30 Day No Soda Challenge

Detox your body from these sugary drinks and see these 30 day no soda challenge results.

Skinny Ms. has heard so many of you mention personal struggles with soda addiction. We know it isn’t easy to simply quit. So, for one month we challenge you to eliminate soda from your life completely. This means no regular or diet soda in order to see the 30 day no soda challenge results!

Not sure you’re ready to give up soda? Check out these two posts to learn more:  Soda’s Side Effects, More Reasons to Cut Out Soda, and Battling Soda Addiction.

Do it for Yourself

This challenge will be done on a “good-faith” basis. Do this challenge for yourself, and we will help motivate you and provide support along the way. We want you to participate because you want to, not because you have to. There are no contracts involved. It is simply a deal you make with yourself.

Even if you don’t have a problem with consuming too much soda, you can still benefit from this challenge! Most sugary drinks contain empty calories, refined sugar, and/or artificial sweeteners… so if you drink it, why not challenge yourself to cut it out for just one month and see if you notice any health benefits and see the 30 day no soda challenge results? What could it hurt?

You aren’t alone if you’re wondering how you will get by without soda. We gotcha covered, try these Skinny Ms. Natural Soda Alternatives or other Skinny Ms. Drinks to help fill the void sugar-sweetened beverages leave behind.

Why You Should Limit Soda

Did you know that one 12-ounce soft drink contains almost 40 grams of sugar? That’s 3 tablespoons! As you can see, soda contains excessive amounts of added sugar, artificial flavors, and unhealthy additives. Many sodas are also loaded with caffeine, which can be detrimental to your health. Studies have linked soda consumption to an increased risk of tooth decay, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other serious illnesses.

Added Sugar

Many sugary soft drinks contain added sugar, which can significantly increase your daily caloric intake. Sugar in soda has also been shown to harm the enamel on your teeth as well as increase blood pressure. Sweeteners in sugary beverages often come from high-fructose corn syrup, which is absorbed even faster than normal sugar. This means that your blood sugar will spike and crash even quicker than eating a piece of candy. Over time that can increase your risk for insulin resistance.

Caffeine

Drinks that contain caffeine (soda, energy drinks, and certain teas) can interfere with sleep patterns, increase heart rate and lead to headaches, irritability, or fatigue. It is also responsible for other health concerns like reduced bone density or high blood pressure. Caffeine is a diuretic as well, meaning it can cause you to urinate, and when consumed in large amounts can put stress on your kidneys and leave you feeling dehydrated.

Artificial Sweeteners

Diet soda may seem like a guilt-free way to indulge your sweet tooth but artificial sweeteners can actually lead to weight gain, headaches, mood swings, and other health issues. This can happen because these sweeteners can change the way your body processes sugar, leading to low blood sugar and insulin spikes. Over time that can increase your risk of type 2 diabetes.

No-Sode Challenge Guidelines

No Cheats

This challenge lasts for 30 days. If you have to start over, begin back at day one.

No Sodas Allowed

This includes diet or regular. See the questions and answers section below for tips!

Start a Soda Jar

Grab a jar and each day add the money you would typically spend on sodas to the bowl. If you normally buy a case, six-pack, or 2-liters when grocery shopping… add that amount of money to the jar. Anytime you find yourself craving a soda, add the money it would cost to purchase one. You can’t spend this money for the entire month. If you give in to your cravings, you have to start over for another month (but leave the cash in the jar!) Once you complete it, buy yourself something special with the money at the end of the month. You will deserve it! Be sure to let us know how much money you’ve collected for the duration of the challenge and what you rewarded yourself with!

Stock Up

If tap water isn’t your thing, buy several gallons of distilled water and drink it in place of sodas. You can usually find distilled water on sale for about .79 cents per gallon. We have other tips for making naturally flavored water right here at Skinny Ms.

Try having a cup of peppermint tea or make an entire pitcher. If peppermint tea isn’t your thing, have another kind of herbal tea, the possibilities are endless. If you must sweeten your tea, be sure to add a touch of honey or maple syrup rather than refined sugar or artificial sweeteners.

The possibilities are only as limited as your local grocery store, orchard, or garden. Remember that fresh fruit is a great way of naturally sweetening water without the empty calories. This also helps with getting the sugar you might be craving and will help make your challenge successful.

Check-In Daily

Take a minute each day or every few days, to leave a comment below and tell us about your progress. If you are struggling, let us know! We’re here to support and encourage!

Questions & Answers

I’ve tried so many times to kick the soda habit, but I get a terrible headache that lasts for several days. Any suggestions?

If you think headaches will be a problem, start lessening the amount of soda you drink each day…starting today! Here’s how it works:

For example, if you normally drink 3 sodas a day begin to reduce your intake by doing the following:

• First day: Drink 2 3/4 sodas
• Second day: Drink 2 1/2 sodas
• Third day: Drink 2 1/4 sodas
• Fourth day: Drink 2 sodas

You get the idea. Continue with this pattern until you’re down to zero sodas…then on with the challenge.

Drinking plenty of water can help reduce headaches by keeping you hydrated, too!

My grandmother drank a six-pack of sodas every day since I can remember. She lived to be 96. Come on, do you really believe sodas are all that bad?

We’ve heard similar arguments. There are exceptions to every rule, including living to be 100 and eating unhealthy on a daily basis. Or, maybe your grandfather smoked a pack of cigarettes every day for 50 years and lived to be 90. These are the exceptions. We focus on eating healthy as a way of life, not as a temporary fix.

If I slip up and have a soda does that mean I’m out of the challenge?

Of course not! But starting back at day one will allow you to truly enjoy your success at the end of the 30 days!

Haven’t you heard that anything in moderation is okay?

True, a lot of things in moderation are okay. On the other hand, many things in moderation are not okay. Can you think of any? We’re not opposed to drinking a soda on occasion but addiction of any kind is typically unhealthy. For many people, drinking one soda can lead to craving another and another and so on! It can be a slippery slope!

I drink sodas because I like them…they’re refreshing, especially when the weather is so hot. Why should I do this challenge?

You should do this challenge only if you want to. We’re inviting you to take this challenge if you have a difficult time going one day–or even two days–without having a soda. This challenge is for those who want to incorporate more healthy alternatives into their diets but have a difficult time doing so.

I drink about 2 to 3 diet sodas a day. I have to be honest, I don’t think there’s a thing wrong with drinking sodas. Why should I take this challenge?

If for no other reason than to prove you can do it. What do you have to lose? Maybe you’ll save a little money along the way and feel the benefits.

30 Day No Soda Challenge Results

The goal of this challenge is to break the soda addiction. This is not to say, “I quit soda forever and I’m never drinking a can of coke again”! Having a soda every now and again is not the same as having to have 3 or 4 sodas each day. We want to help you get through the first month so you have the motivation to continue on your own if you choose to and if you like the 30 day no soda challenge results. Whether or not you decide to continue living soda-free after the challenge is completely up to you. So what do you say? Will you join us?

Get Support

Skinny Ms. will serve as a source of motivation and support, so be sure to subscribe to our eNewsletter for more. You can interact with us on social media, or leave a comment below. You can find us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Youtube! Feel free to ask questions.

You can also find recipes for drink alternatives here. Do you have any requests for healthy beverage recipes? Let us know in the comment section!

Put your best effort into this challenge and we promise, it will be worth it. Get started with us and beat the soda addiction!! Are you in?

Enjoyed this post? Discover more:

• 30-Day Skinny Plate Challenge
• Top Kitchen and Grocery Hacks to Save Money
• Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread
• Classic Green Bean Casserole

NOTE: Skinny Ms. does not make any health claims about drinking soda one way or the other. We personally do not drink soda and have not for several years. We recommend you do the research and decide for yourself.