Gransnet forums

Health

Diet Coke

(144 Posts)
vampirequeen Wed 28-Jun-17 12:56:10

I am a diet coke addict. I don't say this with any sense of humour. I am a true addict. I easily drink 6+ cans a day and it was rising. So last week I decided to take control. I haven't had any diet coke since Saturday and it's killing me. I am having so many withdrawal symptoms. It's far worse than when I gave up smoking. I've sorted out the headaches by drinking coffee. I guess that was the caffeine withdrawal. But I'm continually thirsty and hungry. I'm drinking lots of water. Easily more than 2 litres a day but the thirst is always there.

I'm hoping that as the days go on it will get easier like when I stopped smoking and that this excessive thirst and hunger is the diet coke version of the stop smoking cough.

Has anyone else given up diet coke or anything similar?

Menopaws Sat 22-Jul-17 17:19:04

How are you VQ? Hope your symptoms are settling down. I'm on day 25 and all is well, I understand if this post fades out and I don't want to talk for the sake of talking, I found the first weeks the most helpful although I definitely promised myself I would be honest should I slip up so lack of contact doesn't mean I have but I am very grateful you started this thread as I would not have had the courage to open up and yet it has made a massive difference to my life and my family, so thanks VQ and I really hope you are doing well

vampirequeen Sat 22-Jul-17 19:01:59

Four weeks. Cravings still bad but not giving in.

Andyf Sat 22-Jul-17 19:12:17

Keep up the good work ladies.

vampirequeen Fri 28-Jul-17 08:33:09

5 weeks today. Still missing the filthy stuff.

seacliff Fri 28-Jul-17 08:43:21

Well done, you have been so determined. Its terrible that you still have the cravings after 5 weeks though! I also have a diet coke habit, have been gradually reducing, not gone cold turkey. Do you feel better for it?

Menopaws Fri 28-Jul-17 17:10:34

Day 38 nearly done, still fancy it but not really a craving, keep thinking about food though! Need to stop filling the void but still feel heaps better, well done VQ

vampirequeen Fri 28-Jul-17 19:20:05

Your doing really well Menopaws.

I'm beginning to feel better, seacliff. The physical withdrawal symptoms were terrible at first but now they've eased off. It's just the cravings now.

vampirequeen Fri 04-Aug-17 08:45:40

6 weeks today. Physically still not 100% but much better. Cravings still there but not as much. Worse in Diet Coke buying situations like shopping or cafes.

How are you Menopaws?

Nanabilly Fri 04-Aug-17 08:56:43

6 weeks wow . Well done you .I'm sure that eventually you will feel so much better ,once all of those chemicals have left your system and your body detoxed.
Be proud of yourself.

Menopaws Fri 04-Aug-17 21:57:07

I thought I posted earlier so apologies if it appears twice, anyway 45 days now so still good, feel fine although I need to curb eating as put weight back on I lost initially, two social weeks coming up but I feel strong and don't want to go back to day one, well done VQ

M0nica Sat 05-Aug-17 19:06:57

I am full of admiration for both of you.

Menopaws Sun 06-Aug-17 06:51:56

I've become an alcohol tutter! Went to a fancy lunch yesterday and drank water etc, lovely afternoon but left early as could see it going on and on, my husband returned home at 2am very worse for wear and I had waited up mainly cos I watched a good film. Now in the morning he is creeping about trying to look normal and I am obv on here but heard myself tut and say serves you right!!
I am so pleased that I feel bright and breezy and not shit like I would have done if I had stayed on, for once I didn't feel I needed to explain why I didn't stay or feel I had to be last man standing, so feeling good but must rein it in when it comes to what others do!

NanKate Sun 06-Aug-17 07:22:28

Mega respect to you both. It must be so difficult.

The upside is that you both should live a longer and healthier life because of your strength of character.

Keep at it. flowers flowers

Luckylegs9 Sun 06-Aug-17 07:42:00

Vampire lady, visit the doctor, that constant thirst might be an indication of something else. I would try to get a taste for eating apples and drinking water, think of your new trim figure and sparkling teeth.?

vampirequeen Sun 06-Aug-17 08:49:47

I haven't drunk alcohol for decades. I don't really like the taste let alone the affects it has on me. Also ex was an alcoholic so drunk people scare me. I don't understand why people feel they need to drink to have a good time.

Yesterday we took the children to their mam and stepdad at a holiday camp they're going to stay at this week. We got there about 10.30am and people were already drinking. Why?????

vampirequeen Sun 06-Aug-17 08:52:45

The constant thirst is beginning to reduce at last. My digestive system is still a bit dodgy but I think that might be settling too. The cravings are there but they're more manageable.

vampirequeen Fri 11-Aug-17 06:59:24

7 weeks today. Things beginning to settle down (fingers crossed). I've found that the cravings increase if I let myself get thirsty so I keep topping up with water or coffee. It still feels weird not having several cans in the fridge and not buying it in the supermarket but overall I think I might be getting there. Hope I haven't jinxed myself saying that hmm

Anya Fri 11-Aug-17 07:09:35

You can't give up now, you've come so far.

Well done VQ - this has been a real adddiction hasn't it?

vampirequeen Fri 11-Aug-17 15:14:38

Thanks Anya. Yes it was/is a true addiction. I'll never be able to drink it again because I know myself and I'll be hooked again straight away.

devongirl Fri 11-Aug-17 15:19:29

I consider myself very lucky: I had a serious accident last year, before that I used to drink a can of Coke every lunchtime, but none during my 3 weeks in hospital nad lost the craving altogether, I could count on one hand the cans I've drunk since then.

vampirequeen Sat 12-Aug-17 08:41:57

You have been lucky. It starts with one can a day and escalates.

Riverwalk Sat 12-Aug-17 09:36:41

Have you worked out how much money you've saved?

vampirequeen Sat 12-Aug-17 10:18:44

Oddly I haven't noticed any extra money in my purse sad but it would be about £90.

It's nice not to be panicking about Diet Coke anymore. I used to panic if I had only two left in the fridge and would be worrying about getting out for more. In the past I have been known to buy Diet Coke instead of food.

Jalima1108 Sat 12-Aug-17 10:21:40

vq if you put the money in a jar each day you could feel very pleased with yourself and then treat yourself to something nice and pampering - a spa day perhaps?

vampirequeen Thu 14-Sept-17 11:38:51

Will be 12 weeks tomorrow. I only miss it if I let myself get really thirsty so I try not to. I fancy it sometimes but won't let myself have even one because I know what will happen. Twice, when I've been incredibly thirsty and water hasn't been available, I've had full sugar Sprite (no aspartame). I couldn't get over how sweet it tasted. DH and children told me that Diet Coke is just as sweet but it didn't taste like that to me. So I guess I'm tasting 'sweet' more than I used to.

Health wise has been more difficult but it's possible that after the initial withdrawal symptoms it's just been coincidental.