guessed it…HFCS. Completely eliminating it is an almost impossible task as it is easier to list what does not contain it than to list what items do contain it. However I am now cognizant of all the sugar I take in, and read all the food labels of the products I buy with the mindset of a detective. Items with high values of sugar, sodium or HFCS are now going back to the groceries shelf. One even has to check the labels of foods once deemed safe as providers do change ingredients. It takes me twice as long to shop now but I am healthier for it and, besides, the physical and mental exercise from doing this is good for me.

[WholeJourney]

Hi!

I'm with you: I've made the diet soda to seltzer switch as well and it's really making a difference. I like Polar and Adirondack brand seltzers, they come in so many good flavors.  Have you tried Hint water? It's not carbonated but it's infused with fruit flavor and it's very refreshing. I like the blackberry Hint water the best.

[Cali-Steve]

I am also cutting soda. I have been using the mio brand to sweeten my water should I stop that too. I use the ones with the b vitamins.

[DanielleinDC]

I've pretty much cut out soda, atlhough I will confess to having tea with sugar in the morning at home (although I'm trying to limit how much I use) and at work. I do like Naked Juice drinks, especially the Berry Veggie blend and try to make a bottle last two days. 

Your friend might be going through withdrawals, depending on how much soda she used to drink. Is she eating enough? That can also cause her to feel ill.

And I agree with the others that you should cut the diet soda out. That's even worse for you than regular soda.

If you like the fizziness of soda, maybe a carbonated fruit juice would work? Or mix fruit juice and seltzer?

[Guress]

I get headaches when I stop drinking soft drink / soda. I try to just drink water instead. 

[USAF-Larry]

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@Guress wrote:

I get headaches when I stop drinking soft drink / soda. I try to just drink water instead. 

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Those caffeine withdrawal symptoms will disappear in time if you stay off the soda. Soda is designed to be addictive, and withdrawal from it is normal.

[AndyDandyPandy]

The first 2 week is the hardest. I don't drink liquid calories anymore(I would have a beer or 2 occasionally but rarely). It wasn't too hard for me because I didn't feel like I'm addicted to sugary drinks. But I always drink them anyways because they were available and because I didn't care about my health before.

A tip that I can give is to do intense workouts. When you're huffing and puffing and all sweaty let's see if you will choose that bottle of soda or a nice cool bottle of water. If you choose the bottle of soda then losing weight shouldn't be your priority, its seeing a psychiatrist. Soda will just make you sick when you're training hard and drinking it. 

If you're forcing yourself to stop giving your body what it wants then it will not be easy because this is REAL TALK. If you want to be fit and healthy it would probably be the hardest thing you'll ever do in your life because being healthy and fit is LIFE and not something you do for a week or two then go back to your old habits. Try drinking less then lesser until you decide to stop. You gotta ask yourself why you're giving up soda. Is it worth it? Be committed and don't lie to yourself. You have to want to be healthy 10x more than sugary drinks to be successful. If you want it enough there's nothing that can stop your journey, not even your greatest addiction. But if your addiction beats you, that just means that you're not fully comitted to make a change and that's perfectly fine. Just don't let it get to the point where it endangers your life. NO ADVICE IS GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU CHANGE, YOU GOTTA CHANGE FOR YOURSELF! Be healthy and stay healthy my friend.

[SunsetRunner]

It's likely not the lack of sugar your girlfriend is suffering from. It's the caffiene. I use to drink upwards of 4 energy drinks a day plus soda throughout the day. I use to work for a well known soda company. When I quit drinking them I got severe stomach cramps, cold sweats, weakness, didn't want to eat anything, and vomiting. I stayed in bed for 3 days. My husband quit as well and he was in bed for 7 days. Thankfully we did not quit at the same time or we'd bot be in trouble. I could handle it for the most part, but the stomach cramps is what was the worst about the withdrawl. What worked for me was the It Works Greens. I'm not promoting this product nor do I sell it. I found something similar to it at Sprouts grocery store in the vitamin center later on. I just wanted something to sort of help detox my body out of desperation. I really didn't feel up to searching for produts at the time and had a friend that did sell something that I was looking for. After drinking the first packet almost immediately my stomach cramps subsided, which was what I wanted. There really is no substitute to accomidate lack of caffiene. You just have to let it run its course. After that experience I never drank anything that had caffiene in it because I never wanted to go through that again.

[extra_medium]

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@Sassygirl18 wrote:

It's very distressing how we are told that something is healthy, only to find out it's unhealthy, and vice versa.

One thing I feel confident of....chemical artificial sweeteners like aspartame are poison.  I avoid them like the plague.

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Let's stay grounded.  Everything on the planet is chemicals, and aspartame is not poison.  It's fine to avoid it if you want, but aspartame is made up of two proteins which are found in many common things most people eat every day.  Like any meat product.  Hundreds of millions of people have been consuming it for decades.  Looking at it rationally, if it was literally poison we would know by now.

[Sassygirl18]

Thanks, but I will maintain my viewpoint that it's poison and will drink
water instead.

[dwicks1]

caffiene will cause a lot of probems, I have migraines and when I try to stop drinking soda my headaches get worse, if you can drink water or less carbonated type drinks and cut down on sodas that is the best way. 

It does also take some energy away when you try to stop, it can also cause rebound headaches when you stop, so the gradual approach is best.