Bad Dr. Pepper Cravings

[remote29]

Why was it easier not to think about pop at work today, but now at home, that's all I can think about are those little red cans in my fridge? I'm in a mental paralysis, I have homework/housework to do but all I can do is sit and think about those little cans...

How bad a deal with the devil would I be making if I bought some diet soda right now and hit it? I remember the first time I had success on Atkins I did do the diet pop and had pretty good weight loss. But I wanted to see what ya'l thought. If I went down the diet road, I would still enjoy the water--it's not that I hate water, I do like it, it's just I need some liquid variety.

Jason

[remote29]

Re: Bad Dr. Pepper Cravings

OK, it's 8:52 pm central time US, almost 9pm... I've held the line no diet or reg. dr pepper--water all the way. Thought I've crashed about all the seemingly legal food in my apartment, green beens, steak, chicken, salad, plus a bag of nuts and some beef jerky this afternoon at work... Didn't do homework tonight, couldn't focus... probably will drop the class, and probably won't take anything this fall... but the upside is that even if I have to go to bed as soon as I get home after work and sleep away my weekends (I can't fret the dr pepper or drink it, in my sleep) ... I swear I'll hold the line and stay on atkins... at this point if I can make it till christmas and have done nothing else with my life between now and then besides work eat exercise and sleep, if I can say that I've done it come Christmas morning then 2008 will still have been a very great year. If I can kick this fat, then my life can truly start fresh and anew and I can then focus on school and living life... I've been reading stories of those who have lost 100 and even 200 pounds... it's amazing... and I know that if I don't hold the line now, then it will be even longer before I can reach that point... thank you... keep those success stories rolling because they do help the rest of us in the trenches trying to hold the line...
Jason

[Sherri]

Re: Bad Dr. Pepper Cravings

That's it Jason, keep holding the line! You can do this! I'm pulling for you! The best advice I can give you is to not set yourself up for pitfalls. Keep those little red cans out of your house.
Do you have DANDR 2002? Read it! It will help detour you from getting off track. I understand what you're going through. I was once a diet coke Queen. I havn't had one for a year now. Not only because it stalls weightloss but because of the sweetners they use are so unhealthy. Also the carbination irritates our digestive system and causes swelling and water retention.
Hang in there Jason! You'll be glad that you resisited. It gets easier each day. Take one day at a time and one day those little red cans will only be good for target practice
Sincerely, Sherri

[inhisgrip]

Re: Bad Dr. Pepper Cravings

Jason, I'm with Sherri on this one... you need to kick that temptation to the curb and get those cans out of your fridge. I know you hate to waste but donate them to a coworker, your church, a soup kitchen, or anywhere you can find to take them off your hands. Good for you for staying strong tonight. Keep on keepin' on and come Christmas you will be so glad you did!

[Keetje]

Re: Bad Dr. Pepper Cravings

Jason,

Poor old you! withdrawal is gruesome. Having kicked more addictions than I care to think about (i.e. smoking, prescription painkillers and diet coke) I was all too ready for the nasties that my body would throw at me this time on Atkins.

At this point in withdrawal, it is literally one minute at a time. The thought processes you describe are exactly the thought processes I went through to to try and justify lapsing to myself. This is entirely normal - your body thinks it needs the Dr Pepper and some ancient instinct in your mind is trying to think of a way round your new resolution to stop using the stuff in the little red cans.

You will feel a lot better in a few days, when you stop taking any addictive substance - even with something as seemingly harmless as sweet drinks this mind stuff will happen. The restlessness will stop and you will be able to concentrate again very soon. When I stopped smoking (I was a 40 a day hopeless nicotine addict) my subconscious did all the stuff to me that yours is doing to you. But I knew that even one tiny puff of a friend's cigarette, one 'borrowed' cig from a family member, would have me soon spiralling out of control again.

In the meantime, drink lots of water to wash the chemicals out of your system and sit tight. One little trick I did when kicking the diet coke was to get some VERY fizzy spring water - something like perrier or san pellegrino and drink that when the cravings got a little bit much. I used to have 'posh water' appointments with myself. I would take time out, get a nice glass and my bottle of fizzy stuff and go and sit down and drink it slowly.

Try to think positively - I know it's hard at the moment - these unpleasant symptoms are a sign that what you are doing is absolutely the right thing. After all, who's in control here? Jason? or the little red cans?

Finally, I agree absolutely with Sherri and Liz - get those cans out of the house. Take them to work with you in the morning and give them to colleagues, or take them to somewhere that might need them, like a homeless shelter or a church. If pushed pour them down the sink - I know it seems wasteful, but your health is more important than the few dollars it cost to buy those cans which are causing you so much pain at the moment.

Oh yes, posting here will help greatly - gives you a chance to let off steam - which is very important when kicking an addiction.

I am thinking of you.

Keetje

[Elizellen]

Re: Bad Dr. Pepper Cravings

Hang in there, Jason, you CAN do it!!

And I also suggest getting those little red cans OUT of the house where they can't call your name.

The first Chistmas I was on Atkins I was still on induction and each time someone gave me a box of chocolates (students love to thank their teacher with a box of temptation!) I said thank you nicely and if possible didnt even unwrap the prettily wrapped package but made sure I gave it away as soon as possible (to someone with no weight problems )

All my 'stick insect' friends were surprised and pleased that year!!

[ValidRouge]

Re: Bad Dr. Pepper Cravings

Jason, I, too, know how hard this is. BUT, you made it through the first day and that is a huge accomplishment. I was a mountain dew addict and a cigarette addict and am still a food addict.

Truly, the best way I've found to kick my addictions is to go COLD TURKEY which is what you are doing too. Today, I am with you in going COLD TURKEY on my coffee addiction. It's practically my only vice left.

Get the dr. pepper OUT of your house ASAP. Give it to your enemies. It has done NOTHING but make you FAT and MISERABLE. Get PISSED OFF at the dr. pepper!! Pour it down the sink! Pour it down the TOILET and flush it! That POISON has made you FAT. It has made you SICK. It has made you DEPRESSED.

Right now, the addiction to that soda, the yearning for it, is making you tired, lethargic, have headaches, think that you can't do your school work, etc. This will all change in just another day or two. You are going to feel SO MUCH BETTER. I promise. Just don't give in to it.

I'm rooting for you, Jason.

[remote29]

Re: Bad Dr. Pepper Cravings

Thank you everyone for the encouraging words. Today as they say is another day, and so far so good. I will be trashing the dr. pepper in the fridge tonight after work. I have dropped the class--in fact, I've simplified my life and goals so that as I said all I concern myself with for year 2008 is work, sleep, eat Atkins, and exercise--consider myself scope-locked on these goals--to borrow a term from movie G. I. Jane.

Thanks again,
Jason

[booklady]

Re: Bad Dr. Pepper Cravings

Hi Jason,
I was addicted to Diet Dr Pepper, so I understand how you feel. I am on day two of caffiene and sweetner withdrawel and it is getting better. I find the more water I drink the better I feel and I gave my last two bottles of the stuff away. I had to get it out of the house. Doing that will help a lot, seeing your addiction in front of you constantly is not the way to get through it. I miss it, but the water feels better and I know once I am through the withdrawel, I will wonder why I made such a production over going off the soda, it has taken me years to do it. I had to just cut it out.
I am on day two of no caffiene and already am starting to feel better as the day progresses.
Good luck, you were smart to simplify your life as anything else you are doing is not more important than your health.
I am glad you are here and keep on posting, it will help so much !!!
Stephie

[mistydawn73]

Re: Bad Dr. Pepper Cravings

Jason.

I too agree with everyone else. KEEP THOSE LITTLE RED CANS OUT OF THE FRIDGE AND HOUSE. They do have Diet Dr Pepper, but it's not made with Splenda, so not a good choice. I myself was an addict to Pepsi! Had to have at least 2-4 Pepsi a day! Now, believe it or not, it looks gross. I see my husband drinking one, and the smell is so sweet. Makes my stomach turn now.

So, hang in there, REMOVE THOSE LITTLE RED CANS, and drink up on some water, and maybe some Crystal Light, or Sugar Free Kool Aid. Though those tend to stall weight for others, so limit youself.

You can do this this! Hang in there!