adam247's Journal, 02 Oct 18

Try LaCroix water - carbonated, no calories, no sweeteners 

I just do not do soda any more at all it has zero nutrition. Only on a very rare occasion if I got stuck out somewhere with no food and was hitting a hypoglycemia moment would I reach for sugar - a can of coke to stop me fainting. My go drink with meals is water or coffee. Once in a while if I fancy a glass of wine but prefer to skip it I have a soda water with a dash of cordial either lime or blackcurrant .. that's a good trick to avoid the colas.  

I agree Gzz9gjg .. Soda water is really refreshing, and if you want a little zestiness add lime or mint!! 

I agree with the above comments about soda water. It is very refreshing and since I am type 2 diabetic, that is my drink of choice (besides water). But if that is not the answer for you, there is a new brand out for soda called ZEVIA. It is zero calorie and carb. The artificial sweetener used is Stevia Leaf Extract, which I have researched for my blood sugar and have found it has no affect on it. You may want to research this brand and see if it helps you. It may be hard to find, depending on the area you live in and the only one available to me is the Ginger Ale. Hope you find an alternative that works for you. 

Kombucha is an interesting healthy alternative to pop - still has the bubbles and more flavor than water, plus the health benefits of the probiotics! 

I'd say regular, it is better for you and the extra calories aren't going to hurt since you're only having it occasionally.  

I occasionally treat my self to a Coke or Sprite or Ginger Ale with real sucrose (e.g., Mexican Coke or the "California Raspberry" Coke.) I think it tastes better than HFCS. (There are claims that it's more healthy, but the research seems dubious to me.) I find the real-sugar drinks satisfying at only 12 floz (330 ml), too -- more so than HFCS. I'll drink HFCS at a fast-food restaurant, but if I'm at Wendy's I'm already not eating healthy. I try to limit that to a couple of times a month. I hate aspartame -- it tastes like metal to me. (I have friends who claim that you get used to the taste, but I see no reason to do that.) I also think that consuming large amounts of Diet Soda is bad for you in that re-enforces a penchant for lots and lots of sweet. I never drink diet soda. Mostly I drink water. Still water from the tap, charcoal filtered to remove chlorine taste. Carbonated water, sometimes with flavoring but mostly unflavored like San Pelligrino. 

I'm a popaholic, I used to drink regular, been drinking diet for a number of years now. It's really my only vice....gotta die of something, right? lol 

Coke zero,or other non sugared beverages work fine for me...I have a sweet tooth (chocolate, ice cream, etc. are very tasty for me...so save up my calories for them). 

I have a soda stream and drink carbonated water and sometimes with whatever flavors I'm into at the moment. Lots of just plain. I only drink diet cola when I'm out at a restaurant and I don't get to take any home. I avoid Diet Coke as much as possible as it's a serious trigger for cravings. instead, I drink Diet Pepsi and diet dr. pepper as they don't have that same crazy pull for me. Oddly enough, I'm not even drinking my bubbles lately. It's more Mio Sweet Tea flavor and Crystal Light raspberry lemonade, but more as a light flavoring than an actual serving because they're freaking expensive. 

Let me solve this problem for you real quick, neither, order or purchase club soda, add a lime, it’s better than both diet and regular soda! 

I gave up all soft drinks 5+ years ago. I would love to drink a full sugar, leaded Coke, but I really don't miss them. 

Definitely choose diet over regular but even diet is kind of a special treat and not a regular choice for me. Diet Dr. Pepper may be one of the best things ever. Be aware that some artificial sweeteners do raise insulin levels and might make you hungrier at some point. I mostly drink water, kombucha and tea with no sugar or artificial sweetener. I limit my kombucha intake because it has a good amount of sugar but the bubbles are just so darn refreshing! 

Intentionally do not drink pop often, but when I do I choose diet. Are you from the Midwest? I’m from Michigan originally and growing up we always called soft drinks pop. Then I moved to Georgia where people called it soda and the older people used to call it soda water... also, depending on where you were they called all soft drinks a Coke. They’d say “ Would you like a Coke? Grape or a cola?” And of course most people drank iced tea. At fast food windows when you ordered an iced tea they asked, “Would that tea be sweet or unsweetened?” What is finally helping me lose weight: - I have eliminated most meat and have switched to grilled Cod and Salmon. I love Cod. You can marinate it and change the taste just enough for more variation. - Also, when I make an omelette I use only one whole egg and then the egg whites that come in the cartons. I use cheese and mushrooms, whatever fresh veggies I have in the frig. - I LOVE soups! Always have. They are my go to comfort food. I make a cabbage and celery soup using the Empire Chicken broth, garlic, pepper, salt, and sometimes a little cumin, turmeric, coriander, or a veggie masala powder. I change the spices nearly ever time I make this soup so that I don’t get bored. 

I am from the Midwest (Iowa) and we always said pop when we were referring to soda. To us, a soda was a drink made with ice cream. 

Flavored seltzer water. We buy the Kroger brand. Zero calories and lots of choices. 

Thank you everyone for your feedback - I think pop for me is one of those things that have contributed to where I am today - diet and regular. I will continue to aim to exclude it most times - will not consume any at home that is for sure. Also I do like sparkling water so will remember that option for sit down restaurants. However I have decided that the odd time I do choose to drink a pop I will opt for a sugar free version at least for now - maybe I could switch to regular one day when I get to maintenance but for now it is diet for me. I managed to eliminate all sugar/sweetener from my coffee and only add almond milk or cream (if they don’t have almond milk) so that has helped me get rid of the need to drink drinks that are sweetened - the good thing is I haven’t had a diet pop in over a year so I definitely will hate it when I actually do drink one. And if I don’t drink it every day I hope I will never get used to the taste again :) 

I am choosing diet drinks now, I am new drinking them 😀 

I have been reaching for diet or sugar fee options when I have a need for a soda. I tend to drink water or perrier more but there are times when a you need to change it up a bit. I don't drink more than one a week.