@SuperGeo5999, I agree that it can be an addiction for some people, and difficult to quit. Still, YOU are the only person who can make the decision to take steps to help yourself. You have to care enough, and you have to psyche yourself to believe you will feel better eventually if you do some hard things that you may not feel like doing at the moment. If you can make yourself start doing these things, it get easier (like a muscle getting stronger.) Don’t beat yourself up if you slip up…moderation is the key.
Sometimes it’s easier to DO something than to not do something (i.e, to resist an obsession or addiction.) The more you resist, the more insistent the obsession/compulsion. So, whenever you want to drink soda, do something physical for a few minutes, even it it’s just running up and down the stairs of your dorm a few times or stretching. Afterwards, drink a large glass of ice water and focus on how refreshing that is. Squeeze a sliver of lemon or lime into the water if that appeals to you. Try to replace your old addiction with a healthier “addiction.”
Are you getting regular, heart-pumping exercise? Walking/running/swimming/bicycling and maybe something like yoga could relieve some of the stress that increases your compulsion to reach for the soda in the first place. If you STILL reach for the soda anyway, exercise can moderate the bad effects on your health and mental focus. Yoga/meditation can help with the self-discipline. Exercise increases your “feel-good” brain endorphins, making it easier to resist things that are bad for you (because the endorphins already give you a “high.” ) If your body has become addicted to the sugar, maybe taking probiotic capsules every day can help somewhat (beneficial bacteria in your digestive tract can start to crowd out the yeasts that crave the sugar.) Make sure you get enough protein and whole vegetables in your diet…sometimes lacking the right nutrients add to food cravings.
But yes, you do have to be willing to do the work to say “NO” sometimes. Accepting that not every moment of your life is going to feel pleasant actually helps you to get to a better place that IS more pleasant, more often. Good luck… becoming aware of the problem is a good first step 