After 35 Years, I Gave Up Diet Coke. Here’s What Happened

I'd been trying to do this for years.

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Published October 18, 2024
Gregory Reid (Prop Stylist: JJ Chan)

I almost caved this morning, just like I have every morning since I gave up Diet Coke. Driving by my local McDonald’s after the gym is hard. Honestly, since I decided it was time to quit this habit, the one where I consumed about a liter of Diet Coke a day, I felt like something in my life was missing.

It probably sounds silly or downright stupid to some people to cry about not having a soda. But it’s not just the bubbly, cold sweetness I miss. It’s the ritual of it all. Having a little treat to look forward to.

My love for Diet Coke started in high school. I’d have a few cans after school and another with dinner. I’d go to the gas station and buy my own. In college, I was glued to the fountain soda machine for every meal, even breakfast. There were many nights I’d be at the bar with my friends, not in the mood to drink, and Diet Coke was my friend.

My son’s first sentence was, “Coke Mama.” He said it as we drove by McDonald’s because he’d heard me order one so many times.

My friends got me Diet Coke merchandise and sent me reels about Diet Coke.

I’ve been thinking about quitting for a few years now, never expecting I’d actually do it.

My daily liter bottle habit needed to end. I’m not someone who can have a soda every once in a while. I’m not that strong.

But I’m entering the last year of my 40s, and I want to feel and look my best and be as healthy as possible for myself and my kids. I’ve been complaining about feeling bloated and tired for years. And my eyes are always dry, red and sensitive. My adult kids kept telling me it was the soda. I’ve given up gluten, sugar and seed oil because I can’t tolerate them as I go through menopause. I exercise every day, stay hydrated and my sleep is on track.

I knew deep down they were probably right, even though I didn’t want to admit it. I’ve given up so many pleasures, and diet soda was my thing. My one thing. Then, I heard a podcast about how much inflammation can affect our health. The doctor explained that soda, even diet soda, causes more inflammation than anything else. Something clicked for me and that’s when I decided to try it.

Now, I will not get on my soapbox and tell anyone they should give up anything. But I wanted to see what would happen if I did.

I’ve consumed so much of it over the last 35 years that I was sure to see a vast change, right? I told myself I would do it for a few weeks to see what would happen. I didn’t have to commit to never having it again.

The first day wasn’t even hard because I was so determined. I thought I’d feel amazing and look fabulous. For sure the bags under my eyes would be gone, and I’d look more awake, right? Unfortunately, the benefits of giving up my beloved beverage weren’t that immediate.

I filled up a glass jug with unsweetened iced tea and brought it with me to the gym. When I was done with my workout, I could drink that on the way home and not be tempted by the magic machines at the Golden Arches. That was a Sunday, and while I missed the soda, I didn’t have any headaches because of the caffeine in the green tea. I took three naps. Three. And I slept like a baby that night.

Day two was harder, but I stayed strong. My mind was clearer while I worked, but I was so sleepy.

On day three, I woke up really sad because I missed my morning ritual. I told myself to just get through another day. That’s it. I felt great during my workout, though, and noticed my stomach was definitely smaller and less bloated. But I cried when I got in my car and drove home because I wanted a large Diet Coke so badly. I missed my friend, my comfy place. That’s what Diet Coke has been for me, as silly as that sounds.

Later, I was more comfortable sitting at my desk and working, but I was tired. That was a win, though — a win I needed.

Day four was the turning point. My energy was through the roof and my brain fog was gone. And my eyes? They were no longer bloodshot and irritated, even after a long day of writing.

On day five, I almost didn’t bring my tea to the gym. I nearly said screw it, this is dumb. But again, I told myself all I had to do was get through today. And I did.

It’s been weeks now. My clothes fit better, I wake up ready to go and I’ve been able to push harder at the gym than ever before. All brain fog is gone, and my skin and eyes look better than they have in a long time. I feel better than I have in decades.

I still miss my Diet Coke. I still crave it.

And maybe I always will. It’s just that I’m at a time in my life when feeling this good overpowers the way anything tastes. If I look at giving up my favorite drink that way, then I think I can do this.

Have any of you tried to give up diet soda — or something else? How did it go? Let us know in the comments below.

Katie Bingham-Smith is a longtime lifestyle, health, relationships, and parenting writer who’s spent the past seven years connecting with readers through her work at Scary Mommy. A regular contributor to AARP The Girlfriend Letter and Grown & Flown, she holds a BA in English Literature with a minor in creative writing from Green Mountain College. Her writing has appeared in multiple anthologies, Woman’s World, and Bangor Metro Magazine, and she’s currently finishing her first romance novel. Katie lives in Maine with her three kids, two ducks, and a Goldendoodle—and when she’s not writing, she’s reading, at the gym, redecorating, or doing a little too much online shopping.