A USA TODAY reporter gave up Coca-Cola’s cold turkey. It turned out like this.
USA TODAY reporter Julia Gomez used to consume about two to three sodas a day, but after quitting Coca-Cola, she noticed a big change.
Will you give up soda? Well, a group of Diet Coke and Coca-Cola obsessed USA TODAY journalists decided to give it a try.
Sweet drinks such as carbonated drinks have a negative effect on the body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who drink sugary sodas and drinks can be at risk for weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. It can also cause arthritis and gout, a type of tooth decay.
Given the health concerns that come with drinking soda regularly, we tried to quit cold turkey. We faced caffeine withdrawal, headaches, and sugar cravings, but were surprised by the results. I’ll explain what happened.
“The lack of sugar and caffeine hit me like a ton of bricks.”
I’ve been drinking Coca-Cola for as long as I can remember. I’ve tried to quit many times, but I always end up back at the same place after a few months.
So when a group of us decided to quit, I was excited to give it a try.
At first, it was difficult to give up soda. It got so bad that I had to ask my mom to take all the soda out of the house and store it for me.
The lack of sugar and caffeine hit me like a ton of bricks. To combat this, during the first week of this challenge, when my soda cravings became too strong, I drank a few watermelon-flavored Red Bulls. Iced coffee and freshly brewed green tea have also become staples of my daily routine.
Within the first week, I stopped craving soda and was able to go days without energy drinks. But I had a sugar craving, so I spent the day munching on Halloween candy.
And then one day, I’m sorry, I cheated. I had lunch at a Cuban restaurant in Miami and ordered my favorite soda, Materba, a Cuban yerba mate soda.
Other than that, I held on strong. Since I stopped taking it, I’ve been able to sleep better and have more energy. My swelling has decreased and my clothes fit better. Another good thing is that I am drinking more water.
There were a few days when I had a really bad caffeine-induced headache and found it hard to concentrate on work. However, Tylenol, coffee, tea, and some candy helped reduce the harmful side effects. I’m going to stick to my new no-soda mandate for now. –Julia Gomez
“I’m hooked.”
When I was a kid growing up in the 1970s and ’80s, my mom only allowed soda on special occasions like birthdays and big family barbecues. If it was on sale, it was always RC Cola or Fresca.
When I graduated from college, I discovered a fountain soda machine in the cafeteria that dispensed unlimited Diet Coke. I was hooked. I never developed a love for coffee, so Diet Coke got me through 8 a.m. classes and late night study sessions.
Later, when all the other journalists were donating to the office coffee fund, I brought a case of Diet Coke. Eat one in the morning and another in the afternoon. It can’t be that bad, I told myself, there’s no sugar in it.
I drink Diet Coke every day. I only have one can and I hardly ever finish it, but that’s my morning routine and I rely on it for caffeine. But on particularly difficult days, I noticed three half-empty cans lined up on my desk.
So when my wellness editor suggested this challenge, I braced myself for what was going to be a tough week or month. I don’t really drink alcohol, so I order it at restaurants as well. I took the Diet Coke out of the fridge and put it in the basement to avoid temptation. I joined the Soda Free Work Support Group Chat.
The first morning I went to Starbucks and drank a drink with more sugar than coffee, thinking it would replace my caffeine. I was surprised that I didn’t seem to miss Diet Coke that much. I ended up drinking a mocha or caramel macchiato every day. I was worried that the sugar would be just as bad as Diet Coke.
The following week, I started brewing green tea in the morning and my caffeine needs were met. And just as important is your morning ritual.
As of the second week, my daughter and I went for Mexican food. The chips and salsa made me want a Diet Coke. So, I took the plunge and ordered it. It tasted refreshing and cold. I was worried that this would lead me back to my daily routine.
But after dinner, I realized I wasn’t done eating yet. The next day I put the kettle on again to drink tea in the morning. The Diet Coke fast was a good reset and taught me that I do a lot of things out of habit rather than choice.
I haven’t brought the Diet Coke back from the basement, but I don’t plan on throwing it away either. — Laura Trujillo
I thought I wasn’t addicted to caffeine…
When I was a kid, all the Coca-Cola in the house was for my dad. By my mother’s orders, that sugary drink was off-limits to my siblings and me.
Despite many attempts to get my taste buds used to the bitterness of coffee, I just couldn’t get enough of this drink and thought to myself: Why do we become addicted to caffeine in the first place??However, in my early twenties, my tastes expanded further.? I mean, I went from ordering a gin and tonic at the bar to ordering a rum and a Diet Coke to fuel me up. Since then, I’ve become a hardcore diet soda drinker, drinking a 12-ounce can at least four times a week. It turns out that a small amount of caffeine (46 mg per can) can also help with migraines and menstrual pain.
I started the “No Diet Coke” challenge on September 27th. I was sick and the thought of anything other than water or Gatorade Zero made my stomach hurt, but ever since I recovered I’ve been itching for a Diet Coke.
As much as I crave caffeine, the most frustrating part is how sleepy I feel without it. What I was trying to avoid was caffeine addiction. I finally broke down on October 22nd and have been drinking a Diet Coke every other day ever since. I’m going to be more careful with my intake, but it tastes just as good as I remember. — Alyssa Goldberg
Divorce with diet coke
Pavlov led me to drink a Diet Coke. I have been a regular cola drinker all my life and used it as a quick fix for my recurring headaches. A few years ago, my sister brought me into the Diet side. She swore it tasted better that way. I ordered it out of curiosity and never looked back.
My college apartment was always stocked with cans (I call them “refrigerator cigarettes” on TikTok) that I could grab at any moment of inconvenience. About a year ago, I started realizing how bad my constant consumption of soda was for me, and gradually transitioned into being a casual, less chronic, “DC” consumer.
So when I got serious about this project, I didn’t think it would be a big problem.
To combat this, I switched from soda to soda water when I go out. I also intentionally brought a water bottle with me when I hung out with friends, and sometimes mixed in electrolyte packages to mix up the flavors. Prebiotic sodas have also appeared.
It’s been exactly a month since I gave up sugary sodas, and I can say I don’t miss the taste as much as I thought. Other than the annoying sporadic headaches, which I’m naturally prone to and could probably get worse if I quit soda, this month hasn’t been too bad. Now we’re competing to see how far we can go without it. The second month is about to begin. — Sam Woodward
Headaches and trying to quit the habit
I grew up in a household with a spare refrigerator in the garage and stacks of soda cans. When I was in middle school, I became addicted to Cherry Coke. And as I got older, Soda and I had an on-and-off relationship. I recently returned to Coca-Cola, although I used to quit for years at a time. I told myself that those adorable mini cans would do just fine. (A very small amount!) But no, a new study finds that even small amounts of soda aren’t good for your health.
As a mother of two young children, I had a habit of using soda for an energy boost. And the week I started doing this, I had several late nights in a row, then early mornings. I felt fine until about 11am on the third day. “I almost gave up today,” I confessed in a group chat of people who have given up soda. “But it’s holding up well.”
I also suffer from migraines and don’t really like tea or coffee, so whenever I feel a headache coming on, I drink soda. I found myself reaching for Excedrin several times during this experiment, but maybe I should have tried tea first. I also drank lots of ice water.
I was generally tired and had headaches, but the pride I felt when I quit made me want to keep going. I don’t think I want to go back to drinking every day. — Leora Arnowitz
