I quit diet coke! I wish I had a quick fix to share with you all. But, I don’t. Honestly, I hope this blog post serves as a cautionary tale to not begin or to quit this bad habit all together.
For years, I dealt with chronic side pain after eating my favorite foods and drinks—fast food, processed, high in fat, sugary along with a DIET SODA. I avoided the red flags. I told myself, “It will go away. Forget about it.” So, I went on with my life, making small changes to my diet, but never quitting DIET COKE until recently.
After a bout of nausea and vomiting, I had that pesky side pain return. It was worse than before---now it was constant. I did everything in my power to avoid the doctor. However, it did not go away. I was now missing work (which I love), unable to eat and feeling the sickest I have ever felt in my life. I caved and went to the doctor. You might have appendicitis. Say, what!?! Yes, you read that right. Doctor sent me home to monitor my symptoms and if I were to throw up again or have a fever, I was to return immediately. I cannot tell you how scared I was of these symptoms. I could not take another moment of vomiting my guts out over the toilet or feeling this way again. So, I did what I never do---I made a promise to myself to give up DIET COKE. I committed to improving my self from the inside out.
Let’s be real, quitting DIET COKE was no easy feat. I was addicted to DIET COKE and suffered withdrawals. My main symptom was a pesky headache that would not go away. Even though the antidote to cure this headache would have been a 20 oz DIET COKE or caffeine, I reminded myself of my promise and how lucky I was to not have appendicitis. I swear I never want to endure those symptoms again, so here’s what I did to stop drinking DIET COKE once and for all:
I made DIET COKE not accessible in my home. My motto was, “out of sight, out of mind.” Knowing that this was no longer an option for me it helped me significantly to not see or have easy access to DIET COKE.
I drank loads of water. If I wanted a cup of decaf coffee, I drank a glass of water first. I would make my water more tasty—water infused with fruits or purchased flavored water. I also set notifications on my phone with my alarm to remind myself to drink more water.
I got moving. I am aware that I start to crash in the afternoon. This was my usual time to crack open a DIET COKE. My awareness of this behavior helped me to implement a healthier behavior in its place. I chose movement. I would opt for a change of environment and get fresh air outside or go for a walk.
I tried different drinks to have instead of a DIET COKE. The one drink I enjoy most when craving a DIET COKE is Kombucha. I love the multi green best! Now, you may not like the taste of Kombucha; therefore, I suggest you continue the search for another drink that may satisfy your taste buds.
I stayed consistent! I took one day at a time and acknowledged each victory daily. I am now 4 months DIET COKE free and happy to say the desire to have a diet soda is gone.
These results are possible for you too. Try each tip and share with me below your success.
If you need help changing bad habits/behaviors, reach out to us at www.fittherapyoftexas.com or reach me directly at tracy@fittherapyoftexas.com. I look forward to connecting soon.
In health,
Tracy Cooper, LPC
Tracy is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has her Bachelors of Art in Psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio and Master's in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling from St. Mary's University. Tracy has experience providing counseling to children, adolescents, couples and adults. She is qualified to treat a variety of issues including, but not limited to: anxiety, behavioral issues, depression, mood disorders, social skills, self-esteem, and stress reduction management.