I decided in the summer of 2001 to cut back and I did until 9-11 and then I was drinking even more soda than before and my diet was a bunch of junk (pretzels were a favorite), it was so bad that by June of 2002 I was taking Excedrin or Tylenol PM so I could sleep.
As you can imagine that wasn't how I wanted to live and so last spring I decided not only to cut out the soda, I would also try to change my eating habits and get a few medical problems under control. After doing about 2 months of research, I decided on a low carb diet, sort of a combination of Atkins and Carbohydrate Addicts.
In June, I ditched the soda and other than a week of headache hell, I kicked the caffeine addiction and was able to sleep with out meds.
Water, lots of water helped, I also used No Doz a few times, usually one or even a half was enough to keep the headaches tolerable.
I don't even miss it anymore! After almost 20 years of daily soda drinking, I would rather drink water or ice tea with Splenda.
I have been off of low carb since October because I wasn't at home most of the time for 6 weeks and it was easier, then I decided to enjoy the holidays. But I am in the process of making menu plans for the next few weeks and then will be going back on it next week.
There was a major difference in how I felt before I went low carb, and it is even more noticable that I went back (mostly) to my old ways for 2 months...I feel horrible and know in about a week or 2 I will be a lot happier, it makes that much of a difference.
I have had some soda in the past 2 months but no where near my former intake and the addiction hasn't returned.
I am taking Excedrin PMs now only because I had a cough that kept me awake, now I have to ditch them again. ;-`)
It really is the pause that refreshes!