I have a real addiction to soda and I desperately need to cut back at least on the sugar.
My problem is, is that the zero sugar ones - whatever sweetener is used hurts my throat (and tastes awful), and same goes for the diet versions. I could force myself to drink bubbly or La Croix, but knowing myself, that’s only going to cause an awful rebound soon enough. So I’ve been trying to find alternatives that don’t break the bank. Poppi is fine and I’ve tried other low sugar bottles from online stores here and there. That’s expensive, though.
So I guess has anyone tried to cut sugar in other ways? I have tried watering things down and I’ve tried using just sparkling water to keep the carbonation but water things down. I have also tried sparkling water and powdered drink mixes and that is truly awful, imo. I haven’t tried mixing a Soda Zero with a Soda (regular) and I wonder if that would help? At least to begin sort of a transition?
I dunno. I’m babbling at this point. I know it’s mostly a test of will for addictions, but this is literally my only vice because I don’t smoke and won’t drink. So soda is the way, hahaha.
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Soda used to be fermented fruit juice, you could make your own.
You said you tried powdered drink mixes, have you tried the liquid? I cannot stand the powdered variety, either. I feel like you have more control over the flavor and the mix with the liquid varieties.
They’ve really helped me kick my soda habit.
ETA: Just some recommendations, avoid the Crystal Light brand, they taste like artificial sweetener. I personally go for generic store brands(Laura Lynn, Great Value), but Mio is a solid choice with a wide range of flavors. Just avoid their Iced Tea unless you really like canned tea. That’s exactly what it tastes like.
Seconding this. A lot of the flavors have food dyes but you can also find stevia and more “natural” colored flavors at aldis and other stores, as well!
What you need is willpower. No way around it. Your options are:
Drink soda sweetened with sugar
Drink soda sweetened with artificial sweeteners
Drink unsweetened soda
I would just stay on the seltzer until you’re used to it. I can’t even drink sugary soda anymore, maybe as a treat once in a while, but never a whole can or bottle at once. You’ll get there too.
I love seltzer, I have also lost my taste for sugary soda. But I can still down a whole can without issue, but now I see it as indulgence similar to ice cream
OK, as a result of this, I went on a bit of a research trip, and found out that
a) Setzer is apparently just what you people call carbonated water, and, b) that that is because of fucking Selters, a brand of mineral water I could go out and buy in any random-ass supermarket. (Sure, if you wanna go into it, it’s because that source has a kinda funky mineral mix, and because water from there has been bottled forever, but whatever.)
There isn’t really any point or punchline here, I just think our world is very silly.
Ein klares Wasser muss durch einen tiefen Stein!
Have you tried getting flavored syrups and making your own? That would let you fully control the amount.
You can start adding water to your soda. Then after a while plain soda will be too sweet. I’ve been doing that with juice for over 10 years now. Can’t have comercial juice anymore, and just started doing it with lemonade too
I’ve been doing that with juice too (also adding iced tea powder, other stuff like almond extract (cherry taste) for more/different flavor) but I can’t imagine watering down soda unless using something that’s also carbonated. Which I never really tried the other carbonation options due to cost (not really drinking soda often though, tapwater is free).
Well, I did try watering something down with club soda once but that was gross particularly because the carbonation was already gone.
Honestly you’re just going to have to stop. It’ll suck at first but after 1-2 weeks it should be easy, and from there you won’t even want soda anymore.
Source: I’m a former soda addict
I’ve only been able to cut sugar by eating less as a whole. That means intermittent fasting (first meal at noon). No food/snacks after dinner. Going to bed early. If I’m craving something sweet, I’ll have A PIECE of candy or HALF a can of cola. I personally really like the taste of Pepsi Zero Lime and Dr. Pepper Strawberries and Cream - but as a Canadian, those flavors aren’t readily available here.
“quitting” sugar, like any other addiction takes time and requires a lot of discipline. Make small changes that you can be consistent with and stick with it for a few months. Soon you’ll notice your body adjust. You’ll have more energy, your cravings will go away, you’ll become sensitive to the taste of sugar like how non-smokers are sensitive to the smell of cigarettes. Your only regret will be wishing you had started sooner.
Good luck!
I have tried watering things down and I’ve tried using just sparkling water to keep the carbonation but water things down.
Personally, I like just plain seltzer water by itself, but have you tried (unsweetened) cranberry juice and seltzer water? Might help if you’re craving the acidity but don’t want the sugar.
I just drink tea nowadays. Brewed tea at home, not bottled tea with ten tons of sugar per tenth of a serving. It took me about ten months to move from exclusively sugary carbonated drinks to tea, but now I don’t even enjoy the former anymore.
I dont know if it will irritate your throat or not as it sounds like you may have an allergy to somw sweeteners, but I have been drinking Clear America sparkling water for a couple years now and it tastes lightyears better than bubbly and la Croix. It is artificially sweetened (aspertame I think?), zero calories, but most of the flavors absolutely do not taste like they are artificially sweetened. Strawberry is the best and is my go to. But the cherry limeade, black cherry, and tangerine are all really good as well. I have my entire family drinking them as a treat when they come over. You can only buy them at Walmart, in the water/sparkling water section.
Eh, tbf the best luck I’ve had with any addiction is cold turkey, and not touching it again for months, weeks, years. And warning anyone I care about I may be bitchy for a bit, please have mercy but keep me in check.
I have a real addiction to soda and I desperately need to cut back at least on the sugar.
Add 1/20th to 1/4 parts water to whatever serving size of soda you drink. Easy peasy does it best.
I felt the same way years ago. I started drinking coke zero and have no switched back. Normal Coke is waaay too sweet for me now and I much prefer coke zero. I have been drinking it close to 8 years now, and I love it way more.
One thing that helped me was that i read that real sugar binds to sweet receptors, diet substitutes bind to both sweet and bitter at the same time, and that is why it can feel uncomfortable at first. For some reason that helped me understand it and now it’s all I want to drink.
I also love Fresca
I was going to give a bunch of advice but then you answered your own question at the end.
If you want to change, you just going to have to change - that’s all there is to it.
My advice therefore is that you’re going to experience two or three days of discomfort, be prepared to deal with that.
Probably not helpful, but for me I made a few changes to cut back on Cokes.
I keep the house stocked with overpriced waters and teas, and they’re in the front of the fridge so I see them first. I found I particularly like Snapple’s sugar free line. This took a lot of experimenting - be ready to spend a few months buying until you find ones you like. Don’t be shy about tossing the shitty ones either - there’s an amazing ‘variety’ of tastes here.
I also learned to make a few drinks I actually like. Right now I’m on a shaken iced tea - much like how a bartender shakes a mixed drink. Mostly just iced tea, but with a healthy splash of lemon juice, 4-6 frozen strawberries instead of ice, and sugar/sugar substitute to taste (about 1 teaspoon), then shake. Gives it a fruity-sweet flavor. And you get to eat strawberry slushies afterwards.
I do still keep Cokes in the house, but it’s the fancy glass bottle ones. They’re small and expensive, so I drink them in moderation. But simply having them in the house and knowing I can have one if the cravings really hit, somehow makes the cravings less frequent.
