Growing up as a kid was drinking any drinks or beverages that were often than not were sweetened or just not fresh, whether itd be soda, milkshakes, slurpies, sweetened tea, sweetened juice, etc etc.
Now 18 yo, I think if I had to consume that much sugar again on a weekly basis I‘ll just start throwing up. It actually is nauseating to look at any of those beverages and thinking about drinking them. Its definitely about time though, between any drink ill always choose the glorious thing we all take for granted water. Surprised I didn’t become a diabetic
I moved to Denver from Texas and one of my first days here I took a big desperate gulp from my water bottle... only it was flat Sprite from like six months ago that had been cooking in my car. My body straight up revolted and now even the smell of syrup makes me queasy.
5
ProfessionalAir6098Mar 30, 2026
+1
In my country its sweetened iced tea thats the most popular. But literally thinking about it is genuinely stirring something horrible inside of me.
1
AvaSaysSoMar 30, 2026
+1
oof yeah sweet tea betrayal hits different when it's been marinating in a hot car 🤢 what flavor of iced was it?
1
M0M_entered_the_chatMar 29, 2026
+3
Im definitely appreciating plain water more as i get older. I don't really remember drinking water as a kid outside of slaking my thirst at The Hose in the backyard (or front yard, anyone's yard really). Definitely drank a ton of milk, juice, dollar store soda, tea, coffee (i started young), hot chocolate and other drink mixes with Tang being the most memorable. Water is amazing now! Its usually the first thing i think of when I'm tired, not feeling well, and when i get a headache. I feel like I've developed an aversion to not just overly sweet drinks but also to a lot of candies and treats that i used to love. Hershey's milk chocolate, Reese's, Three Musketeers, Oreos and tons of other treats are sickeningly sweet to me as well.
3
ProfessionalAir6098Mar 30, 2026
+2
Despite my post, proper hot chocolate will always be in my heart. Esp during rain.
2
M0M_entered_the_chatMar 30, 2026
+1
Tea and coffee i could never give up but I've since learned that I love a range of flavor profiles so I change it up from time to time, switching between reasonably sweet and more on the bitter side.
1
PumpikAnt58763Mar 29, 2026
+2
58f here. My Metformin lets me know after I've had too much sugar.
Did you know that your blood can boil?
2
ProfessionalAir6098Mar 30, 2026
+2
as a 18m, Not only knowing that the excessive sugar can rot me mentally. I can feel my bones and organs shuddering if I consume sugary drinks. Probs a sign lol. Hope you’re doing well queen.
2
PumpikAnt58763Mar 30, 2026
+2
I'm taking better care of my body than I did back when I felt immortal (18)! 😆
2
anoncheesegraterMar 29, 2026
+4
It surprises me there isn’t more of an issue with kids becoming diabetic or prediabetic the more parents are opting for easy processed meals and snacks over actual food. It’s sad, because I get that parents are burnt tf out. But they chose to have kids in a world that’s burning. It’s on them to figure it tf out and set their kids up for success.
4
ProfessionalAir6098Mar 29, 2026
+3
Kinda the same with technology. Like duh the evil corporate overlords that are profiting off kids lack of self control with sugar and screen time is the cause. But also the parents job to like… protect the children lmao. Funny thing is that the other addictions im battling now is phone addiction. Something that my parents were carelessly doing. I feel pity for the 3 year olds with tablets now.
Adding on. My dad has high blood pressure and has to take medications, so I need to reduce those things pronto.
3
anoncheesegraterMar 29, 2026
+3
Yes! It’s scary as hell. I feel like parents are putting immediate satisfaction to avoid conflict over their child’s actual well-being. It’s not only creating screen addictions and depleting natural dopamine, it’s also rewarding bad behavior. Most parents use ipads to keep their young kids regulated instead of just teaching them self regulation and dealing with the learning curve. Instead of leaving the restaurant or going to time out when their kid starts pitching a fit, they just throw an ipad in their face. How do they expect those kids to grow into functioning teens and adults?
I’m a bit older than you so when I was young, smart devices weren’t an option. I either doodled, read, stared at the wall daydreaming, etc. I still have a screen addiction and it only started when I was like 21. Scary to think how bad it is for those who’ve been exposed since they were kids.
You’ll be alright tho. You’re only 18 and this is the perfect time to decide what habits you want to have as an adult. I’m 28 and still building myself in that way. The way I care for myself now is very different from when I was 18 haha
3
ProfessionalAir6098Mar 30, 2026
+2
UGH, girl i f****** envy you and your generation. My addiction started around 11 ish and my sugar addiction even earlier, so thankfully for the the first 11 years I got a good experience of what a childhood is supposed to be like but still got warped into my self destructive cycles. Trying to break generational curses and current curses lol.
Being born in 2007 meant like the last generation of normal cartoons. Because of that i’m still a cartoon fanatic lol
2
anoncheesegraterMar 30, 2026
+1
lol I am often very thankful I was born on the cusp of the transition from VHS to DVD. I remember the first youtube video bruh 😭 Got to experience the start and end of Disney Channels peak. It was a time. It’s one of the few flexes I get as an older gen z. I’m glued to my phone now anyways, though.
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