Caffeine

Well, one of my New Year's resolutions is to give up caffeine. I mostly consume it in the form of 6-10 Diet Cokes a day (at least), or the equivalent thereof.

Down to three a day right now, and hoping to cut back to two today. I was surprised to learn that Diet Coke - or any carbonated beverage - can make you look bloated and therefore fatter than you really are. Plus, all those chemicals. Plus, all that money. Plus the cans cause clutter. Plus, I hate being dependent on anything whatsoever.

I've cut back before, even to the point of completely quitting a few years ago before falling back off the wagon. But this is the year. This might even be the week, if I can be disciplined and also take some Advils every few hours to ward off withdrawal.

Anyone ever given up caffeine and/or soda?

 

I'm with you on hating to be dependent on anything.

I used to drink coffee only on rare occasions -- like at Sunday brunch and not for the caffeine kick. I used to mock folks who needed a cup of coffee to get their day started.

But now, I drink it daily and do find myself sluggish if I don't. I could see it being hard to give up.

 

Don't worry, I'm not really this fat. I just had a soda, so it's an optical illusion. [/my visit to the doctor]

 

It's not that soda makes you look bloated. It's that you retain all that nastiness, and the sugar turns straight to fat. I quit soda (I was drinking 8-10 Pepsis a day) and lost 30 pounds without changing ANYTHING ELSE about my routine. I still ate fast food, still didn't exercise, and lost 30 pounds.

Soda is no joke. Good luck, Mr. Whitman!

 

They can take my coffee cup when they pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

That being said, best of luck to you, Dick, in your quest to give up diet pop and caffeine.

 

I drink sugar-free Red Bulls for my pick-me-up. Usually with lunch to get through the afternoon. Everyone I know hates the taste but I love the damn things.

 

I drink a couple a week and actually like Red Bull fine.

 

I've had some bad acid reflux problems lately so I'm trying to give it up. I didn't have any yesterday. I have a headache, but I'm sure I'll get used to doing without eventually.
In the meantime, it seems like food is getting stuck in my throat/chest. I'm calling the doctor tomorrow.

 

Sounds like it could actually be a gall bladder issue. Might want to get that checked out, to rule it out if nothing else.

 

Got addicted to coffee a few years ago, and I've given up soda several times, and it wasn't that hard (I actually like tap water). A New Year's resolution is to drink soda only when I'm hungover. Another one is to not be hungover as much.

"Pop", Rosie? I love it. Where I grew up, everyone says pop; I live a mere three hours from there, and everyone here says soda.

 

I'm trying to cut out Cokes. I'm too realistic to think I can do it completely, but I'm trying to keep it to one a week. I had made my way up to one a day and gained a lot of weight back.

I drink a lot of tea, but it's decaf and I'm not so sure it's doing the trick.

My mom drinks 2-4 diet Cokes a day and eats the salt and vinegar chips like a refugee. She has horrid acid reflux and breath worse than my dog's. She refuses to acknowledge there might be a connection.