I have a very very very bad addiction to Pepsi Max, and it currently stands at around 4 liters a day, with 90mg/12 fl oz So in reality I am taking in 1000mg a day from pepsi max, plus aspartame. As if that were not bad enough, I also spray that Mio Energy into it, all of this with a lip of snuff in. I need help, it may sound absolutely absurd but legal stimulant drugs run my life. As I write this, I literally feel like my chest is made of stone. None of my vitals are abnormal. I am destroying my body slowly and painfully and I just can't figure out how to quit.
Well at least you can consider your addiction unique! I mean that in a good way as it's not cocaine or something life-threatening, not is it as difficult to quit. I used to love Coke as a teenager and my teeth are bad today as a result. I'm not professional in getting people to quit things but what I can recommend is knowing the negative effects and limiting your consumption. Perhaps consult a friend or family member in real life that can help you, if you live alone, perhaps consult a professional of sorts. Acknowledge what can happen to you as a result of it and find ways to avoid it. If you're at a restaurant for example, order something different, like a juice or flavored water. Find other ways to spend that time and other, more important ways to spend that money. Consider how much better you'll be without it and acknowledge the fact that it's perfectly possible to live a happy life without it. If you depend on the energy you get as a result of drinking, you can get your daily kick of energy from an alternative such as coffee or fruit. I'm sure more people will provide better replies as this post goes on, good luck and regards.
@AngryItalian... I was addicted to Diet Coke for years. I would drink it constantly, from the time I got up in the morning until the time I went to bed at night. I finally decided enough was enough and started to wean myself off of it. I cut down a little bit each day and finally was able to get rid of it altogether. It wasn't easy, but I did it. I now drink water and sparkling water, with an occasional iced tea, and no soda whatsoever. You might want to consider cutting down on the Pepsi Max a little bit each day. Taking in that much caffeine every day isn't good for you. And that Apartame stuff is sh*t, too. I wish you luck, my friend. Just know that you can do this!
There was a time that I can't go about my day without drinking Coke. I consume about 2 liters of Coke on a daily basis. I knew that consuming that much was bad for me but I just can't help myself. Moreover, it was really hard for me to stay away from it because my boss back then is supplying me with it. He knows that I love drinking it and it's kind of an energy booster for me so my boss saw to it that I always have two liters of Coke at the office. Then something happened with the company that it had to close. My boss and I parted ways. And that's when I was able to stop drinking Coke because no one is supplying me with it. In your case, you are your own supplier. So you have control of how much Pepsi you will buy. Cut it down little by little. It would be hard at first, but later on you'll be able to get rid of your cravings for it. You can also substitute if with other drinks that are healthier, like fruit juice. You can even make your own. Anyway, I hope this helps you a bit. Good luck and do your best.
I would have to say that is a lot of Pepsi Max that you are consuming. I have had friends who were addicted to pop before and they have weaned themselves off of it. Like other addictions, it can be hard but you have to be willing to do it and keep working on it every day. I am sure that your wallet will also benefit from stopping this addiction. Good luck.
I would just say what I would do if you @AngryItalian were living in my house. I would submit you to a professional; you need immediate help and you are the only one who can save yourself if you make a move now. Please don't wait another day, you say your vitals are abnormal; then you can make life longer if you take special care of yourself. Please act now.
Just try to ween yourself off of this stuff. The best way to start is by cutting back. You eventually have to stop drinking this stuff all together. Pepsi has a lot of caffeine in it and that's terrible for your health. You should really start drinking more water.
Angry Italian, You have to do something. Cut down and alter your intake with beverages like Iced Tea or water. Maybe add some flavor enhancers to it. to give you the flavor you may think you are missing. If you try to quit all at once, you will get severe headaches from the caffeine withdrawal, but bit by bit you should be able to manage it.
It's a good thing that you have realised your addiction problem even though this could be considered a mild form of addiction because it's not readily life threatening. However, this excessive consumption of Pepsi will have a negative impact on your health. Therefore, it's really important for you to wean yourself of the habit. Probably a nutritionist may be able to guide you on how to get rid of your dependence on the drink.
Hey I used to be addicted to Dr.Pepper too! I used to drink like 2 bottles of dr. Pepper every single day and that translated to over 300 grams of sugar a day! Not good! I would probably ease off the Pepsi as it could lead to obesity and may trigger a heart attack after constant use!
Four liters a day? I cannot imagine to have that much pepsi inside my body even in a week. Of course I love soft drinks like pepsi, however, I don't drink soft drinks too much. At max, I drink half liters in a day usually during the summer. When I feel thirsty, I drink water.
You are definitely not alone. My sister shares your addiction. She would frequent the same store to get her Pepsi and the cashier was so use to her coming in that it was embarrassing to my sister. She started going to different stores to buy her Pepsi. To me, it’s very similar to how people react to coffee. Now for me, I just limit myself to at least 2 cups of coffee a day. Every now and then I will drink an extra cup at night. I try to drink green tea to replace the warm drink I sometimes crave at night. I was wondering how your diet is. Do you work out? How is your sleeping pattern? Have you thought about visiting your doctor? There could be factors that is going on in your body that makes you more incline to take in a lot of caffeine.
I don't know about Pepsi Mac particularly but I have encountered several persons addicted to Coca Cola. One of them had a really big issue because he drank 2 litres of Cola per day, minimum, So he had a seizure. His liver and pancreas reacted aggressively and he ended up in hospital. The doctors managed to save his life but told him that another glass of Cola or some similar drink would literally kill him. It is a very bad habit and it is dangerous.
You will have no choice but wean yourself off it or go cold turkey. I did so myself, I used to drink so much soda... then I decided it was enough, I started eating better, lose weight and that helped me stay away from those sugary drinks. Sadly it's all about will power.
There was a few times in my life that I craved Cola so much that I had to drink it everyday. But I've moved on from that and now drink it only once or twice a month. What I'm trying to say is, everything in excess can be bad for you. Now, when it comes to drugs, it's better to stay away from them completely. But with Pepsi and Coca Cola, you can have them even in just moderation. You just need to find a way to control your intake of Pepsi. Have you tried gradually lowering your consumption? Maybe start with limiting it to three litres a day this month. Next month, make it two litres a day. Then the following month, make it a litre a day. Until you can get by with just a glass a day... Then a glass a week... Then a glass per month. I know it seems impossible but at least try, you'll never know until you have tried it anyway. If this doesn't work for you, try quitting cold turkey. Do not buy Pepsi and don't stock your fridge with it. Have someone else do your groceries for you. This way, you won't be swayed into buying the drink since you won't be at the market anyway. Another option is to look for a therapist that can help you with your addiction. They can give you some tips and advices as well as options. Lastly, try having healthier alternatives. Try fruit juices which are a dozen times healthier but can give you that sweetness you crave. If you can make it from scratch, the better. Mangoes are very sweet and can be refreshing. Watermelons taste great as shakes as well. Good luck!
My husband is addicted to pop and I restrict him to one glass per day, which he usually consumes in the evening after coming home from work. He doesn't even get a full bottle, just a glass-full, but it satisfies his need for flavored, fizzy drinks. The rest of the time he drinks water or tea and has gotten more used to that. His main addiction is sweet flavors, and he dislikes the taste of plain water. Water flavoring powders are unhealthy however, so I don't buy them. He makes do with tea although the taste is usually not sweet.
You can shift to something that's less extreme and less harmful, something more organic and not processed.