How to curb an addiction?

Question
My mother and I are unhealthy, and we have an addiction to the equivalent of alcoholism---

soda-popaholicism.

We are addicted to soda pop.

We recently have been trying to get into shape and lose weight/get toned, and our main problem is the soda pop. I went 3 days without one, she went a whole day and a half.

We are literally addicted to soda pop and for me, I personally went into a withdrawal and went out of my way to buy a can while at school.

My mother is a recovering alcoholic (sober 10 years) and says this is exactly when she was a heavy drinker.

She and I can go through a 12 pack of coca cola in a single day.

Neither of us are fat, but the soda is giving us flab. We eat healthy and don't eat fast food and only eat convenience food when necessary.

But the soda is making us gain weight like hell.

Please help us!! We don't want to drink soda anymore!!

The one thing we crave the most is the carbonation.
Is there some alternative drink that is carbonated but not syrupy like soda?
Is there a way to imitate the carbonation?

Please help!!!

thanks (:

Answer
Hi Desirai,

You are really in quite a predicament. I believe what you and your mother are really addicted to is the caffeine and the sugar in the soda.... the more you have it, the more you crave it. You might not do well trying to stop cold turkey.  Try replacing a small number of cans each day with a substitute. You can try seltzer, which is plain soda water; you can try flavored seltzers (make sure you read the label and it contains no sugar--lots of them do!) Canada Dry and LaCroix are a couple of brands that make seltzer in orange, berry, lemon-lime, and other light tasting flavors; you can try water with a bit of juice in it; you can try different flavored teas; you can replace some of the regular sodas with diet sodas, or have 1/2 a can of each mixed together.
I would suggest trying to replace 2 or 3 cans a day for a few days, then another 2 or 3 cans per day, until you can wean off the sodas in a few weeks.  Eventually you will be aiming for just 2 or 3 a day, and finally just 1 every few days. Everything in moderation is fine, so you don't have to give it all up forever--knowing that may help you get through the tougher days!

let me know how it goes :)
Laurie

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