[beeutterfly]

I've been on Topamax for two full weeks as of Sunday & will be adding a morning dose. It's just not working good enough yet. But regardless of that, the inevitable has happened: carbonated anything tastes really nasty! I honestly would refer to Diet Pepsi as my "crack" & drank waaay too much of it. Now? I taste a bit of bubbles but mainly the syrup & it's just gross. It's good for my health & wallet but still makes me kinda sad.

So, I'm on the hunt for what to drink now! Any suggestions? I'm diabetic so I can't do too much juice. I'm quitting smoking so I'm avoiding coffee, though I don't drink much of it to begin with. I keep well hydrated but I'm so sick to death of drinking water all day! I added Crystal Light to the mix but even that is just... eh after a (little, unfortunately) while.

I suppose I'll never find a replacement for such a delicious beverage. What a wonderful experience it was to crack a colddd bottle open first thing in the morning & just let it burnnnn. Man, I miss it.

What do y'all think? I've tried to like hot tea all of my life but can really only swing Earl Grey once in a while & some kind of herbal with honey when I have a sore throat. That's it.

What's got a bite that's not carbonated? TIA for your replies!

[dillpickle1983]

How about those carbonated fruity water drinks? I know you said you were sick of water but its an idea.

Dooce. Orange dooce. Apple dooce. Whatever dooce you like. Yer too old fer the sippy cup tho...

Juice! [and carbonated water that you can buy separately where you get the juice.] Yummity yum. I love juice...uhh...dooce!

[PS...just add to taste...you'll find a mix you'll like...likely]

[lizardlady]

What about flavored water like Propel? It comes in all sorts of different flavors.

I also like Arizona tea that comes in a variety of flavors.

Or how about brewing your own tea and making iced tea?

[Yoda]

lemonade koolaid is good

I moved from soda to seltzer, you can get flavored ones and it's awesome.

[Maven]

I vote for the Propel Zero. I am trying to drink less Coke Cherry Zero because of the aspartame in it (which may be contributing to my blurry vision, I discovered recently), and I've started with PZ. I know it comes in several flavors including Lemon, Orange (and/or Mandarin Orange), Grape, Kiwi Strawberry, Berry, Pomegranate-(Combo, maybe Blueberry is the additional flavor, not sure), Black Cherry, and I'm probably forgetting a flavor or two.

Good luck with your switch!

I discontinued diet sodas because of the aspartame, artificial colors and the acids they contain. (I think drinking them contributed to my developing IBS.) I now brew my own tea at home. It's full of antioxidants, has no added caffeine and is all natural. I feel a lot better and don't regret this decision for a second. You can add the artificial sweetener of your choice or, like me, drink it unsweetened and strong over ice. A slice of fresh lemon can be added for additional flavor and added nutrition.

Try squeezing fresh lemon or lime into your water ... Or try some of those flavored (but no added sugar) type seltzer waters ... LaCroix has a fine selection, and I find raspberry to be my favorite of the flavors there ...

[Insignificant other]

Topomax can really mess upout taste buds n'est pas? Lemonade or ice ta fixes mine..

There is a drink that has come to find it's way into our rotation from Mexico that has really grown on me: Topo Chico, mineral water with lemon and salt. It takes some getting used to but now is cravable in my house! Hope you try it and like it, it is a nice vacation from soda and tea and the regular drinks we usually have. Hope you like it! Recipe: One huge glass of ice, one teaspoon of salt right on top. Squeeze one to two whole lemons over top of the ice, and then top it off with the Topo Chico mineral water or any mineral water, it's just the brand we use. Enjoy! It's bubbly, tart, and salty in a refreshing way. It's different in such a refreshing way, refreshing is the word that comes to mind repeatedly lol. Enjoy!

[Maven]

A bit off-topic, but I love when they give slices of lemon in restaurant. If there's an extra one my boyfriend doesn't take, I'll bit into the slice and just let the juice flow into my mouth. Sometimes I'll even eat the lemon slice (minus the peel).

Me too Maven! It's an acquired taste for tart that I don't know how I got into but it's here and its queer, and yes it ain't going nowhere lol.

[AngelWolf3]

I too have found La Croix is good (but then again, it is carbonated)...I can't have caffeine and also avoid the aspartame/sucralose things so finding something other than plain water has been quite the challenge.

I like the Vita Coco Passion fruit flavored coconut water, it's all natural and no artificial, kinda juice-ish, but not too high in sugar.

If you like hot drinks, some Apple juice warmed up is delish (once again, if worried about sugar, you can do 1/2 water...) If not worried about sugar, try Starbucks "caramel apple spice" so delicious...(no I am not affiliated with them in any way, but I love that dang drink!)

I hope this helps, I truly understand how hard it is to not be able to drink certain things...I would go nuts if I couldn't have carbonated stuff.

Ooh! Sobe Lifewater is good too....

[jennifersullivan]

hello, sensa has a few different flavors to mix in with your drinks as well as sugar free MIO

[Nammu]

I know you said you were tired of water and couldn't stand carbonation but I don't believe it is all equal. My store carries store brand mineral water thats easy on the budget and quenches my thirst better than reg water, then theres carbonated water the lemon or lime to which I add more lime or lemon. I drink lots of V8, to which I add lemon or lime and hot sauce but thats not easy on the budget!

One word of caution for everyone with the limes and lemons they eat enamel off of teeth so make sure to bush up, I found out the hard way. $$$ But, they are SO good. I love a really juicy lemon. mmmmm add salt mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[beeutterfly]

Wow, thank you all for the suggestions! I am super picky & feel like nothing is measuring up to the love I once had for Diet Pepsi. It sounds silly, I know. I think I just don't much like the taste of anything lately. I may try one of the seltzer mixes. With pop I taste the bubbles & the flavor but separately, they don't mesh anymore. But, in good news Topamax is helping with my migraines! Not quite there yet but I'll take missing soda over less migraines anyday!

Crystal Light along with water has been sufficing for now.

[Maven]

That's not silly at all, neiseluv! For most of my life, I drank Pepsi. Eventually, they came out with other flavors, and I fell in love with Lime Pepsi and Wild Cherry Pepsi. I drank diet versions, even though I prefer the sugary versions, of course. But, for some unknown reason, I got into Coke several years ago, just like that. Now I drink Cherry Coke Zero, and I can't imagine drinking anything else, really, on a regular basis. I love milk drinks like milkshakes, steamers, eggnog, etc., but they are soooooo fattening, so I've got to drink the 0-calorie stuff.