You Can Make a Change!
- Stock up on substitutes. Water is the healthiest and cheapest replacement for soda, but quitting soda cold turkey and making the big switch to water might mean setting yourself up for failure. As I stated before, the best way to quit any kind of addiction is to ease your way out of it.
- Track your soda consumption. Estimate, as accurately as you can, how much soda you're drinking per week. Some questions that you should ask yourself are: Do you drink soda with lunch at work? In between classes? While you're unwinding in front of the TV? Calculate how many calories you're intaking from soda alone; to get an idea of how many calories you're supposed to be getting per day and see how much of that you're getting from soda.(Moncur)
- Make a quitting schedule. Whatever the amount of soda you drink per week, cut that amount by 25% for one week, then by 50% the next, and so on.(Moncur)
- Buy less and less soda every week. If you drink most of your soda at home, this will be easier to do. If the soda isn't purchased, then you won't feel the urge to drink it when you're at home.(Moncur)
- Remind yourself what your goal is constantly so you will remember more easily. Write yourself a note that says something along the lines of "Drink water," and stick this note in a place where you are likely to see it. Avoid negative phrases like "Don't drink soda." (Moncur)
- If you normally drink from the can, find out how much sugar is in each can, put it in a zip lock bag, and drape it over the top of an empty can. (Moncur) You will probably will be left with a shocked face.
- Buy a refillable water bottle. When you have something you can grab and go, even if its to the other room, it helps a lot! (Moncur)
- Remember, drinking soda pop once in a long while is okay.
Laura Moncur. (2004, March 12). Starling Fitness. Retrieved from http://www.starling-fitness.com/archives/2004/03/12/how-to-quit-soda/