Soft drink addict who guzzled 30 litres a WEEK ditches the habit to drop 63 kilograms

A fizzy drink addict who could guzzle 30 litres of the sweet stuff every week has swapped Coca-Cola for water and lost 63 kilos.  

Carissa Santiano, based in Sydney, Australia, weighed 127 kilos before she decided to overhaul her life and cut out soft drink for good, halving her weight in the process.

The 37-year-old says the significant drop in kilos has helped ‘cure’ her depression and given her confidence back, even finding love with a new partner in the process.

‘People never gave me the time of day when I was big, I was called ugly and fat every day,’ she said.

‘It makes you feel absolutely worthless and you start to believe what everyone is saying, I had almost given up on myself.’

Carissa would frequently start her day with soft drink and sip on four litres over the course of the day. On top of that she was eating calorie-laden chocolates, chips and takeaway.

‘I would have takeaway for lunch every day but when I stopped doing that, I still wasn’t losing any weight,’ she said. 

‘My doctor advised me to cut out fizzy drinks because although I was eating bad, it was the amount of sugar in the drinks I was having that was doing the most damage.

‘Once I stopped drinking fizzy drinks everything changed, I could still eat sandwiches and junk food, as long as I didn’t drink fizzy drinks I still lost weight.’

But she did tidy up her plate as a result of her new, healthier body, cutting out a few salty snacks along with the soft drink she had relied on. 

‘I think it’s something we overlook as people trying to lose weight. You just think it’s always food that’s the problem but I’m living proof that you can enjoy the food you love and still remain healthy,’ she said.

‘I never thought I would ever look the way I wanted and can’t begin to describe how much better I am now that I stick to water.’

Carissa had suffered for years from low confidence – which pulled her into a depression – as a result of her size.

Although the process was often difficult she stressed that it’s possible to have ‘cheat days’ or ‘take time off’ and still make progress. 

‘I was unknowingly drinking double the amount of sugar I should’ve had per day,’ she said. 

‘I still eat all the food I love, I eat three takeaway meals a week, crisps and chocolate, I just eat less, it’s not about what you drink and eat it’s about the size of what you drink and eat.’

Carissa is sharing her story in the hope it inspires others to just make the first step and kick their bad habits, without taking things to the extreme. 

‘Anyone can do what I have done, it’s a huge battle. But once you know what’s causing it, everything gets easier,’ she said.