How To Stop Drinking Soda For Good

Most people don’t think that drinking sodas and other sugary drinks daily can significantly affect their health. The truth is, the effects of regular sugary drinks consumption are very much long lasting, and that doesn’t just go for your waist line, but for your entire metabolism.

The main problem with delicious sizzling soda drinks is that they are packed with all kinds of refined sugars and artificial flavoring that you can think of. Some think that drinking diet sodas will make a difference, but that is simply not true, because even though there is no sugar in the picture, you’re not getting anything useful for your body out of them. When it comes to health conditions that benefit from your daily soda intake, think tooth decay, diabetes and bone thinning, just to name a few.

This is why, in case you are prone to reaching for that can of soda every day, you should stop and reconsider your decision every time. It is already a known fact that sugar is just as addictive as any other narcotic, and it’s high time to ask yourself if you are one of the addicted. If it takes too long to figure out the answer, then it is probably yes. Fortunately, “getting off” sodas isn’t so painful, and there are some easy ways to do it.

The first, and usually the most successful, way to get rid of any bad habit is to take it down a notch gradually. This way, you won’t have to go through a crisis stages where you can’t think about anything else but getting a soda. For starters, pay attention to how much soda you drink daily, have a more or less precise idea, and then cut back every day a bit. Every habit needs a 21 day adjustment period, so test yourself and see what feels manageable for you. Also, pay attention to the positive sides of cutting back, this will make it easier for you to keep going.

If you feel like you have it in you to go “cold turkey” immediately, then go for it. Just like with any other calorie intake, completely cutting off your soda intake might be a challenge, so the pressure of not falling off the wagon can be difficult. Willpower is everything in this game.

Another good way go about the soda drinking pestilence is to think about your exercising regime. If you started working out recently, then your nutrition must follow, and with sodas you’re just piling up the calories that have no worth to you. If you spent 400 calories while working out, why should you put half of them back to your body after drinking a can of soda, that is a waste of your time, effort and sweat. Opt out for lightly sweetened iced tea or plain water, which is crucial for your rehydration after a workout.

One more good piece of advice when it comes steering clear of soda consumption is to pay attention to the situations in which you “need” soda, and then avoid them. There triggers are one of the most common causes why we end up indulging our cravings, and it is fine to do so from time to time, but not while you’re in your adjusting period. If you have a time of the day when you need soda boost, and you like a sugary drink over dinner in your favorite restaurant, be prepared. Order some plain seltzer water, or bring your homemade ice tea with you, like with healthy eating, a little preparation goes a long way.

While we’re on the matter of substitution, there are many ways you can help yourself “get off” soda products. We already mentioned ice tea, which you can make very easily from scratch and you’ll know exactly what’s in it. Also, infused water is a God-send because it’s refreshing and healthy. You can go for cucumber, mint or raspberry, all are delicious. Another great solution for your soda craving is to add some freshly squeezed juice to your seltzer and make your own soda, only infinitely healthier, plus it’s delicious. Of course, you can always go for full on freshly squeezed beverages, they will be an amazing boost to your vitamin intake and will help you stay away from sodas on the store shelves.

In conclusion, sodas can be a considerable obstacle on your way of becoming healthier and losing weight. This is why it’s important to understand the impact the sugary drinks have on us so we know which steps to take next.