How to drink more water and less bad "Crap"

[RSBDavid]

I am addicted to caffeinated beverages like soda and energy drinks. I rely on these to keep me going at school. I am in need of a method to stop drinking these because they will kill me. In fact, I have noticed an increase in heart rate and a slight weight gain(40 pounds ). I've tried stopping on my own and I ultimately failed. Right now I currently consume 20-40 oz of bad beverages( pop and energy drinks) a day. I can't stand the blandness of water and none of the flavored waters are doing it.

 

There is only one type of water I have actually liked. It was this water I got at this musicians convention at Swee[bleep]er Sound, but I have since forgot its name. It had something to do with electron charged molecules, but I cannot find it.

 

I basically need advice on how to drink more water and stay away from these bad drinks.

 

Thank you in advanced.

[Lenticular_J]

Don't buy anything besides water or milk (some fruit juice is acceptable). Buy lemons and limes, or just the juice (preferably the fruit, though), and you can flavor the water. Water's a better energy drink anyways. All water has electrolytes, because that's how the molecules are formed. Water advertised as such usually has sugar in it, though.

 

Buy a water bottle or something if you drink a lot at school. I mean, seriously. Not that difficult. Plus, you'll feel a lot better. Just gotta hunker down.

[RSBDavid]

 

Buy a water bottle or something if you drink a lot at school. I mean, seriously. Not that difficult. Plus, you'll feel a lot better. Just gotta hunker down.

 

 

Easier said then done. I live in the middle-of-fricking-nowhere and the nearest store which doesn't sell booze or crappy water is 30 miles away.

[helpmeownlife]

I'd avoid refilling your water bottle at school though. Try filling up 2 or 3 at home and using those. If your school is anything like mine, well, don't trust the water fountains.

[RSBDavid]

I'd avoid refilling your water bottle at school though. Try filling up 2 or 3 at home and using those. If your school is anything like mine, well, don't trust the water fountains.

 

We have well water which we have to boil. Even after boiling, it still tastes and smells bad.

[Kilo]

Buy a 24 pack of poland spring water, put it in your room. If you get thirsty you're more likely to react in a lazy way and stay in your room rather than get a cold drink. All it takes is a little self discipline. You have to want it.

[stevepole]

High-fructose corn syrup make you fat. I would try to avoid them and stick to beverages that offer real sugar. Also tell your parents or whomever to buy more juices when they go grocery shopping over pop/soda/coke. Also the only real way to drink water is just to drink it. You can also try teas and whatnot as they are a health alternative.

[stonewall337]

Or don't bother with bottled water at all...

[fakeitormakeit2]

Or don't bother with bottled water at all...

Bottled water is bad. To make one gallon it pollutes three gallons of water, not to mention the various chemicals you ingest due to the water bottle being plastic which releases particles under heat of light and a water bottle is the perfect petri dish for bacteria.

 

Instead of soda try like pomegranate juice, hits the spot plus its full of antioxidants and prevents blood platelets from sticking. As someone said you could also try tea. There is this one iced tea I get from Whole Foods and its really good, its green tea and peach juice, another is black tea and cranberry juice. They're natural and taste really good.

[meol]

Real teas (none of these iced teas filled with sugar) and fruit juices are really good alternatives. They might still have some natural sugars on them, but it's less than what a soda has, and healthier.

[i_love_burritos]

I'd avoid refilling your water bottle at school though. Try filling up 2 or 3 at home and using those. If your school is anything like mine, well, don't trust the water fountains.

 

We have well water which we have to boil. Even after boiling, it still tastes and smells bad.

 

The boiling evaporates all the dissolved gases in the water [O₂, oxygen] which makes the water taste, dry, and bland. You might want to buy a filter instead. With the gases, water actually tastes "sweet" and refreshing.

 

Milk on it's own tastes delicious. A glass of cold milk, that is. Drink milk. :thumbup: Or chocolate milk, but I doubt that is more healthy than what you're drinking now.

[Romy]

Real teas (none of these iced teas filled with sugar) and fruit juices are really good alternatives. They might still have some natural sugars on them, but it's less than what a soda has, and healthier.

 

Fruit juices aren't that good. I read an article about those a year ago, and since then I try to avoid drinking fruit juices completely. You practically consume fattening air when you drink orange juice because the orange loses it's entire nutritious value after being exposed to light and air for a period of over a few minutes.

 

Fruit juices are still a much better alternative to energy drinks, etc.

[Guy]

i actually bought a water cooler thing to go on my desk, and since i have stopped drinking so much coke, down from 1 - 2 per day to 1 every 2 or so days. i used to drink soda when i was thirsty, instead of water, but now i have a water cooler in arms reach, it is the lazier option to just drink water.

[Jeffwilson99]

As others have said (have they? Can't remember), start by giving away/throwing out your current supply. And when you think you're gonna be sitting around home for a while, doing nothing, tempted to drink something sweet or whatever, go brush your teeth. I find after brushing my teeth, I can't eat or drink anything but water, cos everything else tastes funny. It will also make the water taste fresh and minty :thumbup:

Also, just get a drink bottle and fill it up with tapwater, ain't nothing wrong with the [cabbage] straight from the tap. None of this spring bottled water crap.

[fastortoise]

I'd avoid refilling your water bottle at school though. Try filling up 2 or 3 at home and using those. If your school is anything like mine, well, don't trust the water fountains.

 

We have well water which we have to boil. Even after boiling, it still tastes and smells bad.

What the [bleep] is in your well? My grandmother's well water is the best water I've ever tasted.

[obfuscator]

Try leaving your money at home, that way you have nothing to drink but water.

 

And 40lbs is not a "slight weight increase".

 

Really the only way to do this is just suck it up, water never will taste as good as some other beverages. Every time you want to drink coke, think of ulcers in your stomach...that helped me.

[Kriegsmier]

Don't stop drinking the soda. At least not yet. Just for every 1-2 sodas drink a bottle/glass of water, and just keep decreasing the soda and increasing the water. Don't stop drinking soda completely yet, just work water into your current intake.

[Romy]

Don't stop drinking the soda. At least not yet. Just for every 1-2 sodas drink a bottle/glass of water, and just keep decreasing the soda and increasing the water. Don't stop drinking soda completely yet, just work water into your current intake.

 

Why?

[1_man_army]

Don't stop drinking the soda. At least not yet. Just for every 1-2 sodas drink a bottle/glass of water, and just keep decreasing the soda and increasing the water. Don't stop drinking soda completely yet, just work water into your current intake.

 

Why?

 

It's the same principle as when people try to stop smoking. If you go cold turkey you'll get strong urges to drink the soda again because your body is used to it. Instead you gradually lower your intake and wean your body off of it while getting used to consuming more water gradually at the same time. If you cut it out completely right away I think there is a much lesser chance of you stopping drinking the soda in the long term.

[Romy]

Don't stop drinking the soda. At least not yet. Just for every 1-2 sodas drink a bottle/glass of water, and just keep decreasing the soda and increasing the water. Don't stop drinking soda completely yet, just work water into your current intake.

 

Why?

 

It's the same principle as when people try to stop smoking. If you go cold turkey you'll get strong urges to drink the soda again because your body is used to it. Instead you gradually lower your intake and wean your body off of it while getting used to consuming more water gradually at the same time. If you cut it out completely right away I think there is a much lesser chance of you stopping drinking the soda in the long term.

 

As far as my experience with addictions went, it never works to lower consumption gradually. You just gotta make a decision to stop and do it, otherwise you'll keep getting back to your addiction.

[1_man_army]

That may be your experience but if you look at how methadone is prescribed for heroin users and how nicotine replacement therapy works then you can see how the gradual reduction method works. An immediate halt to all consumption tends to create a more significant craving which is counter-productive. Obviously, it depends on the case and the person but for strong addictions (speaking more generally now) gradual reduction is favoured. Again, it depends on the case though, some people can cold turkey their addictions but I wouldn't think they would be in the majority - particularly with stronger and more serious addictions.

[Romy]

That may be your experience but if you look at how methadone is prescribed for heroin users and how nicotine replacement therapy works then you can see how the gradual reduction method works. An immediate halt to all consumption tends to create a more significant craving which is counter-productive. Obviously, it depends on the case and the person but for strong addictions (speaking more generally now) gradual reduction is favoured. Again, it depends on the case though, some people can cold turkey their addictions but I wouldn't think they would be in the majority - particularly with stronger and more serious addictions.

 

I wouldn't know about the heroin part, but I've seen too many people use nicotine replacements and never succeed. My mother's been a heavy smoker for like 30 years, and she tried it, and it never worked. Her brother on the other hand, just decided to quit (he's been smoking for almost 45 years, like 5 boxes of cigarretes a day) and he did for 9 years so far.

 

I could be wrong though, it's possible that stopping bits by bits is easier for some, but I still find it harder...

[Jeffwilson99]

Well I don't know if BBaller is actually "addicted" to soft drinks as such, or its just more of a lifestyle thing and habit thing

[RSBDavid]

Well I don't know if BBaller is actually "addicted" to soft drinks as such, or its just more of a lifestyle thing and habit thing

 

 

I believe it's his lifestyle. He has to have a soft drink everyday.

[Lenticular_J]

Is your well [bleep]ed up or something? I grew up on well water, and it was just fine - luckily I also avoided all the teeth nastiness that tends to come with it. It wasn't particularly great, although it was better than here in a city. Although this town has a reputation for nasty water. Our public services suck in general.