Addicted to Coca Cola...

Detroit_Waves · 16 Feb 2011 at 08:37

Ok kids...so yes its definitely not as hardcore as heroin, and it might not be as down with the kids as coke, but Im completely addicted to Coca Cola, and have been for many years now, its only now however I have started to realise how badly!

So yes, Im obviously fully aware of just how bad for you most fizzy drinks are, especially coke. Its just never really bothered me. I have/had a pretty terrible diet, with junk food and sugar intake, although seeing as I never put any weight on due to my metabolism, I just ignored it. It got to the point last year, where I wanted to start a bit of a health kid, so started kicking the fast food. I always knew I relied on coke, and joked about how I was addicted to it. On average, I would have a can when I woke up, and a couple more before 11. Throughout lunch I would have a couple more. I would then get a bottle on the way home and once home I would normally have between 1 and 2 liters depending on how much was in the fridge! Yeah, I know how shocking it is, but I guess Im pretty fortunate...I still have all my teeth and somehow they are in extremely good shape, although on the inside, Im probably dying a quick death!!

So the past few weeks, I decided to give it up.

Not going well at all. When I was ever feeling ill, or had a headache or anything minor...a can of coke...and blam, felt much better! I never used to get that seriously ill though. As of giving it up however...the past 3 weeks I have been more ill than I have been collectively in my whole life. I have crazy headaches all the time. If it gets really bad, I have half a cup of coke to take the edge off a little bit..which it does...but now, any coke I have sends my stomach CRAZY. Its a tough comedown, but it should definitely be worth it in the long run to give the stuff up.

But yes, anyway rant over....Anyone else have any crazy addictions to Coca Cola?

'Wes · 16 Feb 2011 at 08:38

You're addicted to coke, you dru...no, wait...

Duke · 16 Feb 2011 at 08:39

1. Don't buy Coca Cola
2. Insides don't get so ******
3. ????
4. Profit

Craig1981 · 16 Feb 2011 at 08:40

Do you drink regular or diet? If your drinking a lot and are concerned about your health, it might be worth switching to the diet stuff. Or coke zero even.

CREATIVE!11 · 16 Feb 2011 at 08:48

headaches come from a reliance on caffeine.

couple months back i decided i was drinking too much of it. Coffee energy drinks tea etc. Headaches were unbearable but after couple weeks they faded and I just generally feel a lot better minus any caffeine in my diet.

Sp00n · 16 Feb 2011 at 08:49

Aspartame

My best mate used to drink 2-3litres every day, he quit over 6 months ago now and he said it's the best thing he's ever done!

I drink a LOT of tea and I have been known to have a redbull first thing in the morning :x

Cosimo · 16 Feb 2011 at 08:49

Addicted to coke then there’s only one way out. Give it up. Stick to fruit juice and water.

Detroit_Waves · 16 Feb 2011 at 08:53

sp1ke said:
headaches come from a reliance on caffeine.

couple months back i decided i was drinking too much of it. Coffee energy drinks tea etc. Headaches were unbearable but after couple weeks they faded and I just generally feel a lot better minus any caffeine in my diet.

Well thats good to hear that eventually they fade away, I assumed they would do, ive just never had headaches like this! Hopefully ill feel much better without the caffeine too...thats the plan anyways!

And yeah its the regular I drink. I tried switching it out for diet, but it just didnt give me what I needed it terms of the kick regular gave me!

And yep, there certainly is only one way out, which is why I decided I needed to give it up! Ive been drinking so much more water though to compensate, which instantly feels a little better!

CREATIVE!11 · 16 Feb 2011 at 08:56

Detroit_Waves said:
Well thats good to hear that eventually they fade away, I assumed they would do, ive just never had headaches like this! Hopefully ill feel much better without the caffeine too...thats the plan anyways!

And yeah its the regular I drink. I tried switching it out for diet, but it just didnt give me what I needed it terms of the kick regular gave me!

And yep, there certainly is only one way out, which is why I decided I needed to give it up! Ive been drinking so much more water though to compensate, which instantly feels a little better!

Yep same symptoms as me, they do get better, and to be honest you'll find you have a lot more sustained energy during the day. Caffeine used to cause spikes in my energy levels etc its so much better just to be stimulant free. So yeah headaches all the time for first few weeks, when i drank a coffee they'd go away. So I definitely concluded caffeine also read it on a few articles body develops a reliance on it.

Eat good complex carb source in the morning every day before work like oats etc minus caffeine in long run i'm definitely sure you will feel a lot better!

scorza · 16 Feb 2011 at 09:00

Yeah I came to the same conclusion a few years ago (was addicted to Diet Coke). I found that once I switched removed it from my diet I was less hungry overall too and actually lost quite a lot of weight, I generally felt a lot more alert and healthier too. Thing is, I don't think there's much point switching coke out for another fizzy drink, they all probably have the same effect. I relapsed before Christmas and have started gaining weight again - it took me until last week to realise what a stupid thing I was doing drinking that **** again.

TommyV · 16 Feb 2011 at 09:01

Used to have an addiction to redbull, it got to a point where I drank 2 litres (2x1litre bottles of the tescos own version formerly known as 'Kick', and was sick and basically passed out alll lightheaded on my bed!

Not addicted anymore, just have the odd can of relentless/monster

Current addiction? Nicotine -_-

Steve_bullockuk · 16 Feb 2011 at 09:08

A fair few people at my workplace are currently on diets with 2 mainstream UK companies, and they have been told they can drink as much diet coke as they please because it "does not contain anything bad for you"........i just nod and smile. Hope you manage to kick it OP. Im sure it will be worth it in the long run.

Steve_bullockuk · 16 Feb 2011 at 09:09

TommyV said:
Used to have an addiction to redbull, it got to a point where I drank 2 litres (2x1litre bottles of the tescos own version formerly known as 'Kick', and was sick and basically passed out alll lightheaded on my bed!

Not addicted anymore, just have the odd can of relentless/monster

Current addiction? Nicotine -_-

I once took quite a liking to Relentless until one morning I felt like i'd been on a major drinking session the night before. That stuff is evil.

Kiyoshi · 16 Feb 2011 at 09:12

I used to also drink a lot of soft drinks when I was younger. I still enjoy them now I'm older - I'm 31, but drink a lot less. I have also switched to Diet Coke caffeine free (the gold label one) and although I didn't really like the taste I've come to not mind it at all now, and I hope it's better for me than the regular Coke at least.

Admiral Huddy · 16 Feb 2011 at 09:13

I'm so addicted to Coca Cola that the Wife banned it. It's ok though, I have a stash stored in my very own submersible in the garden pond.

^TANK^ · 16 Feb 2011 at 09:15

Does Diet Coke actually have any bad ingredients in whatsoever, other than caffeine and sweetener?

Sp00n · 16 Feb 2011 at 09:16

^TANK^ said:
Does Diet Coke actually have any bad ingredients in whatsoever, other than caffeine and sweetener?

No, but the sweetener is bad enough.

CREATIVE!11 · 16 Feb 2011 at 09:17

Admiral Huddy said:
I'm so addicted to Coca Cola that the Wife banned it. It's ok though, I have a stash stored in my very own submersible in the garden pond.

Lol taken it that far eh?

Withdrawal symptoms — possibly including headache, irritability, an inability to concentrate, drowsiness, insomnia and pain in the stomach, upper body, and joints[99] — may appear within 12 to 24 hours after discontinuation of caffeine intake, peak at roughly 48 hours, and usually last from one to five days, representing the time required for the number of adenosine receptors in the brain to revert to "normal" levels, uninfluenced by caffeine consumption. Analgesics, such as aspirin, may relieve the pain symptoms, as may a small dose of caffeine.

Also for you up! in a week actually you should feel good.

mike gunnz · 16 Feb 2011 at 09:25

Good luck to the OP.

I'm not sure whether its the caffeine or the sugar that is responsible for your symptoms of withdrawal but you're doing the right thing. Might want to take up some form of exercise to give you some added motivation and to give you something positive to focus on. Drink plenty of water too.

I see surprisingly high rates of diabetes in many of the service users I work with many of them are still in their twenties.

BunnyKillBot · 16 Feb 2011 at 09:29

I am also addicted to Coke. I know that I am, so i never buy it, and now only rarely have it and more often than not only in its bestest, optimum form (straight from a chilled, glass bottle).

Its weird, like if its there, i literally cannot stop myself from drinking all of it. a 6 pack of cans would last me 1 day.