Dr. McDougall's Online Discussion Board

I have been Cola-free for three weeks tomorrow! Three weeks ago today, as I was gulping down the last can of Coke in the house, I just decided that is it. I have had it. Cola will not control me anymore. I was drinking 5 - 6 cans a day! Along with Coke,

I also decided to give up any caffeinated beverage. Oh . . . the headaches were awful for about a week, but then they went away. I am so glad that I percevered.

A friend of mine had told me that for her it was the carbonation that she wanted, so she suggested mixing a heaping tablespoon of 100% juice concentrate with salt-free seltzer. I am quite happy! I lite the Welch's white grape & peach (or raspberry) mixed with lemon lime seltzer.

Anyway, horray for ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations! I am fully aware of the evils of caffeine addiction and I applaud you!

Congratulations! You have a right to be proud!
I also had a six-pack a day habit.. and I am surprised that the carbonation in club soda or seltzer water is satisfying to me now. I may occasionally squirt a bit of lime juice in the can, but for the most part I drink it plain. (I was going to ask if that is a problem because I have never seen it mentioned here before.)

Any low sodium sparkling water is now my drink of choice. I think it's the carbonation that works for me.
f1jim

Congratulations Three Girls!

I keep a stash of "Sam's Choice" brand Sodium Free Seltzer on hand for when I get the carbonated craving. I can drink it plain, or sometimes I add a little fresh lemon juice.

Ingredients: carbonated water
Sodium content: 0 mg

Thanks, everyone, for your posts! I am still concerned that my sugar intake is too high with the juice concentrate. I have been drinking about3 or 4 glasses a day - much better than 6 cans of Coke; nevertheless, I still think I should cut down. I just don't think I can drink the flavored seltzer alone. The flavor is just not intense enough for me. How much sugar is the ideal on a daily basis?

Congratulations! I gave up all diet drinks and all colas 3 years ago now. I feel much better knowing I'm not putting nasty stuff in my body.

Keep up the good work!

Good Going! I used to have a bad chocolate habit. When I gave that up, I noticed that my moods became a lot more even. I became a lot easier to get along with.

Sarah

Good for you!

Congrats!

I have about 3 cans of Zevia a week.

http://www.zevia.com/

Thanks, Glook, for the Zevia link.

Mel -

Congratulations! Doesn't it feel wonderful to be free .

As for the juice, if you are doing a tablespoon 4 xs a day that would be equal to 2 ounces of juice or 40 calories total for the white grape/peach juice you mentioned.

According to Jeff:

My general recommendation, which is in the talk I give at the McDougall Program is that refined calorie sweeteners should not make up more than 5% of your calories. On a 2000 calorie diet, that is 100 calories. Most of the caloric sweeteners are about 50 calories per TB (Agave is 60), so this equates to about 2 TB per day. Fruit juice concentrate is about 25 calories per TB, so it would be around 4 TB if that is your choice.

What you are using in not a concentrate so it is lower in calories per tablespoon.

You can read the whole thread here:

http://www.drmcdougall.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5666

Enjoy!

Donna

Thanks, Donna! That is very useful info!

sigma957 wrote:Congratulations! I gave up all diet drinks and all colas 3 years ago now. I feel much better knowing I'm not putting nasty stuff in my body.

Keep up the good work!

When I started on the McD plan on June 8h, I gave up my habit of Caffeine Free Diet 7up and Diet Rite Pure Zero Cola. I would buy them by the two liter bottles and go thru at least the equivalant of one bottle daily. I actually had no problem giving them up either. I figured if I could give up smoking 21 yrs ago cold turkey I could do this to help defeat my diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure. And, like I mentioned on another thread tonite http://drmcdougall.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12405 I have mostly been drinking ice tap water from the fridge but had a question about lemon juice.

Congratulations - that is great! I love the fact that I'm no longer addicted to Diet Coke. I still remember the headache, though. Zevea looks good - TOO good. I'm sure that I would be addicted in a day, so I'll stay away. I like sodium free club soda with a splash or Pom juice. It is so good. I have also recently started to make iced Yogi Ginger Tea - it's really good! Take care, LauraA