Quitting Cold Turkey?

[efn2012]

What have y'all found best to quit drinking soda and eating fast food? I am always in the car bouncing between school and work. It is so easy to just run through the drive through and grab something. Even when I tried Weight Watchers I would still find a way to add in the chicken sandwich. I also had 28 points to a day which was hard, I cut it down to 24 and never used activity points. Now I feel like the best way for me to give up soda and fast food is to do it cold turkey. Has anyone been successful and going this route? In tips or suggestions on how to be successful?

[carrielee]

I quit caffeine drinks cold turkey over a year and a half ago....I switched to drinking Sprite/Sierra Mist/7 Up though.  No caffeine but still tons of sugar.  In December I quit all soda cold turkey.  I add lemon to water.  I've dropped 10 1/2 pounds since December and think cutting soda is a big part of it, I used to drink it like water. 

Fast food upsets my stomach so it's easy for me to stay away from.  I do prepack snacks at the beginning of the week so I can grab a healthier alternative when I'm hungry.  Usually almonds, mixed berries...stuff like that.  I work from home so keep veggies to cut up in my fridge.  Maybe you could pack lunches for between school and work.  Best of luck.   

[DougATL]

Quitting soda and sugary juices was easy for me. I really only drink water or protein powder mixed with water. 

As far as fast food, you just need to change what you order. Get a grilled chicken sandwich with no mayo and extra lettuce. Throw away the bun. Grilled chicken salad with light dressing. You get the idea.

[Myfiggy]

Quiting anything cold turkey is hard.  Especially for those of us who are addicted to sugar.  Caffine is a big issue when you go without any and your body is use to it.  I switched to diet first then started weining myself off of caffine soda.  (still have coffee issues).  If you dont, you may get extremely bad head aches, and your mood may be in high swing.  As far as the fast food, make better choices if you have to get fast food.  Get in the habit of getting out of your car and going in to order (steps on the fitbit after all!!) Also be prepared with good snacks that can get you through the day better.  it takes a little work and getting use to, but it can be done.  I always remind myself that these things are done in the same amount of time it takes to watch one t.v. program.  Focus efforts better and make 'you' a priority!!

[gerrymcd]

Quiting anything suddenly rarely works in the long term.  I wish I could remember where I read it, but I found the best advice to be in the first week don't eat/drink the thing you want to stop for a day (Wed).  The second week don't consume it (Wed or Fri).  Week 3 avoid it completely on Sun, Wed, and Fri.  And so on, until you are not eating/drinking it 7 days a week.   

[yldthng]

I don't drink sodas or juices or really eat fast food. I will do CFA every now and again. My issue is sweets - candy & cookies mainly. I've cut down A LOT, but still have something almost daily.

Watching this video is what helped me cut down on my sugar intake by probably 80% in the last few months. I still have not been able to totally stop though. It's crazy, because I gave up alcohol cold turkey and I gave up cigarettes cold turkey. And I've never touched either of them since I quit. And when I stopped drinking sodas a few years ago, that was cold turkey. Same thing with fast food.

I quit all these things because they were bad for me. I said I was gonna stop, and I did. 

But sweets - I just can't seem to do it. 

Sugar addiction is hard to beat. REALLY hard.

[josephz2va]

It's very hard to quit drinking soda. Fast food on the other hand is easy. Just make the very right choices on food consumption. Fruits, veggies, prepackaging your meals based on bodybuilding recommendations for lean muscle.

Just one thing, be very careful on portioning. Just because bodybuilding recommends eating peanuts doesn't mean to buy a jar of peanuts. (2,600 calories a jar).

I put a water cooler in my bedroom and downstairs in the activity room, then when I'm thirsty, fill it up. Carry a 32 ounce jug around, fill it up anywhere. 

[efn2012]

Thank you! All your advice has been very helpful!

[Maithuna]

It's hard, one of the more difficult things I've ever done food-wise. Honestly, I started by replacing chips with rice crisps (the cheese flavour crispy minis taste very close to cheezies and are about 1/3 of the calories) and pop with juices and my coffee. then, over the last couple of years, I've gradually reduced the amount of juice I drink, and how much sugar/cream goes into my coffee. This isn't to say I don't fall off the wagon sometimes. once in a rare while (talking 2-3 times a year), I will allow myself to have a small bag of chips, but only when I've burned enough calories that day to fit the pure calorie content into my diet without going over. It's especially tough for the first 3-4 months I found, and after that it gets relatively easy to refuse chips in favour of something else.

[atkinsch]

I switched to seltzer water which was a good substitute for soda for me. It's zero calories, all natural, still has the bubbles, and there are tons of different flavors. 

Another thing that I like to drink is tea which also has tons of flavors and no calories if you don't add anything in. A cup of green tea is a good way to get a little bit of caffeine or to help wean down from soda caffeine.

I would start by cutting back and drinking one seltzer for one soda. Then after a few days switch out two sodas, etc. They say it takes 21 days to break a habit but once you've broken it, you won't miss it too much.