Soda: that four letter word that tempts us just about everywhere we go, from vending machines to fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and grocery check-outs. It feels like there’s no escaping its fizzy, sugary allure. If you haven’t noticed just how prevalent these drinks are, just wait until you try to quit them.
Between the copious amounts of sugars and sweeteners – you know how bad it is for your health.
Countless studies demonstrate how bad soft drinks are for your health. People who drink pop regularly are at much higher risk of obesity, heart disease, type two diabetes, and gout. Sugary soft drinks threaten bone health and lead to tooth decay. Though diet pop sweetened with chemicals is lower in calories, it has many of the same health consequences as regular soda.
If you have soda on your mind and in your hand more often than you know you should, here are some ways you can cut it out for good.
Make Up Your Mind
First things first, make up your mind and determine what your motivation is. Without these two elements, you’ll be back on that soda in no time. Focus on how your consumption is affecting your health and how you feel. Use those feelings to motivate your through until the end.
Wean Yourself Off
Some people prefer to approach certain addictions with a cold turkey attitude, and that’s fine if that works for you. But when you’re body has been used to indulging in a substance day in and day out for a significant amount of time, cold turkey might not be a smart idea. Weaning yourself off of the soda slowly is the key. If you really want to cut the habit for good, be realistic about the process. Cut back on the amount gradually over each week.
Drink a Glass of Water First
As you go through the process of cutting back your intake each week, try to form a habit of drinking a glass of water before you indulge. Often, boredom can be a culprit for making us reach for that soft drink. So before you go for the soda, take some water first to help appease your boredom and your thirst.
Drink Tea
Still craving something other than water? Try opting for tea. You can buy a variety of natural flavours, and add some lemon or mint to give your drink an extra burst of flavour.
Start Tracking Your Calories
As you reduce your intake of soda, start to track your calories. Since sodas contain a hefty amount of calories that can easily accumulate on your waistline, you can bet to see a significant reduction to your weight as you wean away from it. So for that added boost of motivation, download a calorie counting app to see that soda weight shed from your waistline.
If soda is on your wishful chopping block, start to wean yourself off of it slowly. Incorporate some of these coping tactics and you’ll be on your way to better health and a better you.
