Post # 1
Member
5217 posts
Bee Keeper
I know we all know the dangers of drinking enormous amounts of soft drinks and sugary juices. However; someone keeps them in business! So, wondering how many sugary drinks you have per day? DH is really struggling to give up Coke, and he claims he drinks a “normal” amount—which is basically (from what I can guess since I’m not with him all day), anywhere from 2-4 per day. That’s just, mind blowing to me! I know soft drinks aren’t the only culprits– there’s Starbucks coffee’s with 1000 calories, “fresh fruit” smoothies, “healthy” teas and juice blends that all add up.
<br />As an alternative, I tried stocking up with juices and alternatives (like flavored or carbonated water), but juice is filled with just as much crap as Cokes! I’m kind of at a loss here, since the only other option is to go full on hippy-granola chick mode and start making my OWN juice. Which, DH would probably just not drink OR drink and then still drink a Coke!
I feel like we go through this cycle of “cutting back” on Coke for him to once per day and then he has a bad day (his words) and goes back to drinking 3-4. I’m concerned about his health at this point, and it’s a tough conversation to have with someone when they KNOW on one hand they are slowly breaking down their body via diet, and on the other hand they are an adult and can make their own choices.
So, give me some ideas and if you’re a soft drink fan—what other beverages would you enjoy that maybe aren’t just plain water? I’m kind of running up against a wall here, since all I drink is water, hot tea and wine lol.
Side note on this: I would still consider “diet” drinks in the soft drink or sugary drink category. I’m not including alcohol in this poll since that is probably more of a one off situation versus multiple times a day (hopefully!).
Post # 2
Member
2417 posts
Buzzing bee
First, “diet” soft drinks are 100 times worse for you then their regular full sugar counterparts. Artifical sweeteners are so, so bad for you.
I went from drinking a ton of soda and sweet tea to having 1 cup of coffee and then water the rest of the day. They have sparkling water drinks that are a little bit better for you that still have the fizz of soda without being soda.
I haven’t had soda in almost 2 weeks and honestly I have seen such a vast improvement in the way I feel.
Post # 3
Member
3242 posts
Sugar bee
I am drinking iced coffee. I make it homemade with a dash of skimmed milk. Yummylicious.
Post # 4
Member
1481 posts
Bumble bee
It completely depends on the day, but usually one or two, and definitely more in the winter than in the summer.
When I want to replace my soft drinks I usually do water with fruit and berries in them. One favourite combo is strawberries and mint leaves, but cucumbers, grapes, lemons, oranges, raspberries, blackberries, are all good alternatives. I often put frozen berries in, becuase then that acts as an ice cube as well 🙂
Post # 5
Member
102 posts
Blushing bee
Mrs_Amanda: I have coffee with milk in the morning and once in a while I’ll have club soda to satisfy the bubbly craving- it’s like a treat without the sugar:)
Post # 6
Member
15341 posts
Honey Beekeeper
None to 1 – the two sugars that I put in my morning coffee. Just water other than that. There’s been a 12 pack of Coke in our fridge since last summer, and we still have 4 cans left.
Post # 7
Member
493 posts
Helper bee
I drink only 100% juices, never cocktails, and sparkling water with only natural flavors, if any (No sugar).
Post # 8
Member
56 posts
Worker bee
- Wedding: October 2016 - Boston Museum of Science
The only time I drink a sugary drink is if I go out to eat I may have a lemonade but I usually don’t even do that. I drink water & unsweetened ice tea.
Post # 9
Member
2092 posts
Buzzing bee
mcgoat: +1
I have coffee with skim milk in it a couple times a day, otherwise I’m strictly water. Sometimes I mixed some perrier lime flavored sparkling water into my regular water for flavor and bubbly cravings.
Post # 10
Member
1591 posts
Bumble bee
I maybe have 2-3 sodas in a week, lemonade occassionally. Anything more I feel extremely thirsty and drink tons of water!
Post # 11
Member
211 posts
Helper bee
It’s probably really hard for his body to withdraw from BOTH the sugar and the caffeine in coke at the same time – especially if he’s having 3-4 a day. It’s also really hard to get someone ELSE to change their behavior, LOL :).
If it’s something that he wants, and you want to support it – how about he switches to iced coffees first. Maybe with Stevia? Like, he can drink all the coffee he wants, for a month, you keep some pre-made in the fridge (ditto iced tea, with stevia), so he has that for whenever he needs it? Also, craving coke is usually a sign of thirst – so it would be good to drink a bottle of water in the morning after waking and at night before sleeping, at the very least, before drinking anything else.
I had a friend who found giving up soda easier when she had the flavored seltzer. To me, that has nothing on a can of coke, but maybe it would be good?
Post # 12
Member
5152 posts
Bee Keeper
Mrs_Amanda: I would replace with iced tea (brewed from a bag – lipton cold brew is great) with maybe a tiny scoop of sugar added or flavored sparkling water (lemon, lime, etc.).
Post # 13
Member
1432 posts
Bumble bee
I drink a drip coffee with milk in the morning, and the rest of the day I drink lemon water from a pitcher we keep in the fridge. It is so refreshing, compared to plain ol’ water. We also have a soda stream that we use – I drink it with a lemon slice or a drop of OJ in it…
Post # 14
Member
543 posts
Busy bee
I like drinking LaCroix flavored sparkling water on ice. It’s very refreshing and has no calories or artificial sweeteners.
Post # 15
Member
1110 posts
Bumble bee
Mrs_Amanda: I never drank a lot of sodas on a daily basis, but I used to drink a lot of juices, coffee, and Vitamin Waters. Nowadays, I’m all about water and I don’t even drink coffee anymore. I’m not sure how the transitioned happened, but I don’t miss it even though I’ll indulge in a coffee or soda once in a while.
I think the transition for your DH would have to be more gradual. For example if he drinks 3 a day, maybe he can cut down to 2 a day for a month and then 1 a day the following month.
If you have the budget, maybe you can invest in a SodaStream. A lot of people who drink a lot of soda like it because of the carbonation, and a SodaStream is nice for just drinking carbonated water or tailoring what goes into your own soda. I like using some lime juice and a few drops of Stevia in mine, and SodaStream makes some nice naturally sweetened syrups too.