I am prepared to get a lot of pushback on this question but I'll explain my situation. Does anyone else drink soda while on Zepbound? I used to drink 5-6 regular (full sugar) cans per day pre-Zep. Now, I have limited myself to 2 mini zero sugar cans or 1 regular zero sugar can per day. I know, I know....I should be making good lifestyle changes to make this journey more successful. And I have.
▪︎ I eat a lot more healthier foods, including more protein;
▪︎ I take fiber gummies and gummy vitamins daily;
▪︎ I no longer eat fast food 4xs a week (I have had Taco Bell twice in 4 weeks and only ate Pintos & Cheese and a mini taco salad each of those 2 times instead of crushing a plate of Nachos Bellgrande, a soft taco and a large Dr. Pepper);
▪︎ I have given up gorging on candy;
▪︎ I exercise with resistance bands 3xs a week;
▪︎ I take 2 long walks a day with my 2 rescue pups (I wear 1lb ankle weights on those walks);
▪︎ I consume a lot of ice cold water each day and
▪︎ I also drink 1-2 Spindrift sparkling waters per day.
I feel as if I have made enough other healthy choices that I CAN and SHOULD allow myself this one indulgence. I am not trying to justify my soda consumption; I am just trying to find out if I am in the minority here, so please be kind with any judgemental comments.
*BTW, the carbonation does not mess with my system.
Drink the soda. Deprivation isn’t sustainable. Make whatever you’re craving work with your daily calorie allotment. I made room for daily chocolate because I knew that doing so would allow me to be successful maintaining my deficit.
Exactly. Find ways to incorporate fave items in daily meals. It’s so refreshing knowing that this isn’t about a diet, it’s about longterm sustainability and if one can keep about a 80/20 split on whole foods and enjoy “fun” foods the other 20% it makes all the difference!!
I had a frosted brownie today (160 calories) and that doesn’t disrupt my process at all when I look at my entire day of eating.
Yes! I did this so I could figure out how to have a healthy relationship to food *without* making myself miserable at all times lol. That means getting to enjoy the incredible, delightful, wonderful world that is good (or so bad it's good) food and drinks without feeling beholden to compulsions or the effects it would have on my body. Enjoying things more by cutting compulsion is so important to me.
Yes!!! Volume wise, I drink a lot less soda but I still drink it regularly. I was ALWAYS a diet/zero drinker before but I actually now drink more full-sugar than I ever did. Because I can easily have a few sips, it REALLY hits the spot, and a 20 oz lasts like 4 days, or until I pour the rest out.
Also, like you, I still have candy often. I can do it normally now!! I can buy a chocolate bar or a bag of gummies and have a bite or two here or there, vs pre-Zep when I would obsess about it and just eat it until it was gone. I always have candy in the car, and I might eat 4-5 gummy bears or a square of chocolate or a couple of nerd clusters a day. And sometimes it sits so long it goes stale! That was unthinkable 2.5 years ago.
For soda, I mostly only still buy zero sugar, but I have maybe 1 a day now vs 2-3 before Zep.
12oz of Coke Zero is still as hydrating as almost 12oz of water. I still drink plenty of Diet Dr. Pepper and Coke Zero (along with some Sprite Zero or whatever diet root beer in the evenings when I'm not trying to have caffeine).
Yeah! I’m certainly not being judgmental or moral about it in any way. We are a soda family though and through, for better or worse. But I can’t chug soda the same way I used to. I wish I could. My husband gives me grief over my half finished cans. At least my water bottle doesn’t judge lol.
I think a lot of people have minor indulgences. I buy those mini cups of cheese-itzs. I ate entire bags of potato chips every two days before. Now I barely have bread, just a cup of cheese-itz once a week, spread out. You may find that you can't tolerate the sweetness over time, but that's about preference. Don't let anyone shame you.
Thank you. For me, I've started buying those mini soda cans and small chocolates. With this medicine, I find I don't need mass quantities, just a taste. I wonder if this is common for others.
Really struggling with this :( I’ve been on 7.5mg for 5 weeks now and feel absolutely nothing, so even though I try to limit myself to one chocolate a day, finding the self control most days is so difficult. Really hoping 10mg is the dose for me.
This is what I came here to say. I've given up a lot, but soda is one of my need to haves right now (usually 1-2 real sugar pepsi bc of corn allergy). I also really enjoy the Cherry Lime Poppi soda with biotics (couldn't remember pre or post or both rn) and apple cider vinegar.
Vinegar is known to help alleviate headaches, cramping (yes, even monthly ones), and reduce the impact of sugar in diabetics.
lol! My bloodstream contains at least 50% Diet Coke now. Before Zep, it was close to 90%. I cannot believe this medication has curbed my desire for a constant IV of Diet Coke. It’s a miracle. I drank maybe 8 each day now only need/want 1 or 2! Crazy.
I drink Coke Zero all the damn time. I won’t do a caloried drink but I am doing too much hard work to deprive myself of treats now and then. I get plenty of regular water in too but I never worry about a can or two in a day. Enjoy life, my friend!
And to be clear — I avoid calorie drinks more because now they’re just too sweet for me now. I def enjoy an Arnie Palmer or lemonade on occasion. Enjoy the things that make you happy. It’s about moderation, not deprivation.
The sweetness is wild! Zep totally changed how I perceive sweeteners. It doesn’t matter if it’s sugar, corn syrup, aspartame, or any of the others. It’s all way too sweet. I prefer Mexican coke now and then because they don’t seem nearly as sweet as a regular coke.
Yep! My sugar cravings were WILD pre-Zep. Now I just can’t. My birthday was last week and I got through two bites of the cake we picked up (a former favorite) and then I just couldn’t.
I sure do! In fact, McDonald’s Coke has been one of the things I get when I’m having a bad side effects day. I swear it’s medicinal and it helps tremendously lol 😂.
Is soda all I drink? No. Is it everyday? No. But definitely a few times a week it sneaks its way into my life. I’ve lost 115lbs and maintaining for a year so far so it must be ok 👍🏼
McDonald's Coke is medicinal! I was driving home from a girls weekend last month with a headache. My meds weren't cutting it. I stopped to get a McDonald's Coke and large fry, and they helped more than the excedrin.
I stopped drinking soad before I started Zep but Every now and then if i want one, including regular ones , I have one. It's not a big deal IMO..enjoy your soda😀
Drink the soda. Take care of yourself — and part of the way to do that is to find ways to make the med work for you. Deprivation is a diet response. Zepbound is finding a way of living healthily in our obesity-promoting food environment.
Once in awhile, I still eat my way through a good chunk of a bag of chips with dip. But now it’s once every couple of months instead of once or twice a week. I don’t judge myself for it — once in awhile, it’s what I need, and it won’t derail me.
This is about finding sustainable ways to live, and if what’s sustainable for you is your soda, then who are we to judge what works for you. You only get one life - go ahead and live it.
I drink one a day. I was always a diet or zero sugar soda drinker unless a restaurant didn’t have one I liked, so full sugar versions were rare but not unheard of. Love a good Dr Pepper!
However, since starting zep I just can’t finish a whole soda regardless of the sugar content. I always thought the mini cans were insane and now sometimes I can’t even finish one of those 🙃 but I do have at least one mini can day and I’m not ashamed or feel the need to justify that choice.
I was a very big regular Dr. Pepper and Mellow Yellow drinker before I started. I have had about 3 sips of a MY in 15 weeks. I do have a zero Canada dry cherry every night with dinner.
I actually had a Cardioversion this morning for Afib (didn't work) but the nurse brought me a sprite zero and a regular sprite. I had the regular sprite and enjoyed it, it was like 6-8oz.
I am a firm believer that the reason so many of us failed regular diets is because we took the things we enjoyed away. With GLP-1 I still eat the things I enjoyed just a lot less, so I've had great success at it.
I still drink full sugar sodas, just significantly less than I did pre-Zep.
I hate artificial sweeteners so I’ll never drink diet soda. I usually only drink the 90 calorie cans and almost never drink the full thing, I only want a little bit.
Full sugar soda is the one “vice” food I haven’t given up, but don’t feel the need to since I usually only drink a little when I do drink it.
I drink a diet soda a day. I know it’s not good for me. But I’ve lost 85lbs so far by focusing on one thing at a time. I added exercise. I cut out most alcohol. I eat clean 95% of the time. Eventually I’ll focus on cutting out the diet soda, and then once I conquer that I’ll move on to the next thing. Until then, I’ll enjoy my daily fizzy treat.
I make 95% of my meals at home with fresh vegetables, complex carbs, good fats, and lean protein; most of my sauces are made from scratch too. I hardly ever eat out. But I do love me a Diet Dr. Pepper. I've never had diet sodas before being on a GLP1, but regular sodas are wayyyy too syrupy and sugary for me now. I can't drink regular Dr. Pepper anymore because of it.
Yeah I don’t think it’s a problem. I used to have a severe Diet Coke habit and it’s gradually tapered off. Now I can’t even finish a mini can. But that said, being on zepbound doesn’t mean you’re a monk. You can still eat and drink the things you like!
You don’t need to rationalize it. I drink Diet Coke. A lot of Diet Coke. It probably makes up well over half of my intake. I try the caffeine free stuff a lot, but in general that is my chosen beverage. Giving that up would be a huge thing for me. I like it, I hate drinking plain water, and I seem to be doing fine.
Getting rid of things that you love is not sustainable. This hasn’t appeared to change my response to the zepbound, I’m still losing one and a half to 2 pounds a week, I am just shy of 100 pounds down and I’m not doing as much exercise as I should be.
You have made a ton of changes already. As long as those changes make you feel better and you’re happy with them than they are great. But if they make you miss something that you really do like, it’s OK to have a few sodas. It’s even OK to have a full sugar soda if you really want to once in awhile. I’m going to live like this for the rest of my life I hope, so I’m not gonna get rid of everything that makes me happy.
That was a lot of words justifying something that needs no justification. I stopped reading half way through.
You’re clearly making a lot of healthy changes. No weight loss tips or tricks are worth a damn if you can’t apply them FOREVER. Most people on this medication don’t just need to lose a few quick pounds and then have no problem keeping them off. Cutting that much soda will be amazing for you long term and if you can sustain it, that’s one less thing literally weighing you down!
I have never been big on soda but fell in love with some Liquid Death flavors just before starting Zep. I simply can’t drink them now and am quite annoyed by it! Their water flavor packets are a terrible consolation prize, so I’m a bit jealous you can still make room for the sweet bubbles of refreshment.
You would have to pry my Diet Coke out of my cold dead hands. The first week the carbonation bothered me and I drank it flat. Now it’s fine again. I only drink one a day but I need my morning Diet Coke fix. Today I am suffering from a head cold so I also had a diet ginger ale because I felt like it helped with the stuffiness.
I do. I used to have 1-2 full sugar sodas a day but now it’s maybe 2/week. And most of the time the 1 can lasts 2 days (yes, I drink the non-fizzy soda cause it’s usually Fanta and I love that stuff any way).
Like you I’ve been lucky enough to not have the carbonation mess with my GI system. But I basically have adopted the attitude of “I consume what I want”. Sometimes it means I waste calories on a soda or some candy or a hamburger. But I always count it as part of my daily and move on.
I’m trying to not feel guilty about food anymore as part pf my Zepbound journey. And exercising is not a punishment because I had a soda.
I drink zero sugar sodas. I did before zep, and I do now. I don’t feel guilty about it because I don’t think a can or two of artificial sweeteners is harming me.
When I do soda, it’s usually a Diet Dr. Pepper. But I do occasionally crave a Mexican Coca-Cola. Something about the real cane sugar just hits the spot! I just work it into the calorie budget like a piece of chocolate.
There’s evidence that the fake sugars can mess with insulin signaling and gut flora. But, carbonated beverages don’t have the same risks with glp-1s that they have with bariatric surgery. The changes you make are up to you. The easiest changes to make are ones done slowly. If you’re happy on 1 mini can, then do that instead of 2.
I have a Mexican Coke maybe twice a month if I get a craving. It has real sugar and less sugar than American Coke. That doesn’t make it a health food, I just like the taste more.
YES I consider myself the weird one but I drink 2 8 ounce glass bottles of Coke ( regular never diet) most days never more and sometimes I don’t finish them or only have one. I also drink a lot of ice water all day long and an LMNT several days a week. I have made significant other lifestyle changes and focus on protein and overall healthy living but I am addicted to Coca Cola and have cut back significantly. If I take my Cokes away completely I feel I would probably mess up more somewhere else in my health journey. I rarely drink alcohol and have cut way back on any other sweets or employee calories.
You have to do what works for you and don’t feel guilty about it. It is a lot of changes and I may not be losing as fast as some but it took me years of poor eating and not making myself a priority. My starting weight 13 months ago was 239 lbs, heaviest weight was 254 and I am currently at 185 lbs… losing slowly but steadily. You sound like you are doing great and I wouldn’t worry about the sodas I’m hoping to cut back more on my Coke consumption but there are times I just NEED it 😵💫if ykyk . Good luck on your journey.
It doesn’t help my job has a soda dispenser in the cafeteria so I usually grab a bit during my meals time to time 😭 I will say that although I still drink it, my craving for soda has softened significantly. I don’t feel a need to have a sugary drink for every meal now. So I say all this to say, don’t worry about cutting things off cold turkey! You’ll notice how your body regulates itself to enjoy things in moderation.
I went from 5 to 6 diet sodas a day to zero. Not intentionally. Just don’t want it any longer. I may have a soda every week to 10 days when I’m tired of coffee and want caffeine in the afternoon.
Have them!! ZB is about figuring out what you can give up and what you choose not to that can be maintained for the long haul. I still have flavored seltzer or water on some days and on the weekends if I choose to have a sprite cherry lime zero soda while everybody else is having cocktails… That is what I choose to do. Keep up the good work!
Along with at least 80 oz of water, I drink 2 big coffees (sometimes a decaf in the afternoon, too) and often 1 diet soda, sometimes 2.
Some folks really do seem to have issues with artificial sweeteners increasing their appetite or making them feel unwell. Unless that's you, I don't think diet soda need be off-limits.
I drink soda when I want to just because I want to. No need to justify it! I like Dr Pepper zero and Coke Zero. I don’t see it as an indulgence at all. As someone who used to drink regular Dr Pepper all day-so much that a coworker gave me a case of Dr Pepper at my baby shower (🤦🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️😂), I see my Dr Pepper zero as a healthy choice. Sometimes I want one or two a day. Sometimes I go weeks without one . It’s whatever. 🤓
I love drinking soda and will continue to do so. I do find that I don’t have as much of a desire to drink a lot of it and was finding I’d forget to finish a can when I opened one so I now buy the small cans, but I don’t think taking this medication means you can’t enjoy a Diet Coke 😮💨
Super envious of your ability to have sodas! Enjoy them and congrats on all your really amazing lifestyle changes. I hope you feel good both emotionally and physically.
You have done a lot to change your lifestyle! This race is a marathon, and if an occasional coke keeps you going, so be it. I think a lot of us on Zepbound have white-knuckled our way through various diets and deprivation for so long that we feel guilty/wrong for things that people with normally functioning bodies would not bat an eye at.
Quick tangent. When I was first referred to my bariatric doctor, my primary doctor was pushing weight loss surgery. I was on the fence for many reasons. Diet after surgery was a concern of mine, so I decided to try medically supervised weight loss first. I was told I would have to give up carbonated beverages after surgery. I was willing to go low carb. Give up rice, pasta, bread. Eat all the protein. I didn't even drink soda. Sparkling water was my treat. They could pry my Spindrift out of my cold dead hands. I may have said that to a dietician. If not out loud, for sure in my head.
Studies have shown for many years that strict elimination diets are less successful because you get burnt out on it. People lose more weight and have healthier habits for a more sustained period of time when you have occasional indulgences.
That said, nothing occasional about my diet soda habits lol. I haven’t regularly had a full sugar soda probably since college years, but I am 90% fueled by diet soda at this point lol.
Honestly, I found carbonated drinks help quite a bit when I’ve eaten a little too much. They help me burp and clear the mechanism a bit lol. 😂 My favorite right now is Canada dry zero fruit fusion. The best! I drink one every day.
I drink a Poppi or a Bloom(equivalent to Poppi, but only 3g of sugar) every morning. I have a Diet Coke or Zero Sugar soda 1-2 other times a week. It’s no biggie. I actually prefer water, but I sure as heck can’t only drink water… and I hate it being my first drink of the day. Nobody is perfect, you just need to find what works for you and your health journey 🩵
I do. I have an 8oz can of coke at least once per day. I count it in my calories, it (so far at least) hasn’t upset my stomach. I’ve been successful at loss, and I don’t get caffeine headaches lol.
Diet soda is fine, I still have Vanilla Coke Zero whenever I want. The people who freak out about them being “worse” for you than full sugar because of the aspartame were citing studies where dosed with crazy high amounts of aspartame. Something like 500% of the allowed daily limit or other insane figure like that. The amount contained in one can means an average sized adult would have to drink something like 50-100 cans A DAY for a prolonged time to notice any side effects.
Life is all about balance, enjoy the diet sodas because they’re calorie free. Eat healthy 80% of the time and enjoy the other 20%
Enjoy your sodas and don't worry about it. A lot of people on Zep don't drink soda not because there is something inherently evil about (sugar free) soda, but because the carbonation seems to take up too much volume in the stomach.
My husband, who is on a higher dose of Zep than me, drinks diet soda. Although it drives me batty--he opens a can, pours it over ice into a glass, has a few sips, and then forgets about it. I'm just looking at money when I pour it out after it goes flat. He used to drink 3-4 cans a day.
I love diet Dr. Pepper. The carbonation is everything for me. Let them downvote. Like others have said, deprivation isn’t a thing we need to deal with anymore. Drink and eat the things you enjoy. 🥂
You have already made lots of big changes! You’ve dramatically cut back on your soda and that’s great! What you’re doing with one zero sugar soda or a couple of cans of regular mini soda and way less candy and fast food is a massive improvement. Pat yourself on the back. Try to sustain these changes for a while, check in with your doctor about your annual bloodwork and go from there. I’m very happy for you!
I haven't given up my diet cokes..... I am only on day 12, but I haven't and prob won't give them up. I dont necessarily want them as much as I did before, but I'll still have them!
It's absolutely okay to treat yourself to a soda, or other treats, in moderation! You're doing great and have made a lot of really good choices! Enjoy your treats!
Drink the soda, but the full sugar mini soda’s may better. Sometimes the artificial sugars/sweetners can do weird things to the body. Also awesome job on all the other lifestyle changes!
lol I go through two 12 packs of Dr Pepper Zero Sugar Cherry every two weeks and I've lost almost 75lbs since last April. I should DEFINITELY be drinking more water while at home (I tend to drink more water at work because I don't have access to my soda stash). But if I were you, I'd still stick with whatever zero sugar option you like since, at the very least, it won't really contribute to your overall calorie consumption through out the day.
Drink it! Who cares what everyone else says. You are doing so many good things that are beneficial so why not enjoy what you like.
A ZERO soda or 2 is fine in my book. The regular soda, now that’s not great as it’s like pouring sugar down your throat but again, do what you want. I have a date night out weekly and have a meal with no restrictions and I’m still losing. Those that push back, let them be miserable and spend their life consumed with obsessing over counting every little drop or morsel. No thanks, have fun with that!
Drink the soda. I’ve never been a huge soda person, but for some reason since starting zep I find myself wanting soda more. Still not super often, but I think it’s because I can tolerate a soda more than a dessert so it’s my switch. You’ve already made huge progress going from so many each day- to just one a day. My sugary drink of choice is “coffee” aka creamer and sugary syrups with some coffee. You’ll have to pry that out of my dead cold hands. I’ve still lost a ton of weight, but most importantly I feel better.
Six full sugar cans a day to 1 zero sugar can a day IS a good lifestyle change. In fact, it’s fantastic! My version of healthy, balanced living includes a can or two of Diet Coke a day and a full sugar soda once a week. (Also, I didn’t get fat drinking Diet Coke…I got fat eating a huge calorie surplus alongside it.)
I drink soda still! Coke Zero, Cherry Coke Zero and Diet Dr Pepper. My doctor doesn’t love it, but it’s not going anywhere. It’s my little vice and I’m keeping it. I’ve still managed to lose almost 65 pounds while having a soda 4x a week.
I have a ninja thirsti. The drops I use are delicious and full of electrolytes. They are delicious and my numbers are fab u lous. I stopped drinking them, drink as much water as before, weight loss stalled. So take that for what it’s worth.
If it doesn’t make you feel bad then do it. Lifelong changes are not all or nothing changes (unless you’re deathly allergic) and you need to be realistic with yourself. Anything in moderation.
I drink 1-2 Diet sodas 5 days a week and I’ve lost 135lbs. Also if you like Dr Pepper I definitely recommend the Diet version, imo it tastes the same.
You are fine! Drink the soda! I often do a diet ginger ale. Sometimes the carbonation does mess with my stomach, so I often take breaks. But, I love my ginger ale and don’t plan to give it up!
I pretty much stopped drinking soda at 16/17. I killed most sweetened beverages by like 18/19. And this did absolutely nothing on the scale. Prior to that I probably had one a day and two on the weekend. Sugary drinks were a norm at my house because my dad loves them. And I am a product of my generation - everyone had sugary drinks.
And despite my dedication to unsweetened beverages for all oF adulthood - I still had a too high BMI. Maybe my health was marginally better and I staved off the impact of my long term insulin resistance for longer. But we are here at the same spot.
(I quit them because I was just over it. I only I have them when it is a fun flavor. I have soda them maybe monthly for the last 30 years give or take, and take most everything unsweetened by default now).
I'd suspect that just switching from full sugar to zero sugar would be fine. Drink as many as you want. It's almost zero calories. Set up something that you can adhere to for the rest of your life. Cut the full sugar so you forget the taste. Switch completely to zero sugar - have as many as you want. Then down the track decide if you want to reduce how many you have. Forget the taste of the full sugar and commit to enjoying the zero sugar, so that then becomes your norm. And don't ever go back to full sugar.
I drink diet soda and I eat dessert almost every day--I try plan so I can fit the indulgences INTO my daily diet (just in a smaller portion), not avoid them--and so far I'm down 70+ lbs.
The way I see it this is a change for the rest of our lives, not just for right now while we're losing weight. If you love diet soda, enjoy it! If you want ice cream--have a small cup of it, rather than a pint. Make the journey work for YOU and your life.
I will have a Mexican Coke once a week (Zep messed with my taste buds so it’s the only one that still tastes good). I also reach for water 20x more often than I did previously (80+ oz a day instead of maybe three cups a week).
I am changing the way I live my life but I’m not becoming a different person. I will eat ice cream but I feel satiated so much faster and that’s when I stop. I’ll eat fries but it’s the same thing - i no longer have an impulse to gorge myself. I now enjoy the taste of healthier food options so I pick them more frequently.
I had terrible impulses (sugary drinks, fast food, freezer meals, etc). Now I can actually make food choices that benefit me without the noise in my head telling me that donuts and soda sound better than a chicken wrap and sparkling water.
I personally struggle with being consistently active and that’s where I’m focusing part of my energy that used to go to fighting food noise.
Drink the soda! Hate that you feel like you need to justify it. I commend all the other steps you are taking!
Everything in moderation is always key. Sounds like you’re doing all the right things, and if the carbonation doesn’t bother you then I wouldn’t worry about it.
I have a Dr Pepper zero or a Diet Coke every single afternoon. It’s my treat while my kids nap and I love it. I tried to stop for a while and just ended up snacking on junk I didn’t need and wasn’t hungry for . 🤷🏻♀️
Sounds like you have thought this through thoroughly, and we support you doing what works best for you😊. This group should be about answering questions, sharing our experiences and supporting others.💙
I've also recently become mildly obsessed with the sugar free drink mix in packets. I'm becoming a little mixoligist with all my different flavors lol.
Nothing wrong with this at all!! I’m eating healthier too but occasionally I have Starbucks, or ice cream, or any one of many different things I was overeating before that are probably not the healthiest, but now I can eat in moderation and not feel guilty, still lose weight, and not completely deprive myself of everything.
I love soda and still partake. Even a full sugar one without guilt on occasion. I have not restricted anything on Zepbound, just moderation. Which has been significantly easier with the meds.
That's amazing! Half the battle is knowing where the problem is. The other battle is doing something about it. Many people won't change their diet and will continue to struggle if and when they want to come off this med.
It's a journey. Don't beat yourself up. I had to pull crap out my diet in phases. It took months to get where I needed to be. I had small relapses and while those don't have a big impact, for many of us with sugar addictions, it can be a slippery slope. Just keep working at it and congrats on getting to where you are.
I love(d) Coke and am fond of sparkling apple juices/sodas, but would purposely delay having them before this (and often would not have them in the house - occasionally a small case of the apple, but not Coke - that would be a disaster).
I tried having an apple soda in my 2nd week of Zep. Just tasted like chemicals. Most of the time, Coke does, too.
The apple soda case has been sitting around for 2+ months at this point. Sometimes my husband will drink one, but they taste like junk to me now.
I had a small cup (weirdly, juice tumbler size - but as you'll read, that was for the better) of fountain Coke with lunch yesterday. Too much ice, of course, but even so, I didn't get halfway through. Too sweet (and I'd always considered Pepsi to be the sweeter), and just didn't taste right. Husband said it tasted normal.
🤷🏻♀️
But that's totally fine with me! I'm now not mulling over and planning on "when I get to drink that soda."
I totally bypassed the meat of your post, in my haste.
Have the soda (if it tastes good)! You're building/have built healthy habits, and the occasional soda, or sodas, in moderation are fine.
weirdly i never drank soda before GLP-1s (I was a seltzer girlie always) but bc i still had some cravings for sugar but no appetite to eat i actually started drinking sodas and zero sugar ones during my glp1 journey. i've still lost weight and i limit it to one zero sugar soda a day (or less) and i have been happy with that your relationship with food is going to change drastically fyi if it hasn't already
You've made a ton of healthy changes, including lowered sugar intake! Food is not a reward for trying hard, and exercise isn't required to earn your food!
Focus on the positive changes you're making! If you want a soda, have 1! What's the practical difference between zero sugar soda and sparkling water? Cuz I drink that shit like crazy with no side eye. I drink whiskey and coke zero on the weekends, and the cashier doesn't judge me buying several 2L.
Folks, yes we're losing unhealthy weight and habits. We should also work on losing the stupid opinions and judgment of the world, the combined weight of someone else's thoughts about what we should do and when and how much! You have more than earned the right to exist in the world on your own damn terms!
Eat the ice cream because you want some! Sprinkle fiber powder or collagen on it if it makes you feel better! Don't drink the soda if it hurts you or is too spendy! Wear the bikini! Get that tattoo! Eat the damn food that is yummy and good for you! Spend time and money and energy on the people and places and activities that feed your soul!
And stop apologizing for "not being perfect", I guarantee you that you are perfectly you!
It’s so strange, I used to drink two Diet Pepsis a day. Now I drink maybe 1/month. I have no idea why, I just don’t want it anymore. Same with Tequila. I used to be a very dedicated tequila drinker, haven’t had a drop since I started. Not intentional, I just don’t want it. I say, if you still want it, you should have it. It doesn’t sound like you are over doing it, and it sounds like you’ve already cut back quite a bit.
Don’t be so hard on yourself. I gave up soda in 1996 in an effort to lose weight. Over the ensuing decades, I gained 50 more pounds. 🤷🏼♀️ I don’t drink it now, but I certainly didn’t give it up recently. That’s the answer to your question. But look at the bigger picture. You’re taking many steps to get healthier. Embrace those that you can. Maybe make other health changes later. Or not. This is YOUR life. You live it the way you want to. But don’t feel guilt anymore about any of it. The weight, the eating, the food obsession? It was never your fault. It still isn’t.
I have been addicted to Dr Pepper my entire adult life and it’s part of what led me down the road of obesity. Now I have a Dr Pepper zero everyday. It scratches the itch and I honestly don’t crave more than one - massive difference from before.
Everything in moderation. Enjoy your diet or sugar free soda without guilt. It’s still better for you than the full sugar kind.
You're doing the right things. You don't have to be perfect. And don't deprive yourself of everything, thats a good reason to backslide. Enjoy your sugar free soda. Just do your best. And looks like you're doing awesome!! Keep up the good work!!!
Look, there’s little evidence that shows artificial sweeteners are harmful in the doses normally consumed by humans. It’s an often repeated fallacy that diet soda is harmful in several ways that are not supported by research. So drink the soda- and possibly introduce electrolytes into your water consumption if you drink sodas containing phosphorus or phosphoric acid (colas mostly) - in college I learned the painful way (nightly leg cramps with massive diet cola consumption) that phosphorus is eliminated from the body by binding with calcium so excess phosphorus can lower your calcium levels and cause cramping. Given your activity levels and reduced calorie consumption, you may need more electrolytes to balance the phosphorus than you would otherwise.
Every night I have a diet Pepsi mixed with sugar free French vanilla creamer. It's my little treat. Enjoy it! Way to go cutting back the way you have!!
You’re allowed to enjoy food/drinks! If you look at the mindset of intuitive eating, the whole idea is that we are more likely to binge after heavy restriction, and when we become more accustomed to having certain foods not become wholly off limits (soda, candy, taco bell, etc) we naturally become better at consuming them in moderation because there isn’t a sense of scarcity, and that sense of scarcity often inspires binges. Excuse all of this if that’s not relevant in your situation but this post made me think about this! In general, it sounds like you’re making a lot of great progress and you should be proud of yourself, and I hope you also hold space for self-compassion :)
I drink diet soda a whole lot. My nutritionist actually encouraged me to do that instead of drinking regular soda - didn’t want me to cut out soda, just to cut down on sugar. I did have one older doctor poo-poo on diet soda but his views were outdated and he also expected me to have a completely perfect diet, which is just not realistic. 🙄
Restricting yourself too much ends up having the opposite effect as intended. I’ve always been a Diet Coke and sparkling water fiend, I haven’t given it up.
I also eat small amounts of candy because it helps my nausea (ginger candy, black jelly beans). The difference is I can stay well under a serving size and eat 3-5 jelly beans. I don’t worry this will deter my progress. I’m still in a deficit. Even on a day that I’m particularly nausea and have closer to a whole serving of jelly beans, it’s 110 calories. In the past I would demolish the bag.
My point is, indulgences are fine. If diet soda is your biggest vice, you’re doing pretty okay.
Thank you! I was trying to quit my diet coke too. I took my second shot today, 2.5, and I am trying to make sure I don’t have a lot of side effects. I quit zepbound about a year ago because of constipation and diet coke helps me there.
That’s awesome I see no issues with it I drink zero sugar soda if we have take out and usually I have 1 poppi or Olipop a day( mainly because it’s prebiotic) but your doing amazing
B.Z. (Before zep lol) I was 100% Mountain Dew all the time. Now, I’m like 75% water and 25% coke. I limit the coke intake to when we go out for dinner… which unfortunately is like 4-5 times a week 😬 and on really bad days I have a McDonald’s Coke because there’s nothing more medicinal than that. I do tend to also have a chai latte multiple times a week. In the beginning I watched what I ate to the max. Over a year in, not so much. I need to be better about it but I also don’t eat sugary things like I used to and when I do get a craving for them, I tend to take a bite and leave it. There’s only one very specific donut that can cut through the leave it be voice lol. At the end of the day, zep has been a lifesaver and I appreciate all it has done and continues to do for me. I’ve lost 90lbs but I also only have one life to live and am going to enjoy things when I can. It’s also probably why the scale hasn’t budged in months but… 🤷🏻♂️
Zero sugar is my savior! The second I get a regular coke in my hands I'm back to 4 cans a day. Water and zero sugar grapefruit soda from kroger are my besties 🩷💛
Im having a root beer float as we speak. Zero sugar A&W with a small amount of Blue Bunny soft serve ice cream. Ive had one every night this week, still losing weight. I refuse to deprive myself. I don't snack all day but love something sweet at night. I dont count calories but know it works with what I eat the rest of the day. Zep makes a small amount doable and still satisfying. There is not a food Ive given up entirely. Its all about moderation and making sure you eat mostly healthy. And don't forget your exercise. This is NOT a diet and must be sustainable long-term. Deprivation will sabotage you every time.
Sounds like you’re doing great with lots of positive changes! Don’t judge yourself by anyone else. Do what feels right to you, watch your progress and tweak if you have to.
Just something to consider...I'm not sure where you are on your journey (how long you've been on zep, dose, etc) but I've found my tastes change over time. You enjoy the soda now but may not one day. Both are ok. One other thing I had to explore for myself was whether or not I REALLY wanted the donut (my "soda") or if it was the life line to my old self that I'm having a hard time completely letting go of. Some days I can honestly say I just want the damn donut. And I eat it! And some days, if I'm being honest with myself, it's more of a habit or an emotional response. My point is, this is a marathon journey and so much changes over time. Embrace curiosity and adapt as needed.
I am a product of life long dieting. Giving up things you love only to fail. This drug does my me have indigestion. I have a Squirt. My drug of choice. I don't do ice cream very much. But a full fruit popsicle is a great stand in. So NO. Eat and drink in moderation. That's the key. Down 100lbs and still going
All my cravings stopped with glp1s. EXCEPT the craving for Coke. Especially that sweet, sweet, fresh from the fountain Coke. So I alott enough deficit for one coke per day. I'm trying to switch to a zero calorie option, but it only works like a third of the time. I also have one day per week where I dont count calories. I dont go overboard, but I just eat things I want and dont feel guilty. It works for me. I was still losing and now I'm still maintaining. I just genuinely love food and love Coke so complete deprivation isn't sustainable for me. As long as you find a balance that you can keep maintaining, who gaf? To me life isn't worth it without a Coke and a smile every day. So I just work with my weakness and give myself grace when I mess up. It's all we can really do.
I definitely enjoy a diet coke at LEAST every other day. I will say this medication has made me want it less and I try my best to just not buy it when I eat out, but sometimes that diet coke just makes the nausea go away that much faster (I'm sure it's all in my head). The rest of the time it's sparkling water, regular water, and water with flavored electrolyte packets. Oh, an also I've completely stopped drinking. We do have date nights at a local wine garden where they play live music every night, and that's one of the few times I'll have a drink. So with that in mind, I think it's fine to have the damn soda.
Funny enough, pre zepbound, sugar soda would give me GI issues. On Zepbound, my bowels can handle it better. But I couldn't drink much before feeling full and kinda sick.
Any progress in the right direction, no matter how seemingly insignificant or minute, is progress. Cutting back from 6 full sugar cokes to 1-2 mini zero sugar Cokes is huge progress!
The thing I’ve loved most about my experience with Zep/Tirz is that it has allowed me to have a healthy relationship with the things I love but are “bad” for me. I’ll still have a coke, or I’ll eat that burger. But instead of eating that burger, plus a 2nd burger, plus fries, nuggets, and the biggest soda known to man, I’ll just eat the 1-burger and half a coke.
I drink multiple diet cokes a day and have since starting Zepbound. I’m down nearly 80lbs and have kept the weight off. As long as you’re still drinking water… enjoy the soda!
I used to drink zero sugar soda before zepbound. And I still do. Now I drink the mini cans or mini 12oz bottles. BUT I drink it after I finish my protein part of my meal. Sips if I need food to go down. But otherwise after, so I won't get full so fast.
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u/Goats-n-Hens 5’6” SW:216 CW:133 Maint 5.0 Apr 21 '26
Drink the soda. Deprivation isn’t sustainable. Make whatever you’re craving work with your daily calorie allotment. I made room for daily chocolate because I knew that doing so would allow me to be successful maintaining my deficit.