My diet tip for today is that you have to change your whole lifestyle. One of these areas for me has been in the category of deinks. For a while I was buying some pop and kool-aid and in the evenings we would have some with a snack. I have pretty much eliminated this habit though. Well yesterday my Mom came over and brought us some pizza and Coke, as she knew we had been working on our laundry room, and were pretty tired. I poured a glass of coke, but couldn't even drink it all, it was so sweet it was really awful!! I haven't had any pop for about 4 weeks now. I read that it takes 21 days to make something into a habit or to lose a bad one, so it must be true!! I think I have conquered my former desire for sweet drinks. Actually real juice or ice cold water seems really great instead.

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), January 28, 2002

Answers

Hang in there, Melissa! I quit drinking "cokes" when I was pregnant with my youngest daughter (14 years ago). They made me sick. I decided not to go back to drinking them once she was born. Best thing I ever did. I also quit drinking coffee, but went back to drinking it. I needed that caffeine with a newborn!!

-- conniein nm (karrelandconnie@msn.com), January 28, 2002.

I am weaning myself off Pepsi. Never like can/bottled coke, but pepsi got me. I have dropped down to cafene free, not to go the rest of the way.

-- Gary in Ohio (gws@columbus.rr.com), January 28, 2002.

Melissa, Good for you!!! Soft drinks are horrible for you anyway. I love water. I trained myself to that, by only drinking that for awhile. It helped to get me started to squeeze a bit of lemon juice in it, or I even have mint flavored, liquid chlorophyll which is SO good for you. Just a little squirt of either helped the water to have a bit of taste and I just drank more. Now, I crave plain ole water!!!

-- Marci (Marci@amazingrazefarm.com), January 28, 2002.

Thanks everyone, I was not drinking much, so it was not too hard. We rarely had pop more than 2 times a week and kool aid maybe 2-3 times a week. I was just amazed at how sweet it tasted after I hadn't had any for a month!!!!

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), January 28, 2002.

Something that is really delicious is to take water and squeeze just a slice of two or three citrus fruits into it. My nephew used to have it with lemon, lime and orange. I love grapfruit in it also! It's great, and so much better for you (but I confess to still drinking pop more than I should!).

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), January 28, 2002.

I love water. Water, water, water, water. I CRAVE water. I drink water ALL THE TIME. I thought maybe I was a bit dehydrated to be so thirsty for WATER, but I drink about three quarts a day. It seems almost ridiculous, this craving I have. WATER!!!

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), January 28, 2002.

Carbonation is a major problem. You'll find it in cheap beer, mineral waters, soda pops. Carbon dioxide is what you exhale. It's toxic to the body. It leaches minerals from your bones. Hurts to see little children addicted to it and all the dental & other health problems it brings.

www.mercola.com/2001/mar/10/soda_pop_dangers.htm

www.rechargeyourlife.com/nutrition/avoid/soda-pop/soda-pop.html

-- HV (veggie@ourplace.com), January 28, 2002.

Cathy, if you are craving ice, you may be anemic????

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), January 28, 2002.

Melissa, I do tend to be anemic, but I never heard of ice-cravings being a symptom! Guess I need to do more iron pot cooking.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), January 29, 2002.

boy im glad to see that im not alone trying to get off pop. but ive bout got it whiped. but im trying to get up to a gallon of water a day now that aint easy. just had one coke this week end. trouble was still tasted good. still havent got a scale eny suggestions? Bob se,ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@kans.com), January 29, 2002.

I have one Dr. Pepper per day. In the morning instead of coffee (never liked the taste of coffee). I drink water the rest of the day and love it. I keep several water bottles about 1/3 full of water in the freezer. When I start on the water, I'll take out a bottle, fill it with water and drink on it all day. I even carry one of my water bottles with me every where I go. The biggest plus about drinking water is I no longer have a problem sleeping at night. I used to drink Dr. Peppers all day and couldn't figure out why I was awake half the night. Duh! Now I know. Not only am I sleeping better, but it's easier to lose weight, I feel so much better being completely hydrated and drinking water is a darn sight cheaper than soft drinks. Tip: Drinking iced water burns calories faster than drinking tap/room temperture water.

Wishing you enough.

-- Trevilians (aka Dianne in MA) (Trevilians@mediaone.net), January 30, 2002.