Thread: How do I quit drinkin' DDr.Pepper?

It sounds sooo easy. I'm having trouble with this. I've tried before and I did lose weight, but fell off the wagon time and time again. I'm hooked! I'm a massage therapists and I know better!!!! It is my ugly vice! Sometimes I do ok and drink water with the flavor packets,but in the back of my mind, I'm thinking of the Diet Dr. Pepper! Then,bam! I stop by the drive-thru or gas station and get one....then I feel really guilty. I've got to kick this. Help!..cr.:

Are you addicted to the flavor or to the caffeine? If it is the flavor, I dunno what to tell you! :) But I just recently gave up caffiene and I feel great!! Sleep so much better wake up with more energy. Blood pressure is down, not as tense/jittery. It was worth the headaches. What worked for me is to go for as long as possible until I just couldn't take it any more and then have a tea. Each time the span between "doses" increased....took about a three weeks to get off completely.

My husband is in love with the diet dr pepper too!! Good luck to you!
Meredith

I had a serious Dr. Pepper problem and tried quitting several times. Finally, i sat down and made a list of all the negative effects of soda. For me especially, it was hurting my already thin teeth. Every time I craved it, I referred to my list and had a cup of tea or coconut water instead. I also avoided situations that made me want it - getting fast food fries for example.

After about two weeks, I lost the desire and I don't drink soda any more at all.

I think the key is finding your own motivation and working with that. Good luck!

Leyla - what is coconut water? Are you actually piercing coconuts to make this?

Me, I like the carbonation of the soda, so I switched to sparkling water, usually lemon or lime flavored. Maybe that would help.

Originally Posted by TheGreatKathyLori

Leyla - what is coconut water? Are you actually piercing coconuts to make this?

Kathy, you can get this at Whole Foods or Nature's Way

They sell it in individual juice boxes in the juice aisle. Never had it before, but some people really seem to like it!

Maybe pomegranate juice might help you kick the habit, for that syrupy sweet-tart flavor

You can always dilute the pomegranate juice with some water if you're concerned about sugar.

Ahhh... Dr. Pepper. What makes it so good? That smoked cherry flavor fading to lemon on the sides of the tongue, the mouth feel of the bubbles cutting thru the dense base syrup. And then...there is the cafeinne... yeah baby! Don't actually touch the stuff myself.

Originally Posted by anala

Ahhh... Dr. Pepper. What makes it so good? That smoked cherry flavor fading to lemon on the sides of the tongue, the mouth feel of the bubbles cutting thru the dense base syrup. And then...there is the cafeinne... yeah baby! Don't actually touch the stuff myself.

I've never gotten into Dr. Pepper, but with that near-orgasmic description, you're making me wanna run out and get some. Damn it!!!

Cherry and pome juice in water with lots of ice and a slice of lemon. Or just eat some dark chocolate.

Originally Posted by TheGreatKathyLori

Leyla - what is coconut water? Are you actually piercing coconuts to make this?

It's the liquid inside young coconuts, before in turns into milk. It's light and subtle and a little sweet.

I buy pack of Vitacoco from Amazon. I have a subscription, so I get it delivered each month automatically at a discount. But Satin's right, you can also find them at Wholefoods-type places.

I mentioned it on the what to eat between gigs thread. It's full of electrolytes and is supposed to be really helpful for hydration.

Originally Posted by LeylaFahada

I mentioned it on the what to eat between gigs thread. It's full of electrolytes and is supposed to be really helpful for hydration.

Oh! So that's why they sell it near the sports snacks at the health food store ..g.:

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Oh! So that's why they sell it near the sports snacks at the health food store ..g.:

Yep! And none of the HFCS, dyes, sugar, and other junk that the sports drinks have.

Nooooooooooooooooo!!! I love Dr. Pepper and I hate diet sodas of all sorts (all the artificial sweeteners make me sick too).

I allow myself a Dr. Pepper once a week . . . . sometimes even less. If it is the sugary stuff then you need to skip the fruit juice too. Eat the fruit if you need a sweet fix . . . and seriously, skip the chocolate! I can't believe I am saying that because I love chocolate too but it is an evil culprit, lol!!! Mainly because of the sugar . . . yes, darker is better because it has less sugar and more flavonoids (good for you).

The controversy regarding caffeine just seems to go on and on, doesn't it???

I drink coffee in the morning and then try to avoid ALL caffienated drinks after noon at the earliest (4pm at the latest).

But we are all different and our bodies handle these things in different ways.

I have more or less kicked a long-time diet coke habit. I maybe have one per week. Sometimes I go weeks without one. My reasons for quitting were:

1. Research indicating no-calorie sweeteners still F with your blood sugar, and cause lab rats to eat more and gain weight. Not surprisingly, when I was losing weight, it started coming off faster when I'd quit diet cokes.

2. Feeling like the carbonation and acid were upsetting my digestion. Actually, when I would quit, I'd have tummy aches for a while until my body adjusted.

3. The connection between chugging soda, and binging on certain foods that I really shouldn't eat. For example, soda and pizza, or soda+burger+fries. I think I eat more when am guzzling soda.

I wasn't really concerned with caffeine intake too much, so now if I want a beverage I have iced green tea, which has the added benefit of antioxidants.

When I was in high school, I was crazy for Dr. Pepper. I drank so much of it but then my taste buds changed and now I can't stand it. I hope this doesn't happen to you if you really enjoy it - maybe they will make a caffeine free version one day and combined with a diet Dr. Pepper, you won't have any reason for guilt!

There is no good substitute for Dr. Pepper. Trust me. Yum! My advice is just to cut back. If you are drinking several a day, cut back to one a day, and so on over time. And yes, avoid the drive through and other places where soda is offered.

Also, if you end up visiting fast food and other soda inducing restaurants, go inside. When you fill your own glass, put tons of ice in and only fill your glass part way.

Denying yourself major cravings seems to have the opposite effect, you go without for awhile then bam, you have a whole case or 2-Liter. Allow yourself a little taste when it gets bad, remember why you want to quit, and then move on. I am a firm believer of "everything in moderation." Good luck and tell us how it goes!

I know this sounds so simple but just don't buy it. that's how I quit smoking cigs. I just stopped buying them. That behavior, right there, will make you quit

I used to have a Diet Coke habit, I wonder if there's some mild addictive property in the artificial sweeteners in diet sodas, cause I used to really crave it.

Then I took a test to gauge my potential to develop osteoporosis. I learned drinking sodas on a regular basis is linked to an increased chance of developing osteoporosis. The high phosphorus content in colas may cause bone loss.

Cola Raises Osteoporosis Risk For Women Regardless Of Calcium Intake And Age

Soda and Osteoporosis: Is There a Connection?

The Health Hazards of Drinking Coca-Cola and other Soft Drinks

That was a game changer for me. I went cold turkey, stopped buying it. In the first few months, I had two slip-ups, but I had been off of it long enough that I actually felt sick after drinking it. The combination of knowing I could last without it and when I did drink it again, it didn't agree with me killed any cravings or desire I have for it. I've been cola free for several years now.

I just stopped buying them. That behavior, right there, will make you quit

Or become a burden on your smoking friends!

Originally Posted by anala

I just stopped buying them. That behavior, right there, will make you quit

Or become a burden on your smoking friends!

removing self from tempting situations is ideal- & yeah, it is SO easy to just take a nip off someone else- but it is hard to avoid places like the gas station!

Keep a water bottle with something appealing with it in your car- keep something to drink with you AT ALL TIMES- if you already have it out of your house, can you commit to using the outside pay-at-the-tank option at the gas station? leave your cash at home & give yourself NO EXCUSE to go into that gas station! if you actually have to make an effort to get the drink, you at least have more time to talk yourself out of it! I also recommend giving yourself a designated 'treat' time- once a week, once a month- however long you feel up to holding out! I only get soda of any kind about 4 times a year now- I utterly enjoy it when I do, but I don't have to have it in the fridge at all times! & actually, the closest flavor substitute I have found for the full sugared Dr. Pepper is prune juice with seltzer... I don't ever feel guilty about drinking carbonated prune juice ..l;,

Buy Bonne Bell Lip Smacker Lip Gloss, Dr Pepper Online at drugstore.com

maybe this?

Drink hot tea instead?

But I luvs my Pepper.....g.:

Have you tried drinking "emergen-C"? It helps me get over sweets cravings (well, most of the time...) and it's good for you. Gives you an energy boost without caffeine.

i love dr pepper! but i dont drink a whole lot of soda to begin with.

OMG I had a huge Dr Pepper addiction in college. I would get up out of bed at 2 am to get a can. I'm convinced they put crack in it. I just quit cold turkey and went thru my withdrawals and was angry but eventually the craving went away. Now I don't drinik any soda except for root beer a few times a year.

I'm going through the samething with Coca Cola.

I had a 32oz. EVERY day for years (sipped it all day long) and than I dropped to a 16 oz. everyday and than a 16 oz. 3 days (now I have it Monday, Wed. & Fri.) and I eventually plan on going to 1 day a week and than NONE. Wheening is the way for me.

I too am a DDr. P addict
I've managed to cut way back, but still have 2-3 a day.
There is nothing else like it!

Dr. Pepper, the drink of dancers everywhere...lol! At one point in time I would go through 8 to 12 cans a day. I ended up quitting when I had one of my rare go rounds with the flu. When your sick nothing tastes right so I stopped drinking it plus your already cranky and not feeling well so the caffinee adjustment gets tossed in with the being sick. After that I just made sure not to have anymore in the house.

I will get an occasional soda, usually places like movie theaters since the only bottled water they sell out here is Desanti which gives me massive almost migrane like headaches.

You can try cutting down your soda drinking by putting tons of ice in a cup with just a little soda and weaning yourself down that way. Smaller amounts at one time and then space them out until you can resist its siren call. If your picking one up with a fast food meal, ask to substitute the small size for your soda. You will confuse the folks working there quite often, they are so not used to someone asking to subsititue a smaller size drink,, but it does help with cutting down the amount of soda you drink.

This thread has inspired me to ditch soft drinks. Thanks, shenudance! Reading all the posts reminded me of all the issues I've had with it, and I'm refusing to let a stupid thing like a soft drink keep me from reaching my fitness goals. :) Sorry if this sounds like a thread-jack, but I was inspired and hoped that it would also inspire shenudance to be able to kick the Dr. Pepper habit. (which is also, BTW, my soft drink of choice, too)