Comments on: How I Kicked My Coca Cola Habit

By: IT Pilgrim

IT Pilgrim — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:03:24 +0000

Mrs. Micah, you have inspired me to try. I am a horrible addict. The problem is, that at some offices its a cultural thing. IT is generally known for its Mountain Dew addiction. You would be hard-pressed to find a desk that did not have a 12-pack of some form of soda under or in it, mine included.

You have made me think about what Junkies we are, and I am not sure the coffee drinkers are much better. I think I need an intervention

By: Charing

Charing — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:18:49 +0000

You story is almost identical to mine, except I was addicted to Mt. Dew. The withdrawal was HORRIBLE, but to me it only reinforces how dependent we unknowingly become addicted to these substances! It was motivation to never drink the stuff again. It’s been five years now and I feel great. I also lost ten pounds after cutting the soda out of my life. That was a great motivator too.

By: Frugal Babe

Frugal Babe — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:00:24 +0000

Luckily I never got into the soda habit (my parents never had it around, and in the dorms I tended to go for milk or water – the stuff I was used to). But coffee was another story. I remember the first time I tried it, freshman year in college when I was up really late studying. I thought it was awful tasting. But by the next year, I was drinking it every night to stay awake and get my homework done. By my senior year I can remember brewing a pot of coffee when I got home from work at 1am, and then using the coffee to wash down a NoDoz and get started on homework. Looking back, I shudder to think about how little sleep I was getting and how much I was relying on caffeine. I quit cold turkey right after graduation, and promised myself I would never get into the caffeine habit again. I guess it worked, because the few caffeinated drinks I’ve had in the last ten years have made me feel awful. Good for you for kicking the soda habit early!

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:34:32 +0000

Awesome, Mrs. Micah!!! That’s a huge accomplishment and one to be proud of!

I’ve never been addicted to Coca-Cola or other sodas, but I completely understand the addiction side of this equation cause sugar is my problem I’m working to break!

By: PT

PT — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:25:00 +0000

Great post, MM.

Later. Off to get a Pepsi.

By: Mrs Micah's Mom

Mrs Micah's Mom — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:23:07 +0000

I was addicted to tea. I decided to switch to decaffeinated tea for two reasons. First, after I had children I couldn’t count of getting tea early enough in the day to prevent a headache. Second, I didn’t want to be addicted to a mood-altering substance when my children got old enough that I would be telling them not to use other mood-altering drugs.

I switched slowly. I went from 9 cups a day to 4, then decreased one cup at a time until I got to two, at which point I decreased by 1/2 cup stages. I avoided headaches and other symptoms by going so slowly.

Now, if I drink caffeine for some reason, I get giggly and high.

By: dollar incense

dollar incense — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:51:23 +0000

Oh the flashbacks!

During my pre-teen and teen years I drank up to a dozen sodas a day (my Mom too). I didnt think much of it. Continued this habit into my early twenties.

One cold Philly morning, I started my office routine with a diet soda, as usual. And DOUBLED over in terrible pain.

I ended up having kidney stones (at age 23) and swore that morning I would never drink soda again!

I drink water, some tea and when I fly I get gingerale.

Almost 7 years later, and thankfully no more kidney stones – horribly painful!

By: Lin

Lin — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:55:37 +0000

I used to be a cola addict, but I weaned myself off and started drinking a lot more water and sometimes iced tea. Of course, tea has caffeine in it too so I really try to watch how often I succomb to that.

I even tried buying flavored water for awhile, but those can get pretty expensive after awhile, so I’ve quit buying those.

By: Grey

Grey — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:54:36 +0000

I used to drink 5 to 6 cans a day. It was horrible.

I still have one on occasion (I had one today, actually), but I’ve dramatically cut my consumption. I just refused to quit buying it for the house. My biggest threat is the vending machine at work, but I try to make sure I empty the change out of my purse into a savings jar at the end of a day… which helps keep me clean.

Unfortunately, I have taken on coffee as my new bad habit. Ooops.

By: Irene

Irene — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:52:17 +0000

I am a die-hard coca cola addict, LOL. I know it’s bad for me and I spend too much $$ on it, but so far I haven’t really tried to give it up.
Maybe I will try and take “baby steps” as a previous person mentioned, and cut back slowly….ack.
But thanks for the inspiration!