Addicted to Coca Cola, can't stop it

[Gmans uncle]

I had a thing with Energy drinks awhile back, partially because they tasted awesome to me, partially because they get ya' damn close to high, and partially because this was still when I was in the closet about being Bisexual, and I needed something to take my mind off it.

Best way to stop, go buy some fruit juices or something, and drink ALL the coke in your house, than just don't buy any more until you can handle it, drink the juice whenever you feel like you need something sweet to drink.

Or, if you have any Mormon friends, you can hang out with them for a while, they're guaranteed to not have any Coke in their house. (however one of my Mormon friends told me some bishop lifted the ban on caffeine for them, so that might not work after all, I live in Utah, so half the people I know are Mormon)

 

[Ieyke]

Dunno how to help you stop. I'm immune to addictions (aside from The Internet), so I have nothing to draw on.....with one exception:
Stop trying to channel Pinky Pie. That might be why you require so much caffeine. XD

 

[countrysteaksauce]

Just switch to club soda or go cold turkey.

 

[Iwata]

Coke is my one addiction, and I'm fine with it. I don't smoke, drink, do drugs or anything, so I consider I'm getting off easy.

 

[Zeckt]

Thanks for the help, it is a pretty serious problem though. I've been drinking cola heavily like this every day for almost all my life, its like my body is fueled by it. I'm just bloody sick of having this addiction control me. I know you called me a pussy and gave me good advice in the same paragraph and I respect that but my life has literally been based around this stuff, I can't get away from soft drinks and I think it is starting to affect my health and lifestyle. My father raised me on this stuff, he drunk it by the 2 litres too when he was alive.

I've NEVER been a tea drinker, but I'm going to give tea a serious shot. Maybe something strong and minty? any tea drinkers have suggestions on flavours of tea?

 

[mediarulestheworld]

I'm addicted to coke...wait, shit! Wrong thread!

 

[cheese_wizington]

It's not that you are addicted to the soda, it is the caffeine that is in the soda. Caffeine is a drug, and it is addictive. To quit just do it cold turkey or you will probably become dependent on another caffeinated drink.

That's not necessarily such a bad thing. The problem with cola is that it's expensive, bad for your teeth, lots of sugar, etc. The caffeine isn't really all that much of a problem. You need to drink a lot of the stuff before it even starts to bother.

Take it from someone who often has 15-18 coffees on a regular working day out of boredom. I now have a headache if I go without drinking coffee for some 36 hours, but I also have a pretty good idea of when that much dependancy grew. And it wasn't before I started getting 15-18 a day on my job. Before that I ussually had 5-6 coffee a day and there was no problem if I didn't drink any coffee for a week after that.

The amount he drinks is definitely more than enough to inspire a pretty hefty caffeine addiction, with most likely pretty bad withdrawals.

Anyway, you must be drinking some weakass coffee.

 

[IzisviAziria]

Your body may have become adapted to a higher salt intake, as well, so you may find you have increased desire for salt while you're quitting the coke. A sudden decrease in your carbohydrate intake (which also happens when you quit something as high-carb as coke) can also cause a sudden lack of electrolytes. I went on a low carb diet fairly recently and the first week or so I was *exhausted*, then I read about the salt problem and some recommendations to drink salty beef broth or similar. It made a big difference.

Also, you're going to need to replace those calories with something, otherwise you'll be craving. I'd suggest butter.

The amount of sodium in Coke is negligible.

that's a 24oz bottle, two servings of, for a grand total of 4% daily value of sodium. I promise, drinking soda is not going to screw with your body's sodium levels. Sugar, yes. Dear god, sugar yes. 80g of sugar in that one bottle. Diabetes, here we come.

I only point out the sodium thing because I keep hearing other people in my daily life talk about the sodium content of soda. It's seriously nothing, especially if you compare it to the fast-food meal you got your soda with. 4% daily value vs 60%+ daily value? Yeah, if your sodium intake is too high, it's not the coke.


To the OP, I second this:

Sounds like diabetes, chum. Almost word for word how a doctor described it to me once. Crazy addiction to highly sugary drinks.

Worth getting checked out, because what you're experiencing is not normal, and very likely an indicator of an underlying health problem.

PS - Also, it's terrible for you. Stop it right now!

I highly recommend that you go to a doctor, ASAP! It sounds like diabetes, but even if it's not, the payment for getting checked out when you didn't need to is a bit of money and some minor annoyance. The payment for not treating diabetes is going into a diabetic coma. You don't want to go there.

 

[DrunkPickle]

Not an addiction. Smoke for four years and try to give up, then talk to me about addiction, man.

What makes you think a smoking addiction is any different from a coca-cola addiction? Just because smoking is more common, doesn't mean it's harder to give up.

Through my lifetime, I have struggled with two major addictions: sex/porn and Doritos; from my experience, both were equally hard to quit.

 

[Woodsey]

Stop buying it and drink water instead.

Might take a couple of days at most to feel noticeably different (see: better).

 

[Zeckt]

Oh man, now I'm scared I have diabeties. I'll try to cut it off starting tomorrow cold turkey and see how it goes, you've honestly kind of scared me. I have a big stash of soft drinks I buy on sale but maybe I should get rid of it altogether if I can go a couple days with none.

 

[Dukenstein]

I used to drink a lot of soda, but then one day I just said no more. I only drink water now and It's great. I have no urge for soda at all, cold turkey really helped. Right now I am doing that with fried foods, it's been so long since I have had a french fry.

 

[PipPup]

Not an addiction. Smoke for four years and try to give up, then talk to me about addiction, man.

Its still an addiction. Your body can get addicted to anything really. Psychological addiction is still addiction. That is why gambling addicts are still addicts that need help.

OT: I would say go cold turkey. I had both a teacher and an uncle addicted to soft drinks, they stopped and had headaches, mood swings, and felt sick. After that however you should be fine. Or, you could drink smaller and smaller amounts until your body no longer craves it.

 

[mooncalf]

I can tell you the scary story of a dude I knew who drank so much coke daily it weakened his stomach lining enough for his stomach acid to make it abcess. If I recall correctly he was drinking not much more than you've been. So, next time you think about a coke, think Bleeding Hole In Your Stomach and see if that helps.

I was never a *huge* fan of Coke but I did have a phase years ago where I was drinking litres of soft drink a day, I started drinking pepsi max and diet coke instead of full sugar kinds, then reduced the quantities.

Hope that helps.

 

[Jamous]

Honestly not that big a deal. I'm much the same, except I can't actually afford to buy as much as I used to (I'm a student and have -very- little income). I'll be honest, if you're worried about it, and you, like me, can actually drink diet coke it'd probably be a good idea to drink that instead. It'll cause you far less problems than the full sugar would, especially in the quantities you're drinking. Anyway. *ahem* ONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUSONEOFUS

 

[AmPedHer0]

Just have someone secretly put Pepsi in some of your bottles, that will get you off soda all together

 

[shiaramoon]

As you're quitting, if you're craving carbonation, check your grocery store's water aisle for carbonated flavored waters. They have a good flavor to them and the carbonation you want, but are much better for you than sodas.

 

[shiaramoon]

Thanks for the help, it is a pretty serious problem though. I've been drinking cola heavily like this every day for almost all my life, its like my body is fueled by it. I'm just bloody sick of having this addiction control me. I know you called me a pussy and gave me good advice in the same paragraph and I respect that but my life has literally been based around this stuff, I can't get away from soft drinks and I think it is starting to affect my health and lifestyle. My father raised me on this stuff, he drunk it by the 2 litres too when he was alive.

I've NEVER been a tea drinker, but I'm going to give tea a serious shot. Maybe something strong and minty? any tea drinkers have suggestions on flavours of tea?

flavored green teas are usually the easiest to find and the best tasting in my opinion. Lipton has a pretty good one. You can even get large cases of it in diet. Or you can buy a tea maker and just buy the tea leaves or packets and make it that way.

 

[DarkRyter]

Get a six pack. Remove any possible way of getting more.

Wean off.

 

[Baneat]

I'm not a professional

Clearly;
Have you considered pursuing comedy, perhaps?